By Enock K. Kimbowa
Oct 28, 2003
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LONDON - HIV/Aids patients are serving a life sentence like Nelson Mandela�s eighteen-year incarceration on Robben Island off Cape Town in South Africa. They, too, are just a number. That�s why the African statesman has brought forward his prison number, 46664 to brand an awareness and fundraising campaign for the South African Aids patients - the �46664; Give 1 Minute of Your Life To Aids�. The climax of the campaign will be a massive concert on November 29 at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Award-winning rapper 50 Cent, Destiny�s Child�s Beyonce, Anastasia, Angelique Kidjo, Chaka Chaka, Youssou N�Dour, Rock Band Queen, Moloko and Ms Dynamite are some of the artistes to grace the performance. �No longer is Aids just a disease; it is a human rights issue. For the sake of Africa and the world, we must act and act now, and to raise funds to help those affected by Aids and raise awareness to prevent the further spread of HIV,� the former South African leader said at the launch of the campaign. The fundraising build up is being held in 17 countries including Australia, Canada, France, German and Japan where people call a premium telephone line to hear celebrity message and music recorded by top artistes that haven�t been released yet. A portion of the call charges then goes to charity, with the Nelson Mandela Foundation being the major beneficiary. Callers will be logged as having given their support to a petition calling on governments to declare a global AIDS emergency. One of the songs, �46664 (Long Walk to Freedom)� by Bono, Stewart (Eurythmics) and Joe Strummer was release last Tuesday. It will only be available on the phone line and the Internet on the official website www.46664.com. |
� 2003 The Monitor Publications
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