Pavarotti to Advocate Development Goals

Marking Un's 60th Anniversary, Pavarotti to Advocate Development Goals in Two Concerts

New York, May 25 2005 4:00PM

Marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, celebrated opera singer and UN Messenger of Peace Luciano Pavarotti will use two of his concerts this week to advocate supporting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), designed in 2000 to reduce or eliminate a host of socioeconomic ills by 2015.

The world-famous tenor offered to screen four UN public service announcements (PSAs), "Only with Your Voice," and promotional videos on the MDGs during concerts in Dublin, Ireland, tomorrow and on Saturday to call on his audiences to take action to reach the targets.

He will screen other MDGs and videos during his "Worldwide Farewell Tour" of more than 40 concerts this year and next.

Mr. Pavarotti has already screened UN PSAs at sold-out concerts of audiences totalling more than 50,000 in Johannesburg, South Africa, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in Paris, and in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, promoting children's rights, the International Year of Microcredit, MDGs and poverty eradication.

He was designated a UN Messenger of Peace in 1998 by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in recognition of his work promoting UN causes and his contributions to humanitarian projects.

"We are the first generation that can end poverty. Today the world has the money, the know-how and the plan. But we are falling behind, as in many countries there is not enough political will to make this into a reality. So it is of great importance that people in the world add their 'voices against poverty' to make sure that this important message is multiplied and heard," said Eveline Herfkens, the Secretary General's Executive Coordinator for the Millennium Campaign.

"This great opportunity given by Pavarotti during his series of concerts to bring this to his audiences and add his great voice to this cause, is of great importance to reach many people around the world," she added.

Ireland is conducting a parallel national campaign with the slogan, "Make Poverty History."

ENDS

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