Juanes to Perform 2nd “Paz Sin Fronteras” Concert in Cuba September 20th

Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez, the Columbian born singer known to millions of adoring fans (me being one of them) as Juanes, is planning another colossal free concert event promoting peace and human rights, this time in Cuba. Juanes put on the first “Paz Sin Fronteras” or “Peace Without Borders” concert in March of 2008. The show was on a bridge between Columbia and Ecuador to promote peace between the two countries. The event was after a near-war erupted over a Colombian anti-guerrilla raid in Ecuador. Over 100,000 people united from both countries to attend the performance. The motive for the Havana, Cuba concert is to re-connect Cubans in peace. Last week Juanes met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to raise support from the United States for the concert.

Juanes is a six time Latin Grammy winner, and is known for his over 20 year career writing and performing songs about love and life, mostly centered in his beloved Columbia. He has been compared to Bono, Sting and Bruce Springsteen because of his vision for social change through his music. This September he will be another step closer to that goal.

“It’s time to start knocking down our own mental walls, to not judge anyone for their way of thinking, their social class or their politics,” Juanes wrote. “Our Cuban brothers need us and we need them. I’m talking about a peace concert on Sept. 20…raise your voice, and let’s put aside our ideological differences.”

I have always wanted peace between Cuba and the U.S., (if not the world). This would be an amazing event to witness.

The line-up will include Cuba’s own Silvio Rodriguez along with some of the Latin world’s most popular artists whom also performed on the Columbian bridge last year. There will be some additional singers from Mexico, Brazil, and the U.S.. Juanes intended for the September 20th show to coincide with the International Day of Peace, on September 21st. A representative for Juanes expressed that the concerts do not endorse or favor any government. “This is an event of peace, of harmony, of relations. It’s a white concert for the civil society of Cuba,” Juanes’ spokesperson Fernan Martinez stated.

I feel that Juanes’ charity also deserves to be mentioned. Though it is somewhat separate from his concert, I feel they are united in his heart. The Mi Sangre Fundación has helped to rehabilitate thousands of child victims of Columbian land mines. Mi Sangre is an organization that provides artificial limbs, rehabilitation and promotes early childhood education for victims of land mines in Columbia. Landmines devastate on average three people per day – more than any other country, the second is Afghanistan and third being Cambodia. If you can, donate today.

I commend Juanes and his fellow Latin brothers and sisters for their effort toward this cause. Last year the concert was broadcast with no commercials and funded entirely by donations. I love the inspiring lyrics to Juanes’ latest hit – “Odio por Amor” – (Hate for Love) – the chorus states the truth, “es tiempo de cambiar” - “it’s time to change”. I find myself singing it in my head, and I cannot agree more.

Paz Sin Fronteras

Paz Sin Fronteras is a project that defends the natural right to peace without limits, without borders because we understand peace as the pillar of all human rights, and that without peace, there are no rights.

Organization Type: Free Concert
Website: Juanes.net
Founder(s): Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez
Founded: 2008
Location:Havana, Cuba
See complete company list here

Sources: juanes.net; pazsinfronteras.org;

Contributor Profile: Justine

Justine is passionate about curing social injustice and global environmental issues. She has traveled extensively in Central America and the Caribbean, and is especially interested in the emergence of the Ecotourism industry.
Twitter: @justine72

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Justine Cary

Here is a video from Havana, Yay for Juanes and for peace!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dljj3OzjbTA

UN

Ignorance like this is what has this world like it is! I agree with sarita33 you definately are mature and make sense in what you say! To those people saying that by having the concert juanes will not make peace is a stupid and ignorabt response! Yes it is known you can not cover the sun with 1 finger but if we all unite we can try to make a difference! The point is not that by having a concert on monday the cubans will freed not hungry and not living in poverty. The main focus on this is changing someones life for a day making sineine happy and giving these peope a day to enjoy themselves and live once what they dont have the opportunity to live everyday! Juanes wants to make this say a day much easier going for cubaans and to let them know that other people out there care about them and give them a feeling of importance! Yes the next day he will go back to his luxurios life but atleast he shows he cares!!! And like the a bove me said it is everywhere , poverty and we can not go live lke that and that woyld mean we share their hunger they're many pther things to do like juanes is doing! And even so he and his followers are the only ones who have stood up and tried to make a differnce and life a little easuer for others! Maybe if all those ppl that are criticizing him would stop for a minute and think of a way to make a difference this world would be a lot different. I respect everyones opinion but we should all try to stop and think and criticize everything and see the positive side of things!!

sarita33

Rats. That was four points, not three. Can't count worth a @#$#. :)

sarita33

Mayra, three points:

One, Juanes is not known as the Bono of Central America for nothing. He gives a huge amt of his own money in charity, he also does concerts for charity, and he encourages and brings attention to causes that require help. What else could do you want him to do in life? Move into a poverty-stricken home? Should we all go do that, live in some run-down tent or homeless?

Two, Juanes is going to Cuba to do a concert for them, period. That's the reason he's going. IF, in the process of going to do a concert for them, it helps do away with the embargo and begins the process of Cuba recuperating economically, good. It took Spain a long time to recuperate from the embargo the United States imposed upon it, because when the U.S. imposes an embargo, it forces other countries to also impose an embargo, which makes it all the worse for the country suffering the embargo.

Three, I'm Cuban-American but I've travelled almost all Central (including Caribbean) and South American countries. If you believe people in Cuba are physically hungry, you obviously have not visited any other Latin countries. There are throngs of hungry people living in tenements, throngs of homeless children begging, and save for a few business buildings and the few neighborhoods of the wealthy, there are miles of devastated areas where the poor live. I'm not even going to mention the Caribbean countries, where the poverty is astounding.

Four, the reason there's Communism on the island is not because Cuba had bad luck. There are 2 reasons. First, that Cuba has never been free. First the Spaniards had it and tortured it, then the U.S. owned it, and treated it like its prostitute. Second, there was tremendous poverty (I have 2 books of photos from Cuba in the 30s and tho some in Habana lived super well, countless others in the countryside and even in the capital lived in poverty, with no teeth, no education, and hunger.

There's too much propaganda clearly, and the absolute truth is generally hidden and replaced by propaganda and politics. Not everything is the way they say.

mayra

I believe the threats that he received minimal and were not true or to be alarmed. i think it was his own way of trying to get out of the concert and it backed fired when people stood up and said that that was the reason he reported the threats and to be careful the castros did not attempt something to blame the cubans.
i truly can't wait till the 20th to see if there is some change. As oppresed as the island is, and the total control that the castros have, i doubt Juanes concert can bring any "PEACE" to any of the cubans. Juanes will go back to his mansion, his fame, his money that he has worked so hard to have and the Cubans will go back to their houses to comfront their hunger, their lack of freedom and the impotense of not having any control of their lives. The shoe affects the one that is wearing it.

MAYRA

I am for the concert of Juanes in Cuba. I do not like the spot he picked to do it, but, I truly do not think he had any choice. The entire concert has to be done the way the brothers want it to happen. I do hope someone stands up and screams.."JAMA QUIERO JAMA" often enough to get his ass dragged out and put in jail. Maybe then Juanes can undertstand the reality of the CUBAN PEOPLE! I just got back from Cuba (left quickly because I got sick) I was so shocked to see the hospital full of pregnant women and other people with so many illness. Hopitals (I went to Sancti Spiritus and a Habana hospital) are all under staffed and in terrible conditions (I really will not go into those details) and where are the doctors and the medicine? Sent to other countries. If the concert would bring help to all those people, I am for it. BUT, I personnaly do not think he should have not done a PEACE concert.. A concert to collect medicine and food are really needed in CUBA. My relatives are ok because i help them. The many that do not have a relative to help them are the ones that are in NEED. IF he would go there and while having Castro and the goverment in the front row would speak out for these people that can't, the he will gain my respect again. We do not need PEACE there is no war. A Concert for FREEDOM and to stop the CASTROS from controling the lives of so many is more like it. BUT, don't get me wrong If this is all Juanes has the PANTS to do, we welcome anyone who tries to do for the CUBAN. I would love to see him sing instead of A DIOS LE PIDO, to sing the one that the fonomemecos are singing JAMA Y LIBERTAD by the FONOMEMECOS. Look it up in YOU TUBE.

Justine

Thank you for your thoughts Sarita 33,

I understand the intent of the Paz Sin Fronteras event is to open minds and borders. I hope, for all the generations, it becomes clear what Juanes is trying to do. The political issues do tend to cloud the message - which is Peace - for everyone - equally.

I am glad that you are able to see through to the true message.

Sarita33

Miami cuban-americans are by and large, brainwashed. Seen it with my own eyes. A handful of them make their living creating scandal about all things Cuban. Fortunately, young cuban-americans are not that way. They're very different from the older, brainwashed generations.

Justine

I am very sad to hear about the threats to Juanes, and hope that he does not cancel the show in Cuba.

You can read the police report from this article.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/s...

This is the exact reason he started Paz Sin Fronteras - I don't understand how some do not want that. I guess there is always a price for peace and freedom.

Justine

There is a buzz about Juanes already planning another Paz Sin Fronteras concert between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, TX.

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_15782/contentdetail.h...

Keep em coming Juanes! I love it!