Numerous international music stars performed for vaccine justice, climate protection and the fight against poverty at the weekend. Elton John sang in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Billie Eilish performed in New York’s Central Park and the South Korean boy band BTS opened the stream of the “Global Citizen Live” from Seoul with their hit “Permission to Dance”. According to the Global Citizen initiative, a total of approximately 1.1 billion US dollars was raised for a good cause — donations were made by governments, companies and charitable organizations.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged 140 million euros against hunger and funds for education. Germany also took part in the campaign with a donation of 50 million euros for the education sector. In addition to financial aid, around 60 million vaccine doses were also promised as donations — a large part of this was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in a video message.
The 24-hour concert around the globe kicked off with Elton John’s performance in Paris. The tickets had been won by the visitors through their commitment — for example, because they called on companies and states to act for global justice in tweets and petitions.
According to Global Citizen, there were around 20,000 visitors in Paris, and even 70,000 in New York. But not only there were concerts at the global event. Stars also appeared in Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Lagos and Mumbai. Videos were also recorded from Seoul and the Brazilian Amazon. In total, more than 70 artists from different genres were involved.
There were in Paris Aazar, Elton John, Charlie Puth, Angelique Kidjo, Ibrahim Maalouf, Fatma Said, Black Eyed Peas, Lemonade, Christine and the Queens, the 2021 Eurovision’s winners Maneskin, Doja Cat, and Ed Sheeran who has finished the concert.
With regard to vaccines, John demanded that “no one should be left behind”. The Black Eyed Peas and Ed Sheeran also sang in Paris. In New York, Lizzo, Coldplay and Jennifer Lopez, among others, got the audience in the mood. There, Britain’s Prince Henry and Duchess Meghan promoted the fair distribution of Corona vaccines.
The initiative has already worked with music stars in the past. In May, Vax Live pledged around 258 million euros for corona vaccinations. Last year, two events raised a total of almost six billion euros in donations.
