Voicing their support
THERE are some people in the music industry who will go all out to fight poverty and hunger. Some singers donate cash, others lend their voices towards charitable causes while a few take time off from their hectic schedules to visit the underprivileged. Humanitarian: In this 2003 file picture, Irish rock star Bob Geldof is looking upon a malnourished two-year-old boy living with AIDS in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Geldof, 58, has been raising funds for famine relief in Africa for over 25 years. Feed the world Punk rocker-turned-political activist and philanthropist Bob Geldof, 58, has been raising funds for famine relief in Africa for over 25 years by co-founding Band Aid in 1984; Live Aid in 1985 and Band Aid II in 1989, Band Aid 20 in 2004. He worked closely with then-British prime minister Tony Blair and helped organise the Commission for Africa to study problems faced by the country. In 2005, he organised Live 8 to increase awareness of world poverty and urge world leaders to create solutions for helping the poorest countries. Charity hero Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, 55, is a Unicef and Unaids Goodwill Ambassador. He is founder of Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation, which helps young people in a variety of worthy causes, including the provision of medical services and aid to victims of natural disasters and Dragon’s Heart Foundation, which strives to meet the needs of poverty-stricken children and the elderly in the hardest-to-reach areas of China. Magnanimous Chan also helped to rebuild a village after the devastating tsunami hit Banda Acheh in 2004. Although its official name is Friendship Village of Indonesia-China, most people there refer to it as the “Jackie Chan village”. Sustainble living In 1997, singer Jewel established Project Clean Water, a foundation to provide clean water on a global scale. Jewel co-launched Higher Ground For Humanity to improve education and promote sustainable development in South America, Central America, India, and Africa. Jewel, 35, is a spokesperson for Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, which works to eradicate cancers affecting women. Music therapy Grammy winner composer A.R. Rahman was appointed the global ambassador for the anti-tuberculosis drive Stop TB Partnership, by the World Health Organisation in 2004. In 2006, he composed the music for the short film The Banyan, in aid of destitute women in Chennai, India. He has shown support for charities including India’s Save The Children and worked with Cat Stevens for his song Indian Ocean,with proceeds going to orphans in tsunami-hit Banda Aceh. In 2008, he opened the KM Music Conservatory college in Chennai to train aspiring musicians in vocals, instruments, music technology and sound design. Legendary John After reading American economist Jeffrey Sachs’ The End of Poverty, Grammy award-winning singer John Legend, 31, was inspired to lend his support to the disadvantaged. Legend travelled to Ghana, Africa and launched the Show Mecampaign which provides mosquito nets, free meals to children attending school, safe water points, local clinics and fertiliser. Legend also raises awareness and support for GQ magazine’s charity drive, The Gentlemen’s Fund. – Compiled by Sheela Chandran http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/15/music/5615429&sec=music __________________________________________________________________ Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Yahoo! Answers and share what you know at http://ca.answers.yahoo.com
