U2 frontman Bono was in Sydney Wednesday to honor World AIDS Day, lighting the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge red to commemorate the international occasion.
Though the humanitarian rock star and his band are in Australia to play a series of concerts, Bono also lent his celebrity to commemorate the International AIDS campaign by lighting up Sydney’s landmarks. The special ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australian Premier Kristina Keneally and Governor-General Quentin Bryce.
Passionate about fighting the disease, Bono said that through the Global Fund to Fight Aids, the generation born in 2015 will be the first in 30 years to live without AIDS. He said, “I think, generally people like myself, you know, we’re good at raising the alarm, you know and calling the fire brigade. You know we're good at dramatising the situation and pointing out that this awful haemorrhaging of human life that doesn't have to be.”
Prime Minister Gillard added, “There is also a sense here in Australia and other developed nations that the prevention message is being lost as new generations grow up and complacency sets in.”
More than 80 landmarks across 13 countries, including the Empire State Building in New York and the Trafalgar Square fountains in London, were illuminated in red to mark World AIDS day.
In 2006, Bono launched RED, a concept that works with iconic brands such as American Express, Apple, Nike, Starbucks, Gap and Dell to raise money for the Global Fund to Fight Aids. Since its inception, RED has generated over $150 million and over 5 million people have been impacted by HIV and AIDS programs supported by the program.
