Why 'making friends out of potential enemies is smarter than defending yourself against them'. Senate testimony, video and text.

Testimony to the the US Senate Committee last week on the need for increased spending assistance to help Africa fight poverty, AIDS and other infectuous diseases that have spread rapidly throughout the continent.

'Senators, I spend a lot of time in this country. Maybe too much for your liking. I spend a lot of time in buses. At truck stops. In town halls. In church halls. I do all this, and I'm not even running for office. But you know what's amazing? Everywhere I go, I see very much the same thing. I see the same compassion for people who live half a world away. I see the same concern about events beyond these borders. And, increasingly, I see the same conviction that we can and we must join together to stop the scourge of AIDS and poverty. Americans are thinking big...'

DATA are carrying video clips of Bono's testimony and his answers to questions from the subcommittee, along with a pdf of the entire speech. And very moving testimony too from Agnes Nyamayarwo, Uganda nurse and HIV positive who traveled with Bono during the Heart of America tour.
www.data.org

Meanwhile U2log.com carry a great piece by U2 fan and Jubilee USA activist Abbey Fisher who attended the hearing.

'I volunteer for Jubilee USA Network, a continuation of the Jubilee 2000 movement, part of a worldwide campaign to cancel debts of countries in the Global South (Third World or developing countries). Debts of these countries are far from being completely canceled. Debt is a large stumbling block for countries fighting AIDS epidemics, poverty, lack of education, unsafe water, unfair trade relationships, and so many other social and economic problems. Through my involvement with Jubilee, I have learned much about the global AIDS pandemic. All of these issues are interrelated, and I believe they should be addressed as such. ...'

More here
u2log.com