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Author Topic:   10/9: Poetic Social Mission in Space
ONE DROP
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posted 10-07-2009 12:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ONE DROP   Click Here to Email ONE DROP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Editor's note: This guest post by the ONE DROP Foundation was approved prior to being posted. We encourage our members and readers to watch on Friday.

World Celebrities Unite to Celebrate Water

From International Space Station (ISS), 14 cities, Al Gore, U2, David Suzuki, Shakira, Matthew McConaughey, Salma Hayek and many more top celebrities will be taking part in a world premiere artistic event on October 9th to raise awareness about the issues facing our planet's water.

Last week, circus entrepreneur Guy Laliberté undertook a groundbreaking, ground-leaving adventure of a lifetime. The Founder of Cirque du Soleil and the ONE DROP Foundation decided to become Canada's first private explorer in space and the first to engage in a Poetic Social Mission in Space. During his 12-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Laliberté's unique social/humanitarian mission will have one clear purpose: to raise humanity's awareness of water-related issues.

Why unite to fight water crisis?

  • Nearly a billion human beings do not have access to safe drinking water.

  • More children die every year from drinking unclean water than in all of the world's armed conflicts.

  • Fully half of the world's wetlands have disappeared since 1900.

  • Collectively, the women of South Africa walk the equivalent of 16 trips to the moon and back each day just to collect water.
These are all facts and The Ugly Truth. Aren't these reasons sufficient enough to take action? ONE DROP's goal: to play a role in changing and influencing how safe water is shared and made accessible around the world. Laliberté's mission in space is dedicated to making an impact on how water, our most precious resource, is protected and shared.

The timing has never been better to create awareness for water issues and we are asking for your help to create a global domino effect using your tribes, network and sheer belief that together we can build better world!

Together we can make a difference.

What is Moving Stars and Earth for Water event?


Credit: ONE DROP Foundation

On October 9 Laliberté intends to lead an artistic performance from orbit entitled Moving Stars and Earth for Water. The two-hour global show will link up with live performances and celebrity appearances from 14 cities worldwide. The whole endeavour will be streamed on ONE DROP's website on October 9, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. EDT (GMT-4).

This once-in-a-lifetime artistic event will have at its core, a poetic tale to celebrate water written by Man Booker Prize award winner author Yann Martel (Life of Pi). The tale will be gradually revealed as the program takes us through 14 cities around the world such as NYC, Rio, Santa Monica, Mumbai, Tampa. It will bring together personalities such as Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Dr. David Suzuki, Matthew McConaughey, Peter Gabriel, Salma Hayek, Shakira, Tatuya Ishii, U2, Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai and many others who will join their voices with Guy Laliberté and the ONE DROP Foundation to celebrate water.


Credit: ONE DROP Foundation

Under the theme Moving Stars and Earth for Water, the Poetic Social Mission will raise awareness about the issues of water in the world today from a variety of perspectives. This live event will be presented around the world by a global community of artists representing all cultures and creative disciplines and wellknown personalities. Celebrated around the planet, the artists are singers, actors, filmmakers, photographers, dancers, acrobats, poets, etc. What they all have in common is a concern regarding access to water and a desire to illustrate this in their own distinctive way.

Here are some simple but effective ways you can help ONE DROP fight against water crisis:

Live Webcast:
Don't miss our live broadcast event on onedrop.org on October 9, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. EDT (GMT-4).

David Bryant
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posted 10-07-2009 01:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for David Bryant   Click Here to Email David Bryant     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is it not worth considering than M. Laliberté's ticket price for the ride up to the ISS might have been better-spent supporting Water Aid, like a lot of much less well-off people do?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-07-2009 01:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Laliberté has given extensively of his private wealth to the cause of clean water, and his decision to go to space was not solely motivated by his Poetic Social Mission objectives (it was also to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil and continue his own passion for travel) but with regards to the cost of the mission, he says:
I think this is one of the best investments anybody has done in order to promote the awareness of water...

If the impact is achieved, we will reach much more people than I would have done if I spent that money on Earth trying to convince people that water is an important issue.

AJ
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posted 10-07-2009 05:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for AJ   Click Here to Email AJ     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Frankly, I think anyone who can afford to go shouldn't have to justify their actions. I understand the point and I do agree that $20 million would be an extraordinary charitable donation, but if I were Guy Laliberte, I would be going to the ISS no matter what.

pterodactyl
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posted 10-07-2009 06:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for pterodactyl     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A noble cause no doubt, but paying attention to details does matter.

Will the scientific credibility of their claims be hurt by the fact the Earth is spinning the wrong direction in their promotional video?

David Bryant
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posted 10-08-2009 03:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for David Bryant   Click Here to Email David Bryant     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm just getting a little fed up with multi-millionaires like Gore, Blair, Laliberté, Bono et al jetting all over the world, creating vast 'carbon footprints' and then preaching to the rest of us about the sacrifices WE need to make! Just my humble opinion.

AJ
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posted 10-08-2009 10:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AJ   Click Here to Email AJ     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Haha, I won't argue with that! I haven't watched the video yet, so I don't know what kind of tone it has or the message it's sending out. I think there is, at times, a fine line between getting a message out and lecturing. When I become a millionaire and have my own spaceship, I promise I won't tell you what to do.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-08-2009 11:07 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When you pour yourself a glass of water, or rinse your toothbrush, or flush your toilet, how often do you think, "Hmm, I really shouldn't take this clean water for granted because there are billions of others who do not have the same?"

Myself, almost never.

Other causes get a lot more attention: endangered animals, world hunger, and other environmental concerns are far more prevalent in our lives.

I can't imagine there is any member of this community who objects to the idea of ensuring clean water for all. It's a basic tenant of life, which is why it is so often overlooked.

So if it takes someone of Laliberté's stature to stage a large event to remind all of us that clean water is not a given, and that it is a limited commodity, then I for one, cannot fault his efforts.

As for sacrifices, look at what ONE DROP is asking people to do: use both sides of a sheet of paper, return unused medicine to pharmacies, reduce consumption of bottled water... are these really hardships so awful that far be it they ask?

Look, no one is forcing anyone to watch this broadcast, and if you don't care for such campaigns, then by all means ignore it. But criticizing others -- regardless of their position in life -- for trying to make a difference when you are not out doing the same is not serving any common good.

David Bryant
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posted 10-08-2009 11:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for David Bryant   Click Here to Email David Bryant     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sorry, Robert: you miss the whole point - or, perhaps I haven't expressed it adequately...

Wealthy people like those in my previous post have two things most of us don't have:

  1. A global forum
  2. The money to indulge any whim / make any life-choice they choose.
I often think of Princess Diana and her ex in this context. When you are so wealthy that you have no need to work, it is really easy to espouse and support any cause or charity that takes your fancy, whether that be land-mines, water-aid, rural-life preservation etc. And if you are a faded rock star like Bono, Sting or Geldoff, you can then use this as a platform from which to reinvent yourself. But that doesn't give you the moral high ground or the right to force your opinions into schools the World over like Gore did!

I just feel we sometimes credit celebrities with more altruism than they actually possess... in my humble opinion.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-08-2009 11:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
We each use the time and resources that we have.

These campaigns aren't asking the general public to stage multi-million dollar performances to spread the word, but to do what is possible within their own time and budget.

Without the campaigns however, it is within our nature to forget about doing what we can to help. Why should I spend any moment of my day thinking about a land mine or clean water when I will likely never be subject to stepping on one and I can turn on the faucet?

Rather than bemoan those who use their resources to shine light on causes they believe are valid, perhaps we can use that time to do what we can to help the causes we believe in, whatever they might be.

This isn't about credit or altruism, it is about expressing our concern for others and for ourselves. Choose a cause, do what you can and leave others to do as they see fit.

AJ
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posted 10-08-2009 02:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for AJ   Click Here to Email AJ     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think it should be pointed out that there is a huge difference between Prince Charles and Guy Laliberté. Prince Charles was born with money and privilege and has never had to work a day in his life. Laliberté is from a middle class family and worked to earn his fortune and create a wildly successful and innovative company. Just because someone has money does not mean they are automatically a bad person or deserve your scorn. If you were a multi-millionaire and wanted to go to the ISS, I'd say good for you. If he wants to go, let him. If he wants to also raise awareness for charity, where is the harm?

Robert Pearlman
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From: Houston, TX
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posted 10-08-2009 03:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA release
NASA to Rebroadcast Global Event from the Space Station

NASA Television will rebroadcast the Oct. 9 global event International Space Station resident Guy Laliberte designed to raise awareness about the need for clean water. Laliberte, who founded Cirque du Soleil, hosts the event from aboard the station.

"Moving Stars and Earth for Water," will take place in 14 cities across five continents between 9 and 11 p.m. EDT, and will be streamed live on the Web site of Laliberte's ONE DROP foundation.

NASA Television will re-air the entire broadcast beginning Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m. with encore broadcasts Oct. 11 and 12.

NASA signed a memorandum of understanding with Cirque du Soleil regarding the event, which will include video from aboard the space station and also discussion about water recycling aboard the station and about NASA technologies affecting everyday life. Event participants include former Vice President Al Gore, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette, actress Salma Hayek and singers Shakira and Bono.

Laliberte flew to the station for a nine-day stay under an agreement between the Russian Federal Space Agency and Space Adventures, Ltd. He and two station crewmates, Mike Barratt and Gennady Padalka, will return to Earth on Sunday, Oct. 11.

David Bryant
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posted 10-09-2009 11:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for David Bryant   Click Here to Email David Bryant     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well: all good points... (A cynic might say $12m tax-break!)

issman1
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posted 10-10-2009 11:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for issman1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Since Mr Laliberte paid his way to the ISS, he was under no obligation to stage his "Poetic Social Mission". In fact, he's entitled to do as he pleases. After all, Mr Laliberte is a "space tourist". And what do most tourists usually do on holiday? R'n'R plus sightseeing. I for one appreciate the effort he put in and hope to watch the repeat on NASA TV.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-10-2009 11:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I watched the live broadcast last night and beyond two introductory segments with former Vice President Al Gore and scientist David Suzuki, the "Moving Stars and Earth for Water" event was less an appeal to action than it was edutainment, with emphasis on the 'tainment.

There were some truly wonderful performances from around the globe, and the poem composed for this event was charming in its fairy tale structure.

In the end, it was really a celebration of the way in which water impacts all of our lives and even had a chance to highlight the role of the International Space Station.

I particularly enjoyed Joss Stone's performance from London, U2 in Tampa and the surprise dance performance in New York. Julie Payette was charming (as always) from Montreal and the Cirque du Soleil performances were quite a treat.

Staging a cross-world performance unified by the space station orbiting overhead was such a wonderful idea that I hope it is repeated, with or without a social cause attached.

If you missed watching it live, or cannot tune in for the NASA TV broadcasts, you can watch continuous replays on onedrop.org.

issman1
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posted 10-12-2009 07:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for issman1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It was definitely an interesting spectacle to watch, and the first of its kind in the history of human spaceflight. Mr Laliberte has my abiding respect. Here is a clip of the end of the broadcast which includes comments from some the ISS astronauts.

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