Global Citizen and the European Commission (EC) rallied Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Shakira, Coldplay and more artists, philanthropists and world leaders for Global Goal: Unite for Our Future, a campaign designed to coordinate the development of COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines.
On April 18, Global Citizen co-hosted One World: Together at Home with the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise money and awareness for the UN Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO. Gaga’s curated virtual charity concert featured all-star performers Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Keith Urban, Maluma, Jennifer Lopez and many more, which eventually lead to One World breaking not one, but two Guinness World Records yesterday (May 27) — one for the most musical acts to perform at a remote music festival and another for the most money raised for charity by a remote music festival, totaling $127.9 million.
This time around, global leaders from 15 countries will join the musicians on June 27 for an international pledging summit, where governments, corporate leaders and philanthropists can commit to combatting coronavirus by distributing much-needed tools and treatments. Global Citizen CEO and co-founder Hugh Evans teased the summit to Billboard before officially making the announcement today (May 28), citing the music industry as a powerhouse of influence to rally fans and leaders alike for Global Citizen’s next big mission.
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Coldplay, Dionne Warwick, J Balvin, Chris Rock, Idris and Sabrina Elba (who previously tested positive for coronavirus), and more celebrities also join the motley crew behind Global Goal by offering one-of-a-kind experiences with their fans, from hosting a virtual happy hour with Adam Lambert to enjoying a mini-concert from Chloe X Halle.
“Around the world, people are desperate to resume a greater semblance of normalcy, spend time with friends and loved ones, venture safely outside their homes and to earn a decent wage. To make this a reality, we need to make COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines available to everyone, everywhere,” Evans said in a press release. “The critical work done by scientists globally, the efforts to distribute solutions regardless of cost, income or geography, and the need to rebuild economies in the poorest countries, all require a massive increase in funding. No one is safe until everyone is safe.”
World leaders from France, South Africa, Germany, Norway, Canada, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and New Zealand joined the European Union (EU) in the plan to raise billions toward equitable COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines.
“The more and quicker we mobilize resources and join forces, the higher the chances of getting a vaccine for all within our reach,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyenin in the release. “The world needs to come out stronger from this pandemic. We should be more prepared to face such a crisis in the future, with fair access to medicine and strong health systems everywhere around the earth. This is a global challenge and it requires truly global mobilization.”
Cyrus sent a video message today (May 28) detailing the overarching importance behind Global Goal, as did the three heads of the summit’s coordinating foundations, Bill Gates of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mike Bloomberg of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Dr. Jeremy Farrar of the Wellcome Trust.
“At a time where we’ve seen injustices in our society increase even more, we now have the opportunity to take a stand for equality and health for all,” she announced in the PSA. “Because this pandemic has affected our entire world, we need to ensure that everyone everywhere has the solutions for this pandemic — testing, treatments and a vaccine.”
Watch her video message below, and stay tuned for more announcements ahead of Global Goal: Unite for Our Future.