Fund raising began slowly but surely picked up in the Cultural life buoy - a Norwegian cultural campaign to support flood victims in Pakistan which started on 1st September by Norwegian-Pakistani actor and Board Member of the Norwegian Actors’ Equity Association, Toni Usman. He is extremely glad that Agder Theatre located in Kristiansand, a city in south Norway, has decided that instead of giving its employees a Christmas gift this year it will make a contribution to Cultural life buoy in the amount of 30.000 NOK.
- When disaster strikes, is emergency and life saving assistance essential. Agder Theatre will therefore along with other Norwegian culture institutions be happy to be taking such a responsibility, says Ingrid Forthun, Artistic Director.
Initiator Toni Usman means that when we know that the UN estimates the death toll will exceed both the tsunami in 2004 and the earthquake in Haiti, we cannot wait to give support. Flood victims need support now because it is now the crisis with serious effects. It is now threatening death in the form of disease and hunger, he said in a press release.
- The flood catastrophe in Pakistan concerns us all. The Norwegian Actors’ Equity Association has given a contribution of 10.000 NOK and urges all artists to support Cultural life buoy, says association leader Agnete G. Haaland.
Akershus Theatre, Norwegian Musicians’ Union (MFO), The Norwegian Dancers’ Union (NoDa) and Norwegian Theatre and Orchestra Union (NTO) have already contributed to the cultural campaign which was planned to end on 30th September. It has now been agreed with LEF and AOF Norway to extend the campaign until 15th October.
The Norwegian Transport Workers' Union (NTF) has given a contribution to show their solidarity with the people of Pakistan tells Toni Usman.
- The National Theatre and Oslo Nye Theatre in Olso and The National Stage (DNS) in Bergen have started a collection among their employees and that shows that art and cultural workers have a special opportunity and ability to help in humanitarian disasters, says Toni Usman. He now appeals to all Norwegian culture institutions, artists’ organizations, all individuals who are interested in art and culture and humanists to give their support to the flood victims in Pakistan.
As part of the campaign a show was arranged on 19th September in Oslo where artists performed voluntarily. A variety of stage artists such as Kjersti Elvik, Janne Langaas, Sølvi Zuckermann Fellus, Kjersti Fjeldstad, Shri Lal, Rohini Sahajpal, Jai Shankar, Tove Bøygard, Urmila Berg-Domaas, Sunanda Sharma and Toni Usman took to the stage to raise money for the flood victims in Pakistan.
- We asked ourselves why people do not donate enough money for flood victims. Norway otherwise is a nation that contributes to a great extent during humanitarian disasters. Having that in mind we decided to do something ourselves. One is completely shattered when you see television images of dying children and know that help is not coming. Soon the freezing winter will be here. They need support now, says Kristian Lykkeslet Strømskag who directed the show and has been working hard day and night with Toni Usman for the campaign.
The campaign is also supported by The Drama House, Gjerholm Design, Pax publishers, NILZ printing press and AOF Norway.
No comments:
Post a Comment