African AIDS Action Slams Bono

[Guest guest]

African AIDS Action Slams Bono

Essex-based African AIDS Action [a3], has been critical of celebrity

fund-raisers and western charities, whom it accuses of creating a

dependency culture and extending corruption in Africa. By staff

reporter - 02/01/08

African AIDS Action Slams Bono

The charity has reacted strongly to Irish pop-singer Bono's claim

that, " Whenever you see Africans saying they don't want aid it's

pretty clear it's not their sisters, brothers, cousins who are dying " .

Selasie retorted, " I have lost my niece, sister-in-law and 47 other

relatives to AIDS - my brother and sister and 54 other family members

are HIV positive, so I find Bono's comments naive and insulting. "

" But as an Ethiopian I have witnessed with my own eyes how aid and

western charities have created a dependency culture in Africa, fuelled

wars and benefited corrupt dictators, " said Selasie.

Instead of handouts from Western charities a3 is calling for

well-healed City financiers to back a3 in pioneering a radical new

initiative with a unique scheme where donors become `investors in change'.

By selling 1.3 million shares for £100 each, a3 is to fund a

professionally run, non-profit pharmaceutical manufacturing and

distributing facility in Africa, based in similar models operating in

Thailand and Brazil.

The plant will produce AIDS and other life saving drugs under licence

in volume to make them affordable, available and universally

accessible to all dying Africans. Only 25% of the 5.8 million people

with full-blown AIDS in Africa have access to the life –saving anti

retro viral drugs.

In the past decade the wealth of the richest 1,000 people in the UK

has risen threefold+. Yet charity donations remain almost static.

Despite the current `credit crunch', City bonuses are expected to

approach £7.5b** in 2008.

It is not just wealthy individuals who displaying the characteristics

of an unreconstructed Scrooge this Christmas. With the noteworthy

exceptions of RAB Capital, Icap and Marshall Wace, no major

institution donates a mere 1% of its profits to good causes.

With the chasm between the richest and those on average earnings

growing ever wider, Selasie believes it is time these global

institutions examined their place in society.

However, the whole philosophy of African AIDS Action is one of

self-help and the promotion of industriousness rather than reliance on

handouts.

" The City is full of people who work long and hard, who deserve their

rewards and should be free to enjoys the fruits of the labour, however

we all need to recognise that we are a part of a global village with

obligations and responsibilities to it, " reminds Selasie.

www.africanaidsaction.org

--- End forwarded message ---

[Guest guest]

African AIDS Action Slams Bono

Essex-based African AIDS Action [a3], has been critical of celebrity

fund-raisers and western charities, whom it accuses of creating a

dependency culture and extending corruption in Africa. By staff

reporter - 02/01/08

African AIDS Action Slams Bono

The charity has reacted strongly to Irish pop-singer Bono's claim

that, " Whenever you see Africans saying they don't want aid it's

pretty clear it's not their sisters, brothers, cousins who are dying " .

Selasie retorted, " I have lost my niece, sister-in-law and 47 other

relatives to AIDS - my brother and sister and 54 other family members

are HIV positive, so I find Bono's comments naive and insulting. "

" But as an Ethiopian I have witnessed with my own eyes how aid and

western charities have created a dependency culture in Africa, fuelled

wars and benefited corrupt dictators, " said Selasie.

Instead of handouts from Western charities a3 is calling for

well-healed City financiers to back a3 in pioneering a radical new

initiative with a unique scheme where donors become `investors in change'.

By selling 1.3 million shares for £100 each, a3 is to fund a

professionally run, non-profit pharmaceutical manufacturing and

distributing facility in Africa, based in similar models operating in

Thailand and Brazil.

The plant will produce AIDS and other life saving drugs under licence

in volume to make them affordable, available and universally

accessible to all dying Africans. Only 25% of the 5.8 million people

with full-blown AIDS in Africa have access to the life –saving anti

retro viral drugs.

In the past decade the wealth of the richest 1,000 people in the UK

has risen threefold+. Yet charity donations remain almost static.

Despite the current `credit crunch', City bonuses are expected to

approach £7.5b** in 2008.

It is not just wealthy individuals who displaying the characteristics

of an unreconstructed Scrooge this Christmas. With the noteworthy

exceptions of RAB Capital, Icap and Marshall Wace, no major

institution donates a mere 1% of its profits to good causes.

With the chasm between the richest and those on average earnings

growing ever wider, Selasie believes it is time these global

institutions examined their place in society.

However, the whole philosophy of African AIDS Action is one of

self-help and the promotion of industriousness rather than reliance on

handouts.

" The City is full of people who work long and hard, who deserve their

rewards and should be free to enjoys the fruits of the labour, however

we all need to recognise that we are a part of a global village with

obligations and responsibilities to it, " reminds Selasie.

www.africanaidsaction.org

--- End forwarded message ---