Quote of the day: Barack Obama

via news.com.au

A veteran CGG, U2 frontman and ONE founder Bono sat down with President Barack Obama earlier this year in a comprehensive Q&A session.

Bono: These are tough economic times at home. What do you say to people who question whether the U.S. should be investing time and resources in helping people in other countries?

President Obama: I can sum it up very simply: Development is a strategic and moral imperative for the United States. For too long, we have tried to manage extreme poverty and respond to its attendant consequences around the world: epidemic disease; political instability; the collapse of states; cross-border flows of refugees; and the absence of hope and opportunity that come with humanitarian crises. Our collective challenge is to pro-actively shape the world we want to see in the future by seeking, very deliberately, to accelerate development. The return on this investment is potentially enormous: a broader base for global prosperity, diminished military risk, and a more just and equitable world.

To read the full Q&A, click here for The Globe and Mail’s African Century Edition feature. Wondering about ways to take action around poverty? Check out our tips on how to do something, whether it’s running a collection drive, supporting socially responsible brands, and much more.