World famous Italian tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, performed "Pavarotti canta Verdi" on 12 October 2002, at the Grimaldi Forum in the Principality of Monaco. Mr. Pavarotti and other well known opera singers joined TeleFood in the battle against world hunger and malnutrition.

Read more about the concert.
The Grimaldi Forum Website.

South African Solidarity Concert

The first major TeleFood event of 2002, the South African Solidarity Concert, took place in Johannesburg's FNB Football Stadium on 2 March.

During 12 hours of continuous musical performances, renowned African artists dedicated their talents to the fight against hunger. Performers included Kai Kai of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mory Kante of Guinea, Kapa Dech of Mozambique, Oliver Mtukutzi of Zimbabwe, Tony N'guxi of Angola, Sankomota of Lesotho and Beeskraal, Caiphus Semenya, Lebo Mathosa, Phuze'khemisi, Brenda Fassie and Mandoza all of South Africa.

Other artists, although not present at the concert, also contributed to TeleFood, such as Yvonne Chaka Chaka, of South Africa, who recorded a message in support of the TeleFood campaign.

Highlights of the event will be broadcast regionally at a later date by the South African Broadcasting Corporation and globally by the PanAmSat global satellite network. Other media partners include Metro Radio and The Star.

• On 11 December, the Spanish broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) aired the fifth annual gala "Food for All" -- a live fundraising show dedicated to TeleFood. The star-studded four-hour show reached almost four million people across Europe and included information about TeleFood projects around the world. Patricia Betancort, Antonia dell'Atte and Miguel Angel Tobías presented the show, which featured such performers as Atomic Kitten, Matia Bazar, Café Quijano, Carmela, Coyote Dax, Francisco, Lebrijano, Lolita, Lorca, Los del Río, Mónica Naranjo, Antonio Orozco, Laura Pausini, María Dolores Pradera, Materia Prima, Raúl, Rosario, Siempre Así and José Manuel Soto. The Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Mr Miguel Arias Cañete, also participated in the show. Supported by the Spanish Fundación Telefonica and the Spanish bank Banesto, the gala was rebroadcast throughout Latin America on 14 December.
  
  
• Groundwork 2001 was the first North American event to support the TeleFood campaign. It consisted of a week-long series of concerts and community events in Seattle, Washington, from 14 to 22 October. World-renowned musicians including REM, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Pearl Jam, Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews, Afro Celt Sound System, Emmylou Harris, Mana, Wallflowers, Blind Boys of Alabama, Femi Kuti, Joe Strummer and Artis the Spoonman performed. Groundwork 2001 was made possible in part by support from its primary contributor Adobe Systems. This effort represents a unique partnership between the US-based IT sector and FAO -- to the advantage of the beneficiaries of FAO's TeleFood projects in developing countries. For more information about Groundwork 2001 go to our story or directly to the Groundwork 2001 web site www.groundwork2001.org.
  
  
• In Japan, a classical concert with the prominent Japanese pianist Rie Nishimoto and the Chinese violinist Jia Peng Fang took place in Minato Mirai Hall in Yokohama on17 October. Special guest star was the Japanese movie actress Mie Hama. Japan Broadcasting Corporation NHK will broadcast a programme dedicated to food and hunger issues featuring the concert.
  
  
• In the Arab region, several networks participated in a major awareness-raising effort around World Food Day, 16 October. The Beirut-based satellite channel LBC dedicated part of its 16 October programming to hunger and food issues, followed a few days later by a 60-minute wrap-up on World Food Day celebrations in the Arab Region. The Arab News Network (ANN) and the Arab Radio and Television (ART) also dedicated special programmes to World Food Day. Egyptian Satellite Television broadcast a live current affairs programme on food security issues specific to the Arab region. In addition the Rome-based satellite channel Orbit highlighted World Food Day celebrations in a special programme on 17 October with the participation of newly appointed FAO Ambassador Magida Al Roumi. Magida Al Roumi was also a special guest on the two-hour live broadcast organized by Dubai Satellite TV on 18 October and dedicated to FAO and TeleFood achievements.
  
  
• A classical concert arranged by the Asian-American Opera Society took place in Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York 18 October. The concert was dedicated to TeleFood and to the victims of the September 11 attack.
  
  
• An auction in favour of TeleFood took place on the Internet, organized by the German Internet provider PlanetInternet and with support of the auction site Ricardo. On auction were the original signed playlist of REM’s concert in Koln, Germany, and a signed copy of the group’s latest CD.
  
  
• The Italian Singers’ Soccer Team played its yearly charity football match -- " La Partita del cuore" -- against the Italian Race Drivers' Soccer Team in Genoa 18 June in support of development projects in Africa. Part of the proceeds goes to TeleFood. Among the players were the singers Eros Ramazzotti and Gianni Morandi and the race drivers Michael Schumacher and Riccardo Patrese. The match ended 1-1 and was broadcast live on RaiUno.
  

Burkina Faso, Haiti, India, Mauritania, Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru, Tanzania, Turkey, Vietnam and many other countries around the world have also hosted TeleFood activities and events.

Stay tuned to this web page for more information on TeleFood events.

More about Groundwork 2001
Events around the world