Activism Sting (musician)

sting chief raoni in paris, april 1989.

involvement in human rights began in september 1981 when martin lewis included him in fourth amnesty international gala, secret policeman s other ball following example set @ 1979 show pete townshend. sting performed roxanne , message in bottle appearing on 4 nights @ theatre royal in london. led other musicians (the secret police) including eric clapton, jeff beck, phil collins, donovan, bob geldof , midge ure in finale – sting s reggae-tinged arrangement of bob dylan s shall released . event first time sting had worked geldof. association amnesty continued throughout 1980s , beyond , took part in amnesty s human rights concerts.

sting had shown interest in social , political issues in 1980 song driven tears , indictment of apathy world hunger. in november 1984 joined band aid, charity supergroup made of biggest british , irish musicians of era, , sang on know s christmas? recorded @ sarm west studios in notting hill, london. led live aid concert in july 1985 @ wembley stadium, in sting performed phil collins , dire straits. on 2 july 2005, sting performed @ live 8 concert @ hyde park, london, follow-up 1985 s live aid.

sting (second right) @ human rights now! concert in mendoza, argentina, october 1988

in june 1986, sting reunited police last 3 shows of amnesty s six-date conspiracy of hope concerts in u.s. day after final concert, told nbc s today show: ve been member of amnesty , support member 5 years, due entertainment event called secret policeman s ball , before did not know amnesty, did not know work, did not know torture in world. in 1988 joined musicians including peter gabriel , bruce springsteen six-week human rights now! tour commemorating 40th anniversary of universal declaration of human rights.

with wife trudie styler , raoni metuktire, kayapo indian leader in brazil, sting founded rainforest foundation fund save rainforests , protect indigenous peoples there. in 1989 flew altamira gathering offer support while promoting charity. support continues , includes annual benefit concert @ carnegie hall billy joel, elton john, james taylor , others. species of colombian tree frog, dendropsophus stingi, named after him commitment , efforts save rainforest . in 1988, single dance alone (cueca solo) chronicled plight of mothers, wives , daughters of disappeared , political opponents killed pinochet dictatorship in chile.

on 15 september 1997, sting joined paul mccartney, eric clapton, elton john, phil collins , mark knopfler @ london s royal albert hall music montserrat, benefit caribbean island devastated volcano. sting , styler awarded peace abbey courage of conscience award in sherborn, massachusetts, on 30 june 2000. in september 2001, sting took part in america: tribute heroes singing fragile raise money families of victims of 9/11 attacks in u.s. in february 2005, sting performed leeuwin estate concert series in western australia, concert raising $4 million 2004 indian ocean earthquake , tsunami relief.

in 2007, sting joined andy summers , stewart copeland closing set @ live earth concert @ giants stadium in east rutherford, new jersey. joined john mayer , kanye west, sting , police ended show singing message in bottle in 2008 sting contributed songs tibet support tibet , dalai lama, tenzin gyatso. on 22 january 2010, sting performed driven tears during hope haiti now. on 25 april 2010, performed on national mall in washington, d.c. in 40th anniversary celebration of earth day. sting patron of elton john aids foundation. in 2010 became patron of poverty alleviation , beekeeping charity bees development.

in 2011, sting joined more 30 others in open letter british prime minister david cameron immediate decriminalisation of drug possession if policy review showed had failed. sting quoted: giving young people criminal records minor drug possession serves little purpose — time think of more imaginative ways of addressing drug use in our society.

in august 2014, sting 1 of 200 public figures signatories letter guardian expressing hope scotland vote remain part of united kingdom in september s referendum on issue.

on 4 july 2011, sting cancelled concert astana day festival in astana, kazakhstan. amnesty international convinced him cancel due concerns on rights of kazakh oil , gas workers , families. on 2 november 2012, sting appeared on hurricane sandy: coming , sang version of message in bottle raise funds affected storm on east coast of united states week. show reportedly raised $23 million.

sting participated co-host , musician during day-long 2015 norwegian tv campaign, dedicated preservation of rainforest.

he participated 3 songs in tower of song tribute leonard cohen in montreal on tuesday november 7,2017.