Rocky Dawuni joins Hillary Clinton and others to celebrate ‘Clean Cookstoves’
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| Sec. Clinton (8th from left) with Rocky behind to her right |
Ghanaian musician and social activist Rocky Dawuni joined Hillary Clinton and other dignitaries for the three-year anniversary celebration of the Global Alliance For Clean Cookstoves in New York City (NYC) late September of 2013.
Clinton launched the Global Alliance at the Clinton Global Initiative under the auspices of the UN Foundation to promote the universal adoption of clean cooking solutions as a means to combat Household Air Pollution (HAP) and climate change.
“We need to keep the Alliance going and growing,” said Secretary Clinton. “Find more partners; expand the market; put more stoves in the hands of consumers; save more lives. That’s what the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is all about, and that’s why I will continue to be an enthusiastic supporter and partner.”
Dawuni was appointed as one of the Ambassadors of the initiative in 2012. He joined Academy Award-winning actor Julia Roberts and chef Jose Andres as global champions. An estimated 4 million people die annually as a result of exposure to smoke from open flames, a majority of them being women and children–this has been the reason why Rocky has been committed to helping raise awareness of this issue.
During the anniversary, Dawuni also met with the Chief Executive of the Global Alliance; Radha Murthiah, President of Guatemala; Otto Perez Molina, former president of Ireland; Mary Robinson and CEO of UN Foundation; Cathy Calvin and other distinguished members of the leadership of the Alliance at the George Soros Foundation.
On the musical front, Rocky Dawuni performed at Playing for Change annual fundraiser prior to leaving for NYC alongside blues legend Keb Mo, John Densmore of The Doors and Playing for Change Band. The event held at the World Famous Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, California (CA), helps raise funds for the building of music schools around the world.
He also hosted the debut Beach Ball Festival at Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica CA, where fans enjoyed performances by Michael Rose, Sly & Robbie, U-Roy and other Reggae greats.
The Beach Ball Festival was a fun new experience and a departure from closing out Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park’s summer concert season with a sizzling headlining show earlier in August. Dawuni began the summer with a two-part European tour which stopped at the top Reggae, World, and Jazz music festivals and garnered excellent reviews.
Dawuni is currently working on the follow up to his last album Hymns for the Rebel Soul. The new album is set to be released in 2014 and is as yet untitled. The album will feature his first foray Soca, “Reggae Soca Party.” The track is featured on Electronic Art’s brand new video game “The Simm’s: Island Paradise” and other exciting audible and mentally stimulating delights.
Expect #TheAfricanDream to hang out with Rocky Dawuni very soon as we talk about his new album and work as a social activist.
Source: TheAfricanDream.net/Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves/UN
