Paul "Bono" Hewson

Bono in his element (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/)

"As a rock star, I have two instincts, I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both" ("Bono Quotes"). Paul Hewson, known to most as Bono, is the stellar front man of rock band U2. But most people do not know his full story. Bono, born on May 10, 1960 in Dublin, Ireland had a normal childhood, until his parents transferred him to Mount Temple High School. It is there where he first noticed a bulletin asking for anyone interested in a joining a band to come to a garage session. The people who showed up, including Bono, would one day be the most popular rock band in the world, known as U2. U2's fame skyrocketed with their first album Boy, released in 1980. They continued to grow in popularity until U2 was at the top with penetrating albums like The Joshua Tree, and Rattle and Hum. U2 was center stage in the rock and roll world, but Bono's accomplishments did not end there. He relentlessly raised millions of dollars to combat AIDS, Third World debt, and poverty. Bono's never-flinching resolve brought U2 from a garage band to the world's most successful rock band; this determination is only surpassed by the compassion Bono puts into his music and his work to make a difference in the lives of people others have forgotten. 

Bono helping out in Africa (http://roadsofstone.com/2006/09/19/124-exploring-africa-with-bono/)

Bono's persistence has helped propel the issues he is passionate about onto the world's stage. Whether it is public benefits or social activism, Bono never stops helping others: "Long after the Live Aid concert and Band Aid recording, Bono remained dedicated to helping others. He used his fame to reach out to world and industry leaders. He co-founded the DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) foundation, which fights HIV and poverty in the developing world, in 2002" ("Bono." Newsmakers). Bono's Live Aid concert and Band Aid recordings where two huge events that brought to people's attention others struggles, making it the world's issue to provide aid to those in need. After these two huge events, people thought Bono had peaked in his role as an activist, but all those events did was make Bono more determined to lend a hand by founding organizations like DATA. Due to his connections in the music world, Bono knew the right people to help him get the job done: "With Bob Geldof, he helped to organize the 2005 Live 8 concerts, which called on global leaders to cancel debt and improve trade agreements with impoverished countries. During this period, Bono also worked directly with politicians. He spoke at the Liberal Party of Canada's Leadership Convention in 2003, and addressed the British Labour Party annual conference in 2004" ("Cooney, Marta"). Bono incorporates music in his work with the Live 8 concerts to involve thousands of people in his call to arms on debt and trade amongst impoverished countries. His work in activism is not confined to his music or organizations like DATA, but goes right to the source working directly with world leaders where he can make the largest impact. Bono's tenaciousness has impacted millions of lives; thanks to his efforts, issues like poverty, AIDS, and third world debt have become a world focus. 

Bono on cover of TIME Magazine (http://www.eddykong.com/read.php/10.htm ())

Bono developed empathy for the plight of others early on and set out to make a difference and create change. While busy working on a new album for U2, Bono traveled to Ethiopia: "Two years later, in 1985, he and his wife, Alison, visited Ethiopia and spent seven weeks working alongside other humanitarian relief workers to improve housing and sanitation in a crowded refugee camp" ("Bono." Encyclopedia of World Biography).  Bono's trip to Ethiopia helped hundreds of refugees by providing education, medical services and proper living conditions in the refugee camps.  Unlike many celebrities, Bono did not walk away after the first benefit. He truly gets involved in the causes he believes in, because he is still advocating for aid to these impoverished countries almost thirty years later. This was just the beginning of many trips Bono would take: "He later visited El Salvador, where he witnessed a military attack on a village and later brought those images into songs on The Joshua Tree" ("Bono." Newsmakers). Bono's trip to El Salvador solidified his drive to help others and to bring about change. He shares this with the rest of the world in U2's album The Joshua Tree. For example, about the song Mothers of the Disappeared, U2 bassist Adam Clayton says,  "'Mothers Of The Disappeared' came out of Bono's trip to El Salvador. I think the Spanish guitar melody came from a song Bono had used in the camps in Ethiopia to teach African children some very basic hygiene. He was inspired by this strange, almost silent protest of the mothers of people who had disappeared without any trace but were assumed to be victims of torture and kidnap and murder" (Ryan, Ian). This album has sold over a million copies and is one of the bands most popular and most listened to albums. The events Bono witnessed at Ethiopia and El Salvador continue to teach him life lessons about the frailty of human life and the importance of peace. Bono has witnessed firsthand peoples and cultures most of us have only read about in books or magazines. This gives Bono empathy towards others, something he wishes to teach everybody in order to have a more understanding, diligent society. 

Bono with Secretary-General of U.N. (http://www.accesshollywood.com/bono)

Bono gives his all to everything, because he is truly passionate about what he does, letting nothing get in the way of his goals. Through multiple benefits, personal meetings with world leaders, and corporations, Bono has sought to eliminate AIDS in Africa, and eradicate Third World debt and poverty. His persistence and compassion have brought him closer than ever to achieving these lofty goals. Bono inspires me with his music, but also with his never-ending work to build Africa. This teaches me, if you have a dream or goal, don't stop until you meet or exceed that goal. "Africa is a continent in flames. And deep down, if we really accepted that Africans were equal to us, we would all do more to put the fire out. We're standing around with watering cans, when what we really need is the fire brigade "("Bono Quotes"). This statement of Bono's holds sad truth: If we really cared enough to help Africa, then everyone would lend a hand to the cause; this inspires me the most. Bono instills in me that all of mankind's dreams are within our grasp; by putting in the extra work we can make it happen. "ONE has fostered implementation of programs that have provided AIDS medication to nearly four million Africans, halved the number of deaths by malaria in Africa, and sent 42 million children to school" ("Bono." Newsmakers). The music of Mount Temple High School's "garage band" U2 will live on forever, but that is not all Bono will leave behind. His true lasting legacy will be his tireless efforts with the organizations ONE and DATA against AIDS, poverty and third world debt, and the lasting impact these efforts will have on a growing Africa.

Works Cited

"Bono." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Andrea Henderson. 2nd ed. Vol. 24. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 56-59. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 25 Mar. 2012."

"Bono." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, 1988. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 25                   Mar. 2012.

"Bono Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore, 2001. Web. 11 Apr. 2012.

"Cooney, Martha." Bono (Paul Hewson)." Bono (2010): 1. Biography Reference Center. Web. 26 Mar. 2012."

Ryan, Ian. "Mothers of the Disappeared Lyrics." U2 Home Page: @U2. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. .