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Virgin's Branson plans humanitarian aid concert on Venezuela border
Source: Reuters
Virgin's Branson plans humanitarian aid concert on Venezuela border
Published 4:48 AM ET Fri, 15 Feb 2019
Richard Branson is organizing a concert to raise funds for a humanitarian aid effort for crisis-stricken Venezuela to be held in the Colombian border city of Cucuta next week, the British billionaire said in a video on social media.
President Nicolas Maduro is resisting foreign efforts to send food and medicine to the hyperinflationary country suffering from rising hunger.
An aid convoy supplied by the United States and Colombia arrived in Cucuta last week, where it is being held in warehouses.
"Nicolas Maduro's regime, which is responsible for this crisis, is currently refusing to allow any humanitarian aid into the country," Branson said in the video.
-snip-
The concert is scheduled for Feb. 22 and will feature a "wonderful line-up of regional and international artists," Branson said, without providing details.
-snip-
Published 4:48 AM ET Fri, 15 Feb 2019
Richard Branson is organizing a concert to raise funds for a humanitarian aid effort for crisis-stricken Venezuela to be held in the Colombian border city of Cucuta next week, the British billionaire said in a video on social media.
President Nicolas Maduro is resisting foreign efforts to send food and medicine to the hyperinflationary country suffering from rising hunger.
An aid convoy supplied by the United States and Colombia arrived in Cucuta last week, where it is being held in warehouses.
"Nicolas Maduro's regime, which is responsible for this crisis, is currently refusing to allow any humanitarian aid into the country," Branson said in the video.
-snip-
The concert is scheduled for Feb. 22 and will feature a "wonderful line-up of regional and international artists," Branson said, without providing details.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/15/virgins-branson-plans-humanitarian-aid-concert-on-venezuela-border.html
______________________________________________________________________
Source: Washington Post
Richard Branson’s goal of raising $100 million for Venezuela could face an obstacle: Maduro
By Siobhán O'Grady
February 16 at 1:23 PM
The show lasted 16 hours, took place between Philadelphia and London, attracted more than a billion viewers and eventually raised more than $125 million for victims of famine in East Africa.
Live Aid, the charity concert organized by Irish musician Bob Geldof, was one of the most legendary performances in modern times, featuring some of the biggest artists of the time, including Queen and Madonna, as well as Joan Baez and U2.
It was just one in a handful of benefit shows in recent decades that have become the soundtrack to modern humanitarian aid, raising money for causes such as victims of the conflict in Darfur and struggling American farming families — and at times stirring controversy on where exactly the money went and whether it was used effectively in emergency response.
Now, as Venezuela grapples with a crisis that has left millions hungry and displaced, British billionaire Richard Branson — founder of the Virgin Group — has announced plans to host a concert to raise funds for humanitarian action. His goal? About $100 million in two months.
-snip-
Branson announced his plans for a charity concert in a video released this past week, saying that Guaidó and opposition leader Leopoldo López asked him to help organize the concert, which he said will be held over the border in Colombia. In the video, Branson blames Maduro for the crisis, noting that he “is currently refusing to allow any humanitarian aid into the country.”
-snip-
By Siobhán O'Grady
February 16 at 1:23 PM
The show lasted 16 hours, took place between Philadelphia and London, attracted more than a billion viewers and eventually raised more than $125 million for victims of famine in East Africa.
Live Aid, the charity concert organized by Irish musician Bob Geldof, was one of the most legendary performances in modern times, featuring some of the biggest artists of the time, including Queen and Madonna, as well as Joan Baez and U2.
It was just one in a handful of benefit shows in recent decades that have become the soundtrack to modern humanitarian aid, raising money for causes such as victims of the conflict in Darfur and struggling American farming families — and at times stirring controversy on where exactly the money went and whether it was used effectively in emergency response.
Now, as Venezuela grapples with a crisis that has left millions hungry and displaced, British billionaire Richard Branson — founder of the Virgin Group — has announced plans to host a concert to raise funds for humanitarian action. His goal? About $100 million in two months.
-snip-
Branson announced his plans for a charity concert in a video released this past week, saying that Guaidó and opposition leader Leopoldo López asked him to help organize the concert, which he said will be held over the border in Colombia. In the video, Branson blames Maduro for the crisis, noting that he “is currently refusing to allow any humanitarian aid into the country.”
-snip-
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/02/16/richard-bransons-goal-million-venezuela-could-face-an-obstacle-maduro/
