Bono's plea sees thousands sign up for anti-poverty rally
Thousands of U2 fans have signed up for the Make Poverty History rally in Dublin following Bono’s concert plea, it emerged today.
The U2 star displayed a special text number during U2’s sell-out shows in Croke Park to publicise the rally.
The Make Poverty History campaign, which is seeking the cancellation of third world debt and an end to unfair trade rules, said around 17,000 fans had signed up for the text message.
It said: “Hi it’s Bono. Thx 4ur txt…join the rally in Dublin on 30th June & go to www.makepovertyhistory.ie to be part of a generation that says no to extreme poverty.”
Spokesman Eamon Stack said it had led to a massive increase in people’s awareness of the march.
“Apart from the thousands of people who have received a text message from Bono, we are also aware of lots of people who are passing the text message on to friends.”
The rally will begin in Dublin’s Parnell Square at 6.30pm on Thursday, before it moves up to Merrion Square, passing through O’Connell Street, D’Olier Street, Nassau Street, Kildare Street and onto St Stephen’s Green.
The concert, featuring The Hothouse Flowers, The Devlins, The Walls and Alpha States, will start at around 7.15pm in Merrion Square.
Over 40 organisations, development agencies and trade unions have pledged their support to the Make Poverty History rally.
