Russell Simmons Becomes a Goodwill Ambassador

Wednesday, July 26, 2006
By: Kenny Rodriguez

Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, chairman and president/CEO of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network respectively, were inducted yesterday as Goodwill Ambassadors in a United Nations campaign to fight global hunger.

Simmons and Chavis are working with the UN-funded CISRI-ISP in an effort to promote awareness of extreme hunger and malnutrition around the world.

"The underlying goal of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network is to end poverty and ignorance," Simmons said. "We're going to help save lives."

"We will not be silenced in the face of the awful fact that more than 40,000 people die every day from malnutrition and poverty. That is unacceptable to the hip-hop community."

"Hip-hop culture is global, and as we strive to take back
responsibility, the life-saving issues of ending poverty and malnutrition are most urgent," added Chavis, who hopes his
new role will help broaden the HSAN's reach.

"Our job is to wake more people up to this reality. Being a Goodwill Ambassador is not just ceremonial. We're rolling up our sleeves and look forward to working with the United Nations on these issues."

(10) Comments | Post a comment »

etheoryall says:
Funny i was just listening to saigon and heard him talk about the obvious fact of what we spend on war but wont feed the starving in africa. All those rich folks especially europeans owe a debt for all the jewels and culture they have stolen from the great continent. Fight. For. Us!!

prettylou says:
Thats all good but unless we stop working with the same ppl. Who rape and pillage the earth its just gonna continue on...the u.n. Is part of the problem not the solution

Peaceradio says:
Being a goodwill ambassador is an honorable thing to do. But being an amabssador for jesus christ is greater!

cense251 says:
This is why hip hop is a valueable tool. If used wrong it can have terrible effects-but wen used in a construction manner it can be a positive medium for change!

Problems says:
^ that's straight word.

MsCadiGirl says:
Hunger...are we talkin about food or food for thought...so many other issues hip hop needs to direct itself....image first and foremost and its glorification towards..promiscuous sex...materialistic thirst..loose women..the fantasy unrealistic life that young people ages elementary skoo & up are aimin to become.... But they're ready to feed the hungry? *sigh* thats crucial, but what esle? like i stated awhile back on here, relatin to luda, i believe its all for the recognition.....feel me?

spazzmatik101 says:
Werd cense!

Kalliope4eva says:
Your right cadi...but like "i" said in the other post ma'. Them "giving at all" is a good thing. If i was in his position i wouldnt be going door to door waking up folk and dressing em' telling em to shave, driving them to "my" business to work, so that "i" can give them "my" money. And music isnt the reason someone can go out and carry on a usless existance on this earth. Whuts the excuse for the "poor white trash?" they dont listen to hip hop. They listen to a track for five minutes and that gives them an excuse to have a pointless life? naah. That was already their. Its in everything, movies, tv, even the commercials....fine and in shape women eating a tripple decker double bacon burger at wendy's? naah, its whut i call the "trick box" (televison). Spend some time with your bible or in fellowship, otherwise police yourself to no avail. Ppl make money doing all kinds of things....if i told you i was building a funeral home in the hood would you say im greedy? or smart? if a rap artist knows that the life he describes isnt the type of life that a healthy, sain, sober, married man/woman would live, but ppl would want to hear that....why not. Ppl make movies about being all sorts of characters. Its your problem if you dont have the intellegence to know you cant eat three meals a day for the rest of your life at mcdonalds. When they find out cats are sticking lamps up their azz, are you gonna tell the lamp maker to stop making lamps..or tell the dumbazz to get his shyt str8? stop acting like ppl a

Kalliope4eva says:
Are pets that dont know any better....lol. Deuces up to you ma'...all day.

DrFrankensence says:
Yeah, russell is making possitve moves in hip hop. I sicerely hope that these efforts as well as the efforts of other possitive b-boys get more media exposure. Nevertheless, rock on russ!