Ali Hewson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alison Hewson
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Hewson in 2014
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| Born |
Alison Stewart
23 March 1961 |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | Degree in social science, politics and sociology |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Occupation | Activist and businesswoman |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 4, including Eve and Elijah |
Alison Hewson (born Alison Stewart, 23 March 1961) is an Irish activist and businesswoman. She is married to the famous singer Bono. Bono is known for being the lead singer of the rock band U2.
Alison grew up in Raheny, Ireland. She met Bono when she was 12 years old at Mount Temple Comprehensive School. They got married in 1982. In 1989, she earned a degree in politics and sociology from University College Dublin (UCD). Alison and Bono have four children. They live in Ireland, France, and the United States. Alison has inspired some of U2's songs, like "Sweetest Thing".
In the 1990s, Alison became involved in the anti-nuclear movement. She narrated a 1993 documentary called Black Wind, White Land. This film was about the long-lasting effects of the Chernobyl disaster. She has worked closely with activist Adi Roche. Since 1994, Alison has supported Chernobyl Children's Project International. She has also helped with aid missions to high-radiation areas in Belarus. She has also campaigned against Sellafield, a nuclear facility in England. In 2002, she helped send over a million postcards. These postcards asked for the Sellafield site to be closed. They were sent to Prime Minister Tony Blair and others.
Alison Hewson also started two ethical businesses. ..... EDUN was created to support fair trade with Africa. The French company LVMH has invested a lot in both of her businesses.
Contents
Early Life and School
Alison Stewart was born on 23 March 1961. Her parents were Terry and Joy Stewart. She has an older brother named Ian. Her family lived in Raheny, a suburb of Dublin. They raised their children as Protestants. Alison's father was an electrical worker. Her mother was a housewife.
Alison went to Mount Temple Comprehensive School. When she was 12, she met Paul Hewson. He was a year older than her. Paul liked her right away. Alison thought he was a bit silly at first. But she secretly admired him. In 1974, Paul's mother died suddenly. This made him very sad. Soon after, Alison started helping Paul. She cleaned his clothes and cooked for him.
In 1976, Paul met the other members of what would become U2. Paul became known as Bono. Around this time, he and Ali (as she was called) started dating. They became a steady couple. Alison didn't like the band's music at first. She preferred her father's Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole records. They broke up for a short time but got back together. Their relationship became more serious. By 1979, they talked about getting married. This would happen once his music career was successful. Before that, she worked at an insurance company and in her father's electrical business.
Marriage and Family Life
Alison married Bono on 31 August 1982. The wedding was at All Saints Church, Raheny. They couldn't afford a honeymoon. But Chris Blackwell, who started U2's record label, let them use his estate in Jamaica. When they returned to Ireland, they lived in a small house in Howth. They shared it with the other members of U2.
As U2 became very popular in 1983, Alison found it hard to adjust. She had wanted to become a nurse. But the demanding studies would not fit with Bono's life. Instead, she studied social sciences. This would help her understand social issues. She wanted to make a difference for people.
In 1986, their marriage faced some challenges. This was because of the time Bono spent recording The Joshua Tree. Tensions continued during the Joshua Tree Tour in 1987.
Alison earned her degree in social science, politics, and sociology in 1989. She was 28 years old. She gave birth to their first daughter, Jordan, two weeks before her final exams. She planned to get a master's degree. But she put it on hold after their second daughter, Memphis Eve, was born in 1991. Their two sons, Elijah and John, were born in 1999 and 2001. It was hard for Alison to be a single parent while U2 toured. But she found Bono helpful even when he was far away.
Activism and Helping Others
In 1985, Bono and Alison volunteered in Ethiopia. This was after U2's Live Aid concert. They spent five weeks helping people during a famine. Alison saw children who had nothing. But they seemed more alive than some children in Ireland.
In 1986, they visited areas affected by conflict in Nicaragua and El Salvador. This trip was organized by Central American Mission Partners.
In 1992, Alison joined Greenpeace protests. These protests were against the Sellafield nuclear plant in England. She was especially against a new part of the plant being opened. She was on a Greenpeace boat during a protest. She said she wasn't responsible for the band landing on the beach.
This led her to learn about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. Activist Adi Roche asked her for help. Alison went to high-radiation areas in Belarus for three weeks. She narrated part of Black Wind, White Land. This 1993 documentary showed the struggles of Chernobyl victims.
Since 1994, Alison has supported Chernobyl Children's Project International. This group helps children and families affected by Chernobyl. Alison has made at least ten trips to Belarus. She has organized aid convoys. Sometimes, she has driven ambulances filled with medical supplies herself. She makes sure her own children meet children from Chernobyl. This helps them appreciate the world more. She says it's hard to raise money for Chernobyl. Many people think the problems are in the past.
Alison knows some people might criticize her. They might say she only helps because she is married to a famous person. But she believes it's important to help. In 2007, she joined the board of directors for Chernobyl Children's Project International. In 2009, she rappelled down a 17-story building in Cork. This was to raise money for the organization.
She returned to the Sellafield issue in 2002. She noted that Belarus was greatly affected by Chernobyl. She feared the same could happen in Ireland if Sellafield had an explosion. She also worried about low-level emissions from Sellafield. She wondered if it was safe for children to play on the beach or eat fish. After the 11 September 2001 attacks, she also saw the plant as a target for terrorists.
In April 2002, Alison helped lead an effort. They sent over a million postcards asking for Sellafield to close. She personally delivered a giant postcard to Prime Minister Tony Blair. The campaign was supported by celebrities. Alison appeared in many newspapers and on the radio. This was her first time being so public.
Newspapers sometimes suggested Alison might run for political office. They mentioned the 2004 Irish presidential election. Alison said she had not been asked. She also said she wasn't sure she was qualified. She had four young children to raise. She also joked that Bono wouldn't want to live in a smaller house. The idea of her running for president came up again in 2008. She again said no. She joked that she couldn't see her husband walking behind her at events.
Alison has long wanted a children's museum for Ireland. She was inspired by her daughters' visit to the Dallas Children's Museum. In 2003, plans were announced for a science center called Exploration Station. Alison was a member of the board for this project. However, the project faced cost problems and was eventually stopped.
In 2015, Alison signed an open letter. This letter urged leaders to focus on women's issues. It was part of the ONE Campaign.
Business Ventures
In 2005, Alison, Bono, and designer Rogan Gregory started the EDUN fashion label. They wanted to help Africa through fair trade. They also wanted to set an ethical example in the fashion industry. They felt the industry often used child labour. Alison said they wanted to show that a business could be profitable while treating everyone well.
Alison stressed that Edun needed to make money to be successful. But it struggled. She later admitted they were new to the fashion business. Edun had problems with product quality and delivery from African suppliers. Many stores stopped carrying the line. The company lost money in 2007 and 2008.
After investing $20 million of their own money, they sold 49% of Edun to LVMH in 2009. The relaunched Edun had a new chief designer. By 2010, much of the manufacturing moved to China. Alison said this was necessary for the business. But she hoped more work could be done in Africa later. Alison spent a lot of time on Edun. She said the fashion industry is very tough.
..... This is a luxury, natural skincare company. It aimed to combine ethical principles and eco-friendly packaging. The products used probiotics and omega oils.
In 2009, Alison took legal action against Stella McCartney. ..... She lost the case in court.
..... Alison said being part of a larger company helped them. They gained research resources and better marketing. She said it took longer than expected. But they still had big plans for the brand.
Alison and U2's Music
Alison has inspired many U2 songs written by Bono. One of the first was "Another Time, Another Place" from their 1980 album Boy. She helped Bono when he had trouble writing lyrics for the 1983 album War. This included the song "Sunday Bloody Sunday". She also inspired themes in "New Year's Day".
The U2 song "Sweetest Thing" was written for Alison. Bono wrote it as a gift because he forgot her birthday. This happened while he was recording The Joshua Tree. It was first released in 1987. It was re-recorded and released as a single in 1998. Alison agreed to be in the music video. All the money from the video went to Chernobyl Children's Project.
Bono wrote the 1988 song "All I Want Is You" about commitment. He said it was about his relationship with Alison. He said he is a wanderer by nature. But he met someone so special that he couldn't let her go.
Music writer Niall Stokes believes Alison inspired many songs on U2's 1997 album Pop. He thinks "Staring at the Sun" reflects her Chernobyl work. He also believes the 2000 song "When I Look at the World" shows Alison's strength. Bono has said he doesn't feel limited by what Alison might think. He says she doesn't read newspapers or listen to the radio.
Alison and her family live in Killiney, Ireland. They have a large home overlooking the Irish Sea. They also co-own a villa in Èze, France, with U2 bandmate The Edge. Bono and Alison often spend time with famous people there. They also own an apartment in Manhattan, New York.
People generally have good opinions of Alison. They see her as down-to-earth. She doesn't see herself as a typical rock star wife. Their marriage is known for being long-lasting and stable. She helps Bono adjust to home life after tours. After the 1992–1993 Zoo TV Tour, they started having Sunday lunches at home. This helped them have a sense of normal life. The family also attends Sunday services in Killiney. Alison has said she doesn't want to be a star. She sees how much public attention affects Bono. She dislikes being called "Bono's wife." But she says she is a private person. She is happy to let Bono handle the public attention.
Awards and Recognition
The band The Cranberries' 2001 song "Time Is Ticking Out" was inspired by Alison's work with Chernobyl Children's Project. In 2002, Alison received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. This was from the National University of Ireland. It was for her work on environmental issues and the Chernobyl Children's Project.
In 2007, Bono and Alison Hewson received a special award. It was from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. This was for their humanitarian work with the Edun clothing line. In 2008, Alison was voted ... Celebrity Other Half in a poll by entertainment.ie.
See also
In Spanish: Alison Hewson para niños
