Growing up, The Police were one of my favorite bands. I think even as a teen, I picked up on their political and social messages. Yesterday, I was blogging about the activism of The Police’s lead singer Sting.
In 1989, Along with his wife Trudie Styler and Kayapo Indian leader Raoni Metuktire, Sting founded the Rainforest Foundation Fund to help save the rainforests as well as the people who live in them. Each year, the charity holds a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. Because of his efforts, a Columbian tree frog was named after him (Dendropsophus stingi).
In October 1991, Sting took part in The Concert for Walden Woods benefiting the Walden Woods Project, which seeks to preserve the land, works, and legacy of Henry David Thoreau through awareness, education, activities, scholarships, and conservation.
Sting joined musicians like Eric Clapton and Elton John in 1997’s Music for Montserrat, to benefit the Caribbean island of the same name, which had been devastated by a volcano eruption.
In 2000, Sting and Trudie received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience award. The next year, he was a part of the America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon to raise money for the victims of 9/11.
In 2005, Sting took part in Live 8, a number of concerts which marked the 20th anniversary of the Live Aid concert and coincided with the G8 Conference. The concert supported Make Poverty History and Global Call for Action against Poverty.
The Police broke up in 1984, but the three members reunited in 2007 to play the last set in the Live Earth concert at Giants Stadium.
In support of the Dalai Lama, Sting contributed a song to the Songs for Tibet album in 2008. He sang “Driven to Tears” during the Hope for Haiti Now concert in January 2010. That April, he performed for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Just recently, he used his website to promote the movement “I am Neda” which hopes to bring to justice the killers of Neda Agha-Soltan, who was killed while attending a protest in Iran.