Focus on Youth, AIDS, and Music

Hello everyone, there is a lot of you out there; I can't really see any of you which is may be a good thing. My name is Kitty Boone, I work for the Aspen Institute and I am very very delighted that you are all here tonight. When we were plotting the Ideas Festival this year we really wanted to create something of a town hall targeted at a younger audience of people who might be interested in issues that affect them directly. And I am very very thrilled to have a group of people here tonight talking about AIDS and the treatment of AIDS and the issues that affect millions of young people around the world and I am very very thrilled to do this. As you all know this is benefit for YouthAIDS which was founded Kate Roberts who is our moderator tonight, who is also a Vice President of Population Services International. YouthAIDS has 6000 employees around the world dealing with AIDS in communities and without any further adieu I am going to introduce Kate to introduce her panel. Thank you all for coming. This is a benefit. All the proceeds tonight go to YouthAIDS, it's a very important issue in the globe and Kate you are a phenomenon, thank you for coming. Thank you, thanks everybody, thank you Kitty and thank you to the Aspen Institute and thank you to Belly Up for hosting us. I will with no further adieu introduce to our very prestigious panel, I think we are going to have a very lively panel tonight, I am very excited. First of all to our left we have Dan Glickman who became Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America in 2004. Prior to that he was Director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University's John F Kennedy School of Government. From 95' to 2001, he served as a United States Secretary of Agriculture; Secretary Glickman also served for 18 years in the US House of Representatives representing the fourth Congressional District of Kansas. He was a Member of the House Agriculture Committee, Judiciary Committee and the Science and Technology Committee. Well there is a lot of committees going on here. In addition he chaired the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. A formal trial attorney at the US Securities and Exchange Commission, he was a partner and senior advisor to the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld in Washington DC. Mr. Glickman also has worked with the cast of Ocean's Thirteen to raise funding for the food program to the amount of $50 million. Thank you for being with us. Furthermore we have Dr. Stephen Lewis who is a professor in Global Health, faculty of Social Services at McMaster University and he is Co Director of AIDS Free World, a new International AIDS advocacy organization. He is also the chair of the board of the Stephen Lewis Foundation in Canada. Mr. Lewis was previously the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for HIV AIDS in Africa from June 2001 until the end of 2006. And I can assure you he is a legend. From 95' to 99' Dr. Lewis was Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF at the organization's global headquarters in New York. From 84' through to 85' Dr. Lewis was Canada's ambassador to the United Nations. Dr. Lewis holds 25 honorary degrees from Canadian universities and as a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest honor for Lifetime Achievement. And we have Wyclef Jean who is a rock star. Clef is also a good well Ambassador for Haiti. A multiple Grammy winning Award artist whom MTV described as hip-hop's unofficial multicultural conscience Wyclef has redefined the term social entrepreneur. From his groundbreaking recordings with the Fugees in the 90s, to his numerous Platinum solo efforts from his spearheading of numerous charity efforts to his award winning production with artists such as Shakira, Destiny's Child, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, the list goes on. Wyclef has always preached a message of oneness and understanding. His foundation, The Yele Foundation uses music, sports and the media to reinforce projects that are making a difference in education, health, environment, community development in his home country of Haiti. He works at the highest level and I have followed Clef's career over the years in charity. He has private discussions with the heads of the UN, World Bank and even major nations. He has unparalleled access on the ground that he is seen as the Martin Luther King Junior. He was recently transformed to prison in Haiti into a home for children, which Angelina Jolie has co funded. But basically Wyclef has funded the rest of his activities. I can say personally that Wyclef always turns up when he is asked. He has supported YouthAIDS from the very beginning. He has also worked with the Clinton Foundation, Bono and Bobby Shriver, he is the real deal. And let me tell you, we are in for a rocking concert tonight. So to give you a little idea of what we will be talking about tonight. We are really going to focus on the topic of HIV AIDS, but also in fighting poverty in general. We are talking about the power of celebrity. The AIDS pandemic icon obviously talk about has taken over 25 million lives so far, it's affecting another 40 million. 7000 young people become infected everyday. Over the past few years we have seen dramatic campaigns such as Red, I am sure you are familiar with The One campaign and YouthAIDS that have harnessed the power of celebrity tact into Hollywood. Companies such as GAP, Motorola, Aldo Shoes, Keals and Giorgio Armani have developed social programs that have featured celebrities, who donate their time and image, there have been songs created, probably the most historical was written by Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson; "We Are The World". "We Are The World" raised over $90 million and the money went to fight poverty in Africa. More recently Bono and Alicia Keys have written songs and there have been various film projects and media projects over the years and we are going to discuss tonight how affective they were. Bob Geldof of 20 years ago set the stage with Live Aid. The whole project raised $350 million for aid in Africa. The question is what is the role of celebrity? Does it work? Personally I have seen over the years of creating YouthAIDS that having celebrity support has really helped us to develop our brand and cut through the clutter to honest corporations and funding. Our campaign with Aldo raised $3 million, but more to the point it reached 1.5 billion people with its message. We brought on stars such Christina Aguilera, Ludacris and Avril Levine and of course Wyclef has helped us also to reach millions of young people around the world through voice and lyrics. Wyclef told me here on the way that rap in his country is the strongest tool to change behavior of amongst young people. Moreover celebrities make the world go round. We see the tabloids every single day. The strongest tool one of the strongest tools for behavior change among youth is using social mobilization and getting people their respect to talk about the issues. Having Ashley Judd as our global ambassador I have seen first hand how she has managed to get in front of members of Congress, change policy and also help us to create major media projects that have been aired around the world. She has also helped open the doors to private investors of the corporations. If you look at the latest copy of Vanity Fair with Chris Rock on the cover you will see the power of celebrity. Bono has edited that magazine and it's an absolute piece of art. He is highlighting in the issue the grassroots efforts that are so vital to fight this issue. So I am very excited to introduce Dan Glickman. Thank you. Okay thank you very much. I am honored to be here I am going to keep my remarks short so Wyclef can perform and you can see the person you really came to see. Did you okay. I remember Wyclef, when I was a member of Congress, I went down to Nashville one time and they had a country music affair and a bunch of members of Congress were there and I like to sing sometimes and so my colleagues asked me to sing and I sang at her house. And after I was done she got up and she had a very kind of thing to say to me, she said "I think, you should keep your day in job congressman", so I am not really good at this. But I will just make a couple of quick points. One is that I think all people of means, whether they are celebrity or non celebrity, have a special obligation to share their wealth and their privilege if they have achieved that in society. And I think celebrities are no different. But I would say that celebrity is not necessarily a ticket to sainthood. There are some celebrities that we see that the media have made in celebrities recently; that I am not sure make the term celebrity a proud concept. I mean I do not know Paris Hilton, I don't expect I would know her in my life, but she has become a celebrity in the end. I am not sure that she has set forward the cause of celebrity hood. And I think there are others that don't necessarily give the entertainment industry a good name. On the other hand there are an awful lot of people like Wyclef and some others that will be mentioned that do powerful and amazing work for the needy. The second point I would make is that by and large our country, when you go outside the United States, is known not because of who the President of the United States is but is known because of entertainment and sports figures. They are the ones that people can identify that they are Americans. And I think that's positive because even at a time when American Foreign Policy is not necessarily the most popular in the world our entertainment industry and our celebrities are still treated with a great deal of respect because their abilities, their competence, their professionalism and their engagement. And so I think that's a real asset that we have, that we ought to encourage more and more people who have achieved positions in music or film or television or whatever else it is to be engaged in the world of celebrity. In my case I haven't been involved in the AIDS issue but I was involved in international hunger issues when I was a member of Congress and as the Secretary of Agriculture, our government provided millions of tons of food assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa. And because of that there are an awful lot of people like Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore and others who have made a career out of doing this kind of thing. And the other thing that I found is when celebrities' interfaces with politicians it is just the most incredible explosion of chemistry you could imagine because each wants to be each other, that's the thing. I know members of Congress who there is one member of Congress who has written several songs, he has had his songs are recorded in movies, Senator Orrin Hatch, there are others who have been in several movies themselves and you get members of Congress together with celebrities it's a match made in heaven. And it doesn't always produce results but more than often what will happen is you will see members of Congress who may represent very conservative districts and may say, well we don't like Hollywood or we don't like the entertainment industry. You bring Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt into their office and they overnight turn into great lovers of the American entertainment industry. So this is a business, celebrity is a business; it can have great influence on members of Congress as well. The other point I would make is this that the film industry particularly is as suitable to create images that can go around the world. Just take a couple of them. The film Philadelphia did more to highlight the AIDS epidemic than probably any Non Profit in the world did, to give people some idea what this disease was about, you think about it. The power of film is amazing. Look what's happening today or just yesterday, a concert was held with over two billion people watching it world wide. Now part of it was because the former Vice President of United States was involved. But part of it was because a movie was created called "An Inconvenient Truth" that served as the foundation to let people understand an issue which was important to the world. That's the issue of global warming and environmental change. And so I recognize that in the business that I am in now the importance and significance of the power of film to change the world and the benefits that having celebrities people of either honor or people of great professional reputation going out and selling that particular concept. And so but I don't want to over do the celebrity thing, it's not just celebrities. It's also people who have the ability and the power and the interest to engage those of wealth. Those people who aren't of wealth but have commitment and so I don't you know, we don't want to create the image that celebrity is the key to solving the world's problem. It is not the only key. But there are also films made about the fact that American is America is seen as a country that feels that celebrities are solving all the world's problem. No, and to be honest with you, some in our media accelerate that. I recall that when Paris Hilton came out of the Los Angeles County Jail, it was covered live under all the major world news networks. That doesn't necessarily help what we are trying to do here I don't think. But at the same time I do think we have to recognize that people who have achieved success in film and television and sports can in fact access the world of media and the world of politics like an off a lot of people can need to do. So, and this relates to the power of the documentary film in particular, because documentary film are often what gets people motivated to going out and and trying to change the world. The other thing film does, it not only involve celebrity but it gets people like in this room motivated to want to change the world themselves which is obviously very, very key. So saying that I think that there is there is good and bad in having famous people get involved, but there is more good than bad certainly, particularly if they are genuinely committed; if its authentic and they mean what they are doing. And I think you certainly see people like Angelina Jolie and Ashley Judd and others who are clearly committed and not only are getting on the cameras but also giving from their personal bank accounts. And that's when you know that it's serious. So thank you very much, I appreciate it. Thank you Mr. Glickman. So we'll now move on to Dr. Lewis who I know has got some very interesting points to bring across. Well the first point is to tell you that you are elevating me to a celestial level I do not deserve. Doctor in no way applies to my name. Nice of you to use it nonetheless. I didn't know that Senator Orrin Hatch was a songwriter. I think it would benefit the world greatly if he can find himself to songwriting. - just to let you know, and and sometimes in politics it's easy to demonize the other side. But in his case he is actually a very good guy. And a and a good philanthropist even though he is a republican, I can say. I didn't say he wasn't a good guy. I didn't know he is a song writer. I am going to come at this in a slightly different way. I spent a number of years at UNICEF as you have heard. And UNICEF was the organization which first used celebrities to advantage internationally. It began with Audrey Hepburn and Danny Kaye, both of whom were really quite remarkable. And when I was at UNICEF one of the things I had to do was to oversee the celebrity involvement of people like Peter Ustinov and Sean Connery and others. And and I learned then that there was a very considerable impact that could be made by celebrities if they were used cautiously and carefully and not inappropriately to advance particular issues and particular causes. And there is absolutely no question that this litany of celebrities who have suddenly emerged in the world; from Bono to Geldof to Oprah to Alicia Keys to Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Richard Gere; the entire range through to Madonna who have adopted Africa as the focus of their interest. They have obviously made a difference. And they have most certainly raised awareness and consciousness of the AIDS issue. But I would like to make the point that the reason we have celebrity leadership now is in the absence of political leadership. This this fascinating phenomenon would not be happening with the great same degree of intensity if there was some political leadership on these issues which made a measurable impact. And if you take a look if you take a look at the G8 for example; over the last several years of summit meetings there hasn't been a single voice to which you can point which speaks with authenticity and feeling about this extraordinary carnage on the African continent and beyond which is completely destroying countries, societies, communities, families in a way which is individually and collectively heartbreaking. So the celebrities step in where the politicians fear to tread. As a matter of fact the change that is now coming lies in the fact that Gordon Brown has emerged as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. And for the first time we will have a principle voice on the issues of poverty and disease and conflict in the developing world. And you will see a gradual shift when the politics of the United States change as well in a year or so from now. You will see a gradual I am a Canadian, I am permitted to say these things. When when there is a when there is a shift in the world to a more enlightened and progressive leadership you will see celebrities doing what they do best which is raising consciousness and raising awareness. But they can never raise the resources collectively which are required to defeat the pandemic of AIDS. We are talking about tens of billions of dollars every year. And although some thing creative and inspired as the Red campaign may raise tens of millions and other campaigns may raise equivalent amounts, they never begin to approximate the need, the need can only come from governments and that's were the pressure should be applied. And don't engage in the self dilutions, forgive me Dan, that politicians have that celebrities have any undue influence on politicians. At this last G8 summit in Germany, Bono and Geldof were all over every single G8 leader in private meetings and conversations and informative; and it may not a tinker's damn to what the G8 did, which was virtually nothing on the pandemic in Africa. It requires the mobilization of citizenry to get the money to the grassroots and get the political leadership to behave responsibly. And just to add one last acerbic note because you wouldn't wish me to be congenial, I want too tell you that that remarkable issue of Vanity Fair which doesn't just have Rock on the cover, but has Alicia Keys on the cover and has George Clooney on the cover, it has got 20 different covers shot brilliantly. There are many people who feel that that is the ultimate commercialization of the AIDS pandemic. That is reducing one of the most significant diseases in the world into a commercial exchange and one has to ask oneself whether that's the objective we hope to achieve. But just let me challenge on this for a second because you the putting the celebrity on the cover makes some body go to buy the magazine and read about the issue that is covered all throughout the issue of Vanity Fair. How about the real people and the real NGOs on the ground who are doing the work? Is that not -? As a matter of fact it talks far more about the celebrities than it talks about the NGO's the reason the reason I love what Wyclef does is because he understands as very few do that change happens at the grassroots and that ultimately that's the way we will defeat the pandemic. And and you cannot for ever engage in the assumption that simply the notoriety of celebrity will effect social change; although I am perfectly willing look, I love celebrities, I throw their names around, I am 69 years old. It's all I have left in life. When I was in Malawi last fall I was staying at an interesting hotel and when the manger of the hotel took me into my hotel room, he said "Mr. Lewis, I feel I should tell you we are giving you the room that Madonna just vacated." And I had a moment erotic levitation; I was almost beside myself with excitement. But there are limitations. Thank you. Thank you very much. Do not fear; you all have the chance to ask Mr. Lewis some provocative questions in a minute. With no further adieu we will move on to what would you like yourself to be I have not forgotten that. But he challenges me every time I give him a different name. So let's just say Wyclef Jean. All right. First thing I would like to say is I need to know that room that you were there. And it's a pleasure to be in Aspen, my experience on the plane coming down that was scary with the mounts and all of that, I heard in the background "ma-la-ma-la-la-bam-ba". And I said, "Yeah, damn I hope this plane knows who I am know who I am." But you know I am listening the history these two fine young men you know; and you know the academics I feel really intimidated, because there was some words that I did not understand. I told you I said. So as a rebuttal what I will do is I will apply ghetto slang. You know I am serious. Well I definitely I definitely agree with a lot of things. One of them is most of the things that I was doing in Haiti, when I was going back to Haiti, when I heard about gangs cutting off the heads of children and all types of things like that that was going on to my country. When I got on the plane to go to Haiti, I did not find a publicist, I did not find a television station I didn't find anybody. I just got on to plane, me and my cousin, and we went to Haiti. And I feel that you know there is a definite void in politics and but being that there is a void in politics we as celebrities have no choice but to step up, because what happens is if we don't step up it looks like the way the world is going right now, no one is really stepping up. Now we are not step in because we are trying to be the politicians. I mean I met Nancy Pelosi a few times, you know and that's my little home, you know what I am saying and she was like she was like, "You know Wyclef, you know we love you. We will do anything for you you know." I was like, "Yeah." I was like "Make me invincible. I don't never want to get another ticket in New York City again." And there is something about when the politician meets the celebrity and the connection. But the fact about it is there is reason why you have government. And then there is a reason why you have different funds around the world. So no matter how much we petition we cannot get to those funds. Those funds will not be released. I could do semi back flips, semi back flip, back flip. It would not be released. I think it's up to you the people to give by pass that we are celebrities and we are going to do we don't do. For example we celebrities we do go to the bathroom and our pooh-poohs do stink, just to let you know. But the thing about it is if we can get pass the celebrity right, there use to be a time America when we did not agree with some thing, we would challenge the government. You know, and I think or might my plane might just fall down now, so you all know who did it. And I think that we need to go back to the days were I think "celebrityism" is commercialized to a point, were we are looking at "Oh look what Wyclef is doing. Oh look at Angelina is doing, look at Sean" and we are ignoring the real issue. The real issue is that AIDS kill and AIDS is spreading throughout Africa killing everything moving. That's the reality of it. No matter how good we look and how nice we speak and we articulate, right, the reality about it is after we take a little trip to Africa and do what we are going to do; we go back to a big mansion. And once we go back to this big mansion the issue still stands. So I think what I did in Haiti was for the AIDS issue I believe that the youth is the future. The youth is the future. And the thing about it is we have to put power in your hands. So when I was talking about rap music what I meant by that was rap is words. So with words we can communicate. So sometime the kids find it much more cooler when we say it than when the politician say it. And I think that's where we could come to play in that sense. I don't think we could come into play as far as raising billions and billions of dollars. But I think what we can do is, if you a kid and you give him peer pressure, because you know you don't really want to strap up or you don't really you know what I am saying is the trend, you know what I am saying I got to get it right, you heard me you know what it is? My man's doing it, so I am going to do it. And all of a sudden you might hear 50 and a song as they Protect Yourself, I think that you will more listen to if a politician said it. So I am more yeah, so I am more you know I am more here just to it's very important to let you all know that I am here because I want to hear what's on your mind and what are you thinking and how I can help you understand the seriousness of AIDS and how I could transmit a message to you that I want to leave here tonight that you could take back to your friends. So thank you.