United Nations-related causes are getting a boost from two Web sites designed to bring the problems of the international community closer to the donors who have the knowledge, money and time to help.
NetAid, a partnership between the United Nations Development Programme and Cisco Systems, has opened an Internet site for its multimedia campaign against world poverty.
The site -- designed to handle more traffic than the Web sites for the Olympics and World Cup combined -- was opened in a "virtual" ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 8 in which U.S. President Bill Clinton, former South African President Nelson Mandela and British Prime Minister Tony Blair became the first to officially log on to the new site.
The NetAid site will be the centerpiece of an effort to bring awareness of world poverty to the Internet public. Much of the site's content is centered on a major event: the NetAid concerts -- three overlapping concerts featuring major music stars singing in locations around the world. Plans for the site also include a "virtual community" for people organizing to end world poverty, and information on anti-poverty efforts.
As previously reported, the NetAid concerts will be held October 9 in Giants Stadium (N.J.), Wembley Stadium (London) and the Palais des Nations (Geneva). Artists scheduled to appear include the Eurythmics, David Bowie, Busta Rhymes, Wyclef Jean with Bono, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Puff Daddy, Robbie Williams, Bush, Sting with Cheb Mami, Bon Jovi, Texas and many more.
Proceeds will go to the NetAid Foundation. To get things started, the Cisco Foundation has contributed $10 million to NetAid.
The UN Foundation's site stems from a gift meant to illustrate the continuing struggle of the United Nations to find funds for its causes: Ted Turner's $1 billion pledge.
The UN Foundation was created to administer the gift and encourage others to contribute to important UN causes such as children's health, women and population, the environment and humanitarian aid. To help that mission, the foundation has established two new features to its Web site:
UN Wire is the foundation's daily news service, covering UN and global affairs. It is produced independently by the National Journal Group.
An online support section encourages site visitors to contribute to the foundation and support efforts to meet the needs of developing nations. The foundation says 100 percent of contributions go directly to UN charitable causes.
Full text of the NetAid release is currently found at:
http://www.netaid.org/press/47.htm
