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The world premiere of "I Was Here" - Filmed in front of a live audience at the UN General Assembly for World Humanitarian Day.

CO-DIRECTORS: KENZO DIGITAL AND SOPHIE MULLER
PRODUCED BY DROGA5 AND RSA FILMS (Animation by Dirt Empire NYC)
LOCATION: GENERAL ASSEMBLY HALL, UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, USA
DATE: AUGUST 10TH 2012
LABEL: Parkwood Entertainment/Sony Music Entertainment

Add your voice, Leave your mark - www.whd-iwashere.org

Behind the scenes at the UN with Beyoncé, UN Under-Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos, & Anderson Cooper

3 days to go. With a single click you can add your voice - leave your mark. https://www.thunderclap.it/whd-iwashere

#IWASHERE #WHD2012

How can you get involved on August 19th? - here are 10 ideas straight from Beyoncé to you.

1. Offer your ear to someone in need
2. Bring flowers to a friend who's been feeling down or sick
3. Raise money for a local charity
4. Rescue an animal from your local shelter
5. Compliment a complete stranger
6. Volunteer in a local soup kitchen
7. Take a friend's children out for the day
8. Offer your seat to someone who needs it
9. Visit a local hospital on a holiday
10. Tell three friends about WHD

Beyonce’s spokesperson is responding to the allegation reportedly leveled by legendary singer Harry Belafonte that she doesn’t do enough to help the world with her star power. Beyonce recently paid a visit to the United Nations in New York City to help mark World Humanitarian Day on August 19 and pay homage to the work done by humanitarian workers. The singer also shot a music video for her song “I Was Here”; the clip will be released on August 19. Earlier this month, Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z were criticized by Belafonte for not doing enough social good with their celebrity status. Belafonte reportedly told the Hollywood Reporter “It is sad. And I think one of the great abuses of this modern time is that we should have had such high-profile artists, powerful celebrities. But they have turned their back on social responsibility. That goes for Jay-Z and Beyonce, for example. Give me Bruce Springsteen, and now you’re talking. I really think he is black.” Belafonte didn’t immediately return the Journal’s request for a comment. In response to Belafonte’s words, Beyonce’s representative emailed what she called “An abbreviated list of the unselfish work Beyoncé has done and continues to do.” The list included co-founding The Survivor Foundation “a multi-purpose community outreach facility in downtown Houston”; donating “100K in 2008 to the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund to aid Texas victims of Hurricane Ike”; performing in “MTV’s Hope For Haiti Now! Benefit in addition to making a generous monetary donation,” among many other charitable activities.

"Is this what happens at the U.N. every Friday night?" Anderson Cooper jokingly asked the crowd seated in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations on Friday (August 10). "Because, I've gotta tell you ... I wanna be here every Friday night if this goes on."

The news anchor was referring to members of the organization and their invited guests who were gathered for a special event leading up to World Humanitarian Day, quickly approaching on Saturday. Cooper, himself a humanitarian in many respects, was on hand to host a series of interviews with local and international humanitarians that would eventually lead into a performance from Beyoncé.

The 30-year-old star had appeared at the United Nations earlier in the day, where she rehearsed her performance of "I Was Here" and met with members of the United Nations. Now, at 8 p.m. ET on Friday night, Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson made his way to the stage welcoming everyone to the General Assembly Hall and giving an early introduction of Beyoncé.

"Tonight brings more than her stunning talents; she brings inspiration to help another person, to help another human being," he told the crowd, going on to describe "I Was Here" as a "profound and moving song." When he slipped on the title for a second, calling the song "I Was There," it became evident that there were some Bey stans in the audience. They quickly corrected him and joined him in laughing it off, while he added, "in fact 'here' and 'there' is the same thing — that's solidarity."

On the eve of her live performance for her video in honor of World Humanitarian Day, Beyoncé meets Secretary General Ban Ki moon at the UN General Assembly Hall.

Please visit https://www.whd-iwashere.org/ now to pledge your support

#WHD2012 #IWASHERE

International star Beyoncé, the United Nations and humanitarian aid organizations are launching a global campaign today to shine a spotlight on humanitarian work and encourage people around the world to get involved by doing something good for others. World Humanitarian Day is a global day to celebrate humanity and the spirit of people helping people. The World Humanitarian Day music video for Beyoncé’s song “I Was Here” will be filmed in the UN General Assembly Hall in New York in front of a live audience. It will be released globally on 19 August. Beyoncé and songwriter Diane Warren are donating the video to the campaign. “World Humanitarian Day celebrates humanitarian work,” said Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. “I hope everyone will pledge to complete at least one humanitarian action - however great or small - through www.whdiwashere.org. Together we can create an unprecedented awareness of the plight of people affected by crises around the world.” The campaign website, which is launched today, provides everyone with an opportunity to unite and share his or her individual acts of good. On 19 August, the campaign aims to reach 1 billion people in a day with a single message. “We all see the headlines and we think what can I really do to help?”, said Beyoncé. “World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity for all of us to work together to make a difference. This is our time to leave our mark on the world and show that we were here and we care.” The campaign is launched in collaboration with award-winning advertising agency Droga5, the UN humanitarian arm’s lead agency for special projects. Production company Ridley Scott & Associates and directors Kenzo Digital and Sophie Muller will help bring the initiative to life. “There are few forces for good as extensive and important as the United Nations,” said David Droga, Founder and Creative Chairman, Droga5. “Being able to work with them and other global aid organizations for World Humanitarian Day is a humbling and extraordinary opportunity.”

On the 19th of August 2012 we rise together - for each other.

Do one thing. Nothing is too small. Do one thing for another human being.

1. Visit www.whd-iwashere.org

2. Click on “Show Your Support”.

3. Choose to support World Humanitarian Day via Twitter, Facebook or both, and get the word out to your friends and followers.

4. Continue tweeting and posting in the lead-up to 19 August.

5. On 19 August, make your mark by doing something in your local community, and watch as everyone’s World Humanitarian Day messages are simultaneously shared around the world.

This begins with each of us. Make your mark and say, 'I WAS HERE'.

And together, on August 19th, we’ll make our stories known.

Much love,

B

Beyoncé, Coldplay and Eminem will feature on a new charity compilation, it has been announced. Rhythms Del Mundo: Africa contains African remixes of well-known tracks in aid of Artists Project Earth (APE). The UK-based charity helps raise awareness of climate change and funds for disaster relief efforts. The record will also feature the likes of Mumford & Sons, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Plan B, REM, Fleet Foxes and Bruno Mars. It's the fourth compilation in the Rhythms Del Mundo series, which has seen previous releases including Cuba, Classics and Revival. The tracklisting for Rhythms Del Mundo: Africa, which is available to pre-order now, is as follows:

Coldplay - 'Viva la Vida'
Beyoncé - 'I Miss You'
Eminem and TS1 - 'I'm Not Afraid'
Bruno Mars - 'Grenade'
Plan B - 'She Said'
Cee Lo Green - 'Crazy'
Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Under the Bridge'
Mumford & Sons - 'Timshel'
Shanade - 'I Am Because'
Aloe Blacc - 'I Need a Dollar'
REM w. Ali Farka Touré Band - 'Losing My Religion'
Fleet Foxes - 'Mykonos'
Rokia Traoré - 'Is This Love'

Hear a preview of Rhythms Del Mundo: Africa below:

About a month after Whitney Houston's death, her namesake school in East Orange has received donations totaling $39,568 in honor of the late popstar. The biggest single check came in from Sony Music for $25,000, according to Felicie Desroches, an accountant in the district business administrator's office. Jay-Z and Beyonce made the second largest contribution — $10,000 — to the school. The check came from Shawn Carter, Jay-Z's birth name, and listed a Miami address, Desroches said. She said a typed note on memo line of the check stated, "On behalf of Jay-Z and Beyonce." Late last year, the celebrity couple were reportedly scoping out real estate on Miami Beach - a $12.5 million mansion that previously was Ricky Martin's pad. Principal Henry Hamilton said he plans to use the money to set up a college fund for students and to update the school's perfoming arts equipment. Just days after Houston died, her family requested that all donations be directed to Whitney E. Houston Academy, an unassuming brick front school on Dodd Street in East Orange that focuses on the performing arts. Houston, 48, was found dead at a hotel in Beverly Hills on Feb. 11. The donations are being put into a separate bank account for the school, which has about 420 students in grades pre-kindergarten to eight.

New parents Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles are donating their baby gifts to charity. The superstar couple have been inundated with presents since welcoming their daughter Blue Ivy into the world on Saturday (07.01.12) and while they are very grateful they want to give the majority of items to those less fortunate. A source said: "They've been sent literally hundreds of gifts in the past few days. Oprah Winfrey gave a huge trunk of children's books and others like P. Diddy, Kanye West, Rihanna and Mariah Carey have all been sending luxurious baby treats. "Jay-Z and Beyonce have decided to donate a massive selection of the presents to local charities for young mothers. They've already got the most precious gift - their new baby daughter - so they want to help out other parents who haven't been as fortunate." However, there is one item the couple want to keep for their daughter - a diamond-encrusted dummy. The source added to the Daily Star newspaper: "A close friend of theirs in the music industry gave them a diamond-encrusted Cartier dummy - it must have cost $20,000. Blue has officially got her first piece of bling!"

Talk about do-gooders! Beyoncé and Jay-Z were "very cute and affectionate" at the rapper's carnival-themed fundraiser for his Shawn Carter Foundation at New York's Pier 54. The rapper arrived first, but later met his pregnant wife at the Spotted Pig's food truck, where they ate sliders. Next, Beyoncé grabbed a seat at a picnic table and watched as her hubby threw darts with Alex Rodriguez. Guests at the high-end bash sipped Armand de Brignac Champagne, played carnival games and enjoyed the high-end treats provided by Spotted Pig and Momofuku Milk Bar. In the end, the event raised $1 million toward sending underprivileged students to college.

Michelle Obama's 'Dougie Dance' delighted school kids during her recent visit to a Washington School, reports ABC News. Michelle Obama was promoting her 'Let's Move Campaign' to fight childhood obesity when she unexpectedly launched into a version of the latest dance craze. The First Lady led by example at 'Alice Deal Middle School' in the nation's capital, dancing a series of steps as Beyonce's 'Move Your Body' blasted over the sound-system. Obama demonstrated an old school 'running man' before delighting the field of students with her 'Dougie'. Speaking about her 'dancing influences' to ABC News, the First Lady said, "Beyoncé is one of my favorite performers on the planet. And when she agreed to remake her video and do this Let's Move flash workout, I was so excited, because this is what we've been talking about, that exercise and moving can be fun". Obama launched the campaign back in 2010 but was immediately criticised by the right-wing political commentator Glenn Beck who proclaimed, "Get away from my french fries, Mrs. Obama. The first politician that comes up to me with a carrot stick, I've got a place for it and it's not in my tummy". Beyonce, a keen supporter of Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move Campaign', made a surprise visit to a middle school in Harlem, New York, this week. The superstar singer taught kids the moves from her 'Move Your Body' video.

Beyonce surprises students at PS/MS 161 in Harlem as part of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative to fight childhood obesity. The students were dancing to "Move Your Body," which the singer recorded for the initiative. Middle School students from around the country were participating in the four-minute flash dance routine simultaneously 1:42 pm EST on May 3, 2011 in New York City.

Click here to read more about the T-shirts.

"Move Your Body" is available as an mp3 to help schools prepare for the May 3 Let's Move! Flash Workout. The song is available in both English and Spanish. To download the MP3s, click here.