March for Our Lives

The "March for Our Lives" rallies that took place in cities across the country on Saturday underscored the momentum of a political movement that emerged following a deadly mass shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school last month. The marches featured students delivering impassioned calls for Congress to pass stricter gun control measures, and drew hundreds of thousands of people to the streets of large cities and small towns alike. In Washington, the epicenter of the protests, students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the Feb. 14 shooting took place, sought to galvanize support for the movement they started more than a month ago.

Many celebrities and important people were seen in the rally. Paul Mc Cartney, who said he came to the march because he had a dear friend shot (John Lennon, of course), Martin Luther King's 9-year-old granddaughter,George Clooney and singers Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus.

U2 was not present but their presence was felt:

 David Hogg, a student from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and one of the strongest voices demanding change, tweeted,
"This is what happens when I listen to U2 and tweet lol."

That caught the attention of U2, who posted this response on Twitter:

Glad our songs were of some use to you at this time…. love and respect - U2 

Naomi Wadler, an 11-year-old elementary school student, also spoke at the event in Washington, D.C. She said,
"I am here today to acknowledge and represent the African American girls whose stories don't make the front page of every national newspaper, whose stories don't lead on the evening news ... I represent the African American women who are victims of gun violence, who are simply statistics instead of vibrant, beautiful girls full of potential."

Bono was moved to dedicate lyrics from "13 (There Is A Light)" to her on Instagram:

www.atu2.com

Refugees, humanitarian volunteers bask in U2's limelight at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium

U2'S HEROES: Burma refugees Htee Ku Sot Win, Hayblu Win, Eh Ta Ler Htue, Sarblair Twayjaw, Tem Leh and Christabel Wah were part of a group of 30 who were invited on stage during the U2 concert in Brisbane. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail

SIX refugees from Burma now living in Brisbane were part of a group 30 humanitarian volunteers to join Irish supergroup U2 on stage at Suncorp Stadium.
The Footsteps for Burma Campaign volunteers worked for Burma Campaign Australia (BCA) before the concert asking U2 fans to join the BCA campaign's email database and raise awareness of the oppressed people of Burma.

Htee Ku Sot Win, Hayblu Win, Eh Ta Ler Htue, Sarblair Twayjaw, Tem Leh and Christabel Wah - all from the Karen community of eastern Burma - joined volunteers from Bono's own advocacy group, One, to make an Amnesty International circle of light on stage in front of 55,000 fans.

The band wrote the song about Burmese opposition politician Aung San Suu Kyi, who was released from 15 years of house arrest last month.

Sarblair Twayjaw, 36, has been living in Australia for six years after coming to the country as a refugee.

He escaped military oppression in his township by crossing the Thai-Burma border, eventually spending 14 years of his life in the Mae Lae refugee camp in Thailand.

``I am so happy and proud to be part of this,'' he said.

``U2 have given us the opportunity to tell people about the Burma Campaign."


www.couriermail.com.au

U2 Going to South Africa?

Rumours...only rumours...but...

U2 are believed to be returning to South Africa for two shows in February, EntertainmentAfrica.com has learned from a reliable source in the UK.

The Irish supergroup, currently on their 360 Degree Tour, are reportedly set to play stadium shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg - marking the first time the full band have performed in the country since 1998.

The official SA tour announcement is anticipated later in September. In the interim, the local branch of U2's record company, Universal, has issued a statement saying that the tour "is not confirmed".

The concert spectacle features a 360-degree stage - allowing the audience to sit on all sides - which makes use of a four-legged 50-metre tall structure called "The Claw". Holding the record as the largest concert stage structure it holds the speaker system and a cylindrical video screen that hovers above the band, or can be lowered to behind the four performers.

Despite the tour being the most expensive ever to run - with 120 trucks needed to transport equipment and staging between shows - it helped U2 top Billboard magazine's Top 40 Money Makers list with earnings of R872-million in 2009 from touring, record sales, and other royalties.

U2 have been out on the road since June 2009 in support of their most recent album, 'No Line On The Horizon'.  They resumed their global tour in Turin, Italy on 6 August following emergency surgery on singer Bono's back, which forced them to miss a headline performance at the Glastonbury Festival in England and postpone a series of North American dates.

The band last performed in South Africa on their Popmart tour 12 years ago with the typically over the top staging featuring a giant mirrorball lemon, a 30-metre golden arch, and a 3.8m olive on a 30-metre cocktail stick. Bono and guitarist The Edge performed at the 46664 concert in Cape Town in 2003.

In case, they need a little boost...join our South African (and international) friends in FB :We want U2 in South Africa!
BTW...should the South Americans need to start a FB petition too? I wonder...

www.entertainmentafrica.com

Tribulations of a U2 South African Fan

We Want U2 In South Africa!

That is exactly what it boils down to, I guess … the desire for U2 to bring their tour to South Africa & make thousands of fans happy.

I’ve been contemplating writing a petition letter to U2 & their management for a while now; asking them why NOT touring Africa. So, yes, they’ve been here once before in 1997 with the PopMart tour, and very successful those concerts were too, I’ve read, but that’s not the issue here. What is important is the fact that although we do get quite a few artists visiting our country, we haven’t had anyone of U2’s calibre here in recent years. (My apologies if I offended anyone.)

I do believe we are capable of giving them the same warm, welcoming response they get elsewhere in the world. In fact; I daresay our people are unique in their ways … just ask any of the tourists who have been here – especially those who’ve visited our beautiful country during the Soccer World Cup. We are a nation who had to struggle through and survive the apartheid era, and all things considering, I think we’ve managed pretty well; despite the few naysayers. We are the same as everyone else in the world; our dreams, hopes & fears are echoed by millions of others around the globe.

I’ve been in contact with Universal Music SA & have been told that to bring U2 to South Africa would be:

• Very expensive because its ‘4 artists need to be paid instead of just 1’

• And it would be ‘a logistical nightmare’ for the band to haul their arses (thanks, Larry) & all their ‘luggage’ to this far corner of Africa.

Now, I can appreciate that tickets to a U2 concert would be pricey; especially because of our fluctuating currency & the fact that a recession is happening worldwide. And yet … look at people streaming to their favourite artists’ concerts! And luckier still if you live in the US or Europe … you can even follow your favourite artist/s around the continent. How I wish I’m that fortunate! Sadly, and in my opinion, for the most of us here in SA, it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the musical spectacle that is U2. Never again (unless some of us can afford to fly overseas) would we have the opportunity to witness the magic and wonder of U2 & their music.

It is with envy that I see various concert pictures, news and video clips posted on the Internet. And yes, I do enjoy looking at the pictures, watch the clips and read a review/write up about the previous night’s performance somewhere in the world. But I also feel a little saddened by the fact that I, together with thousands others of my fellow countrymen won’t be able to share in all of this. We can only imagine the expectation, the ecstasy that fills the stadium just before a U2 concert starts. We don’t get to meet other eager fans, standing in queues hours in advance, weathering heat, cold or rain in order to see our favourite band, and talk about the group of musicians who have managed to remain a favourite and go from strength to strength with each new album release. We don’t get to share in the ‘madness’ of it all – unless we do it on-line. And lets face it people … it can never compare to the real thing … can it?

"The Claw" would look awesome here!!

After reading the news that concert dates have been confirmed for Australia & New Zealand, I knew it was time to act. Thanks to a FaceBook friend of mine who suggested I start a ‘petition’ page, I did exactly that. I have to confess how surprise I was the next morning to see how quickly it had grown – people from all over the globe have joined … truly coming together as ‘One’ – it made me proud to be a U2 fan!

Bono has done some amazing work, away from the world stages, for the African continent – and has been doing this for many years now. I do admire his courage; his daring, and his attitude of ‘taking no prisoners’ when it comes to tackling serious issues? If ever there was a man capable of doing so, and being a rock star to boot, then it has to be Bono! I once read that the world famous front man didn’t think it viable to play in SA because ‘not a lot of people know our music.’ I would like to prove him wrong in that assumption. There are thousands of U2 fans that would jump at the chance to see them live in concert & experience the same joy & elations other fans across the world do. Please don’t treat South Africa like an orphan child in this regard – we are equal to everyone else!

If this petition will be successful … I have no idea, but I can hope. Of course I’m wishing that someone out there sees this & perhaps, bring it to Bono & the Boys’ attention – but I can’t predict an outcome on this matter. And its Bono’s words that give me the courage to keep the faith … ‘dream, dream out loud and at full volume!’ and that’s exactly what I’m doing!

It would be an amazing experience; and not even to mention a dream come true for me, should I (and my fellow U2 fans in SA) be so very fortunate to see the best band in the world perform, live, under a beautiful, African summer night sky.

 

Join our petition ,click here!!!