International Organization Announces Huge Live Charity Concert

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Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. cause / kɔz / (n) – something that people or organizations support
    Example:

    The organization fights for several causes, such as women’s rights and free education.


  2. slate / sleɪt / (v) – to schedule something to take place at a particular time
    Example:

    The book is slated for release next Thursday.


  3. tackle / ˈtæk əl / (v) – to deal with a problem or issue
    Example:

    The administrators tackled all the organization’s problems in the meeting.


  4. famine / ˈfæm ɪn / (n) – the condition of not having enough food to feed people in a certain country or area
    Example:

    Years of no rain almost brought famine into the land.


  5. daunting / ˈdɔːntɪŋ / (adj) – very difficult to do or achieve, usually causing fear or worry
    Example:

    Some students find Shakespeare’s poems daunting to read.


Article

Read the text below.

International non-profit organization Global Citizen is planning to bring people together for a cause through music.


Global Citizen, which concentrates its efforts on ending extreme poverty, has announced plans to stage a massive music festival called Global Goal Live: The Possible Dream. The event is slated for September 26, 2020, and organizers expect that it will be the largest broadcast for a charity event in history. It will last for 10 hours and will be held in various locations across five continents. The proceeds of the event will be used to support the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).


According to the organization, an additional $350 billion is needed yearly to achieve the UN’s SDG in the 59 poorest countries in the world. To help raise funds for UN programs tackling global issues, Global Citizen plans to bring together famous artists and entertainers, as well as governments and NGOs.


To make the concert possible, Global Citizen teamed up with consultancy firm Teneo. The firm will help Global Citizen gather top entertainers, production promoters, and corporate and government leaders to make the event a reality.


The event is inspired by the Live Aid concert held in 1985, which featured the world’s biggest entertainers at the time, including U2 and Queen. The event garnered over $200 million for the fight against famine in Ethiopia.


Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans admits that organizing the event is a daunting challenge, but he is not discouraged. He is hopeful that the availability of social media and digital technology today can be used to inspire and encourage citizens all over the world to help with the organization’s causes.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• If you were given the chance, would you attend the Global Goal Live event? Why or why not?
• If you were an artist, would you participate in benefit concerts such as the Global Goal Live? Why or why not?

Discussion B

• Why do you think some organizations rely on music to raise funds to support global issues? Discuss.
• Aside from benefit concerts, what are other ways to bring people together to raise funds in support of global causes? Discuss.