Bono called for an end to 'The Forgotten War' last night, on receiving a
special Humanitarian Award at the 2003 Meteors.
Having thanked everyone for making the award in recognition of his
campaigning work for debt-relief and highlighting the AIDS pandemic in
Africa, he took the opportunity to wonder why millions of people had not
turned out onto the streets to draw attention to the victims of Africa's
'forgotten' war against AIDS.
Drawing a comparison with the recent mass protests against U.S. plans for
possible war against Iraq, Bono said millions of poverty-stricken Africans
would die over the next few years without vital medicine to help them combat
the deadly virus.
'While I am inspired to see people out on the streets to defend the
potential loss of life in Iraq, two million Africans will die next year and
the year after because they cannot get hold of medicine,' he said.
'I want to know why there aren't a million people out on the streets for
this other forgotten war.
Bono was commended in video recordings by former US President Bill Clinton
and Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern, while ex-South African President
Nelson Mandela applauded his 'tireless campaigning' in a message read out at
the ceremony.
With the award came a donation of 100,000 Euros (£69,000), which will be
shared between the development charities Concern and Goal.
More on the advocacy work of Bono for Africa here
www.datadata.org