Editor Bono turns newspaper red
2006-05-16 12:57
London - "No News Today", said the front page headline of Britain's liberal Independent newspaper on Tuesday, adding as a footnote: "Just 6 500 Africans died today as a result of a preventable, treatable disease. (HIV/Aids)."
The paper's cover design was the brainchild of Bono, the Irish rockstar who on Tuesday became "editor for a day" at the Independent to promote his "Red" campaign fighting Aids in Africa.
In line with the motto, the paper's front page was red all over.
The campaign involves brands such as American Express, Gap and Motorola, which have pledged to donate part of their profits to the health crisis plaguing Africa.
The Independent said half its revenue from the day will go towards the campaign.
The paper published interviews with British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who both agreed that the "voice of Africa" needed to be heard at international meetings on trade deals.
But Bob Geldof, Bono's fellow-campaigner, writes in an editorial that Africa "must be allowed to trade its way out of poverty, negotiating as equals with the rest of us."
With little optimism left that the current round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) will lead to success, Geldof wrote: "Perhaps we should begin thinking of a 'stand-alone' trade deal for Africa's poor." - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA