ICD - added Music 4 Peace in there list of historical examples of successful acts of Cultural Diplomacy

[Music 4 Peace / Tobias Huber]

Historical Acts of Cultural Diplomacy

ICD - Academy for cultural diplomacy
mentioned Music 4 Peace in there list (year 2000) of historical examples of successful acts of music as Cultural Diplomacy!

In this section, readers can find a list of historical examples of successful acts of cultural diplomacy practiced by different actors since the end of the Second World War using different aspects of culture and other elements to represent and demonstrate what humanity shares in common through our cultures. These acts have served throughout the years as a catalyst to promote cooperation and to ease conflicts.

Through the medium of art, music and sport, countless individuals and groups have employed cultural diplomacy throughout history; drawing attention to issues of universal concern through cultural expression to ease conflict and promote international cooperation.  Through this timeline, the ICD recounts keystone acts of Cultural Diplomacy in action, demonstrating its exemplification in a manner surpassing pure theory, thus making the concept more accessible and engaging.

Ranging from events such as the launch of the Fulbright Program, to the recent Hijab Appeal, individual acts of cultural diplomacy in practice throughout history are documented, paying tribute to both major and less publicized instances of operationalized cultural diplomacy.

Below you will find a selection of examples of such successful cultural diplomacy acts that have had significant impacts or results: see full list at: http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org

 

See the Music 4 Peace listing in the Year 2000

MUSIC 4 PEACE

Music Foundation set up to spread Peace

The Music 4 Peace Foundation was set up in 2000 by Tobias Huber with the aim to spread peace through cultural exchange. Music and art are used as a means to achieve social unity and to promote non-violence. The Foundation's projects are predominantly targeted at the youth, as they will be the ones who will be shaping the future of the planet. The Foundation runs and supports educational programs, cultural projects and music events as well as working with a numerous partner organisations that all share the mission of peace. Music 4 Peace has supported a wide-range of cultural music events such as the United Nation's 'No Excuse Concert' and Asia's largest World Performing Arts Festival in Pakistan. By working with and supporting fellow peace organisations, Music 4 Peace can spread their message of peace and non-violence. The shared experience integral to music and art can unify people from a plethora of cultures.

www.music4peace.com/foundation.html

 

Along with events like:

August 15 - 18, 1969

WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL

Woodstock Festival Epitomized the 1960's Principles of Peace and Love

Woodstock Music Festival was billed as '3 days of Peace & Music' and was held in the town of Bethel, New York. Such was the popularity of the sentiment; more than double the expected number of festivalgoers attended and eventually resulted in the event becoming a free festival. A festival of that magnitude had not taken place before but ran peacefully, with festivalgoers contributing to maintaining a sense of social harmony and peace. The legacy of the festival is maintained in popular culture through the famous 'Woodstock' documentary. The Woodstock Festival of 1969 is widely considered the pinnacle of the 1960's zeitgeist advocating freedom of expression and love.
Music is a powerful tool for uniting people through cultural exchange; this is perfectly illustrated by the shared experience of the festivalgoers at Woodstock. The Woodstock Festival remains a symbol of the principles of love and peace embodied by the late 1960's in the hearts and minds of many.

 

• 1985

  'WE ARE THE WORLD'

  Benefit Single for African Famine Relief

  
  The charity single 'We are the World' was recorded by the group 'USA for Africa' to support famine relief efforts in Ethiopia. The idea behind the production of this single came from activist Harry Belafonte and fundraiser Ken Kragen. Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote the lyrics and music and the song was released on 7 March 1985. The song brought together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the time and was a worldwide success. It topped the music charts throughout the whole world and became the fastest-selling American Pop single in history.The song 'We are the World' reminds us of the fact that we are all human beings living together on this planet and that we should help each other in any way possible. The powerful image of many American musicians joining hands and singing together raised awareness of the famine suffered by the people of Ethiopia. 
  

• July 13, 1985

  LIVE AID

  'Global Jukebox' raises funds for relief of Ethiopian Famine

  
  Live Aid was a dual-venue concert organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure held on 13 July 1985 to raise relief funds for the famine in Ethiopia. The event was considered a 'global jukebox' as it was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Pennsylvania.  The total number of attendees at the dual event reached over 170,00 people. The dual concert also inspired similar events to be held on the same day in other countries such as Australia and Germany. It was one of the most widely televised events of its time with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. During the concerts, viewers were encouraged to donate money to the Live Aid cause; an estimated £150m is said to have been raised for Ethiopian famine relief as a direct result of the concerts. The success of the Live Aid concerts demonstrate how music can be utilized as a force for good and how it can be used as a source of cultural exchange to bring people together. The magnitude of the global efforts to provide relief for the Ethiopian famine created a sense of unity worldwide.

 

  And more music events like:

  see full culture ICD list at: http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/academy/index.php?en_acts-of-music...

 

• 1969

  JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO'S ''BED-IN FOR PEACE''

  Hotel Room Peace Campaign in the Midst of the Vietnam War

  
  Knowing that their wedding on March 20th, 1969 would draw huge media attention, the celebrity couple staged a weeklong sit-in for world peace from their honeymoon suite in the Amsterdam Hilton hotel. Reporters from all across the globe were invited to attend the event, at first not knowing what to expect. However when the pair began their alternative protest, refusing to leave their bed or cut their hair, the world's media spread the interviews, photos and video material of the event and made headlines worldwide. Whilst the 'Bed-Ins' did not achieve much in the way of ending the Vietnam War or bringing about world peace in general, it did succeed in raising global awareness and ultimately resulted in the creation of the famous 'Give Peace a Chance', the song which then went on to become the anthem of the American anti-Vietnam movement. To this day, the concept of 'Bed-Ins' remains ingrained in popular culture continuing to be re-interpreted and re-used as symbol of peace.

• 1969

  NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CONCERT

  Melting pot of music

  
  The Nobel Peace Prize Concerts started in 1994, exactly one day after Alfred Nobel's death with the main purpose of honoring the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The concert attracts major global attention as it receives around 6.500-7.000 guests and is broadcast in over 100 countries. The concert features a broad selection of talented artists from around the world. The concerts highlights the peace prize winner's work, whilst featuring an interview with the winner and the winner giving a speech during the concert.
  
  The Nobel Peace Prize Concert is seen as an example of cultural diplomacy as the concert is a virtual melting pot of melodies, ranging in genre from classical to rap. It brings further attention to the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and is broadcast over 100 countries; bringing people together through music.

 

• 1986

  THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERTS

  Human Rights Movement Bringing People Together

  
  The 'Human Rights Concerts' is the name of a series of concerts presented by the human rights organizations Amnesty International in the years 1986-1998. Four main concerts were held: A Conspiracy of Hope (1986), Human Rights Now! (1988), An Embrace of Hope (1990) and The Struggle Continues (1998). The concerts were created with the intention of building a support group for Amnesty among musicians and to channel this support into a series of rock concerts and tours. The concerts attracts nearly one and a half million people. Performers give press conferences in each city at related media events and through their music they attempt to engage with the public on themes of human rights and human dignity. Furthermore participants of the concerts are provided with a copy of the Universal Declaration in their own language and an opportunity to sign the Declaration themselves and join the worldwide human rights movement.

• 2012

  CHIMES OF FREEDOM

  Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International

  
  Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan is a 4 CD album, featuring 76 songs. It honors 50 Years of Amnesty International, and is a charity compilation album featuring new recordings of compositions by Bob Dylan by multiple artists, and was released on January 24th, 2012. Proceeds from the album are donated to the human rights organization. Featured artists include Adele, My Chemical Romance, The Gaslight Anthem, Pete Townshend, Seal, Jeff Beck, Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler, Darren Criss, Eric Burdon, Sting, Patti Smith, My Morning Jacket, Pete Seeger, Steve Earle and Rise Against.