I have great pleasure in meeting a group of musicians who over the last 25 years have shown that it is possible to combine the pleasure in and quality of artistic creation with civic and humanitarian intervention to help build a better world for those that share this global space with us, but also for our children.

We have become accustomed even since before LiveAid and now with Live8, to the significant contributions made by the members of the Irish band U2 (Paul Hewson “Bono”, Adam Clayton, Dave Evan “The Edge” and Larry Mulen, Junior) to the world of the arts on a global scale.

With their albums, their incursions into the soundtracks of various films and their exploration of the link between image and music in videoclips, U2 have marked the last two decades and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.

Although this is not their first time in Portugal their visit to Lisbon in August 2005 occurs at a time of global cultural recognition and of closer links with Portugal, such as the photograph of their last CD, “How to dismantle an atomic bomb”.

However, the reason why the members of U2 are being made Officers of the Order of Liberty is not only to acknowledge their artistic and cultural merit.

In accordance with the regulations of Portuguese Orders the honorary members of the Order of Liberty must be persons who have distinguished themselves in worthy services during the exercise of any private or public function or who have shown interest and abnegation in favour of the community. That is the case of the U2 members.

Throughout the last 25 years the band have combined the public exposure obtained from their musical success with protection of humanitarian causes and defence of human rights.

In the 90s their involvement with the third world debt was very important for this matter to become public and their dedication to this cause led to their involvement in the Jubilee 2000 Movement, culminating in the global mobilisation of July 2005 at the Live8 project.

Other areas in which the band and its members have been involved include the visibility they have sought for the crisis in Africa: non-payable debts, uncontrolled spread of Aids and unfavourable trade regulations.

U2 have given their support to many organisations in their campaigns. To name just a few I recall support in the 80s for Amnesty International with various concerts on their behalf, for Greenpeace, in particular actions against nuclear power in cases where it might endanger the populations and the environment.

Humanitarian causes, situations of disrespect for human rights and war have been other banners in the last decades. Their commitment to the cause of freedom in Myanmar and for Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the movement that opposes the military dictatorship, led them to carry out various support initiatives.

The song “Miss Sarajevo”, with tenor Luciano Pavarotti, served to draw the world’s attention to the situation in Bosnia and provided aid for children in war-struck areas.

Other projects involve health and U2 have also been involved in helping children struck by the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. Recently, Project 46664 (Nelson Mandela’s prison number), dedicated to combating Aids in Africa, had the support of band members on World Aids Day in 2003.

I could cite many other examples of U2’s involvement in humanitarian issues, such as the NetAid Project or visits to Africa with members of the Bush Administration in an attempt to develop aid programmes.

I would like to end this list of interventions by the band or its members by mentioning a situation that lies close to the hearts of the Portuguese people. East Timor was also a target of the group, namely in 1996 with the music “Love from a Short Distance” and the open letter to the people of East Timor. In 1999, during the tragic events following the referendum the band also spoke out in public against the situation there.

For all these reasons that exemplify some of the actions carried out in favour of the community, selflessly, I have decided to make the four members of the band U2 Officers of the Order of Liberty.

This award also symbolises my conviction that despite all the problems we have experienced in Portugal and throughout the world in the last decades we are still capable of dreaming and acting pragmatically in the search for a more just world.

A world where ideas are the engine of change but also where the action of musicians, politicians, businessmen or the simplest citizen is essential.

I will end by hoping that Bono, the Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton will continue their good work and inspire us in our ideas and our actions.

I myself will as always be willing to contribute when the aims are eradicating poverty and disease, and achieving fair trade and full democracy, in other words, a more just world.


			Discurso de SEXA PR por ocasião da Condecoração da Banda U2 (english version) Palácio de Belém 14 de Agosto de 2005 I have great pleasure in meeting a group of musicians who over the last 25 years have shown that it is possible to combine the pleasure in and quality of artistic creation with civic and humanitarian intervention to help build a better world for those that share this global space with us, but also for our children. We have become accustomed even since before LiveAid and now with Live8, to the significant contributions made by the members of the Irish band U2 (Paul Hewson “Bono”, Adam Clayton, Dave Evan “The Edge” and Larry Mulen, Junior) to the world of the arts on a global scale. With their albums, their incursions into the soundtracks of various films and their exploration of the link between image and music in videoclips, U2 have marked the last two decades and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Although this is not their first time in Portugal their visit to Lisbon in August 2005 occurs at a time of global cultural recognition and of closer links with Portugal, such as the photograph of their last CD, “How to dismantle an atomic bomb”. However, the reason why the members of U2 are being made Officers of the Order of Liberty is not only to acknowledge their artistic and cultural merit. In accordance with the regulations of Portuguese Orders the honorary members of the Order of Liberty must be persons who have distinguished themselves in worthy services during the exercise of any private or public function or who have shown interest and abnegation in favour of the community. That is the case of the U2 members. Throughout the last 25 years the band have combined the public exposure obtained from their musical success with protection of humanitarian causes and defence of human rights. In the 90s their involvement with the third world debt was very important for this matter to become public and their dedication to this cause led to their involvement in the Jubilee 2000 Movement, culminating in the global mobilisation of July 2005 at the Live8 project. Other areas in which the band and its members have been involved include the visibility they have sought for the crisis in Africa: non-payable debts, uncontrolled spread of Aids and unfavourable trade regulations. U2 have given their support to many organisations in their campaigns. To name just a few I recall support in the 80s for Amnesty International with various concerts on their behalf, for Greenpeace, in particular actions against nuclear power in cases where it might endanger the populations and the environment. Humanitarian causes, situations of disrespect for human rights and war have been other banners in the last decades. Their commitment to the cause of freedom in Myanmar and for Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the movement that opposes the military dictatorship, led them to carry out various support initiatives. The song “Miss Sarajevo”, with tenor Luciano Pavarotti, served to draw the world’s attention to the situation in Bosnia and provided aid for children in war-struck areas. Other projects involve health and U2 have also been involved in helping children struck by the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. Recently, Project 46664 (Nelson Mandela’s prison number), dedicated to combating Aids in Africa, had the support of band members on World Aids Day in 2003. I could cite many other examples of U2’s involvement in humanitarian issues, such as the NetAid Project or visits to Africa with members of the Bush Administration in an attempt to develop aid programmes. I would like to end this list of interventions by the band or its members by mentioning a situation that lies close to the hearts of the Portuguese people. East Timor was also a target of the group, namely in 1996 with the music “Love from a Short Distance” and the open letter to the people of East Timor. In 1999, during the tragic events following the referendum the band also spoke out in public against the situation there. For all these reasons that exemplify some of the actions carried out in favour of the community, selflessly, I have decided to make the four members of the band U2 Officers of the Order of Liberty. This award also symbolises my conviction that despite all the problems we have experienced in Portugal and throughout the world in the last decades we are still capable of dreaming and acting pragmatically in the search for a more just world. A world where ideas are the engine of change but also where the action of musicians, politicians, businessmen or the simplest citizen is essential. I will end by hoping that Bono, the Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton will continue their good work and inspire us in our ideas and our actions. I myself will as always be willing to contribute when the aims are eradicating poverty and disease, and achieving fair trade and full democracy, in other words, a more just world.