Jay-Z to Dramatize World Water Crisis in MTV Video Diary

NEW YORK, New York, August 11, 2006 (ENS) - "Most young people are unaware" of the world's water crisis, but if they knew about the "staggering numbers" of people affected by lack of clean water, they would be moved to act, Def Jam President and CEO Jay-Z said at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the help of the internationally known recording star and MTV President Christina Norman in raising public awareness of water scarcity through a new global initiative.

"Most of us take water for granted," the secretary-general said, "but, for more than a billion people who lack access to safe drinking water, this is an inconceivable dream."

Nearly two million children die every year because of unclean water and poor sanitation - far more than the casualties from violent conflicts, UN records show.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, flanked by MTV President Christina Norman (right) and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, president and CEO of Def Jam Records, announces the United Nations-MTV global campaign on water. (Photo courtesy UN)

"After hearing and reading some of the startling statistics about the lack of clean water, I realized that I needed to bring attention to this issue," Jay-Z said. "I know through joining with experts through the UN and partnering with MTV to bring the word to our communities, we can make a difference."

"The water crisis - like so many issues confronting our world - can only be fully addressed with the creative participation of young people everywhere," said Annan. "Working with MTV and Jay-Z, all of us at the UN hope this campaign will motivate youth to take action both in their own lives, and in support of broad eco-friendly initiatives."

During his international concert tour in September, Jay-Z will travel to Turkey and South Africa, and several other areas affected by water crisis, while being documented for the MTV special, "Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life."

The series is part of MTV’s ongoing initiatives to educate, empower and involve young people regarding global issues. The network's first-person biographical series will air on November 24, reaching 179 counties on 50 of MTV locally programmed channels.

Jay-Z entertains 50,000 people at Giants Stadium. (Photo credit unknown)

The documentary series will follow Jay-Z's experiences as he meets people without access to safe drinking water. Cameras will follow the artist as he visits places where sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions are working to bring fresh water to thirsty communities.

Competition among nations for fresh water is already a factor in many conflicts, and has the potential to become much, much worse in the future, the UN warns.

The peacebuilding potential of shared water resources was one of the 10 Stories the World Should Hear More About compiled earlier this year by the UN Department of Public Information.

At times he uses his voice to entertain, and at other times to raise awareness, said Jay-Z. "How could I be out there and not do anything?"

The campaign will encourage people to take action in two ways:

• Help Abroad: Support sustainable solutions highlighted in the show, such as solar-generated water pumps, kits which test drinking water for safety, and The PlayPump, a children's merry-go-round that pumps water from below ground. For as little as $6 a person, the PlayPump can provide a decade of clean drinking water to a child in need.

• Help at Home: The special will encourage young people to take any of the 12 steps associated with Break the Addiction, MTV's year-long campaign to engage young people to reduce global warming, a contributing factor to the world water crisis.

• Think.mtv.com: Starting in September, the website will feature a special section dedicated to this project, highlighting information from the UN on how the world water crisis impacts each of the countries on Jay-Z's upcoming music world tour, and ways to take action at home and abroad.

• Cable in the Classroom: Through MTV's relationship with Cable in the Classroom, "The Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life" and an associated lesson plan developed by the UN will be offered for free download for use by tens of thousands of teachers, K-12 educators and librarians in 80,000 schools in America. The special will also be promoted through "Cable in the Classroom Magazine," a monthly publication that reaches more than 430,000 readers.

• UN Educational Resources: In partnership with the UN Works Programme, UNICEF Voices of Youth and UNA-USA's Global Classrooms initiative, the UN will develop educational tools for use by public schools that lack effective teaching resources. The UN will present "The Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life" and its accompanying resources as a model for teaching and learning about global issues at education conferences, seminars and workshops. The UN also will involve nongovernmental organizations and youth networks.