Click to play videoHeiligendamm, Germany: Rock star Bono is at the G-8 summit with pal Bob Geldof – appearing to have a blast as they lobby President Bush and other world leaders to sign off on more aid to Africa.
But during an interview, Bono was so furious with the lack of progress at this summit he did something he never does – he ripped off his famed rose-colored sunglasses.
"I just came back from Africa. I've just seen what this money can do. This is a school with no roof on it right now. This is a hospital where doctors and nurses are saying, 'why can't we get electricity? These people are dying on us.' and here it's, 'oh politics is the art of the possible. I just have to say – this is possible. Completely possible. We're not Pollyannas, we're not sort of rosy-tinted glasses, believe it or not. I felt like smashing them today. Why are they not keeping their promises?" said Bono while ripping off his famous glasses.
Bono said it's "foul" that as a group, the G-8 leaders are not living up to a vow their nations made at the same summit two years ago – in Gleneagles, Scotland – to sharply increase money to Africa.
"They signed it in their own hands. I made them do it. They never did that before. And they're still slithering out of it," said Bono.
Bono and Geldof say there are many reasons for the back-sliding – ranging from budget problems to indifference But they say there's another factor – all of the hype about Thursday’s meeting between Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin is overshadowing the anti-poverty agenda.
The activists are hopeful they can change enough minds by Friday – in part because they believe Bush has delivered more than he promised and may be able to bring others along.
"Europeans say America doesn't care. It's a continent that's really an island. But they're wrong," said Bono.
But why do these two stars – who have so much money – bother to prick at the conscience at world leaders?
"Gandhi said first they ignore you, then they fight you, and then you win," said Geldof.
When he got serious for a moment, Bono said his musical life is all about the art of the impossible, while politics is the art of the possible. Now he's just trying to bridge the two worlds.
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