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Recognizing Paul Hewson, known to the world as Bono, for his charitable work and activism aimed at reducing global poverty and improving world health and furthermore urging the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award Bono the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.
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WHEREAS, Bono is actively involved in numerous organizations and relief efforts focused on combating world poverty and addressing the debt crisis faced by impoverished nations; and
WHEREAS, Bono is a co-founder of the DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) organization, which fights poverty and HIV in the developing world. From that organization, the ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History was spawned, and
WHEREAS, Bono has lobbied leaders in the United States and throughout Europe to enact significant policy change to assist poverty stricken nations gain economic stability; and
WHEREAS, Bono was one of the organizers behind this year’s Live 8 concerts in nine cities worldwide, including Philadelphia. The concerts were aimed at getting the leaders of the world’s developed nations to come to the aid of impoverished Africa, and they were successful. At the G8 summit, world leaders agreed to double aid to Africa to $50 billion by 2010 and cancel the debts of the poorest nations; and
WHEREAS, Time magazine named Bono one of its 2005 “Persons of the Year,” citing his campaign to make rich countries address the debt of poorer ones, stating, “Bono charmed and bullied and morally blackmailed leaders of the world’s richest countries into forgiving $40 billion in debt owed by the poorest;” and
WHEREAS, The Norwegian Nobel Committee, composed of five members appointed by the Norwegian parliament, is responsible for the selection of the candidates and the choice of Prize Winners for the Peace Prize; and
WHEREAS, The selection process for the Peace Prize recipients begins after February 1st, when all nominations are due. Between March and May, the Committee assesses the candidates’ work and prepares a short list. Then, the “shortlist” is reviewed by permanent advisers specially called upon for their knowledge or specific candidates. In the beginning of October, the Nobel Committee chooses the Peace Prize Winners through a majority vote. The names of the Prize Winners are then announced. The Prize Award Ceremony takes place on December 10, 2006, in Oslo, Norway; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby recognize Paul Hewson, known to the world as Bono, for his charitable work and activism aimed at reducing global poverty and improving world health and furthermore urging the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award Bono the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.
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