U2 frontman and enthusiastic philanthropist, Bono, has teamed up with a host of celebrity friends and well-wishers in a film highlighting the Ebola epidemic. The film was launched on Wednesday (November 19) alongside the Ebola Response Tracker on the ONE campaign's website, which reveals how much money and other contributions each country has donated towards the cause.
The film, dubbed “Play the Waiting Game,” was created by Bono's international campaign and advocacy organisation, the ONE campaign, and was shot by Irresistible Films director, Mike Christie, who explained that “Ebola has killed more than 5,000 people the West Africa so far,” and that the UK government only send “9% of their pledge last week.” The completely silent video (below) is supposed to emphasise how the world has waited to long in silence to stop the spread of Ebola in West Africa.
One – Ebola: Waiting
The campaign, which features stars such as Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Thandie Newton and Will Ferrell appearing alongside Liberian health workers, urges global leaders to do more to help, instead of sitting around with their fingers up their behinds whilst thousands of Africans continue to fall prey to this disastrous epidemic. It also asks viewers to sign a petition demanding that global leaders address the epidemic and improve health systems in the continent so any future outbreaks can be contained. Christie calls the film “A powerful nudge to remind world leaders to take action, and stop waiting.”
Bono, has teamed up with a host of celebrity friends and well-wishers in a film highlighting the Ebola epidemic
Michael Elliot, ONE president and CEO, said “The initial response to the Ebola outbreak was too slow and too uncoordinated,” but that “Some countries have now stepped up to lead in a big way — with traditional donors like the US, UK, France and Germany all making meaningful contributions.” He adds, however, that “This is a global crisis that demands a global response,” and that while the first priority needs to be containing this outbreak, “It is equally important that the world take steps now to invest in strengthening health systems so that future tragedies of this kind will be stopped in their tracks.” Chief marketing officer, Roxy Philson, adds that they “Thought of something silent to cut through the noise and to let it speak for itself.”
Say what you like about the man and his music, but Bono certainly hasn't been slacking in his mission to stamp out Ebola in the third world. He also recently led a re-working of the Band Aid classic “Do They Know It's Christmas” alongside a host of current and classic pop stars, with all proceeds going towards helping to put a stop to the disease, once and for all.
Band Aid 30 – Do They Know It's Christmas?
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and activist, Angélique Kidjo, who also features in the spot, said “When you don’t have enough doctors, nurses or hospital beds, it’s tough to stop a crisis like this Ebola outbreak.” She feels the video underlines how we “Need our friends around the world to come forward with all the help they can right now, so patients can be treated in a dignified way, and we can end this nightmare.”
Say what you like about the man and his music, but Bono certainly hasn't been slacking his mission to stamp out Ebola in the third world
Kidjo, and everyone else featured in the video and at ONE feel that working together is the only way we can “Rebuild and strengthen West Africa’s heath care systems to stop another crisis like this from happening again.”
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and musician from Kidderminster in the UK.
