Bono's Top 10 Humanitarian Moments

Happy birthday, Bono! We can't wait to see what you do in the next 50!

 

We will be forever indebted to the U2 frontman for his musical contributions alone, so it's hard to come up with an appropriate thank you for all the humanitarian work Bono has done over the years. As one of the most influential activists of our time turns 50, we pay tribute with a top 10 list of his humanitarian moments — and there are many to choose from.

1. Band-Aid - Among Bono's earliest philanthropic endeavors was his participation in Bob Geldorf's Band-Aid, production of "Do They Know It's Christmas Time." The supergroup benefited relief efforts for the famine in Ethiopia. The 1984 single was among the music industry's first and most memorable collective philanthropic efforts.
2. DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) - The first Bono/Bobby Shriver collaboration. The nonprofit was founded in 2002 in partnership with Jubilee 2000. DATA would later become part of the ONE Campaign.
3. Conspiracy of Hope Tour - In 1986 Bono joined Sting, famous for his advocacy for Amnesty International, on a tour benefiting the organization. If you were old enough to go to concerts, you remember that scoring a ticket to these shows was no small feat.
4. ONE - Founded in 2004 with a vision to end extreme poverty and hunger, ONE is now 2 million strong and affecting social change in over ten areas of need including HIV/AIDS, education, debt cancellation, maternal and child health and water and sanitation.
5. Product Red - Perhaps Bono's most widely recognized contribution is his work with Product Red. The revolutionary initiative has successfully harnessed the power of branding and consumerism for affecting social change.
6. EDUN - Before the launching the fashion line with wife, Ali Hewson, and designer Rogan Gregory, mainstream consumers knew little about "clothing with a conscience." Through the creation of eco-friendly designs, EDUN strives to bring fair trade to Africa, instead of simply, aid.
7. TED Prize - In 2005, Bono became one of the first recipient's of the TED Prize. The honor grants one wish to each winner. Not surprisingly, Bono used his wish to help ONE and efforts in Tanzania.
8. Vanity Fair - In 2007 Bono stepped into the role of guest editor and helped publish the July issue called "The Africa Issue: Politics & Power." The magazine featured 20 different covers that month featuring a wide range of activists, politicians and celebrities and their work to help Africa.
9. Man of Peace - In December 2008 the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates bestowed the Man of Peace title on Bono for his extensive and influential humanitarian work.
10. Hope for Haiti - Bono joined forces with long-time bandmate and friend, The Edge, and Jay-Z and Rihanna on the Hope for Haiti Now album. The collaboration, “Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour),”

source:www.tonic.com