| heading changed to reflect article |
Washington - U2's Bono, citing the Koran, the Bible and rock band Dire Straits, urged President George W. Bush on Thursday to boost US aid to the world's poor by about $25bn (about R150bn).
"This is not about charity, it's about justice," the singer and activist told an annual US national prayer breakfast, peering through orange-tinted glasses at Bush, US lawmakers, and Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders.
"That's too bad, because we're good at charity," he said. "But justice is a higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality."
"There's no way we can look at what's happening in Africa and, if we're honest, conclude that, deep down, we would let it happen anywhere else," said the rock star.
"Mr President, Congress, people of faith, people of America, I want to suggest to you today that you see the flow of effective foreign assistance as tithing, which, to be truly meaningful, will need an additional 1% of the federal budget tithed to the poor," said Bono.
Bush's Office of Management and Budget estimated that the US government spent about $2.473 trillion in 2005, making the singer's request roughly $25bn.
Balance of this kak at the link.| Please hilite your comments when you submit articles |
|