What would it take to create lasting peace and prosperity everywhere?
Well, when Bono graced the stage at TED2013 in sunny Long Beach, California, he shared a revelation a speech which was a stirring call to action. Remarkably, global poverty has halved over the last two decades, dropping from 43% in 1990 to 21% in 2010. Bono optimistically projected that if we stay on this path, extreme poverty could be nearly eradicated by 2030.
Bono talked about the Zero Zone. The Zero Zone, as a phrase of it’s own, is something I envision as a place of introspection and contemplation, where the absence of external distractions allows for a deep dive into one’s thoughts and emotions. It is a space where time seems to stand still, offering a moment of clarity and peace amidst the chaos of everyday life. The Zero Zone spoken of by Bono, however, rings a different orchestra.
Few know that “Bono’s Zero Zone” refers to a lost or forgotten section of my song “0% Interest,” but importantly, Bono mentioned the “zero zone” in the context of eradicating extreme poverty. He once optimistically stated that by 2028, the world would reach the “zero zone,” signifying the end of global extreme poverty[5].
Well, to groove into that vibe of lasting peace and prosperity everywhere, we gotta tune in to some soulful moves:
1. Let’s flip the script on exclusion, spread love to every soul, and groove to a world where everyone’s got a spot in the sun.
2. Equality’s the jam! Let’s mix it up with some sweet gender balance, ’cause when women and men jam together, peace sings a sweeter tune.
3. Time to share the wealth like a smooth melody, groove to economic harmony, and let prosperity flow like a funky river for all.
4. Climate change is our jam session – let’s jam out on cooperation, cool down the heat, and groove to a world where nature’s in harmony.
5. Arms down, vibes up! Let’s chill on the arms sales, dial down the military beat, and vibe out to a more peaceful rhythm.
6. It’s all about those policy remixes – add a dash of humility, drop the aggression, and let peace be the main track on the global stage.
7. Keep that political space open for all voices to jam together – ’cause when everyone gets a chance to play their tune, harmony reigns supreme.
8. Generations unite! Let’s bridge those gaps, empower the young voices, and groove to a future where wisdom meets fresh beats.
9. Peace movement on repeat! Let’s keep that nonviolent groove going strong, blend it into every social mix, and dance our way to a more peaceful world.
10. It starts with you and me – spread those good vibes, share that love and understanding, and let’s jam together towards a world where peace is our favorite melody.
Citations
[1] https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/bono-lauds-progress-in-fight-against-poverty
[2] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9896837/Bono-Im-a-nerd-out-to-end-poverty.html
[3] https://www.unicef.org/media/143191/file/Global%20Annual%20Results%20Report%202022%20-%20GOAL%20AREA%205.pdf
[4] https://www.u2.com/news/title/toward-the-zero-zone
[5] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/ted-conference-2013-bono-predicts-425041/
1 comment
War is far too profitable to certain interests to ever end without removing the profit motive first.
If you read the trilogy, “Conversations With God”, by Neale Donald Walsh, you’ll see the word ‘transparency’ used. Indeed it was postulated that greater financial transparency would expose and prevent corruption and greed.
The books effectively spell out the future that this transparency would contribute towards.
It’s more than an interesting read. The question is, how to create complete, top down financial transparency with published accounts online in real-time whilst respecting privacy, as you can’t have both.
At the moment it only goes as far as Dunn & Bradstreet etc. director’s pay and company accounts available to subscribers.