The words “MySpace” and “genocide” don’t often appear in the same sentence—usually it’s just “stalking” or “school bomb threat”—but today social networking giant MySpace announced a partnership with humanitarian organization Oxfam and nearly two dozen bands to raise awareness of—and funds for—the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region. The Rock for Darfur campaign will feature more than 20 concerts across North America on October 21, online interactive promotions, and a public service announcement featuring actor Samuel L. Jackson which will appear in theaters in front of selected 20th Century Fox films, as well as on cable and online outlets.
“More than three years of violence in Darfur has left half the region’s population dependent on international aid for survival, and there are untold thousands more who can’t even be reached,” said President of Oxfam America, Raymond C. Offenheiser. “Such a catastrophic humanitarian situation will not improve without an end to this brutal conflict. The people of Darfur urgently need—and deserve—our help. It’s incredibly heartening that MySpace, which can rally millions of people to this cause, is working so hard to educate the world about this crisis.”
“The crisis in Darfur is a global concern and as a global community we have a responsibility to take action,” said Chris DeWolfe, MySpace’s CEO, in a statement. “MySpace’s reach gives us an extraordinary opportunity to spread the word and empower individuals to help address the horrors in Darfur.”
The online campaign for Rock for Darfur will feature video segments from actor George Clooney’s recent trip to Darfur, as well as an except from the forthcoming documentary The Devil Came on Horseback. Individuals can donate through the campaign Web page, by buying campaign merchandise, or by attending one of the Rock for Darfur cancerts—a portion of ticket sales will go towards Oxfam’s relief efforts in the Sudan and neighboring areas of Chad.
Rock for Darfur concerts currently include:
- Alice in Chains
- Winston-Salem, NC, Millennium Center
- Ziggy Marley
- Medford, OR, Main One Center for the Arts
- The Fray
- Toronto, Ontario, Kool Haus
- TV on the Radio
- Philadelphia, PA, Starlight Ballroom
- Atreyu
- Baltimore, MD, Sonar
- +44
- Sacramento, CA, The Boardwalk
- Secret Machines
- San Diego, CA, SOMA
- Insane Clown Posse
- St. Petersburg, FL, Jannus Landing
- Citizen Cope
- Seattle, WA, Showbox
- Teddy Geiger
- Melbourne FL, King Center
- Jamie Cullum
- Reno NV, Reno Hilton Theater
- Amos Lee
- Washington DC, 9:30 club
- The Lost Trailers
- Atlanta, GA, The Peachtree Tavern
- Hotel Cafe Tour
- Louisville, KY, Phoenix Mill Tavern
- Slightly Stoopid and Pepper
- San Francisco, CA, Warfield
- The Wood Brothers
- Charleston, SC, The Music Farm
- Jars of Clay
- Minneapolis, MN, Marantha Hall
- Gov’t Mule and Donavon Frankenreiter
- Spokane, WA, The Big Easy
- Benevento Russo Duo
- Asheville, NC, The Orange Peel
- Bob Weir &mamp; Ratdog
- Milwaukee, WI, The Rave
