Lineup announced for Cuba “peace concert”

Fifteen artists representing six countries are planning to perform as part of a September 20th “peace concert” in Havana, Cuba.

Among the acts that will be present according to a press release we received a few hours ago will be Colombian pop-rock artist/ “Paz Sin Fronteras” organizer Juanes. Cuban artists Silvio Rodríguez and Los Van Van will also be there along with the likes of Miguel Bosé (Spain) and Olga Tañón (Puerto Rico). Representing the U.S. will be the brilliant fusion sounds of CuCu Diamantes and Yerba Buena.

Juanes has received plenty of criticism from members of the cuban exile community in the U.S though he has also been backed by some Cuban dissidents. According to the press release the upcoming concert will try to bring musicians together in a spirit of peace and harmony much like the first “Paz Sin Fronteras” last year along the Colombia-Venezuela border:

Concierto Paz Sin Fronteras will take place at the Jose Marti Revolution Plaza between 2PM and 6PM local time. The Paz Sin Fronteras stage will be located at the same spot where Pope John Paul II held his historic mass in January of 1998. Admission is free and open to the public.

The concert organizers have requested that the artists and the audience wear all white attire to symbolize peace.

All artists have agreed to perform just their most popular songs and that the concert will not present political messages of any nature. There will be no presenters on stage – just music performers.

The concert will be sponsor-free and will supposedly air via satellite through Cuban television. None of the artists will be paid to perform and production costs will be split between Cuba's Ministry of Culture, Juanes, Bosé and Tañón.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- BBC News, The Latin Americanist, Billboard
Other Source - Paz Sin Fronteras press release via e-mail

Today’s Video: Human rights for all!

Today is International Human Rights Day but also the 60th anniversary of the passing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

All of the treaty’s goals have yet to be reached and countless number of people globally suffer from human rights abuses. Despite the criticism the UDHR is a landmark covenant, a key to international law, and a necessary tool to combat some of the world’s evils.

As part of today’s anniversary, Amnesty International distributed a music video on human rights with the likes of Yerba Buena, Julieta Venegas and Arteciolepados:

(Hat tip: PBS).

Sources- Guardian UK, United Nations, YouTube, Deutsche Welle, PBS