AFRO-NETS> Nelson Mandela & Musicians Join Forces in Fight against HIV/AIDS

[Janet Feldman <kaippg@earthlink.net>]

Nelson Mandela & Musicians Join Forces in Fight against HIV/AIDS
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46664 - Give 1 Minute of Your Life to Stop AIDS
 
Artists participating include 50 Cent, Anastasia, Beyoncé, Bono, 
David Bowie, Ms Dynamite, Eurythmics, Paul McCartney, Pink, 
Queen, Shakira, Britney Spears, Sting & more Concert special to 
air on MTV globally on World AIDS Day & offered rights free at no 
cost to all TV & radio broadcasters.
 
 
LONDON UK, 21st October 2003 - Nelson Mandela today launched a 
worldwide music-led campaign, 46664, in London to raise awareness 
of HIV/AIDS in Africa, and to call on citizens around the world 
to pressure their governments to respond to AIDS as an interna-
tional emergency.
 
The multi-faceted campaign combines a music launch on the Web and 
telephones, along with a concert, CD and DVD releases featuring 
artists such as 50 Cent, Anastasia, Beyoncé, Bono, David Bowie, 
Ms Dynamite, Eurythmics, Paul McCartney, Pink, Queen, Shakira, 
Britney Spears, Sting and many others. Proceeds will go to the 
Nelson Mandela Foundation.
 
The 90-minute concert special, 46664 - The Concert in Association 
with MTV's Staying Alive, will air on MTV globally on World AIDS 
Day, 1st December, and is being made available rights free, at no 
cost to all TV and radio broadcasters to a potential audience of 
more than two billion people.
 
"A tragedy of unprecedented proportions is unfolding in Africa," 
said Mr Mandela. "AIDS today in Africa is claiming more lives than 
the sum total of all wars, famines and floods, and the ravages of 
such deadly diseases as malaria. We must act now for the sake of 
the world. AIDS is no longer a disease, it is a human rights is-
sue."
 
"The 46664 campaign is a groundbreaking initiative that brings 
together artists, media and businesses to raise awareness of 
HIV/AIDS and funding for the Nelson Mandela Foundation," com-
mented Bill Roedy, President, MTV Networks International and Am-
bassasdor, UNAIDS. "We will join in this partnership, under MTV's 
Staying Alive campaign, with all of our resources. We challenge 
all TV and radio broadcasters to join us in this historic event 
by airing the 46664 concert rights free and helping to spread the 
message as widely and loudly as possible."
 
The 46664 campaign is calling for people to join a global peti-
tion via local call-in numbers on which they can hear songs writ-
ten by contributing artists, contribute directly to the fight 
against AIDS in Africa, and be directed to the 46664 Web site 
http://www.46664.com - to hear more music and leave their email 
addresses.
 
46664 was the prison number of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island, 
Cape Town where he was held in captivity for 18 years. The issue 
in South Africa then was apartheid, while the issue today across 
the continent is HIV/AIDS, where nearly 30 million people are 
living with the disease. Since the start of the pandemic two dec-
ades ago, 17 million Africans have died.
 
The first music track 46664 (Long Walk to Freedom) written by 
Bono, Dave Stewart and the late Joe Strummer and performed by 
Bono, Youssou N?Dour, Abdel and Dave Stewart is released today 
- and in a music industry first, will only be available through-
out the world via telephone lines, then subsequently on the Web 
at http://www.46664.com.
 
Audiences can listen by dialling different numbers throughout the 
world, which will in most countries incorporate the five digits 
46664.
 
Telephone networks around the globe are also joining in the cam-
paign, with AT&T providing the service in the USA. In addition to 
the music, callers will hear messages from celebrities such as 
Beyoncé, Robert De Niro, Britney Spears, Pink and David Bowie. 
Simply by phoning the appropriate number callers will join a 
global petition.
 
They will further be invited to visit the campaign Web site where 
they will be able to register and give their email address adding 
their support to the call urging governments to fully fund AIDS.
 
In the UK all telephone users can call a premium line using the 
number 09060-1-46664. The fund raising element will vary from 
country to country, with the Nelson Mandela Foundation being the 
ultimate beneficiary. The Foundation will apply funds raised in 
its work, which provides key services on AIDS in South Africa 
where 25% of the population has HIV.
 
A complete list of phone numbers can be found by visiting:
http://www.46664.com
 
46664 - The Concert in Association with MTV's Staying Alive will 
take place at Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town on 29th November, 
the weekend before World AIDS Day. 40,000 people will attend the 
3-hour show, which will be broadcast free to hundreds of millions 
around the world via TV, Webcast and radio. In South Africa, SABC 
will broadcast the entire show live. Highlights will premiere on 
MTV channels globally on World AIDS Day and will be made avail-
able rights free at no cost to all TV and radio broadcasters 
worldwide to a potential audience of more than two billion peo-
ple. The European Broadcasting Union and the Asian Broadcasting 
Union will distribute the programme to its member broadcasters. 
Tiscali, working with other leading online partners, will provide 
a free live global Web cast.
 
To date those who have committed to joining leading South African 
artists on-stage in Cape Town include 50 Cent, Anastacia, Baaba 
Maal, Beyoncé, Bono, Johnny Clegg, The Corrs, Eurythmics, Mo-
loko, Ms. Dynamite, Paul Oakenfold featuring Shifty Shell Shock 
and TC, Ladysmith Black Mombaza, Queen, and Zucchero. Additional 
announcements about artists involved in the show will be made 
soon.
 
As well as stars from the world of music, 46664 is supported by 
such international figures as Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.
 
46664 The CD and 46664 The DVD are planned for release early 
2004. Proceeds will benefit the global fight against AIDS, and 
will encourage customers to join the global petition. The 46664 
campaign was conceived by Dave Stewart and put into place in 
partnership with the Mandela Foundation and Brian May and Roger 
Taylor of Queen. Global media partners include MTV's Staying 
Alive and Tiscali. Industry partners include Coca-Cola, BBC World 
Service, Virgin Atlantic, SABC and The Fleming Media Group.
 
Dave Stewart said, "We have a wonderful opportunity to raise 
money and awareness through global telephone networks. It is so 
simple." Brian May of Queen said, "We are aiming to lay the foun-
dation for a campaign that will achieve a massive kick in aware-
ness. It's early days - nothing of this is guaranteed to be 
within our power to achieve. But we are all excited and hopeful."
 
Roger Taylor of Queen said, "46664 is a very exciting and rather 
noble project. AIDS is the most important issue facing Africa to-
day and through awareness we can do something about it. Give one 
minute of your life to stop AIDS and add to the snowball of 
awareness."
 
Notes on HIV/AIDS in Africa: 
* There are currently 11 million AIDS orphans in Africa - unless 
  we take urgent action now, there will be at least 25 million by 
  the end of the decade. 
* Of the 30 million Africans affected, 4.1 million are going to 
  die in the near-term unless they get access to affordable treat-
  ment. Only 50,000 Africans are currently on Anti-Retroviral drugs 
  (ARVs). 
* Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, has called 
  for at least $10 billion a year to fight Global AIDS - last year, 
  the international community spent under half of this. By 2005, at 
  least $15 billion will be needed. 
* The World Health Organisation has called for 3 million people 
  in the poorest countries to be put on life-saving anti-
  retrovirals by 2005. This will be impossible unless much more 
  money, and much cheaper medicines are both made available on an 
  emergency basis. 
* The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria needs $3bn for 
  next year to fund life-saving programmes in Africa and other poor 
  regions. Currently, there is less than $900 million in pledges 
  from donor countries. 
* Last year, Europe and America spent in the region of $3.6 bil-
  lion on global AIDS. Europe spent $11 billion on ice cream. Amer-
  ica spent $8 billion on cosmetics.
 
To broadcast 46664 - The Concert in Association with MTV's Stay-
ing Alive rights free at no cost, e-mail <stayingalive@mtvne.com> 
or call +44-20-7478-6314.
 
For more information about MTV's Staying Alive campaign, visit:
http://www.staying-alive.org.
 
For more information please contact:
 
For 46664:
Phil Symes/David Burns Shimon Cohen
The PR Contact Ltd. Bell Pottinger Consultants
Tel: +44-207-323-1200 Tel: +44-207-495-4044
mailto:philsymes@theprcontact.com 
mailto:scohen@bell-pottinger.co.uk
 
For MTV:
Rob Hooper
London
Tel: +44-20-7478-6520
mailto:hooper.rob@mtvne

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