The long and remarkable reign of the celebrities in foreign aid shows no sign of abating. On a May 1 CNN special on TIME magazine’s new selection of the world’s 100 most influential people, according to a press release, “George Clooney — a four-time honoree — will sit down with U2 frontman and activist Bono to chat about fame and politics.”
In a desperate attempt to give some balanced perspective, let me be fair and point out that Bono’s organization, ONE.org, is supporting something I totally agree with, a campaign called Publish What You Fund (PWYF), which believes “Everyone can request and receive information on aid processes; Information on aid should be timely and accessible; Information on aid should be comparable; the right of access to information about aid should be promoted.” A million Amens to that. All you Bono fans, please agitate on behalf of PWYF.
I also confess that I LIKE the music of U2 and find many of their anthems to be genuinely inspirational. When I told my kids this, unfortunately, they pointed out that my credentials as a rock critic are pretty shaky. They know that I also like the band Foreigner.
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So, would you say that Bono have a comparative advantage as a rock star or as a political ideologist? And, by the way, would you consider yourself to have a comparative advantage in making that distinction?
“I also confess that I LIKE the music of U2 and find many of their anthems to be genuinely inspirational.”
“When I told my kids this, unfortunately, they pointed out that my credentials as a rock critic are pretty shaky.”
Dude – no shame in liking “Foreigner”, despite what your kids may think
Jeff, thanks for the reassurance. Does this mean the Eagles, John Mellencamp, and Bob Seger are allowed also?
Hi Mr. Easterly – Just wanted to say that I’m a big fan of your work. Have a background in Int dev (PhD and MSc – Uni of London), spent many years living in Asia/M East – with Aid work experience as well. However, while passionate about issues surrounding overseas development, prior to reading your book ‘the white man’s burden’ I was becoming increasingly frustrated with many of the topics you’ve since brought to into the (wider) public sphere. Having a public debate about it (and someone out there to content against the mtv-celebrity hero-worship of Sachs) has been a relief to read/watch. So, thanks.
Re above Bono/Foreigner comments – I, like many people no doubt – have been amazed (dumbfounded) at the level of celebrity worship and attention garnered by people like Ms Jolie and others – …and largely unimpressed – particularly given the real work being done by many people from/in the countries themselves. I would a thousandfold rather read about, say, a malawian dr making small/incremental, but real changes – than the views of Madonna or Ms. Jolie/Pitt/Farrow/Clooney et al. on (for example) Malawi’s victimhood status. Incidentally after reading the comments here today, I read the following – it’s an article in the Guardian Newspaper re Mia Farrow (hunger striking for Darfur – also mentions George Clooney)…..
Url Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/may/06/mia-farrow-hunger-strike-dafur
“As for the Sudanese authorities, they are sceptical about the protest. “We appreciate Mia Farrow’s intentions and we respect her for her interest in the welfare of the Sudanese people,” says Khaled al-Mubarak, media councillor at the Sudanese embassy in London. “She is a good actress and a good human being, but as a politician she is only a beginner. She is like George Clooney, who has also got involved in the Darfur question. He is good looking but ignorant. She is ignorant too.”
Al-Mubarak says that Farrow is unaware of a recent agreement made between the Sudanese government and the US special envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, and Senator John Kerry. “This ensures that there will be no gaps in the distribution of food.” He says that his government is committed to the “Sudanisation” of aid agencies operating in there. “In the meantime, some western agencies have not been expelled. Oxfam US can operate in the Sudan but not Oxfam UK, for example.”
Farrow could not be contacted yesterday to give her opinion on the Sudanese government’s response. So far, no other celebrity has offered to take her place so that she can stop her fast.”