By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 2 -- A concert at the UN to Stop Ebola would seem to be a no-brainer, easy to promote, a feel-good event. But when the February 27 press conference for the March 2 concert was held, there were at first no journalists there.
A photographer member of the Free UN Coalition for Access went down to cover it, mostly to be polite. Later a louder UN Correspondents Association (a/k/a UN's Censorship Alliance) board member went, saying “on behalf of UNCA” would Derek Jeter and Jackie Chan actually attend?
Well, no. And when the event itself happened, there were whispers, “Nick Cannon isn't here.”
But Ban Ki-moon was there, as was Samantha Power, back from her appearance at AIPAC in Washington.
Italian Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi spoke, saying that Italy is not an African country but is close to them. Libya will be considered by the Security Council later in the week.
Inner City Press took and tweeted some photographs, and as other trashed the event as not even including the promised Salt n' Peppa, praised it for the late Bob Marley cover as kids bobbed in UN General Assembly seats marked “ACABQ” - the Advisory Committee on Budgetary Questions, of course.
The budget of UNMEER, of course, has yet to be finalized. Ban Ki-moon asked for contribution to “his” trust fund; an adviser to the NYC Police Commissioner said “I'm from the 'hood.” An on-air personality for NY1 called up one speaker after another. It seems many UN staff weren't even told of the event.
A former UN event organizer Gordan Tapper was in charge; the UN Department of Public Information declined to sponsor it, several participants noted.
A former UN event organizer Gordan Tapper was in charge; the UN Department of Public Information declined to sponsor it, several participants noted.
But this is the UN; singing in the UN General Assembly is irresistible. And here's hoping that the last mile on Ebola is actually accomplished and not fumbled like so much else. Watch this site.
