Paul Hewson (Bono)

Bono getting ready for a concert (http://www.u2.com/u2.html)

When you think of a deadly disease what do you think of? Cancer, Small Pox, Diabetes, or even The Black Plague! But in all reality there is a different plague and that is AIDS and HIV. AIDS and HIV affect about 400,000 to 500,000 Americans every year and about 9,000,000 Africans every year. Over 20,000,000 people have died because of AIDS. One of the main fighters in the war against AIDS and HIV is Paul Hewson more commonly known as Bono from the Rock Band U2.

Bono and U2 have performed in many concerts supporting the fight in HIV and AIDS. Bono also has talked to many people in the government including some presidents about raising funding to find a cure to HIV and AIDS. Bono has also appeared on the The O'Reilly Factor talking about his organization he works with called DATA (a Web site dedicated to raising money for AIDS awareness classes in Africa and raising money for a cure for AIDS). Bono also talked to the Republicans at the 2004 Republican Convention to get AIDS and extreme poverty on the agenda, following a visit to the Democratic convention in Boston last month.

Bono not only fights against AIDS in America but also in Germany. Bono met with German superstar Herman Grönemeyer in Berlin to meet with German activists to discuss campaigning in Africa. Bono is a hero because he helps people around the world to fight against HIV or AIDS. Bono has also convinced many politicians around the world to spend more money on studying HIV and AIDS.

I believe that Bono is a hero to people near and far because many people in the world today have the AIDS virus, and he helps all of them. It doesn’t matter if they're from the US, Africa, Germany, or anywhere else in the world, he will help anyone who has AIDS or HIV (and people who don't).

As you have read on my Web page, Bono definitely counts as a hero to others near and far. I believe Bono’s fight in the war against AIDS is going to be a key role in finding a cure for AIDS and HIV. I truly believe that there is a cure for AIDS and HIV somewhere just waiting to be found, and with Bono’s help, we can find it. If you would like to know more about HIV and AIDS, visit www.data.org or you can watch MTV Diaries featuring Bono.