More than 50 Musicians, 13 countries, 1 world anthem: United Nations Populations Fund debuts music video on Facebook
Movement calls for individual actions to be featured on www.7billionactions.org
UNITED NATIONS, New York – UNFPA today released a world anthem today entitled United. Performed by more than 50 musicians from 13 countries, United commemorates United Nations Day and marks the beginning of a week-long countdown to 31 October, when the world population is projected to reach 7 billion. Beginning today, visit http://facebook.com/7billionactions to listen to the song, experience the music video and share with your friends.
"Some say our planet is too crowded. I say we are seven billion strong," said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “In our increasingly interconnected world, we all have something to give and something to gain by working together. Let us unite, seven billion strong, in the name of the global common good.”
United, the result of a partnership between UNFPA, Playing For Change and the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, is part of 7 Billion Actions, a global campaign to build awareness around the opportunities and challenges of a world of seven billion people.
The initiative calls on citizens and organizations to post their commitments for making a healthier and more sustainable world. With every social issue—from the environment and urbanization to health and youth empowerment—requiring action more urgently than ever before, the 7 billion milestone in human history offers an opportunity to rethink relationships with one another and with the planet.
"The world population is interconnected like never before," commented UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin. "I see the milestone of 7 Billion as a call to action to ensure that everyone can enjoy equal rights and dignity."
UNFPA has enlisted a diverse group of corporations, organizations and individuals to help lead the 7 Billion Actions initiative, and make use of online, mobile and offline actions to tell the story of the people behind the number. With the release of United, individuals around the world are invited to create their own unique versions of the song at www.7billionactions.org/music and have a chance to be included in a Playing For Change mash-up. In this way, the song and the broader 7 Billion Actions campaign hopes to inspire all people and organizations to address the challenges of our time and improve our world of seven billion people and counting.
The musicians featured in the United music video include:
• Jacqueline Fuentes - Santiago, Chile
• Jie Ma - Lanzhou, China
• Andrew Valdez - Palenque, Colombia
• Benicio Torres Reyes - Palenque, Colombia
• Jason Tamba and Mermans Mosengo - Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Ahmed Hassan - Cairo, Egypt
• Dina Elwedidi - Cairo, Egypt
• Lákatos Mónica - Budapest, Hungary
• Mazsi - Budapest, Hungary
• Péter Kováts and Ágota Bendik - Budapest, Hungary
• Tamás Pillár and Balint Kövi - Budapest, Hungary
• Avnee Mithaiwala - Mumbai, India
• Ian Langton - Dublin, Ireland
• Mahamadou Diabate - Kirina, Mali
• Mama Kone and Habib Koite - Bamako, Mali
• Mountaga Sissoko - Bamako, Mali
• Tula - Barcelona, Spain
• Passakorn Matura - Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Wootchai Punyamao - Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Daryl Simpson - Omagh, Northern Ireland, UK
• The Omagh Youth Choir - Omagh, Northern Ireland, UK
• Grandpa Elliott - New Orleans, USA
• Greg Ellis - Los Angeles, USA
• Renard Poché - New Orleans, USA
Learn more about 7 Billion Actions and the work that governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and individuals are doing at www.7billionactions.org.
For more information, please contact
Omar Gharzeddine
Tel: +1 212 297 5028
Email: gharzeddine@unfpa.org
Tyler Spalding
Tel: +1 212 704 4422
Email: tyler.spalding@edelman.com
About UNFPA
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programs to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect. Visit: www.unfpa.org
For more information about Playing For Change, visit http://playingforchange.com/, and for more information about the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, visit http://www.mdgfund.org/