By Associated Press
NEW YORK: The Weeknd, BTS and Billie Eilish will participate in Global Citizen Live, a 24-hour occasion on Sept. 25 that is meant to lift cash and consciousness to combat worldwide threats together with COVID-19, local weather change and excessive poverty.
Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen, is hoping the occasion, timed to the United Nations General Assembly, will encourage governments, companies and philanthropists to fund a billion COVID-19 vaccine doses by September, particularly in Africa. The worldwide advocacy group additionally hopes to lift $6 billion for famine aid efforts for the 41 million individuals worldwide who’re estimated to be getting ready to hunger, in addition to sufficient cash to plant a billion bushes to assist counter local weather change.
For anybody who questions whether or not these establishments will handle to generate extra money to donate, Evans factors to the present house race.
“As billionaires are leaping into space, we need to remind people that we’ve really only got one planet and we need to make sure that we that we actually care for it and for those who are on it,” Evans instructed the Associated Press.
“This is something the ultra-high-net-worth community can solve the world’s problems right now. We’re literally talking about an investment which sounds big in comparison — $6 billion to address the famine relief efforts across Africa. Honestly, Jeff Bezos could write that check tomorrow and it would be a percentage point in his total net worth. I’m all for people daring to dream, and may they dream even bigger, but let’s also dream about a world where the absolutely stupid social ills that currently still exist in the world are addressed by those who have the means to do so.”
Global Citizen Live — which can run the gamut from pop stars H.E.R., Lizzo, Lorde and Ed Sheeran to rockers Coldplay, Green Day, and Metallica and worldwide artists from Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang to Angelique Kidjo and Femi Kuti — will happen on six continents. Live occasions are deliberate for Central Park in New York City, the Champ de Mars in Paris, in addition to venues in London and Los Angeles. Performances and hosted segments will come from Sydney; Rio de Janeiro; Seoul, South Korea; and Lagos, Nigeria.
Like practically the entire group’s occasions, Global Citizen Live will encourage thousands and thousands of followers urge their governments or particular person companies to donate or take actions to advance the group’s purpose of ending excessive poverty by 2030. Evans mentioned that purpose has suffered setbacks due to COVID-19 and the financial stagnation that resulted from it, forcing 150 million individuals again into excessive poverty.
“It is very important to me to be a part of this historic event to spread awareness and encourage action toward helping the people of Ethiopia during this devastating humanitarian crisis they are faced with,” The Weeknd mentioned in a press release. “It’ll be an honor to perform and help bring support to these citizens who are suffering so severely.”
Also set to take part are Adam Lambert, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Christine and the Queens, Davido, Demi Lovato, DJ Snake, Doja Cat, Duran Duran, Hugh Jackman & Deborra-lee Furness, Keith Urban, Shawn Mendes, The Lumineers, Tiwa Savage and Usher. Ticketing particulars and performances for the person cities, in addition to extra artists, can be introduced in August.
“The artist community is very selective about what they all rally around, and the sense that I’ve had is that there is this amazing appetite to be part of it,” Evans mentioned.
The occasion has help from leaders all over the world, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Evans mentioned training points may even be within the highlight on the occasion, which hopes to get 4.5 million youngsters again to high school studying by elevating $400 million. Only one in three kids globally can entry distant studying. And the variety of kids who’ve had their educations interrupted has grown by 50% since 2020.
“I always say that people care either about planetary concern or about social issues,” Evans mentioned. “For September, we’re targeting both.”
It’s an formidable agenda. Evans mentioned he’s hopeful due to Global Citizen’s earlier successes this 12 months.In May, the group sponsored VAX Live, which generated greater than 26 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and $302 million for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator initiative, which incorporates the World Health Organization’s COVAX program for extra equitable distribution of vaccines. The occasion, which included appearances by President Joe Biden in addition to the Duke of Sussex, helped increase the problem of vaccine sharing globally.
“I believe that VAX Live changed the dialogue and tangibly resulted in vaccines that will be shared,” Evans mentioned. “Yes, $302 million is still a small amount of money compared to what we need to achieve. Our ambitions are much bigger for September. And that’s why we’re uniting the whole world for this.”