Why Poverty?

[cheers and applause]

[rhythmic heartbeat music]

- THIS FAMINE IS ONE OF THE GREAT SHAMEFUL THINGS

OF OUR TIME.

AND I FIND IT AN INDICTMENT OF US AND A PATHETIC WAY OF LIVING

THAT A PIECE OF PLASTIC 7 INCHES ACROSS WITH A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE

IS THE PRICE OF SOMEONE'S LIFE THIS YEAR.

[cheers and applause]

female narrator: 30 YEARS AGO,

TWO YOUNG ROCK STARS SET OUT TO CHALLENGE THE WORLD.

- I TURN ON THE NEWS, AND I JUST SEE THOSE THINGS GOING PAST,

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND BOB GELDOF, HE SAYS, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,

BUT I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING."

WOW, YOU KNOW?

I LIKE THAT.

[cheers and applause]

narrator: THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW BOB GELDOF AND BONO

USED THEIR CELEBRITY STATUS: TO TAKE ON THE WILIEST POLITICIANS ON EARTH

TO TRY TO END POVERTY IN AFRICA.

- WHAT WAS BREATHTAKING

WAS HOW BOBBY AND BONO SET SUCH A HIGH GOAL.

- THIS WAS POLITICS AT THE HIGHEST TABLE

WHERE THINGS ARE DECIDED, NOT TALKED ABOUT.

DECIDED.

[cheers and applause]

- WE JUST HAD A GREAT VISIT IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

- WHEN WE SAW THAT WE COULD BE EFFECTIVE,

IT WAS VERY HARD THEN TO GO AWAY AGAIN.

narrator: BUT WITH EXTREME POVERTY

CONTINUING TO PLAGUE AFRICA,

BONO AND GELDOF HAVE ALSO BEEN ACCUSED OF ARROGANCE.

Jamme: THEY GO INTO A G20 OR A G8,

GO THERE AND HANG AROUND,

AND THEY THINK THAT WILL JUST MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU WANT TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AFRICA,

WHY ARE YOU NOT SPEAKING TO US?

narrator: AND THEY HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR LACK OF RESULTS.

Moyo: THESE CELEBRITIES,

IF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION

ARE THEIR MOTIVATIONS, THEY HAVE FAILED MISERABLY.

[cheers and applause]

narrator: HAVE THESE TWO ROCK STARS

REALLY CHANGED THE WORLD?

Geldof: WE COME TO YOU TONIGHT WITH 3.8 BILLION PEOPLE

IN OUR BACK POCKETS.

HOW CAN THEY REFUSE US?

[cheers and applause]

[applause]

- ONE OF THE NOT UNIMPORTANT ADVANTAGES

OF ENDING WORLD HUNGER WOULD BE

THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME OR MY FRIENDS SINGING

ABOUT FEEDING THE WORLD WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING IT.

SO THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE HERE.

[laughter and applause]

man: HOW YOU DOING, BOB?

narrator: BONO AND BOB GELDOF

HAD BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR DECADES.

THEY RUN THEIR OWN $30 MILLION LOBBYING ORGANIZATION,

AND THEY HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.

- WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT YOUR PRESIDENT.

narrator: TODAY THEY ARE SEEN BY MANY

AS ESTABLISHED ICONS OF AID,

LOVED BY SOME AND LOATHED BY OTHERS.

HOW DID THEY ACHIEVE THIS?

AND HOW MUCH IMPACT HAVE THEY REALLY HAD?

- HOW ARE YOU?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

- THE AFRICAN PEOPLE,

THEY DON'T WANT AID AS AN ONGOING BASIS.

THEY NEED IT NOW.

- AND THESE COUNTRIES HAVE SPENT...

narrator: WHEN IT STARTED, IT ALL SEEMED SO SIMPLE,

WAY BACK IN 1984,

WHEN THEY WATCHED TV REPORTS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD

AND CHANGED THEIR OWN LIVES FOREVER.

[people shouting indistinctly]

male reporter: DAWN, AND AS THE SUN BREAKS THROUGH

THE PIERCING CHILL OF NIGHT ON THE PLAIN OUTSIDE KOREM,

IT LIGHTS UP A BIBLICAL FAMINE NOW IN THE 20TH CENTURY.

narrator: WITHOUT THE WORLD NOTICING,

DROUGHT AND CIVIL WAR: HAD QUIETLY CREATED THE WORST FAMINE IN MEMORY.

Geldof: YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T NORMALLY CRY AT THE NEWS,

BUT HAVING SEEN WHAT I SAW,

THIS HAD A MASSIVE IMPACT.

male reporter: THE SIZE OF THE DISASTER IS STUNNING.

AT KOREM IN THE MOUNTAINS,

200,000 PLEAD FOR HELP AT CENTERS

WHICH CAN FEED ONLY 1/10 OF THAT.

- [speaking native language]

[child coughing]

- THE INSTINCTIVE HUMAN REACTION IS TO BE DISGUSTED

AND ASHAMED, AND ENRAGED AND ANGRY, IN MY CASE.

BUT UNLIKE, SAY, BEING A BUS CONDUCTOR

OR AN INSURANCE SALESMAN OR A BANK MANAGER,

I CAN WRITE TUNES.

- FEED THE WORLD

LET THEM KNOW IT'S CHRISTMASTIME

FEED THE WORLD

- IT'S BECOME THE FASTEST-SELLING SINGLE EVER.

narrator: THOUGH THE SONG RAISED $6 MILLION,

IT WOULD HARDLY MAKE AN IMPACT.

male reporter: THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FOOD

FOR HALF THESE PEOPLE.

RUMORS OF A SHIPMENT CAN SET OFF PANIC.

narrator: GELDOF DECIDED HE WOULD NEED TO DO BETTER

AND SET ABOUT ORGANIZING THE BIGGEST ROCK CONCERT

THE WORLD HAD EVER SEEN.

[rhythmic clapping]

[rhythmic rock music]

Geldof: YOU'VE GOT TO GET ON THE PHONE

AND TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET.

DON'T GO TO THE PUB TONIGHT.

PLEASE STAY IN AND GIVE US THE MONEY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING NOW!

SO GIVE ME THE MONEY.

- I CAN'T BELIEVE THE NEWS TODAY

I CAN'T CLOSE MY EYES AND MAKE IT GO AWAY

- TODAY'S LIVE AID WORLDWIDE CONCERT

HAS ALREADY RAISED AT LEAST �30 MILLION

FOR THE STARVING PEOPLE OF AFRICA,

AND THE PHONES ARE STILL BUZZING.

narrator: INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS,

AND GOVERNMENTS DONATED OVER $1 BILLION TO ETHIOPIA,

AND FOOD AND SUPPLIES BEGAN FLOODING INTO THE COUNTRY.

narrator: BUT THE FOOD GIVEN

WOULD NOT SOLVE ANYTHING LONG-TERM.

WHAT WAS TO BE DONE NOW?

- MYSELF AND ALLY SPENT, I THINK, FIVE WEEKS

IN ETHIOPIA AFTER LIVE AID,

WORKING, DIDN'T TELL ANYONE.

AND ON THE WAY HOME,

SOMETHING INSIDE OF US KNEW: THERE'S MORE TO EXTREME POVERTY THAN UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES.

- [shouting in native language]

[glass shatters]

narrator: A MAJOR REASON BEHIND AFRICA'S DIFFICULTIES

WAS THE RICH WORLD ITSELF.

IT WAS THE HEIGHT OF THE COLD WAR,

AND BOTH EAST AND WEST WERE USING AID AND MASSIVE LOANS

AS A HIDDEN REWARD FOR FRIENDLY DICTATORS IN AFRICA.

[applause]

BY THE '90s, WITH THE COLD WAR OVER,

THE WEST DEMANDED THAT REPAYMENTS BEGIN.

THE SUMS WERE SO HUGE: THAT LITTLE MONEY WAS LEFT FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

STILL THE RICH NATIONS REFUSED

TO FACE UP TO THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITY.

- IT WAS A HUGELY CURRENT DEBATE

IN THE ACADEMIC AND POLICY WORLD.

IT WASN'T ANY KIND OF A DEBATE IN THE PUBLIC WORLD.

AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IS THERE SOME WAY

OF GOING TO THE PEOPLE: WHO HAD PUT TOGETHER THE LIVE AID AND BAND AID CONCERTS,

BOB GELDOF, PEOPLE LIKE BONO, AND SAY TO THEM,

"LOOK, DID YOU KNOW THAT THE COUNTRY

"FOR WHICH YOU RAISED THAT MONEY EVERY YEAR HAS

TO SPEND MORE REPAYING DEBTS THAN YOU RAISED FOR THEM?"

[indistinct conversation]

Bono: I THINK WHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT

ABOUT JAMIE DRUMMOND'S CALL TO ME

WAS, THAT SUBJECT WHICH WAS A WOUND NOT FULLY CLOSED OVER

FROM ETHIOPIA OPENED UP AGAIN.

Drummond: LIVE AID AND BAND AID HAD BEEN,

IF YOU LIKE, THE BAND-AID SOLUTION,

AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO THE REAL HEART OF THE MATTER.

WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO RAISE MONEY THROUGH CHARITY CONCERTS.

WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

- BONO CALLED ME ABOUT DOING THE DEBT CAMPAIGN,

AND HE SAID,

"WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO?"

SO I SAID USE YOUR INFLUENCE,

BECAUSE THE CULT OF CELEBRITY WAS NOW A CURRENCY.

YOU COULD SPEND THAT CURRENCY.

Drummond: AND I HAD THIS IDEA TO TRY

AND USE THE BRITISH MUSIC AWARDS,

THE BRITISH EQUIVALENT OF THE GRAMMYS,

TO COMMUNICATE THIS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED ISSUE

OF DEBT CANCELLATION AND "DROP THE DEBT"

TO A MAINSTREAM POPULAR TV AUDIENCE.

- OKAY.

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

Drummond: BONO'S QUITE WORRIED.

YOU KNOW, HOW IS HE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DEBT CANCELLATION

TO A BUNCH OF TEENY BOPPERS: AND PEOPLE TUNING IN TO WATCH THEIR POP STAR FAVORITES?

- THE BANKS WON'T CANCEL THE DEBTS

UNLESS THE POLITICIANS TELL THE BANKS TO DO THAT,

AND THE POLITICIANS WON'T TELL THE BANKS

UNLESS WE TELL THEM TO DO THAT.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

ARE YOU WITH ME?

Drummond: YOU KNOW, I WAS IN THE AUDIENCE

AT THE BRITS WATCHING IT ALL UNFOLD.

HE SAYS,

"ARE YOU IN?"

AND PART OF US ARE ALL THINKING,

NO, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN; IT'S GOING TO BE A DISASTER.

- WE HAVE A CHANCE,

A ONCE-IN-A-MILLENNIUM CHANCE, TO CHANGE THE WORLD,

AND WE HAVE WITH US TONIGHT SOMEBODY

WHO HAS ALREADY CHANGED THE WORLD.

MUHAMMAD ALI IS WITH US TONIGHT.

HE IS IN THE BUILDING.

ON YOUR FEET!

[cheers and applause]

- A FAKE AWARD WAS GIVEN TO MUHAMMAD.

[audience chanting "Ali"]

AND THE CROWDS AND THE MUSIC AND THE COVERAGE--

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

[audience chanting "Ali"]

- WE HIJACKED THE BRITS.

ON ALL THESE DIFFERENT LEVELS, IT JUST WORKED BEAUTIFULLY.

BUT WE ALSO NEEDED TO GET GLOBAL COVERAGE.

- THIS IS SIR BOB GELDOF,

WHO ORGANIZED A MAJOR CAMPAIGN AGAINST FAMINE IN ETHIOPIA.

- UNEXPECTED BEDFELLOWS.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

- THIS IS MR. BONO, WHO IS A SINGER.

Bono: YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW TO GET ATTENTION IN THE MEDIA.

- HE HAS A GIFT FOR YOU.

- MY GLASSES I GIVE TO YOU.

[laughter]

GET THE POPE WEARING YOUR SUNGLASSES.

NOW, THAT'S-- THAT'S ACTION.

- AND SUDDENLY WE HAD MOMENTUM.

[all chanting] WHAT DO WE WANT?

DROP THE DEBT!

WHEN DO WE WANT IT?

NOW!

male reporter: THE PUBLIC DISGUST

AT THE RICH WORLD'S DEMANDS FOR REPAYMENT

FROM THE POOR WORLD SPILLED ONTO THE STREETS OF COLOGNE

THIS SUMMER AT A MEETING: OF THE GROUP OF THE EIGHT INDUSTRIAL NATIONS.

narrator: THIS WAS THE MOMENT

THE CAMPAIGNERS HAD BEEN AIMING FOR:

ALL THE MOST POWERFUL LEADERS IN ONE ROOM.

BUT THE POLITICIANS WOULD STILL NEED TO BE CONVINCED.

Pettifor: WE WERE IN COLOGNE AT THE G8 SUMMIT,

AND BONO AND GELDOF'S CELEBRITY STATUS WAS SOMETHING

THAT POLITICIANS SO DESPERATELY WANTED.

THEY'D DO ALMOST ANYTHING TO GET IT.

- THEY WANT PICTURES WITH THE STARS.

I MEAN, EVEN BACK IN '85,

MOST OF THE DAY IN CONGRESS WAS SPENT SHAKING HANDS

WITH CONGRESSMEN FOR THEIR LOCAL CONGRESSIONAL NEWSPAPER,

MOST OF IT.

YOU KNOW, HALF OF THEM HADN'T A CLUE WHO I WAS,

BUT THEY, YOU KNOW, PUT IT IN THERE.

Pettifor: WE HAD A ROW ABOUT WHETHER

OR NOT THE G8 HAD DONE ENOUGH

AND WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR BONO AND GELDOF

TO HAVE THEIR PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN WITH TONY BLAIR,

WHO WAS GOING TO SAY,

"LOOK, HERE I AM WITH THESE GUYS,

AND THEREFORE THAT SHOWS I AM A GOOD GUY AND I'VE DONE IT."

WELL, ACTUALLY THEY HADN'T QUITE DONE IT.

- WE SAT AND TALKED FOR A LONG TIME

ABOUT WHETHER WE'D SMILE OR NOT,

BECAUSE WE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE SMILING

BECAUSE HE HADN'T GIVEN US ANYTHING.

BUT IF WE SMILED, YOU KNOW,

THEN THERE HAD TO BE A PRICE.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S NONSENSE.

I MEAN...

[people shouting in different languages]

narrator: FAME AND CELEBRITY HELPED,

AND BIG PROMISES ON DEBT REDUCTIONS WERE EXTRACTED

FROM EVERY G8 NATION EXCEPT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.

BUT BONO HAD SPECIAL CONNECTIONS.

Drummond: CLINTON AND BONO'S RELATIONSHIP

WENT BACK TO NORTHERN IRELAND.

FOR MOST OF THE '90S,

BONO WAS VERY INVOLVED IN CAMPAIGNING ON NORTHERN IRELAND.

AND CLINTON WAS VERY INVOLVED IN PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

AND THEY DEVELOPED A STRONG RELATIONSHIP

THROUGH A LOT OF THAT WORK.

narrator: WHILE GELDOF STAYED BEHIND

TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN,

BONO WENT TO SEE HIS OLD FRIEND.

- I REMEMBER SITTING IN FRONT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON,

PITCHING HIM DEBT CANCELLATION.

AND HE HAD GOT A LOT ON HIS MIND.

HE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TERRIBLE TIME FOR HIM.

EVERYTHING WAS GOING PEAR-SHAPED.

YOU CAN'T JUST TURN UP AND ASK A PRESIDENT TO DO SOMETHING.

YOU HAVE TO GO OUT SOLVING THEIR PROBLEMS FOR THEM.

SO I JUST SAID,

"UM, MR. PRESIDENT,

"YOU'RE GOING TO BE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD

"ON NEW YEAR'S EVE,

"ON THE NIGHT AS WE TURN FROM ONE MILLENNIUM INTO THE OTHER.

"YOU MUST HAVE SOME AMAZING SPEECH PLANNED.

I MEAN, YOU MUST HAVE SOME BIG ANNOUNCEMENT."

[laughing] AND I JUST NOTICE HIM LOOKING AT ME LIKE...

[affects Southern accent]

"JUST TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, NOW, THIS THING.

"SO THERE'S AN ANNOUNCEMENT,

"AND WE ARE GOING TO CANCEL THESE DEBTS.

AND I THINK, I MEAN, IT'S A JUSTICE ISSUE."

AND I COULD JUST SEE HIM SORT OF WARMING UP.

[applause]

Pettifor: WE WERE SITTING INSIDE THE IMF MEETINGS.

AND WE SAW CLINTON COME UP ONTO THE PODIUM.

AND YOU KNOW HOW YOU LISTEN IN THE BACKGROUND,

MURMUR, MURMUR.

[applause]

- WE ALL MUST PROVIDE OUR FAIR SHARE OF FINANCING

TO GLOBAL DEBT RELIEF.

TODAY I AM DIRECTING MY ADMINISTRATION

TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE: TO FORGIVE 100% OF THE DEBT THESE COUNTRIES OWE

TO THE UNITED STATES.

[applause]

- I CAN'T TELL YOU.

YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS HEARING.

[cheers and applause]

- BONO CAME TO WASHINGTON AND MET WITH BILL CLINTON AND SAID,

"WE REALLY NEED TO CANCEL THESE DEBTS," AND BILL CLINTON SAID,

"GREAT, LET'S DO IT."

AND BONO THOUGHT, "GREAT, MY WORK IS DONE."

WHAT HE DIDN'T REALIZE AT THAT TIME

IS OF COURSE THERE WERE 535 OTHER PEOPLE

THAT HE HAD TO CONVINCE, IN THIS CASE THE U.S. CONGRESS.

[applause]

- THERE IS THE REALLY BIZARRE MOMENT

WHEN YOU DISCOVER THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

HE'S NOT IN CHARGE.

THAT WAS A REAL MOMENT FOR ME.

Drummond: IT WAS PLAIN THAT WE NEEDED TO PERSUADE AMERICA

TO LEAD ON THIS ISSUE.

BOBBY SHRIVER CAME IN AND INTRODUCED BONO AND ALL OF US

TO HIS FAMILY BUSINESS, WHICH IS AMERICAN POLITICS.

HIS UNCLE HAD BEEN PRESIDENT--

YOU KNOW, JFK, BOBBY KENNEDY.

IT'S A PRETTY AMAZING PEDIGREE IN THIS FAMILY.

AND CERTAINLY IN DEMOCRATIC POLITICS,

BOBBY COULD CERTAINLY INTRODUCE US TO SOME PEOPLE.

- IN AMERICA, YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE

TO MAKE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION,

AND I KNEW THAT LOOKING AT MYSELF

AND TO SOME EXTENT LOOKING AT BONO

THAT PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT IT--

THEY WOULD HAVE A MEETING, BUT THEY MIGHT THINK...

"THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO COME IN TO PLAY THE VIOLIN."

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

WE ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

WE HAD TO COME IN AND HAVE THE PEOPLE THINK,

"OH, MY GOD,

"THESE GUYS ARE SERIOUS,

"THEY'RE NOT GONNA GO AWAY,

AND THEY'RE GONNA WIN."

Bono: I KNEW ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THAT I WAS OUT OF MY DEPTH.

THIS WAS ECONOMICS,

AND I'M A SINGER IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND,

SO I HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL.

Shriver: WE NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW THE FINANCING

IN THE CONGRESS WAS GOING TO WORK,

WHAT THE WORLD BANK'S POSITION WAS,

WHAT THE IMF'S POSITION WAS,

AND WE NEEDED TO KNOW THAT IN REAL THOROUGH DETAIL.

A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WAS THE HEAD OF THE WORLD BANK,

SO WHEN I SAID TO HIM,

"I'M BRINGING THIS MUSICIAN FRIEND OF MINE,

"AND WE NEED TO GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL RIGHT AWAY

AND REALLY GET TO KNOW THIS," HE SAID "WELL, OKAY."

Drummond: PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,

I THINK THEY LIKED THE DATA-BASED

AND EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH,

BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS

ON SIDE.

Kasich: WHAT HAPPENED WAS, FRANKLY,

A LOT OF THE CONGRESSMEN AND EVEN SOME OF THE SENATORS

DIDN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT MEETING WITH HIM, BUT ALL THE STAFF DID.

AND THERE WOULD BE ALL THESE STAFF PEOPLE STANDING OUT

IN THE HALLWAY, AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM WERE LIKE,

"YOU'VE GOT TO MEET WITH HIM."

Frist: HE COULD GET INTO ANY OFFICE IN THE SENATE

BECAUSE THE ASSISTANTS OUT THERE WOULD SAY,

"THAT'S BONO-- I NEED HIS AUTOGRAPH;

WE'RE GOING TO GET HIM IN."

man: THE PRESS?

- YEAH, BRING THEM IN.

- BONO FLEW FROM IRELAND TO BE HERE.

HE HAS BEEN WITHOUT QUESTION THE MOST DEDICATED

AND DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS WHOLE INITIATIVE FROM DAY ONE.

narrator: AFTER INTENSE LOBBYING,

THE U.S. CONGRESS AGREED TO A COMPROMISE

TO CANCEL HALF OF AFRICA'S DEBT.

THIS LED TO THE REST OF THE RICH WORLD DOING THE SAME.

- WE WERE ECSTATIC.

BUT FOR GOOD LUCK OR MAYBE THE GRACE OF GOD

THIS THING CAME THROUGH.

male reporter: TONIGHT IN LONDON'S TRAFALGAR SQUARE,

A CELEBRATION.

- NO LONGER IS THE FOURTH RICHEST COUNTRY

ON THE PLANET A NATION OF SPIVS, DEBT COLLECTORS,

BAILIFFS, AND REPO MEN.

narrator: IN AFRICA, THERE WERE FEWER CELEBRATIONS.

AFRICAN DEBT WAS SO ENORMOUS: THAT MUCH OF IT COULD IN FACT NEVER HAVE BEEN REPAID.

HAVING HALF THE DEBT WRITTEN OFF ON PAPER

MADE WESTERN POLITICIANS LOOK GOOD

WITHOUT ACTUALLY COSTING THEM MUCH,

AND STILL LEFT HUGE AMOUNTS OWING.

MANY AFRICANS DID NOT FEEL THE BENEFITS.

Collier: IT WAS A TRIUMPH TO GET THE CREDITORS TO FACE REALITY,

SO QUITE A LOT OF THE DEBT FORGIVENESS

WAS JUST THAT FACING OF REALITY.

IT WAS USEFUL,

BUT IT WASN'T ACTUALLY A NEW TRANSFER OF RESOURCES

TO AFRICA, BECAUSE THE DEBT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN REPAID.

Vadera: THE PROBLEM AND THE MISTAKE THAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE

IS IN THINKING THAT THIS IS THE SILVER BULLET

AND EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT

AND THERE WOULD BE NO MORE POVERTY.

AID AND DEBT RELIEF ARE NOT A SILVER BULLET.

THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE PACKAGE,

BUT I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT

OF THE PACKAGE.

DEBT RELIEF WAS JUST THE FIRST STEP.

narrator: UNDAUNTED BY THE COMPLEXITIES

OF REDUCING POVERTY,

BONO AND GELDOF DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON THEIR QUEST.

- WHEN WE SAW THAT WE COULD BE EFFECTIVE,

IT WAS VERY HARD THEN TO GO AWAY AGAIN,

BACK TO A NORMAL LIFE,

BACK TO YOUR CIVILIAN LIFE,

WHICH I REALLY WANTED TO DO: AND WHICH MY BAND REALLY WANTED ME TO DO.

narrator: THIS TIME, TO MAKE A BIGGER DENT ON POVERTY,

BONO AND HIS GROUP WOULD PLAN A STRONGER ATTACK.

THEY BEGAN TO PLOT THEIR MASTER PLAN FOR AFRICA.

THEY WOULD NOT ONLY FIGHT: TO HAVE ALL REMAINING DEBT ABOLISHED,

BUT WOULD ALSO FIGHT DISEASE, INCREASE AID,

AND ACHIEVE FAIR TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH AFRICA.

THEY DECIDED TO SET THEMSELVES UP

AS LOBBYISTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

BUT TO DO THIS, THEY WOULD NEED LOTS OF MONEY.

- I GOT A PHONE CALL, AND IT WAS BOBBY SHRIVER,

AND HE WAS YELLING INTO THE PHONE ABOUT,

"WE'RE DOING SOMETHING

"AND YOU AND BILL GATES SHOULD REALLY BE INVOLVED

AND WE NEED $1 MILLION DOLLARS."

I THOUGHT HE WAS A LITTLE CRAZY.

Gates: HE SAID TO ME A FEW TIMES,

"BONO WOULD LIKE TO MEET YOU."

AND I THOUGHT, "WELL,

"HEY, I AM SERIOUS ABOUT POVERTY AND THE NUMBERS

"AND WHAT HAS IMPACT,

"AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S A MUSICIAN.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME."

Neilson: I ARRANGED A MEETING FOR THEM IN BILL'S SUITE

AT THE WALDORF ASTORIA IN NEW YORK,

AND I WAS TERRIFIED THAT THIS MEETING WAS NOT GONNA GO WELL.

Gates: EVEN THOUGH HE HAD THIS UTTERLY DIFFERENT BACKGROUND,

I WAS AMAZED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD ABOUT GOVERNMENT AID

AND UNDERSTOOD THIS DEBT RELIEF

AND WHAT HAD BEEN GOING ON WITH THAT VERY WELL.

SO I WENT BACK TO MELINDA AND I SAID,

"HEY, YOU KNOW, BONO IS AMAZING."

I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

narrator: SO WERE PHILANTHROPISTS

GEORGE SOROS AND ED SCOTT,

WHO EACH CHIPPED IN ANOTHER MILLION.

- YOU HAVE TO START WITH THE BELIEF

THAT A BIG THING CAN HAPPEN,

AND EVERYONE IN THAT GROUP CAME FROM THAT KIND OF A TRADITION.

narrator: IN THE NAME OF AFRICA'S POOR,

A LOBBYING AGENCY WAS FOUNDED CALLED D.A.T.A.

THE GOAL WAS TO TAKE ON THE MOST POWERFUL POLITICIANS

IN THE UNITED STATES.

Geldof: NOW YOU HAD A MAJOR PROFESSIONAL LOBBY ORGANIZATION

IN WASHINGTON.

THAT'S SO WILD AN IDEA,

THAT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE FUNDED BY ZULTI-MILLIONAIRES

ARE USING ALL THAT MASSIVE BRAINPOWER

TO FOCUS ON THE POOR AND THE ANOMALY OF POVERTY.

[cheers and applause]

narrator: HAVING RICH, WHITE MALE POP STARS

AS SPOKESPEOPLE FOR THE POOREST OF AFRICA

WASN'T WELCOMED BY EVERYONE.

Moyo: THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS,

IF YOU WENT AND DID POLLS IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES

AND YOU ASKED PEOPLE,

"WHO DO YOU THINK REPRESENTS AFRICAN VIEWS,"

I WOULD BET YOU THAT MOST PEOPLE

WOULD COME UP WITH A LONG LIST OF CELEBRITIES.

AS AN AFRICAN, I THINK THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED,

AND I THINK WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT THAT.

PEOPLE WOULD PREFER TO HEAR FROM THESE CELEBRITIES

ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN AFRICA.

THAT NOT ONLY UNDERMINES THE AFRICAN VIEWPOINT,

IT UNDERMINES AFRICAN LEADERSHIP.

- HE SAID THAT HE IS READY TO GIVE MORE MONEY...

- WHY ARE WE VOTING FOR AFRICAN LEADERS

IF THEIR JOB HAS BEEN ABDICATED TO OTHER PEOPLE?

WHAT KIND OF A SYSTEM IS THIS?

woman: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

narrator: BONO AND GELDOF'S HIGH-PROFILE ADVOCACY

HAS ALSO LEFT SOME AFRICAN ACTIVISTS FEELING

THAT THEIR GRASSROOTS WORK IS BEING UNDERMINED.

- WHAT THEY DO, THEY GO INTO A G20 OR G8 OR G7,

GO THERE AND HANG AROUND,

LIKE, HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE AND A COUPLE OF WINES,

HAVE A CHAT IN THE PANELS AND HAVE A DISCUSSION,

AND THEY THINK THAT WILL JUST MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BUT IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AFRICA,

WHY ARE YOU NOT SPEAKING TO US?

WE KNOW THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND ON THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL,

AND SOMETIMES WE FEEL INSULTED,

SOMETIMES WE FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW,

EVEN THE PROGRESS OF AFRICA HAS BEEN MAKING PROGRESSES,

BUT PEOPLE WILL JUST, YOU KNOW, USE IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

BOB GELDOF, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL GO AND TELL YOU SOMETHING,

YOU KNOW, "BECAUSE OF LIVE AID, THIS HAS HAPPENED."

YOU KNOW, "YOU ARE THE GOD AND YOU ARE THE SAVIOR."

AND IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT.

narrator: IN 2002,

THE CATASTROPHE OF AIDS HAD FURTHER SET AFRICA BACK.

THIS QUICKLY BECAME THE FIRST TARGET

FOR THE NEWLY FORMED LOBBY GROUP.

BUT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE,

THERE WAS ONE PERSON OF PRIME IMPORTANCE

THEY WOULD NEED TO WIN AROUND:

THE NEW PRESIDENT OF AMERICA.

[jovial brass band music]

Zeitz: WHEN BUSH'S TRANSITION WAS HAPPENING,

THERE WERE NO LIFE-SAVING DRUGS IN AFRICA.

IT WAS CONDOMS, BASICALLY.

IT WAS A CONDOM STRATEGY, AND IT WAS SMALL-SCALE.

[people singing in native language]

Zeitz: IN AN EPIDEMIC WHERE ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE

WERE INFECTED: AND PEOPLE WERE DROPPING LIKE FLIES,

IT WAS LIKE THROWING A DROP OF WATER ON A BLAZING FIRE.

- LET US PRAY.

narrator: THE RICHEST NATION ON THE GLOBE

COULD CHANGE ALL THIS: BECAUSE ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS HAD JUST BECOME AVAILABLE.

BUT THE RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES DIDN'T WANT TO.

THEY WERE AGAINST SPENDING MONEY

ON WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A DISEASE CAUSED

BY SELF-INFLICTED SINNING.

- NO FEDERAL FUNDS CAN BE USED

TO ENCOURAGE OR PROMOTE HOMOSEXUAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY.

Zeitz: THERE WAS A MAJOR NEMESIS;

THERE WAS JESSE HELMS,

WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE.

Frist: JESSE, THE ARCHCONSERVATIVE ICON

IN AMERICA,

ICON IN AMERICA, WHO HAD OPENLY BASICALLY SAID

THIS VIRUS IS EVIL,

IN A SENSE THAT,

FROM EVEN A FAITH-BASED RELIGIOUS STANDPOINT,

YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST BAD.

- EDGE, HE SAID, YOU KNOW,

"PLEASE DON'T HAVE THE OLD COLD WARRIOR,

DON'T BE IN A PHOTOGRAPH WITH HIM."

AND I SAID, "EDGE, NOT ONLY AM I IN A PHOTOGRAPH WITH HIM,

I'VE INVITED HIM TO THE SHOW."

AND HE'S LIKE, "OH."

[raucous rock music]

Nielson: WE CONSTANTLY TALKED ABOUT THE CARROT AND THE STICK.

IF A RIGHT WING REPUBLICAN CONGRESS PERSON

WHO HAD ALWAYS SAID, YOU KNOW,

FOREIGN AID WAS THROWING MONEY DOWN A RAT HOLE,

THAT WE WOULD FIND A WAY TO CO-OPT THAT PERSON,

BRING THEM INTO OUR WORLD,

AND THEN SHOW THEM THAT THERE WERE BENEFITS

TO BEING IN THAT WORLD.

- LOVE

YOU SHINE LIKE A BURNING STAR

FALLING FROM THE SKY

- I SAT NEXT TO JESSE HELMS, AND IT WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE.

[laughing]

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THIS VIP ROOM BEFORE THE CONCERT

WHERE EVERYBODY GATHERS AND PRESSES FLESH.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE SENATORS

WERE ACTING LIKE 13-YEAR-OLD GIRLS

TRYING TO GET UP TO SEE HIM AND SHAKE HIS HAND.

[laughing]

IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO SIT IN THE BACKGROUND

AND JUST WATCH IT AND SAY, "MY GOD," YOU KNOW?

Neilson: AND THE FACES OF THESE POLITICIANS,

YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY LOOK INTO THE ARENA

AND EVERYONE'S CHEERING FOR THEM,

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF THEIR LIVES.

[cheers and applause]

- JESSE HELMS GOES TO A ROCK SHOW,

AND AFTERWARDS I ASK HIM, YOU KNOW, I SAID,

"WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?"

HE SAID, "I LOOKED OUT THERE."

HE SAID, "EVERYONE HAS GOT THEIR HANDS IN THE AIR.

THEY WERE, LIKE, BLOWING LIKE A FIELD OF CORN."

AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IMAGE,

ACTUALLY, OF PEOPLE WITH THEIR HANDS IN THE AIR.

I'D NEVER HEARD IT LIKE THAT.

narrator: HAVING THE EAR OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT,

BONO AND SHRIVER NOW WENT TO WORK REFRAMING THE AIDS DEBATE.

Shriver; WE KNEW THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THE CONGRESS

DID NOT LIKE THE MEN HAVING SEX WITH MEN ISSUE.

BUT THEY LIKED THE IDEA: THAT A WOMAN BREAST-FEEDING HER BABY

COULD TAKE A PILL THAT WOULD PREVENT THE BABY

FROM GETTING AIDS FROM THE MILK OR FROM THE CHILDBIRTH.

- JESSE LISTENED, AND WITH THAT OVER TIME, HIS FEELING,

ESPECIALLY ON THE MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION

BUILT AROUND ORPHANS, WAS TOTALLY TRANSFORMED.

Bono: I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT SENATOR HELMS.

HE SAID HE WAS ASHAMED OF HOW HE HAD THOUGHT

ABOUT AIDS IN THE WIDER WORLD.

man: JESSE HAS BEEN A REAL LEADER ON THIS SUBJECT...

- NO, HE'S THE LEADER.

man: HA, NO, NO, NO.

- HE'S THE LEADER.

- IT WAS JESSE HELMS WHO HELPED INTRODUCE BONO

AND BOBBY TO PRESIDENT BUSH.

- BONO IS A PERSON OF FAITH.

GEORGE W. BUSH IS A PERSON OF FAITH.

SO HE DID A VERY SMART THING.

HE BROUGHT WITH HIM AN IRISH BIBLE

AS A GIFT FOR THE PRESIDENT.

AND THEY SPENT THE FIRST FIVE OR TEN MINUTES

OF THEIR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP TALKING

ABOUT THE MEANING OF FAITH IN THEIR LIVES.

Hart: AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THE SCRIPTURES TALK

ABOUT THE CARE FOR THE POOR: ALMOST MORE THAN ANY OTHER TOPIC IN THE BIBLE,

WHICH REALLY I THINK STRUCK A CHORD WITH THE PRESIDENT.

[applause]

- BONO, I APPRECIATE YOUR HEART,

AND TO TELL YOU WHAT AN INFLUENCE YOU'VE HAD;

DICK CHENEY WALKED IN THE OVAL OFFICE; HE SAID,

"JESSE HELMS WANTS US TO LISTEN TO BONO'S IDEAS."

[laughter and applause]

THAT'S PRETTY...

Bolten: MANY OF THE REPUBLICAN FAITHFUL, THEY'RE WONDERING,

WHAT IS PRESIDENT BUSH DOING STANDING ONSTAGE

WITH AN IRISH ROCK STAR WITH LONG HAIR AND WEIRD SUNGLASSES?

WHY IS THAT HAPPENING?

Sheridan: HONESTLY, THE NIGHT BEFORE THAT INTERACTION,

YOU KNOW, WE WERE IN A HOTEL SUITE,

AND CONDI RICE WAS PUSHING, PUSHING, PUSHING

TO GET BONO TO SHOW UP AT THAT EVENT.

- HERE IS WHAT I KNOW ABOUT HIM.

FIRST, HE IS A GOOD MUSICIAN.

SECONDLY, HE IS WILLING TO USE HIS POSITION

IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.

- AFTER 9/11,

THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, ESPECIALLY CONDOLEEZZA RICE,

WANTED TO PROVE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE

TO THE PROBLEM OF TERRORISM WAS NOT SIMPLY MILITARY.

AND THAT MEANT THE USE OF AID.

OKAY, HOW DO WE DO THAT?

WELL, HERE COMES BONO, WHO HAS JUST CREATED D.A.T.A.

AND HE SAYS, IN EFFECT:

"I AM WILLING TO SHED SOME OF MY LIBERAL CREDIBILITY,

MY LIBERAL ROCK STAR CREDIBILITY, ON YOU."

Bono: WE JUST HAD A MEETING

WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

ABOUT THE EMERGENCY OF AIDS.

IT IS THE CRUMBS OFF OUR TABLE THAT WE OFFER THESE COUNTRIES,

AND IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

DOESN'T THINK IT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

Sheridan: WE WERE EXPLOITING THE COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM

THAT BUSH NEEDED US FOR.

THEY NEEDED US.

WE NEEDED THEM.

WE WERE BOTH IN THE RIGHT SPACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

narrator: BUT POLITICS WASN'T THE SOLE REASON BUSH

WAS PLAYING ALONG.

HE HIMSELF WANTED TO DO SOMETHING BIG

ABOUT THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IN AFRICA.

Frist: PRESIDENT BUSH HADN'T TRAVELLED VERY MUCH

TO OTHER COUNTRIES, NEVER BEEN TO AFRICA BEFORE.

SO HE WOULD VERY QUIETLY SEND PEOPLE TO AFRICA AND SAY,

"IS THIS REAL?

"I MEAN, IS IT REALLY 23 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE DIED

AND NOBODY IS LEADING ON IT?"

AND THEY CAME BACK AND SAID YES.

[sirens blaring]

man: MR. SPEAKER,

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

[cheers and applause]

TODAY ON THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA,

NEARLY 30 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE THE AIDS VIRUS,

YET ACROSS THAT CONTINENT,

ONLY 50,000 AIDS VICTIMS,

ONLY 50,000 ARE RECEIVING THE MEDICINE THEY NEED.

I ASK THE CONGRESS TO COMMIT $15 BILLION

OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO TURN THE TIDE AGAINST AIDS

IN THE MOST AFFLICTED NATIONS OF AFRICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.

[applause]

narrator: THE NEW INITIATIVE WOULD SAVE THE LIVES

OF MILLIONS OF AIDS PATIENTS IN AFRICA.

BUT BUSH HAD MORE ON HIS MIND.

Zeitz: IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPEECH,

THE FIVE OR SIX PARAGRAPHS ON AN EMERGENCY PLAN ON AIDS

IMMEDIATELY PRECEDE, "WE'RE GOING TO WAR WITH IRAQ."

- WE WILL BRING TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE FOOD

AND MEDICINES AND SUPPLIES AND FREEDOM.

[applause]

[cannon fire]

- DEATH AND DESTRUCTION!

[radio chatter]

- FROM A POLITICAL TACTICAL PERSPECTIVE,

PUTTING FORWARD THIS COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVE

AGENDA SERVED HIM,

AND BONO GAVE BUSH A SEAL OF APPROVAL, IF YOU WILL.

[applause]

Bono: EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE SAID, YOU KNOW,

"GEORGE BUSH IS USING YOU,"

I BEG TO DIFFER.

I THINK WE USED HIM.

AND I THINK HE WANTED TO BE USED,

IT TURNED OUT, IN THAT WAY.

AND I THINK WE FOUND THAT PIECE OF HIM

THAT WANTED TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT HE WAS FOR

AS WELL AS WHAT HE WAS AGAINST.

narrator: JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE SPEECH,

GELDOF SET OFF TO ETHIOPIA: AND ARRIVED IN THE MIDST OF YET ANOTHER DROUGHT AND FAMINE.

male reporter: TODAY 12 MILLION ETHIOPIANS

CANNOT FEED THEMSELVES.

CHILDREN REDUCED TO SCAVENGING.

narrator: WHEN GELDOF CAME HOME,

HE FOUND THAT NGOs AROUND THE GLOBE

HAD STARTED TO PLAN A NEW CAMPAIGN,

WHAT THEY HOPED WOULD BE THE CAMPAIGN OF THE DECADE.

BRITAIN WOULD SOON BE HOSTING THE EIGHT RICHEST NATIONS,

THE G8, IN 2005.

THE CHANCELLOR GORDON BROWN WAS FOR CHANGE

AND WAS ALREADY IN SECRET DIALOGUE

WITH SOME OF THE ACTIVISTS.

- I WENT TO LOTS OF THE NGOs AND TRIED TO PERSUADE THEM

THAT IF THEY CAME TOGETHER: AND THEY LED A WORLDWIDE PRESSURE,

THEN WE, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, COULD BE IN A POSITION

TO PERSUADE OTHER GOVERNMENTS AS WELL.

narrator: WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ONBOARD,

GELDOF, BONO, AND DRUMMOND DECIDED THIS WAS THEIR CHANCE

FOR AN ALL-OUT ATTACK ON POVERTY.

THEY WOULD ADD THEIR VOICES TO THE CAMPAIGN

AND THIS TIME REALLY MAKE POVERTY HISTORY.

ALL AFRICAN DEBT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED,

AID DOUBLED,

AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE RULES COMPLETELY REFORMED.

Geldof: NOW YOU WERE IN ANOTHER GAME.

NOW YOU WERE REALLY IN WHOLE OTHER UNIVERSES OF POSSIBILITY.

THIS WAS THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM

FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE G8:

POVERTY IN AFRICA.

THAT'S IT.

WE'D GOT THERE.

[African tribal drumming]

male reporter: THE AIM COULD HARDLY BE MORE AMBITIOUS--

TO DRIVE POVERTY FROM THE WORLD.

Gates: WHAT WAS BREATHTAKING WAS HOW BOBBY AND BONO

HAD SET SUCH A HIGH GOAL.

I SAID, "WHOA, THAT..."

[chuckles]

YOU KNOW, THERE HASN'T BEEN A NEW AID PROGRAM

OF THAT SCALE ESSENTIALLY EVER.

- POVERTY IS NOT NATURAL.

IT IS MAN-MADE, AND IT CAN BE OVERCOME.

narrator: WITH THE STAKES SO HIGH,

GELDOF WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH SOME UNCOMFORTABLE BEDFELLOWS,

SUCH AS ETHIOPIA'S PRESIDENT MELES ZENAWI.

- ON BRITISH TELEVISION SCREENS,

YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF BLAIR AND GELDOF

AND MELES ZENAWI TALKING ABOUT MAKING POVERTY HISTORY.

IF YOU HAD WATCHED TV IN AFRICA,

YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN ETHIOPIAN TROOPS SHOOTING DEAD

OVER 200 OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS ON THE STREETS OF ADDIS ABABA,

WHO WERE PROTESTING A MASSIVE STOLEN ELECTION.

- YES, I'VE GOT TO MEET A GUY I KNOW PUTS DOWN THE OPPOSITION,

IMPRISONS PEOPLE WITHOUT TRIAL.

YES, YOU HAVE TO BRING IT UP,

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY THAT THAT PERSON

ISN'T GOING TO GO, "YOU KNOW WHAT, BOB, YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO FREE THEM ALL UP, AND I'M GONNA LEAVE POWER."

NO.

THEY CAN DISMISS ME AS JUST A POP SINGER, YOU KNOW?

[drumming and whistling]

narrator: WHILE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT GAVE ITS SUPPORT,

INTERNATIONALLY THE CAMPAIGN WAS FAILING TO CATCH FIRE.

Geldof: NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY,

MAKE POVERTY HISTORY WASN'T WORKING.

SO WE WENT TO BLAIR,

AND HE LITERALLY LOOKED AT ME LIKE THIS.

HE SAID, "I'LL DO THE POLITICS, BUT YOU DO THE PUBLIC.

AND IF YOU CAN'T DO THE PUBLIC, THE POLITICS WON'T HAPPEN."

THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID.

- I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED,

BUT BOB TURNED UP ONE DAY: WITH HIS MOBILE PHONE AT MY OFFICE.

AND I THOUGHT, WELL, I WONDER IF I CAN BE PART OF THE EMOTIONAL,

ARTISTIC, CREATIVE SIDE OF IT.

SO WE HAD TO JUST COME UP WITH STUFF

THAT WOULD AFFECT AND EMOTIONALLY CHALLENGE PEOPLE.

Neeson: A CHILD DIES COMPLETELY UNNECESSARILY

AS A RESULT OF EXTREME POVERTY EVERY THREE SECONDS.

- AND THEN FINALLY, VERY LATE,

BOB THOUGHT OF THE LIVE 8 IDEA.

female reporter: 20 YEARS AGO, HE LAUNCHED LIVE AID.

TODAY BOB GELDOF UNVEILED THE FOLLOW-UP, LIVE 8--

A SERIES OF CONCERTS AROUND THE WORLD IN JULY

TO COINCIDE WITH THE G8 MEETING IN GLENEAGLES

OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST NATIONS.

- IT IS THE GREATEST COLLECTION OF STARS THERE HAS EVER BEEN,

AND IT WILL NEVER, EVER--THIS WILL NEVER, EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

[cheers and applause]

narrator: GELDOF'S LIVE 8 CONCERTS GRABBED WORLD ATTENTION

ON THE EVE OF THE G8 SUMMIT.

BUT THIS TIME, ENGAGING THE PUBLIC WAS A MEANS TO AN END.

NOW HE WAS AMASSING A WORLDWIDE PRESSURE GROUP

TO APPEAL DIRECTLY TO THOSE IN POWER.

- I DIDN'T WANT TO RAISE MONEY,

BECAUSE THAT WOULD DIVERT FROM THE CENTRAL POLITICAL MESSAGE.

IT WAS NO LONGER ABOUT CASH.

IT WAS ABOUT THE LOBBY ONLY.

man: BOB WANTS TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

- SOME OF YOU WERE HERE 20 YEARS AGO,

AND SOME OF YOU WEREN'T EVEN BORN.

I WANT TO SHOW YOU, JUST IN CASE YOU FORGOT,

WHY WE DID THIS.

JUST WATCH WITH ME THIS FILM.

[woman shouting in native language]

narrator: BEFORE THE CONCERTS,

GELDOF HAD FOUND OUT THAT THE GIRL WHO ALMOST DIED

IN FRONT OF THE WORLD MEDIA IN 1984

HAD SURVIVED THANKS TO INTERNATIONAL AID.

narrator: WHEN GELDOF FINALLY MET BIRHAN,

HE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY.

Harvey: GELDOF IMMEDIATELY REALIZED

WHAT A WONDERFUL MEDIA EVENT IT WAS.

I MEAN, IT SORT OF VALIDATED EVERYTHING

HE HAD BEEN BANGING ON ABOUT FOR TWO DECADES.

Geldof: SHE HAD 10 MINUTES TO LIVE 20 YEARS AGO,

AND BECAUSE WE DID A CONCERT IN THIS CITY AND IN PHILADELPHIA,

SHE IS HERE TONIGHT, THIS LITTLE GIRL, BIRHAN.

- BIRHAN COMES ON, LOOKING LIKE A PRINCESS,

AND EVERYONE JUST SUDDENLY REALIZED WHY THEY WERE THERE.

[cheers and applause]

[cheers and applause]

- WE COME TO YOU WITH 3.8 BILLION PEOPLE

IN OUR BACK POCKETS.

[cheers and applause]

HOW?

TELL ME,

HOW CAN THESE EIGHT MEN REFUSE US NOW?

HOW CAN THEY REFUSE US?

[cheers and applause]

[cameras clicking]

narrator: THE EIGHT TOP POLITICIANS SIGNED UP

NOT ONLY TO CANCELLING REMAINING DEBT,

BUT ALSO TO DOUBLING AID WITH $25 BILLION.

- SO WAS THIS A SUCCESS?

ON AID, 10 OUT OF 10.

ON DEBT, 8 OUT OF 10.

TODAY IS A GREAT DAY.

[applause]

narrator: HOWEVER, THE POLITICIANS ALMOST HALVED

THEIR PROMISES ON AID: AND LEFT REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES LIKE TRADE UNTOUCHED.

HAD THEY MANAGED TO GET AWAY WITHOUT QUITE FOOTING THE BILL?

Hilary: IF ALL YOU HAVE MANAGED TO DO

IS TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY OUT OF THE G8,

YOU KNOW ACTUALLY THAT YOU HAVEN'T GOT

TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.

THE DIFFERENCE HAS TO BE MADE THROUGH CHANGING THE RULES

AND COMPLETELY RESTRUCTURING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.

Moyo: THESE CELEBRITIES...

IF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION

ARE THEIR MOTIVATIONS, THEY HAVE FAILED MISERABLY.

THERE IS FAR TOO MUCH HUBRIS GOING AROUND.

"OH, YOU KNOW, WE THINK WE CAN DO THIS.

WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD."

LET'S HAVE A BIT MORE HUMILITY

ABOUT WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE.

Bono: IT ANNOYED PEOPLE BECAUSE IT LOOKED SO SIMPLISTIC.

THAT WAS JUST THE POP SONG, THAT WAS JUST THE T-SHIRT,

THAT WAS THE HOOK LINE.

YOU CAN'T WRITE OFF A MOVEMENT

THAT HAS CHANGED THE WORLD BECAUSE OF ITS SLOGAN.

- IT WAS THE BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGH

IN ONE SUMMIT EVER ON POVERTY.

MILLIONS MORE CHILDREN NOW LIVE WHO WOULD HAVE DIED.

40 MILLION MORE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL.

THE BREAKTHROUGHS ON MALARIA, ON HIV AND AIDS,

HAVE BEEN TO DO WITH THESE BIG CAMPAIGNS

THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN PART IN.

IT WAS A BIG STEP FORWARD, EVEN IF IT WASN'T EVERYTHING.

Barder: HAS THAT AID LED

TO A LARGER NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVING ACCESS

TO EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND CLEAN WATER AND ROADS

AND HOUSING AND FOOD WHEN THEY NEED IT?

IT ALMOST CERTAINLY HAS.

SO IT HASN'T MADE POVERTY HISTORY,

BUT IT HAS MADE A HELL OF A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES

A LOT BETTER AS A CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT THEY DID.

narrator: SINCE 2005,

AFRICA HAS BECOME MUCH MORE PEACEFUL.

EXTREME POVERTY IS FINALLY SLIGHTLY DECREASING.

AND IN A TRANSFORMED ETHIOPIA,

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.

BIRHAN WOLDU, NOW A MOTHER HERSELF,

IS A DIRECTOR OF A CHARITY THAT HELPS BUILD NEW SCHOOLS.

- [speaking in native language]

Geldof: YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS,

BUT NONETHELESS, THE REALITY IS

THAT ETHIOPIA IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES

OF AFRICA AND SIX AFRICAN COUNTRIES

ARE AMONG THE FASTEST-GROWING TOP 12 ECONOMIES

IN THE WORLD.

narrator: HOW MUCH OF ALL THIS

IS DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF BONO AND GELDOF IS HARDER TO SAY.

EVEN TODAY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN

THE TRUE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF AID.

- I'M PRETTY UNCOMFORTABLE

WITH ATTRIBUTING TOO MUCH OF AFRICA'S SUCCESS

TO WHAT WE'VE DONE: AND CERTAINLY TOO MUCH OF AFRICA'S SUCCESS

TO MONEY THAT WE'VE GIVEN.

WE ARE SIDE PLAYERS.

- WE'RE NOT THE DRIVERS.

THEY ARE THE DRIVERS,

AND THEY ARE GONNA DO IT THEMSELVES.

AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS FIND WAYS

OF BEING GOOD PARTNERS.

narrator: THE TARGETS FOR LOBBYING ARE ALSO CHANGING.

THEY AREN'T ALWAYS ABOUT MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH NOW.

INSTEAD, THERE ARE ISSUES SUCH AS MORE OPENNESS

IN TRADE DEALS: AND HOW TO MAKE AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA MORE EFFECTIVE.

- SIR BOB GELDOF, MUSICIAN, CHAIR OF BAND AID...

narrator: AFTER NEARLY 30 YEARS OF CAMPAIGNING,

THE ROLE THAT BONO AND GELDOF HAVE TO PLAY

IN AFRICA'S FUTURE IS UNDER MORE SCRUTINY THAN EVER.

- WHAT IS THIS?

IS IT, LIKE, A 10-SECOND THING OR 20-SECOND THING?

woman: LIKE A 30-, 40-SECOND THING.

- FOR THE TIME BEING, IT IS STILL THE CASE

THAT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP A CONSTITUENCY

IN NORTH AMERICA OR EUROPE TO HELP FIGHT POVERTY IN AFRICA,

YOU'RE GONNA OFTEN STILL HAVE TO RESORT

TO WORKING WITH FAMOUS FRIENDS.

IT'S A TRAVESTY THAT THAT IS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN,

BUT IT IS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.

- AFRICA HAS CHANGED A LOT,

AND THEY ARE VERY MATURE NOW, PEOPLE,

AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.

narrator: BONO'S LOBBYING ORGANIZATION, D.A.T.A.,

NOW RENAMED "ONE,"

DOES HAVE AFRICAN ADVISERS,

AND OFFICES HAVE BEEN SET UP IN NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA.

- THAT CALL WAS TEMPORARY.

IT WAS GOING TO TRANSITION.

THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE IT OVER THERE FROM SCRATCH.

- SO NOW WE HAVE A SITUATION

WHERE AFRICAN ACTIVISTS ARE HARASSING THEIR OWN GOVERNMENTS.

SO THAT'S EXCITING TO ME BECAUSE THAT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH US.

AND I HOPE SOON, YOU KNOW,

A ROCK AND ROLLER IN HIS 50s: WILL JUST BE JUST TOLD TO [bleep] OFF.

AND WITH PLEASURE,

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS STUFF IS BEING--

IS JUST HAPPENING ANYWAY.

THAT WOULD BE A THRILL.