Bono Brings the $1,600 Handbag to Africa

If Bono is not prepared to get more personally involved in doing hard work needed to properly help people, he should be prepared to stop engaging in activism as what amounts to a branding behavior and go back to making music. People are not handbags.

This reminds me of a saying that DL Moody once said when someone critized his preaching. He said, "I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it". Just image if all celebratities contributed as much! Oh, and althouh I like his music, I'm not a fan of anyone except Jesus, He is my only idol, you can have the rest! And as Bono said, "It's My Life!"

I think it's easy to criticize people like Bono - and many do of course. Not all initiatives succeed, and if everyone believed that we should avoid all Chinese manufactured goods then we would be living in a very different and more expensive World. Fortunately, Bono, and others like him, have huge egos and are smart enough to ignore all the winging. A good analogy for me is the ubiquitous G20 protesters who complain about globalisation whilst wearing Levis jeans, Nike sneakers and no doubt other brands made in China.

i don't see the problem here. Bono is rich. He has a rich people's bag. He goes to Africa where he has raised lots and lots of money from his rich friends to give to Africa. Let's not be too judgemental here. Don't rich people get to enjoy it? Presumably proceeds from the sale of the bags will benefit Africa and Bono will continue to raise money and help Africa. Why not shoot an ad there? I do agree with the statement that it might be better if he gives the money to organizations "on the ground" in Africa and leaves the hands on work to those who know how to do it. In the meantime let him do what he does as long as he is trying to do good things - leave the man and his handbag alone!

I think the author raises good issues about things that have nothing to do with Bono in this article. I think she is using the visual and controversy of criticizing a good man, on an irrelevant issue, to bring attention to her own article however, and that is not only unclassy, but really quite destructive and unkind. If Bono wants to convince a large company to spend some money that would otherwise be spent in NY, or Paris, on the Continent, funds that likely are millions of dollars, and promote a positive image of Africa that helps bring tourism, that's not exactly a bad thing. It's paternalistic to think he should only go where poor people are, in the escort of "professional" development people. The Professional aid people have been doing damage throughout Africa for decades. Many of them have other agendas besides business. So I think it's naive to suggest that this one thing, an advertisement for a luxury good, which also could have happened in a poor asian country, without criticism likely from this author or similar writers. I think it is this kind of parternalism toward Africa that is not helpful. It's a kind of view that Bono should only be photographed in Africa with very sad images, so that people know how desperate our continent is. That's just not a helpful attitude toward Africa at all. But I think the author's primary purpose here is publicity, for her article, and her view.

I am of Afrikaaner descent and I am DEEPLY offended by the notion that LV handbags are "out of place" in Africa. I would just like to point out that only SOME of Africa is poor. LV handbags are entirely appropriate in South Africa - where people stay in $1000 a night vineyard hotels, drinking locally produced Cape wines, before flying out to a $20,000 safari... Yes there are "Shanties" in the townships - but Afrikaaners live in some rather lovely homes, drive Mercedes' and BMW's, and frankly my grandfathers house had a pool, a tennis court, a gardener, and a maid, and he wasnt a "rich man" just an officer in the South African Navy. Remember that most of the worlds diamonds come from Africa...

People like Bono for some reason keep getting richer and richer Yet we seldom ever hear of how much comes out of their own wallet. It has been the way of celeberties to led a name but no money Photo Ops make one look like they care. Now over the years there have been some that did both .example Bob Hope

Can't imagine how much money I wasted in my life if anyone wanted to shine the light on the cost of my fountain sodas. Don't want to see the tally, but I'm a little wiser now. I went to Uganda last year on a mission trip to deliver food and medicine to the West Nile region and found the needs of the people to be great. I encourage people to travel there and see for yourself if you have doubts. If you can't go, there is an organization called Compassion International (search compassion.com) that does a great job for the money. While there, I had the opportunity to meet the girl I sponsor, and it is wonderful to know that her life is improved by the education that Compassion provides. Jesus taught us to love and help others, and it is because of His nfluence in my life that I became involved. I will never regret this decision. Love and peace to you.

Uh, that's a fixed wing aircraft not a helicopter they appear to have just stepped out of. These are seen all over Africa whereas helicopters have a more military presence.How do you expect anyone to take your views seriously when you obviously only have a knowledge of fashion for reference.

It sounds like Vuitton supported Bono when a lot of others did not. If Bono wants to say thank you by carrying a bag of the same name, that's okay with me. Who can say how that bag might be used long run? If Bono owns it- perhaps he sold it after the shoot and donated the money for those educations in question. Let's encourage each other to keep up the charitable efforts. Peace and blessings to all who care, and may God bless your continued creative efforts.