LOS ANGELES, California — On September 25, 2021, Global Citizen will launch a 24-hour broadcast music festival event, which will live-stream to six continents. Featuring musical artists Lizzo, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd and more, Global Citizen Live will live-stream events and performances from Rio de Janeiro to Seoul.
The Global Citizen Live broadcast event will donate proceeds to Global Citizen’s Recovery Plan for the World, a year-long plan to help end the COVID-19 pandemic and begin global recovery. Specifically, the plan seeks financial contributions from governments, philanthropists and private sectors.
What is the Global Citizen Festival?
The Global Citizen Festival is an annual musical festival event that began in 2012. The first festival raised about $1.3 billion, which went toward alleviating poverty. By headlining musical artists, celebrities and activists, the festival raises many funds to end poverty and protect the planet. Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, became the curator of Global Citizen Live events in 2015 to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This U.N. plan consists of 17 tasks that aim to end global poverty by 2030.
Throughout 2021, Global Citizen’s broadcast events have raised millions of dollars to end global poverty. In April 2021, Global Citizen dispersed $127.9 million raised in a live-stream event hosted by Lady Gaga called One World: Together at Home. The festival donated 100% of the funds to healthcare workers and emergency aid throughout the world. This included the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 response fund.
Global Citizen Live Event
This year’s Global Citizen Live Event consists of live events from Lagos, New York City, Paris, London, Seoul, Los Angeles and Sydney. Further, more than 32 musical artists will be performing in the broadcast, including Lorde, Shawn Mendes, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, BTS, Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, H.E.R. and Duran Duran. Additionally, the Global Citizen Live campaign is supported by 30 governments.
The World Bank estimates that 143 to 153 million people will experience COVID-19 induced poverty in 2021. Global Citizen wants to lower this number. Thus, using the proceeds from tickets sold, Global Citizen will contribute aid to organizations helping people affected by the pandemic. In participating in the event, celebrities, activists and artists are making a statement. They are calling for world leaders and governments to support initiatives to alleviate poverty.
Recovery Plan for the World
The Global Citizen Live campaign focuses on five objectives through their 2020 Global Citizen Recovery Plan, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, ending the hunger crisis, resuming education globally, safeguarding the planet and advancing global equity.
Specifically, Global Citizen plans to provide one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to countries in need. Additionally, Global Citizen will contribute $6 billion to famine relief efforts to provide millions of meals. This is especially relevant, as famine has affected nearly 41 million people because of the pandemic. The festival will also contribute $400 million to education initiatives, which will help 4.5 million children resume their education. Global Citizen also plans to donate contributions to efforts combating climate change and supporting social justice. While millions have been financially burdened by the pandemic, there is hope that relief efforts will reach them. Global Citizen will surely raise billions of dollars this year with support from celebrities around the world.
– Amanda Frese
Photo: Flickr