U2's Christmas Greetings and Great Announcements for 2017

Happy Christmas from Bono and Mysterious Distance!

source:u2songs.com

Do you want Bono's guitar?? Bid for a good cause!!!

Bid now for a Bono guitar with handwritten Ordinary Love song lyrics plus a trip for 2 people to Sir Richard Branson's Necker Cup in the British Virgin Islands on November 29-December 2, 2017.

Your trip includes the chance to watch tennis, enjoy the island and attend the famous "End of the World Party."

To participate: 

https://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/collect-this-bono-guitar-with-song-lyrics-plus-attend-1213502

https://www.charitybuzz.com

Bono on World AIDS Day - December 1 2016

“Millions of people owe their lives to America’s generosity and the leadership of Presidents Bush and Obama”

WASHINGTON — Bono, the lead singer of U2 and the cofounder of ONE and (RED), issued the following statement to mark World AIDS Day:

“Whatever your brand of politics — left, right, center or none at all — if you’re an American, you’re an AIDS activist. America has led the way in saving millions of lives around the world from this vicious little virus. On this World AIDS Day — and every day — that is a reason for Americans to be proud and the world to be grateful.

“President Bush utterly transformed the global fight against AIDS when he launched PEPFAR, the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history. And if President Bush built the car and got it running, President Obama kept his foot on the accelerator, helping ensure that over 18 million people today are on ARVs largely supported by PEPFAR and the Global Fund. Millions of people owe their lives to America’s generosity and the leadership of Presidents Bush and Obama, and support from all sides in Congress. The President-elect will take the baton at a critical moment — we’re so close to an AIDS-free generation, but still far from where we need to be to get ahead of this disease.

“Government leadership has been essential to fight, but we also have to thank the businesses who have been dealing their own serious blows to this disease. This year marks (RED)’s 10th birthday and we are amazed by what our (RED) partners have done — delivering more than $360 million to fight AIDS so far. Just as important as the cash, has been the heat they are keeping on this crisis. Together these resources mean more birthdays for millions of men and women and more babies born HIV free.”

AIDS-related illnesses are now the leading cause of death for women aged 15 to 44 on the planet, and over 17,000 women of all ages are infected with HIV every week. In sub-Saharan Africa, young women are twice as likely as young men to be infected with HIV, and 850 young women contract it every day. AIDS deaths have declined by 45 percent since their peak in 2004, but 2.1 million people are still being infected each year.

The ONE Campaign this week released its annual report on the fight against AIDS, warning that funding for the global fight against AIDS was flat and gains in treatment and prevention had not grown for a fourth straight year. Imminent population growth among especially vulnerable populations in sub-Saharan Africa has left world leaders with a four-year window to get ahead of the disease before long-term control slips beyond their reach.

Thinking of Florence (aka Florence Nightingale) my nurse hero from Kigali who once offered nothing to her patients but care. Now she can offer lifesaving ARVs thanks to AIDS activists all over the world.
18 million people are now on these miracle drugs! What everyone thought was impossible, is not – #Bono #WorldAIDSDay @ONEcampaign (RED) - via U2 on Instagram

https://www.one.org/international/
https://red.org/

Bono at Jimmy Kimmel's

In honor of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is kicking off (SHOPATHON)RED, featuring limited edition (RED) products, plus once-in-a-lifetime experiences with celebrities via OMAZE.

"Thanks to the kindness of some of the biggest stars in the world, we have a great show for a great cause," Kimmel tells E! News in a statement. "World AIDS Day is Dec. 1 and I'm honored to be a part of this very special night to benefit (RED)."

Bono will sing a re-worked version of Cole Porter's "Well, Did You Evah!" and the Killers will perform Christmas songs. "The Killers are doing Christmas songs to end all Christmas songs," Bono said with a laugh, "which actually, believe or not, has me singing, 'If you don't help people with AIDS you're going to hell.'" Kimmel revealed he wrote that line, while Brandon Flowers wrote the rest. "But that's true — if you don't help people with AIDS you are going to hell, and that seems like a good enough reason to help alone," he said. "I mean, just think of yourselves."









http://www.eonline.com/

https://www.omaze.com/red

Enjoy a Cup of Tea with Julia Roberts and Bono

Support (RED) and Enjoy a Cup of Tea with Julia Roberts and Bono

You and a friend will:

Have the best tea time of your life with Bono and Julia Roberts
Discuss movies, music and more with some incredibly talented artists
Seriously, you need another reason to do this?
Get flown out and put up in a 4-star hotel





To celebrate (RED)’s 10th anniversary, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match every dollar raised by (RED) this year up to $78MM.

Meet U2 and Attend a Private Rehearsal Show

You and a friend will:

• Sit front and center for a private U2 rehearsal show
• Meet the band and take photos with them
• Get flown out and put up in a 4-star hotel in a city on U2’s upcoming tour

To celebrate (RED)’s 10th anniversary, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match every dollar raised by (RED) this year up to $78MM.

What you'll do

Their tours have shattered records across the globe, but for one lucky fan, the biggest U2 show of the year just might be the smallest. That’s right—you and a friend will get flown out to meet U2 for a private, full dress rehearsal show during the band’s 2017 tour. It’s a front row, backstage, VIP experience all rolled into one. You’ll meet the band for sound check and then settle in to hear your favorite U2 songs during an intimate performance like no other. In other words, you’re not just getting the best seats in the house; you’re getting the only ones. Flights and hotel are on us.

Who you'll help

Today and every day 400 babies are born with HIV. We can get that close to zero as soon as 2020 if we all act now.

The life-saving ARV pills that prevent HIV+ moms from passing the virus to their unborn babies cost just 30 cents a day in sub-Saharan Africa. When you donate to win a (RED) experience on Omaze, you're helping to ensure more moms get access to that medication, and you're helping get closer to the goal of an AIDS FREE GENERATION.


Let’s end AIDS now.





ttps://www.omaze.com

Bono Recruits One Direction's Liam Payne, DJ Khaled and More For AIDS Fundraising Campaign

If you donate at least $10 to Bono's charity (RED), the singer is giving you a chance to drink tea with him and Julia Roberts, enjoy a private concert from U2 or party in Las Vegas with "Magic Mike" star Channing Tatum.
Those are three of the "experiences" donors can possibly win after giving money to (RED), which raises funds to fight AIDS. The campaign dubbed "(RED) SHOPATHAN," in its second year, launches Tuesday, one week before World AIDS Day, which is Dec. 1.
"It is a battle now for funding. It's just a street battle, pitch battle, and we have to keep this stuff in the news or literally those people don't get the drugs. It's that simple," Bono said in an interview with The Associated Press last week. "We have to just remind people that America has led the war on this tiny little virus and is winning the war, but it is unthinkable, but it is possible, that if we stall on funding then we start to undo all this good work."

Other "experiences" that can be earned after donating on Omaze.com/RED include a night out with Neil Patrick Harris; tickets to see Broadway's "Hamilton" and backstage access with show star Javier Munoz; a Snapchat and jet ski adventure with DJ Khaled; and a studio hangout with One Direction's Liam Payne.
The campaign will return to Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a full show on Tuesday night, where Bono, The Killers, Herbie Hancock, DJ Khaled and Halsey will perform, while special guests include Roberts, Tatum, Patrick Harris and Kristen Bell.
Bono will sing a re-worked version of Cole Porter's "Well, Did You Evah!" and the Killers will perform Christmas songs.
"The Killers are doing Christmas songs to end all Christmas songs," Bono said with a laugh, "which actually, believe or not, has me singing 'if you don't help people with AIDS you're going to hell.'"
"I wrote that line," Kimmel said during the interview about the original song, written with Brandon Flowers of The Killers. "But that's true - if you don't help people with AIDS you are going to hell, and that seems like a good enough reason to help alone. I mean, just think of yourselves."

Last year's campaign offered donors a visit to the set of Game of Thrones, walking a red carpet with Meryl Streep and spending time with George Clooney. This year's offers also include flying to Korea to hang out with K-Pop star G-Dragon and a "VIP Virgin event experience" with Virgin Group founder Richard Branson. Entries close on January 18, 2017.
"This is a really hopeful campaign and we try to be playful, we try not to bring anyone down, but actually the politics behind it is very serious. And the money we raise will keep people alive," Bono said.
This year marks (RED)'s 10-year anniversary, which Bono said has raised more than $360 million and impacted 70 million people through HIV testing, prevention, counseling and other services.
"This is a big deal in my life," he said.

http://www.billboard.com/

Bono And His Daughter Talk Family, Celebrity And Finally Finding Home

A heartfelt father-daughter interview with Bono and Jordan Hewson.For "Talk to me" The Huffington Post.

U2 lead singer Bono was just 14 years old when he lost his mother to a brain aneurysm. He found himself living in an all-male household on the north side of Dublin that lacked the warmth and closeness of a tight-knit family. It would be years before he finally understood what “home” truly felt like.

The artist sat down alongside his daughter, Jordan Hewson, for HuffPost’s parent-child interview series, Talk To Me, and looked back on the moment he left that house and found the family he always wanted.

“The house, it was just that. It was no longer a home for me,” he said. “And I guess U2 kind of became that surrogate family. I’ll be honest with you: I’ve only really ever understood the feeling of home when you entered my life.”

It was 1989. Bono was at the recording studio when his pregnant wife Ali Hewson arrived to pick him up and head to the hospital. Despite being in labor, she did the driving.

“She had packed me a small little flask of whiskey, some novel I was reading, some newspapers,” he said. “She was the together one. I was recording. So up ‘til the last minute I was probably in denial.”

While at the hospital, Bono couldn’t resist turning the monumental moment into an opportunity to make music. He brought a portable tape recorder and recorded his daughter’s heartbeat as she was in the womb.

“I was going to make a song recording your heartbeat as the rhythm. And I noticed the heartbeat going slower,” he said.

He told the nurse immediately, who dismissed him at first. But eventually Bono told his wife’s doctor, who realized something was wrong.

“You were rushed into existence,” he told Jordan, remembering that she was born on his own birthday. “They suggested that you should be near my heart or your mother’s heart. You were so vulnerable, five pounds. So you slept on my chest for two weeks.”

It was his knowledge of music and tempo that helped him that day, but Bono’s love for music isn’t the only thing driving him anymore. Bono has also become a fierce advocate in the fight against AIDS. He helped create ONE and (RED) to combat the systemic issues that make it so difficult to escape poverty and disease in some areas of the world.

Jordan, meanwhile, has co-founded Speakable, which develops civic engagement tools that news companies can embed in their stories.

During their interview Bono took an introspective look at the twisted way society views celebrities, who are often “over paid and over-regarded,” but have a unique opportunity to affect change.

“If celebrity has anything to offer, it’s that you can use celebrity to shine a light on issues and put a spotlight on people whose voices are not heard.” he said.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Eve Hewson on her dad: "He is also very tall, very handsome and very intelligent. "

#EveHewson posted it on her Instagram account:

"Even though our facial expressions would suggest otherwise, we really were very happy and proud to see dad become the first Man Of The Year at the Glamour Awards last night. In a year where men are celebrated, rewarded and even granted the presidency of the United States for bragging about sexually assaulting women, encouraging violence against women, for planning to take away a woman's right to her own reproductive health and for being just plain WRONG on SO MANY LEVELS, it is important to take a moment to celebrate the men out there that are getting it right!
I am so proud to have this man as my father I could burst. He works harder than any man I have ever known and he works harder FOR WOMEN than any man I have ever known. He deserves all of the awards and all of the love and the world needs more men like him.

He is also very tall, very handsome and very intelligent.
Did I mention that he's very tall?" 

#povertyissexist #bonoisverytall @u2

Bono Reveals The 'Magic' That's Made His 34-Year Marriage Last We're swooning.

U2’s Bono attended the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards Monday night to accept an award for “Man of the Year.” But the rocker also had another reason to celebrate. It was 40 years ago that night that Bono shared his first date with his now-wife, Ali Hewson.

But it wasn’t love at first sight... at least not for her. “She’s working up to that,” he told ET.

The couple first met as teenagers in their native Dublin, Ireland before he was a world-famous musician. And so their first date ended with a less-than-glamorous sendoff ― he walked her to the bus stop, the singer revealed. They married in their early 20s and recently celebrated 34 years of marriage.

As for what has kept them close as ever, Bono had a surprising answer.

“We feel the red carpet has kept us close,” he said. “If things are going around, we say, ‘Let’s do the red carpet, certainly.’”

Hewson is known for being fiercely private when it comes to the couple’s home life and four children, so we think he might have been joking.

But in all seriousness, Bono is clearly still smitten with his longtime love.

“It’s been a great ride, a magic carpet ride,” he said of his decades-long relationship.

Speaking to the Irish Independent in 2011, Bono revealed his total devotion to Hewson.

“I feel our relationship has changed a lot,” he said. “I feel I hold on a lot tighter to her than she does to me.”

While a long-married rockstar seems like an oxymoron, Bono and his wife are in good company with other musicians who have made it work, like Jon Bon Jovi, who has been married 27 years, and Sting, who has been married 24 years.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/

Bono urges Donald Trump to prioritise gender equality

Ali Hewson and Bono with their daughters Eve Hewson and Jordan Hewson at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards in Hollywood (AP)

Bono has urged US president-elect Donald Trump to make gender equality "a priority" as the U2 singer was honoured at Glamour's Women of the Year awards.

The Irish musician received the magazine's first Man of the Year award at the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles.

On stage, Bono said: "I know how ridiculous it is for me to be on this stage accepting this award. B ut if I didn't know how ridiculous it was, I did have the blessed internet to remind me.

"As my daughter Jordan says, there is nowhere on earth where women have the same opportunities as men.

"Unless we address this problem, both men and women together, the world will continue down this misogynistic, violent and impoverished path.

"I say to the president-elect: look across to women, make equality a priority, it is the only way forward.

"The train is leaving the station, be on it or be under it."

Bono joined International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde, singer Gwen Stefani and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles on the list of winners.

He was recognised after his One campaign launched a "Poverty is Sexist" movement last year.

In a letter to world leaders, Bono and a host of celebrities including Sir Elton John, Robert Redford and Oprah Winfrey called it an outrage that girls account for 74% of all new HIV infections among adolescents in Africa.

At the awards ceremony, actress Amber Heard read the victim impact statement of the survivor of the Stanford sexual assault case, known only as Emily Doe.

The poignant letter went viral earlier this year amid criticism of the six-month sentence handed to former Olympic swimming hopeful Brock Turner for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman at the US university campus. He was released in September after serving half of his term.

Heard, whose high-profile divorce battle with Johnny Depp involved allegations of domestic abuse, joined fellow actresses Gabourey Sidibe and Freida Pinto on stage to read the letter.

Addressing Emily Doe, Heard said: "Wherever you are, we know you are listening. Thank you for your words. Thank you for your courage. We carry it with us every day."

Lena Dunham, the creator of comedy television series Girls, fought back tears as she spoke about the Stanford case and described being a victim of sexual assault herself.

She said: "When I was assaulted I lived with guilt that I had been out, wasted in a party dress, and feared I was as inconsequential as I had been made to feel when I woke up on the floor.

"Emily's statement was a gift to survivors like me, one we will work very hard to repay through our honesty and our actions. Thank you Emily."

Lagarde, managing director of the IMF, received a lifetime achievement award at the ceremony at NeueHouse Hollywood.

Accepting the honour, she said: "Receiving a life achievement (award) is probably something close to being almost buried. I was a bit concerned about this award tonight, but I'm extremely proud to receive it.

"No matter what sorrow, sadness and frustration we feel, we have the fight. We have to grit our teeth and smile as my old national synchronised swimming team used to say to us.

"What I hope is all the young girls, all the girls to be born, will be empowered to be leaders in finance, leaders in politics and leaders in anything they choose to accomplish, and will be free and not the victim of any discrimination."

Other award winners included fashion designer Miuccia Prada, IS kidnap survivor Nadia Murad, Black Lives Matter activists Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi, model and body activist Ashley Graham and actress and campaigner Zendaya.

Press Association

http://www.independent.ie/

Bono on "Woman of the Year" Award

Watch this video on The Scene.

Bono Reading Mean Tweets is Actually Spot on

"Sure, Glamour named Bono 'Woman of the Year' but in their defense, the Transitions lenses do make him look like a 75-year-old lady from Miami"


http://video.glamour.com/

The Edge surprised graduates from Dublin music college

These Dublin music college graduates got the surprise of a lifetime when U2 guitarist The Edge turned up to congratulate them.

Onlookers were stunned when the iconic rocker was introduced to the crowd in British and Irish Modern Music Institute graduation ceremony in the Tivoli Theatre on Wednesday.

The Dublin musician began the presentations and handed out graduation pins to the lucky graduates.

Addressing the delighted crowd in attendance, The Edge said: "I'm sure it feels like you still have a lot to prove, but you've already succeeded.

"You're here, you've graduated, you live in Ireland! Success can be many things. Everyone's definition is different.

"If you try too hard to please the world loses interest.

"Criticism is your friend. I welcome it. It makes you better. The harder it is to hear, the more useful it is.

"But keep your ego in check - out of control egos break up bands, not musical differences."

The Edge meets Alumni Award Winner, Mark Walshe of BIMM Dublin and delivers and inspiring speech at their graduation ceremony

http://www.dublinlive.ie/

How U2 plan to release their new album | Q Awards 2016

George Godfrey chats to The Edge and Adam Clayton from U2 backstage after they picked up 'Best Live Act' at the Q Awards 2016. They chatted about their incredible live show, business cards they want to grab and a novel plan for releasing their new album.

Absolute Radio: http://absrad.io/21DmMuB

'BEST LIVE ACT'

Edge and Adam were at The Roundhouse, in London's Camden Town, as U2 were honoured with 'Best Live Act' at the Q Awards and Edge was presented with the Les Paul Award.

'I've been doing shows with this band for forty years now, ' said Edge as he and Adam accepted the award for Best Live Act from Jack Garratt , 2016 Q Breakthrough Act.

 'And one of these days I swear we're going to get it right.'

He remembered how, just a couple of nights back, he'd been sitting on a terrace looking out over the ocean in France. 

'And for some reason this Bob Dylan lyric from Idiot Wind came into my head and it was 'when you reach the top you realise that you're really on the bottom.' 

And I thought about it for a moment and I thought, 'That is such a load of bollocks! This is GREAT! I love it!'

'So I just want to say that we don't take this for granted in our band, we really try to make sure that every show is a great show and we are grateful to everyone who has ever bought a ticket or an album. Thank you very much.'

It was an 'amazing tour, ' added Adam. 'An emotional rollercoaster, due to the events in Paris last December and it was great that we were able to perform with the Eagles of Death Metal back on stage before the end of the year.'
Edge was also awarded the Q Gibson Les Paul Award too.

http://www.u2.com/

Bono Just Became Glamour's First Man of the Year

From Left: Sue Lowe, Alicia Lowe, A’Driane Nieves, Jane Maynard, Bono, Diana Lamon, Mazelle Etessami, and Carrie Cohen   PHOTO: SAM JONES

“He’s one of the most outspoken and effective advocates for women and girls I know.… As an activist, he’s using those skills to get the world talking about the fact that ending extreme poverty begins with empowering women and girls.” —Melinda Gates, philanthropist and 2013 Woman of the Year

When humanitarian and rock icon Bono learned that he was being honored by Glamour as the first-ever Man of the Year, he called his wife of 34 years, Ali Hewson, to give her the news. “I asked did she think I deserved it. She wasn’t sure,” Bono tells me with a laugh. “She said I’ve work to do!”

U2’s front man has no doubts. “I’m sure I don’t deserve it,” he says. “But I’m grateful for this award as a chance to say the battle for gender equality can’t be won unless men lead it along with women. We’re largely responsible for the problem, so we have to be involved in the solutions.”

“He’s one of the most outspoken and effective advocates for women and girls I know.… As an activist, he’s using those skills to get the world talking about the fact that ending extreme poverty begins with empowering women and girls.” —Melinda Gates, philanthropist and 2013 Woman of the Year

When humanitarian and rock icon Bono learned that he was being honored by Glamour as the first-ever Man of the Year, he called his wife of 34 years, Ali Hewson, to give her the news. “I asked did she think I deserved it. She wasn’t sure,” Bono tells me with a laugh. “She said I’ve work to do!”

U2’s front man has no doubts. “I’m sure I don’t deserve it,” he says. “But I’m grateful for this award as a chance to say the battle for gender equality can’t be won unless men lead it along with women. We’re largely responsible for the problem, so we have to be involved in the solutions.”

I’m on Glamour’s side: I think Bono is the perfect choice for this first-time honor because, now 56, he’s been trying to do good for as long as he’s been making music. I first met Bono, born Paul David Hewson, in Sarajevo over New Year’s 1996, shortly after peace accords ended the Bosnian civil war that November. It was the first time in four years that the guns were silent and the people of that beautiful city could celebrate by taking to the concert halls and cafés. I got pulled into a crowded car one night, heading for a party, and there was Bono. Our two-decade humanitarian friendship was launched.

And while my friend has sold 170 million albums and won 22 Grammys, what I admire most about him is his extraordinary talent for tackling problems that seem intractable—and making mighty and measurable gains. It’s not every superstar (or, for that matter, statesman) who can bring about $100 billion in debt cancellation for 35 of the world’s poorest countries, or persuade the U.S. government to pony up the largest contribution ever for lifesaving AIDS drugs in Africa, as President George W. Bush did in 2004.

Now Bono has created Poverty Is Sexist, a new campaign specifically aimed at helping the world’s poorest women—those who survive on less than $2 a day. “Women bear the burdens of poverty,” Bono says, meaning they are far less likely than men to have access to food, clean water, education, and health care; laws in many parts of the world don’t protect them from sexual violence or allow them to own the land they work. By establishing Poverty Is Sexist, Bono is making it clear that powerful men can, and should, take on these deep-rooted issues.

Women have always strongly influenced him in his work. Just one example: During his impassioned effort in the 1990s to get antiretroviral drugs to the rural poor in South Africa, Bono met an HIV-positive woman named Prudence who had come to share her story with him instead of attending the funeral of her sister. In her town, she explained, there weren’t enough antiretroviral drugs to go around—Prudence had gotten the pills because she could campaign for help from the outside world, while her sister, a mother who had to stay home with her children, went without and died of AIDS. “Prudence told me, ‘Letting the world know what we’re up against is more important than going to my sister’s funeral,’ ” he recalls. Though stunned by her words, Bono says, he understood, because at that time in certain parts of Africa, “HIV/AIDS was a death sentence. Imagine going to a football match and thinking, A third of these people in this stadium are going to die. This was a war, and women were at the front line of fighting that war.”

Today 17 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are on lifesaving AIDS drugs, up from 300,000 in 2000, thanks in great part to the work of Bono and ONE, the international volunteer advocacy organization he cofounded in 2004. Now he hopes Poverty Is Sexist can have a similar impact. The campaign created a detailed report documenting the link between poverty and gender and sent it this year on March 8, International Women’s Day, to every president and prime minister in the world. Included in the data: the fact that, in Africa, young women account for the majority—74 percent—of all new AIDS cases among adolescents, which is why one of the campaign’s first aims was to coax bigger contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. In August, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became the first head of state to step up, raising Canada’s contribution to the global fund by 20 percent. Other fund members followed suit, increasing donations by a total of $13 billion—money that will help save 8 million lives and prevent 300 million new infections by 2019. Those are real women and babies whose lives have been saved—and that is Bono’s legacy.

I ask the first Glamour Man of the Year why so few men are willing to rally around women’s causes. “Men can be a bit thick,” he says. “And I include myself. Honestly, things that ought to be obvious sometimes are not.” What’s obvious to Bono (the father of two daughters and two sons, feminists and activists all ): “We can do much more than we think we can. Leaders are accountable to all of us. If they don’t support women and girls, vote them out of office. To quote Nelson Mandela, ‘It always seems impossible—until it’s done.’ ”

Christiane Amanpour, a 2005 Woman of the Year, is CNN’s chief international correspondent and host of CNN’s international news hour, Amanpour

http://www.glamour.com/

Happy Birthday to our Beloved Drummer!

The best for him on his birthday!!!

"I have had an amazing career for a man who hits things for a living."

Like father, like daughter: Jordan Hewson made it easier to donate to causes online

Speakable founder Jordan Hewson

Jordan Hewson founded her company on one premise: Millennials aren’t taking action on the issues they care about because the process is difficult, confusing, and time-consuming.

So Hewson created Speakable, a company that uses technology to make civic engagement more accessible. Since 2015, Speakable has been working on its first product, the Action Button, which goes live Thursday.

The Action Button links publishers to NGOs and nonprofits like Amnesty International and Planned Parenthood, and has been in beta testing with Huffington Post until now. Starting today, the Action Button will go live on articles on Huffington Post, Vice, and the Guardian.

Here’s how it works:

On articles pertaining to issues that a reader could take action on — like getting girls an education in third-world countries, or the Syrian refugee crisis — the Action Button will appear at the bottom of the page
The button is powered by an algorithm that matches vetted NGOs with a relevant article
Readers can choose one of three ways to take action, like taking a poll, signing a petition, or donating to a cause
The options don’t require readers to leave the page, even if they choose the donate option
Hewson said the idea stemmed from her experiences as a millennial and someone who’s passionate about the nonprofit space. As far as she knows, the Action Button is the first of its kind.

“Nothing like this has ever existed,” Hewson told Business Insider. “You’ve never been able to take action on news before.”

Hewson has worked in the nonprofit and NGO space for years, spending three years as a campaigner for Global Citizen, a social-action platform that aims to
fight poverty and inequality. Hewson is also the daughter of U2 frontman Bono, who helped create the ONE foundation and has worked to fight poverty and AIDS in Africa.
Hewson says she realised while she was working at Global Citizen that taking action on issues had to be easier, otherwise it wouldn’t happen.

“Millennials especially are demanding more from digital content,” Hewson said. “They don’t just want to read headlines, they want to change headlines. Our hope for the company is that if we can make it faster and easier for people to take action, they’re much more likely to do it. If it can be part of your daily online behaviour, it can be as easy as ordering an Uber or buying a dress.”


http://www.businessinsider.com.au/

Adam and Walk in my shoes

Adam: "We've been working on a record and we've been humming and hawing on whether it's finished or not. We've decided it's not finished -- we're going to work up until Christmas...I wish we were a little bit more definite about our scheduling because people have been expecting it. But it'll be out next year -- maybe March/April. That's the plan, but I'm not confirming it."

Complete interview here 

RTE2fm
http://www.walkinmyshoes.ie/

Clayton goes radio gaga with Walk in My Shoes charity

Adam Clayton, Eoghan McDermott and children from St.James’s Primary and Secondary school at St. Patrick’s University Hospital, attempting to set the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Mindfulness Lesson to mark World Mental Health Awareness Day. Pic: Marc O'Sullivan

U2 bass guitarist Adam Clayton, 2FM's Eoghan McDermott, and Dustin the Turkey were among the first presenters to take to the airwaves on Saint Patrick's University's pop-up station -Walk in My Shoes Radio.


 The radio station runs until Friday to mark World Mental Health Awareness Week.

 Clayton has previously spoken about how he overcame his own mental health issues. He says he is a "much happier bunny" since he started talking to people. 

Marty Whelan, Nuala Carey and Aisling O'Loughlin also featured on the radio channel. Clayton and McDermott kicked off the event by taking part in the World's Largest Mindfulness Lesson. 

The pair were joined by students from St. James's Primary and Secondary school. Clayton has been a long-time ambassador for the Walk in My Shoes campaign - which aims to encourage conversations about mental health issues. Speaking to McDermott on 2FM, 

Clayton urged others to discuss their problems.

 "If someone is feeling a little bit strange and they have a mental health issue, it is curable," he said. "It is not something that you have to live with for the rest of your life. "It is not something that will stop you being part of the workforce. But you do have to talk to people about it and you do have to get help. And you can recover. "I've certainly got it wrong in my own life and relied too much upon alcohol and other things to get me through something." 

Irish Independent  http://www.independent.ie/
http://www.walkinmyshoes.ie/

Adam Clayton on Donald Trump

U2 perform at Dreamfest, 05/10

U2 performed at Dreamfest as part of Salesforce's annual conference and to raise funds for UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. In conjunction with this,  U2 extended their current partnership with Salesforce for another two years.

This outdoor show is using the stage left over from the Vertigo Tour's stadium legs. It is only the second time this stage has been used in the US; the first was at the very last Vertigo Tour show in Honolulu on 9 December 2006. This stage was used three times in continental North America, all in Mexico at the start of Vertigo's fourth leg in February 2006.

The show began with Vertigo, preceded by the usual IE Tour intro music, Patti Smith's People Have the Power. Early in the set U2 performed California in full for only the seventh time ever - and for the third time in the state of California. The end of Beautiful Day featured a short snippet of Zooropa: "dream up the world you want to live in, dream out loud". Every Breaking Wave was dedicated to Steve Jobs, who died five years ago today, and to his wife Laurene Powell.

The version of Bullet was a fiery, political version taking even firmer aim at Donald Trump than the performance of Desire at iHeart. Bono engaged in a lengthy mocking "conversation" with Trump, criticising his temperament and a range of his policies, and also accusing him of trying to steal the "American dream" and hurt many groups of people. As a result this was a very long version of the song. Note that we've had some technical difficulties adding snippets to Bullet. It included snippets of The Star-Spangled Banner and The New Colossus.

After One, the band were scheduled to take an encore break. Instead, Bono joked about the concept being silly and took the opportunity to give a speech, which emphasised the importance of charity and the Red campaign. Like on the IE Tour last year, it led into a snippet of Mother and Child Reunion and Where the Streets Have No Name. On the Vertigo Tour, Streets had an intro with national flags (usually African flags), but as in yesterday's rehearsal U2 used the red backdrop.

The show concluded with a performance of 40. Bono referenced U2's recent fortieth anniversary in introducing it, remarking that 40 "feels kinda like a fortieth birthday song". The taped outro music for the evening was M83's Moonchild.

www.u2gigs.com//http://www.gettyimages.com/

U2#40: Adam Clayton Skypes in for an interview with Dave Fanning

Adam Clayton Skypes in for an interview with Dave Fanning at #U240Cleveland!

 It happened during the panel interview with Irish radio legend Dave Fanning at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, when all of a sudden a two-story tall Adam appeared on the big screen inside a crowded Foster Theater as they were interviewing Fanning.

He took over the session from there, spending close to 15 minutes asking Adam about the band's recent iHeartRadio Music Festival appearance and also getting very detailed about U2's album and tour plans. Adam shared his thoughts on what might happen with both Songs Of Experience and Songs Of Ascent, as well as how those two projects might impact U2's tour plans. It was, by everyone's account, a great interview. As I said when it was over: "I have three words: Best. Interview. Ever."

#U240CLEVELAND, A CELEBRATION OF U2'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

http://www.atu2.com/

U2#40: Happy Anniversary, guys!

www.instagram.com/u2/

U2 # 40 : U2 Special Front Row -BBC Radio 4

U2 Special.

Their first performance was in the school gym. They can now command the biggest arenas around the globe and the attention of world leaders.

John Wilson meets all four members of U2 in their Dublin rehearsal studio, where they reveal their working methods and guitarist The Edge demonstrates his distinctive sound. Singer Bono discusses his political activism, including his encounters with President Bush, while fellow band members Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton offer their own views on Bono's campaigning and consider how he balances his two careers.

Listen to the broadcast here.

U2 Unites the Crowd with Every Song at the iHeartRadio Music Festival

U2 closed out the first day of the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival and they got the whole crowd into every song of their set.

The Irish rockers opened with “Desire” and had the audience reaching for the ceiling as paper rained down. Those papers turned out to be $10,000,000,000 (ten-trillion) dollar bills with Donald Trump on them alongside the phrase “Make America Hate Again.” The other side has the number one and written under it it says “but we’re not the same.”

Next up was “Vertigo,” which kept the crowd’s heads spinning, especially because at one point, Bono launched a bottle of water over everyone.

via GIPHY

The following song was "Elevation" and U2 got the audience off their feet by demanding that the entire T-Mobile Arena be jumping.

via GIPHY

During "Pride (In The Name of Love)," video of Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking wise words played, and everyone listening appreciated his message. Bono told the audience that America is "the best idea the world has ever had," and he pushed his love out to the thousands of people in attendance. They sent love back to him and he felt it.

via GIPHY

With everyone feeling as one, U2 rocked the song by that name. Bono and each person in the venue held up their pointer finger.

via GIPHY

Drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. and bassist Adam Clayton took a break, The Edge moved to the piano and Bono soothed everyone with a tender version of "Every Breaking Wave," off their latest album, 2014's Songs of Innocence.

via GIPHY

U2 closed their set with "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Before the song started, Bono explained how 40 years ago this week, they met drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. and asked him to join their band. Happy things worked how they did for the group, the crowd clapped and sung along with the hit song. 

via GIPHY

http://98rock.iheart.com/

U2 Unites the Crowd with Every Song at the iHeartRadio Music Festival

U2 closed out the first day of the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival and they got the whole crowd into every song of their set.

The Irish rockers opened with “Desire” and had the audience reaching for the ceiling as paper rained down. Those papers turned out to be $10,000,000,000 (ten-trillion) dollar bills with Donald Trump on them alongside the phrase “Make America Hate Again.” The other side has the number one and written under it it says “but we’re not the same.”

Next up was “Vertigo,” which kept the crowd’s heads spinning, especially because at one point, Bono launched a bottle of water over everyone.

via GIPHY

The following song was "Elevation" and U2 got the audience off their feet by demanding that the entire T-Mobile Arena be jumping.

via GIPHY

During "Pride (In The Name of Love)," video of Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking wise words played, and everyone listening appreciated his message. Bono told the audience that America is "the best idea the world has ever had," and he pushed his love out to the thousands of people in attendance. They sent love back to him and he felt it.

via GIPHY

With everyone feeling as one, U2 rocked the song by that name. Bono and each person in the venue held up their pointer finger.

via GIPHY

Drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. and bassist Adam Clayton took a break, The Edge moved to the piano and Bono soothed everyone with a tender version of "Every Breaking Wave," off their latest album, 2014's Songs of Innocence.

via GIPHY

U2 closed their set with "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Before the song started, Bono explained how 40 years ago this week, they met drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. and asked him to join their band. Happy things worked how they did for the group, the crowd clapped and sung along with the hit song. 

via GIPHY

http://98rock.iheart.com/

U2 40th anniversary: 15 things you probably didn't know about Dublin's greatest band

Rock giants U2 are celebrating their 40th anniversary this month.

The Dubliners have enjoyed worldwide success since forming in 1976.

And despite being idolised by so many people on these shores, there is a still a bit of mystery surrounding the lads.

So here are 15 things you probably didn't know about U2.

1. Joshua Tree running order

Friend of the band and singer Kirsty MacColl chose the running order on U2's iconic album The Joshua Tree, the band told her to put Where The Streets Have No Name first and Mothers of the Disappeared last. and the rest in order of her preference.

2. One of a kind

Bono is the only person to be nominated for a Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe and a Nobel Prize.

3. Sir Bono

Bono was awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen in 2007, it was for his efforts as a humanitarian.

4. Grammy Awards heavyweights

U2 have won more Grammy Awards than any other band with 22.

5. Bono Vox

Bono got his nickname from his friends while growing up in Dublin, it derived from 'bono vox' which means 'good voice' in Latin and it came from a local shop that sold hearing aids.

He also considered the names Steinvic von Huyseman, Huyseman, Houseman and Bon Murray.

6. Hatless Edge

The Edge has only gone hatless a number of times, whilst performing Miss Sarajevo at the Pavarotti And Friends concert in 1995 and the video for Discotheque in 1997.

7.Those glasses aren't for show

. Bono wears glasses because he has glaucoma, a condition that can can damage the optic nerve and permanently impair vision - the glasses are to protect his eyes.

Larry Mullen posted a note on Mount Temple Comprehensive School's notice board in search of musicians for a new band when he was 14.

Setting up in his kitchen, Mullen was on drums, with Bono on lead vocals, The Edge and his older brother Dik Evans on guitar, with Adam Clayton on bass.

10. Larry Mullen injects bull's blood into his body

Larry Mullen suffers with severe back pain due to an injury he sustained on The Joshua Tree Tour. According to Billy Flanagan's 1995 book U2 at the End of the World, he treated his problem by injecting bull's blood.

The author wrote: "Bono says Larry tried different doctors without success until he went to a German who brought in a holistic healer who started giving Larry shots of bull's blood.

"That did the trick! Larry's Irish doctor refuses to accept it - he looks at X-rays of Larry's crooked spine and says it's impossible, but Larry feels fine. He flies to Germany for shots of bull's blood regularly."

11. Adam Clayton has had the same bracelet on since he was 21

Adam Clayton has never taken off the jade bracelet he wears on his left arm, the bracelet is woman's size and he forced it on when he was 21. He hasn't been able to take it off since.

12. Fourth band to grace Time Magazine cover

Following The Beatles, The Band and The Who, U2 were the fourth band ever to be on the cover of Time Magazine. They also made the cover for a second time in 2014.

13. The Dalton Brothers

Three times on The Joshua Tree tour, The Dalton Brothers opened for U2. It was actually U2 dressed as hillbillies doing country standards.

14. High praise indeed

U2 were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2005, their first year of eligibility. Bruce Springsteen also inducted them.

15. The Boy

The child on the cover of Boy is Peter Rowan, a nephew of a friend of the band. He was also used for the cover of U2's third album War.

http://www.dublinlive.ie/