Today's edition of the UK newspaper The Independent has been edited by Bono and half of all revenues will go towards the RED campaign to fight AIDS in Africa.
The striking cover is a piece of art by Damien Hirst which reads 'NO NEWS TODAY. Just 6,500 Africans died today as a result of a preventable, treatable disease (HIV/Aids)'.
If you're in the UK buy a copy and support RED.
Outside the UK, you can buy a special RED Print edition of the paper and have it mailed to you, information
here The Independent have put plenty of content online already. Here's some choice highlights, with links direct to read more.
COMEDIAN EDDIE IZZARD, INTERVIEWED BY BONO
BONO: Do you consider yourself European?
EDDIE: I consider myself British-European, like there are African- Americans and Italian- Americans. You can be Irish-European. Whether you're Northern or Southern Irish, there's this umbrella of Europeanness. I think if we can make it work in Europe, it's almost a blueprint for the future of the world. If we can get all these countries, with all their languages, coming together to work in some shape or form, then the whole world can work. And if we can't get it working in Europe, the world has got no chance. Those are the stakes.
Read articleTONY BLAIR ON HELPING AFRICA STAND ON ITS OWN FEET
'Africa wants to stand on its own feet and what it wants from us in the meantime is help to get there. They don't want to be dependent on anybody, they actually want to be self-reliant and can be, and that's the most important thing. Sometimes when you meet people in different countries who are suffering from HIV and Aids and who are in a state of despair, it's possible to become despairing yourself, but I still think, despite all the problems, there are enough examples of people getting up and doing it with the right help to make us optimistic about the future.'
Read article CONDOLEEZZA RICE, US SECRETARY OF STATE ON CREAM AND ACID ROCK
'Sunshine of Your Love'. Cream - Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce - were one of the first of the great supergroups. Despite the fact that the band split up in 1968, Cream's fans are still going strong. "I love to work out to this song," says Rice. "Believe it or not, I loved acid rock in college - and I still do."
Read articleEDGE ON HOW NEW ORLEANS HOLDS THE DNA OF AMERICAN MUSIC
The latest example of that country's cavalier attitude towards its black artists has been the disregard with which its establishment agencies have treated New Orleans, arguably the most significant musical city on the continent, the American Vienna. "For me, in DNA terms, it's like the original of the rock'n'roll species," says U2 guitarist, The Edge. "That area is where that particular combination of influences created the musical environment that spawned jazz, blues and rock'n'roll. It's that obvious African influence, mingled with other European musics - the Scots and Irish influence, the French influence - that's where it just seemed to go off."
Read articleELVIS COSTELLO ON AMERICAN LIFE
'Two weeks ago, I was side-stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, watching a set by the contemporary gospel singer Yolanda Adams. Irma Thomas, the "Queen of New Orleans Soul", is also there listening. When Yolanda begins her sensational closing number, "Victory", Irma jumps to her feet, shadowing every line. It is hard to know which performance is more joyful.'
Read article http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/reviews/article484982.ece
STELLA MCCARTNEY TALKS TO GIORGIO ARMANI ON HOW PEOPLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
SM: People are increasingly aware of the food they eat and the cars they drive. Do you think it's our responsibility to make people more environmentally aware when it comes to fashion?
GA: I think that the most profound changes in society start with individual choices. If people want to change, they will. If they don't want to, it's hard to make them do so. The current interest in the environment is a good thing. The best way to make a contribution in fashion is to promote the idea that a fundamental interest in preserving the environment is itself fashionable. Beyond that, yes, of course we can work in ways that are more environmentally friendly, and create garments and products that promote the idea of environmental awareness. Recently, Armani Jeans was awarded the Eco Tex certification at Ecomoda, the Ecological Trade Fair, for the use of recycled polyester from bottles, and certified organic cotton from Peru (where we have been buying organic cotton from communities that once were dependent on the opium crop).
Read article http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article484641.ece
BOB GELDOF ON WHY AFRICA MUST BE ALLOWED TO TRADE ITS WAY OUT OF POVERTY
In a time of weak world leadership, when the WTO negotiators are failing so miserably, let us remind their bosses - Bush, Chirac, Merkel et al - that we agree with them when they argue that, long term, "aid isn't the answer", and that the continent of Africa and its people must trade its way into the global market and sit where it rightfully belongs, negotiating as equals with the rest of us.
Read article
