Independent To Become Partner in Irish Musician Bono’s Product RED

London's Independent on Friday announced that it will be the first media outlet to sign on as a partner in Product RED, London's Independent reports (Vallely, Independent, 5/5). Product RED, which was launched in January by the Irish musician Bono, aims to raise money for the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by donating a portion of profits from a range of branded products. American Express, Converse, Giorgio Armani and Gap were the initial partners in the program and are distributing credit cards and selling tennis shoes, sunglasses and T-shirts, respectively, carrying the Product RED label. The four partner companies have committed to the brand for five years and have pledged to give an average of 40% of profits from the products to the Global Fund. Product RED hopes to partner with more companies. As of April 2006, less than $2 million had been donated to the Global Fund by corporations since 2001 (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/13). "We are tremendously excited about this innovative collaboration. There is a great deal of compatibility between ourselves and RED," Simon Kelner, editor-in-chief of the Independent, said, adding, "Our readers have already shown, by their contribution to our annual charity appeals, their interest and concern in Africa." According to a Product RED staff member, Bono has begun work on newspaper articles ranging from health to politics, as well as several features on Africa. Product RED will have an ongoing partnership with the Independent, with further projects to be announced later this year, according to the paper (Independent, 5/5).