UN agency releases world music album to raise awareness about volunteerism

The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) and musicians from 18 countries today launched a double album with 27 songs in nine languages in celebration of the UN-designated International Year of Volunteers 2001.

The world-beat album showcases styles as diverse as Uzbek dance, Japanese techno, French rock, Latin salsa and traditional Arabic music. It features Jamaican reggae star Tony Rebel and Portuguese artist Paulo De Carvalho. Songs on the album examine diverse perspectives on a wide range of volunteer issues.

"Like volunteerism, music is a universal form of expression that cuts through all cultures," said the UNV's Henri Valot in a statement in Bonn. The album's release was timed to coincide with UN Day observed annually on 24 October. He expressed hope that interested individuals and organizations "can help highlight the importance of volunteers by bringing this album to radio stations in their countries."

The album, which comes with a CD-ROM on the International Year of Volunteers, will be distributed to radio stations around the world. UNV is encouraging stations to play featured songs to help promote and encourage volunteerism.

The agency produced the album with the support of the Government of Japan. All songs were donated by the artists.

Created in 1970 as the volunteer arm of the UN system, UNV fields thousands of specialists to extend hands-on assistance for peace and development in nearly 150 countries around the world.