Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Bono, O'Neill to Raise African Awareness

Aired May 17, 2002 - 10:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: One of the most famous rock stars in the world is about to take off on a tour of Africa. This time, U2's Bono won't be concerned with making music. He's trying to make a difference for some of the poorest people in the world. And to do that, Bono has picked a most unusual travel partner.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN (voice-over): This is U2 in yet another sold-out concert. Lead singer Bono is about to take on another gig, and his partner on that stage couldn't be more different.

PAUL O'NEILL, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY: Funded by the EVRD.

KAGAN: U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Bono are about to take off for Africa, together. It is a part of the world that has fascinated Bono since the 1980s.

BONO, LEAD SINGER, U2: It was a really -- kind of life-changing experience being -- being there and seeing that kind of death and destruction -- wanton death and destruction, and having people offer you their children, you know, to save them from starvation.

KAGAN: From there, Bono found his cause. Between sold out concert tours, he meets with world leaders, and he educates himself on difficult issues like hunger, AIDS and third world debt. There's nothing that this rock star likes to talk about or debate more.

(on camera): But you know what the critics say about forgiving world debt, I'm sure you have heard this over and over again, you just can't forgive debt, because what is the message that that sends when you go and loan money again?

BONO: We have abolished debtors' prisons for people, 100 years ago, but we still put countries in these debtors' prison. And -- as it happens, they are very stringent and rigorous process to avail debt cancellation, but it's a tricky, tricky story to sell on your station. And to any station.

KAGAN: It is not visual, it is hard to put a ...

(CROSSTALK)

BONO: It is not visual. Debt relief is like, what's he yelling about -- sorry, I lost you there, and people have a short attention span. So, you need a picture of pop star and a pope together. That usually, you know, gets people's attention.

KAGAN (voice-over): If not the pope, how about the U.S. treasury secretary? Paul O'Neill was skeptical when he first met Bono last year, thought he was just another flaky celebrity. Their first meeting changed his mind.

O'NEILL: This is a person who knows what he is talking about. He's been there. He understands the problems. He has educated himself about economics, and so I'm looking very much forward to working with him.

KAGAN: And now the road trip. The rock star and the treasury secretary take off on Sunday, a four-nation tour of Africa. Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, and Ethiopia. O'Neill's challenge to Bono: Take me to places where aid works and people are turning their lives around.

O'NEILL: If we don't demand results, we aren't doing our jobs on behalf of compassionate tax payers who want to help alleviate poverty, nor serving the poor who struggle for an opportunity to improve their own lives. Compassion requires that we be hard minded.

KAGAN: Tough talk from a hard-core Republican. An interesting travel companion for the rock star with the bleeding heart.

BONO: You know, I'm not here to assess people's political lives. I'm here to ask them, are they ready to help in what I think is the most important crisis of our time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And it is a very ambitious schedule they're undertaking. They leave Sunday, and it is four countries -- Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, and Ethiopia and -- have I mentioned, Leon, I get to go?

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, really. Maybe once every 15 minutes.

KAGAN: I'm going to Africa with Bono and the treasury secretary. Really exciting opportunity, we will be bringing you incredible coverage. I'll be "Live from Africa" so you will be able to watch this trip as we see it unfold.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com