hmmm, i still dont see how he's actually causing harm by it though? and if people believe that dropping the debt will solve all the problems, obviously that is over simplistic, BUT, it will give countries a chance to invest more in themselves, and it is a start. Although definitely the arms issue needs to be addressed, (mind you im pretty sure that is also on the agenda, its just not as vocal/media friendly as the make poverty history campaign) In terms of sloganeering i thought thats what he was there for? no one (i hope) is going to believe bono is a world expert on poverty but if a random person hears aboout, say the make poverty history campaign, and then gets involved or even just reads up, hopefully they will be guided towards people with greater experience etc and can form their own opinion. Thats what i would see as the ultimate goal of bono etc, and unless he is gone up his own nose completely i would assume that thats what he thinks too.

I'm sure Bono's heart is in the right place, I'm sure it is. And I'm also certain that the reason Africa (it's now an 'issue', and not a 'continent', right?) is all over the papers because of the actions of Bono and Geldof. But, it sickens me to see Bono negotiating with people like Blair, Bush, Wolfowitz etc when he should be smashing the windows of their offices, rather than sharing desk space (metaphorically). I think it sends out the message that you have to sit with the devil to achieve a 'greater good', which is a win for the structures that cause the problems in the first place. Remember when Bono flashed the peace sign with Bush? That sign used to mean something. Political leaders speak in the same generalisations that Bono and Geldof use, that can be really jarring. If all you listened or heard by chance (which most people only do) was our political leaders say a lot about nothing, and Bono spout off slogans, than you would remain pretty ignorant about the actual issues, unless you went elsewhere ot find information. For some reason, this whole situation at the moment of 'global action' just doesn't feel right, for me, anyway.

aye i would agree with you Una, pretty much about everything you said, especially about sitting down with bush and the boyos. I do still think that it is better than nothing though

Is better then nothing though. If the debt of a country is preventing it from spending further on weapons with which to persecute its own people or other nations, then will they really be better off having their debt cleared to allow them to further spend money on weapons. Thats not to say that all of the countries listed for debt relief have the above problem, but some do. Each should be judged on acase by case basis. Countries should only get debt relief if the meet certain criteria such as proper government, development plans and accountability. A country who cant meet these critera should not have its debt relieved as its unlikely that the people of these countries will benefit from the money in any way. any, getting into politics here, and this is a music forum, so ill say no more.

On the other hand look at someone like Thom Yorke, his political activities are quite similar to what Una has been saying Bono and Gelfof should be doing (not quite throwing bricks through windows but he's going on marches and the like) and he's not really doing much good apart from getting his causes space in the NME whenever he speaks about them. All any of them can really do is raise awareness and by doing so the public might force change but they themselves won't. At least through the Yorke method he's probably got less of a nasty taste in his mouth.

I went to see U2 on Friday night, I am not a massive fan but do love their music. I was completely blown away by the show. Vertigo is in a league of its own in terms of a live stadium spectacle. It was so feckin entertaining, I was in awe for most of it. '.....when their career is at a creative all time low' ?????? - Vertigo was the most creative art I have seen in a long time. I also thought the political element in the show was not over done. It amazes how much slack Bono gets for trying to do his bit to better the world. Personally I think if we left the politics to the politicians we would end up with a messed up world. Vertigo preaches peace, anti discrimination, love for one another and poverty eradication. Theres alot of greedy people with power, its refreshing to see these issues infront of the masses.

They are mediocre at best. Pop was their last best album, after that it's just U2 by numbers. When was the last time you heard a U2 song and said "who the hell is that"? Never, it's more of the same every single time. Radiohead is just one example of band pushing the boundaries, U2 pushes €30 t shirts whilst lecturing us on the evils of capitalism. U2 are indeed a safe band and Bono's politics are just as safe. One week he is calling chirac a w**ker and the next he is hugging him.

i think what has really pissed me off this past week is the never-ending, uncritical coverage of U2 in the irish media. i threw away the irish times in disgust on monday because it was "its all so wonderful". there was a piece by brian boyd which was the most sycophantic thing i have read this side of a mark steyn rant on bush. Does anyone in the irish media have the balls to properly judge the band and call them on the emperor's new clothes? i mean, the times have used pieces by Boyd on u2 about 3 or 4 times this year - any chance of any other views? that said, it was better than the AWFUl u2 uncovered programme i saw by accident on UTV last night. cat deeley flirting with the band. maybe it is time i got sky sports..... lets get this straight - u2 arent even the best band in DUBLIN btw check out http://www.eyebrowy.com/majorleagues.htm for a goon-sized giggle, especially the bob dylan bits

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lets get this straight - u2 arent even the best band in DUBLIN

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Well don't keep us in suspence - who is the best Band in Dublin??

aye im a little intrigued myself

Pilchard, I totally agree with you about Boyd's piece in the Times. I really did nearly puke on it. I can't even start talking about it in detail in case I vomit again. "Radiohead is just one example of band pushing the boundaries, U2 pushes €30 t shirts whilst lecturing us on the evils of capitalism." bravo. Regarding what Thom Yorke does etc. This isn't really about musicians and politics, it's about powerful people and politics, and I don't think Bono's position could be fairly compared with another musician, I think it would be better compared with a person of the same power as him, say, for example, a politician. For the moment, he is basically a one man lobby group who seems to sit down with an awful lot of big wigs but never really achieve anything. Do you actually think Blair and Bush and Bertie for that matter really think, "I'm going to have a meeting with Bono today, and really listen to what he says and impliment some of his ideas". Or, do they think "great, loads of lovely positive press for me, great photo opportunities, exposure to young voters, because I'm talking to this bloke Bono." It would be very naiive to think Bono would have an effect on actual policy. A week or so ago I was reading one of the 24,000 interviews with Bono that appeared in the Irish press in the lead up to last weekend's gigs and he was talking about Bush and how he was such a decent bloke, witty, charming, blah blah blah. I'm sorry, but that kind of bulls**t just sickens me. If people really do listen to Bono, then he's sending out a message of, "this chap Bush is alright, and funny, just a little misguided" which, is in my opinion, a giant crock of s**t. I just have too many grievances with Bono and Geldof's methods. And I'm sure, if I worked with a charity or any part of the global justice movement, or fair trade, or whatever, I would be pissed off that all these mixed messages were being broadcast by these guys. And anyway, who is Bono speaking on behalf of when he makes such statements and dons his political cap?

"Theres alot of greedy people with power" jaysus, is bono not one of them.

very good piece in the weekend supplement of the irish times today about arm bands, bono, geldof and all of that typa thang

I thought that Jim Carroll was totally off key with his coloumn in The Ticket this Friday if anyone read it.

how much do radiohead charge for t-shirts, i remember them being too expensive for me to buy at the gig...

where can you find it online? i'll give it a google now.