[Bono] reveals plan to stop AIDS

from the Caymanian Compass

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) – U2 front man and activist Bono unveiled a new Red brand on Thursday aimed at combating the spread of HIV and AIDS in Africa by using sneakers, T–shirts and a charge card all using the red color and brand to generate money and provide work for Africans.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf used a special address to the World Economic Forum to talk about the role of strategy in dealing with the aftermath of last year’s devastating earthquake.

The second day of the forum’s annual meeting promised a blend of celebrity and brass–tacks talk of the issues facing the global community, ranging from security against terror to advancing human rights and the struggle against poverty and disease.

Dressed in a denim jacket and sporting his trademark wraparound sunglasses, Bono said the new "Red" program would help the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by raising more money for its programs.

"So, here we are fat cats in the snow and I say that as one," the songwriter and member of DATA, or Debt, AIDS and Trade in Africa, said, to laughs. "It is a great place to do business and we have some business we want to talk to you about."

The venture will include an American Express card, shoes, T–shirts and sunglasses and is a long term method of raising private income for the group, said Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund.

"Red will bring a rising income stream...(and) increased awareness of HIV in Africa and the role of the Global Fund to finance programs to treat it," he said. "Income from Red will flow to support Global Fund programs in Africa against HIV Aids, especially programs that help women and children."

The Forum released a joint study by a panel of experts that rated the likelihood as "very high" that there would be new HIV and tuberculosis infections of 5 million people this year.

Musharraf shied away from his remarks in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that his country would build a planned gas pipeline from Iran by itself if talks with India failed.

Instead, he talked of using corporate strategy to guide a relief effort for earthquake survivors.

"The leader has to take stock and assess the situation," he told an audience of several hundred business executives, government officials and more. "The leader must act immediately to show solidarity with the people, to infuse confidence and hope in the people.

"It may just be a flag showing, it may just be optics, but it is extremely important ... he must reach out to the people immediately," he said.

Musharraf added that some US$6.2 billion in relief was earmarked or donated to Pakistan in the aftermath.