ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Annie Lennox - Activist, singer-songwriter
The most successful female British pop musician in history, Annie Lennox has now committed herself to raising awareness of, and supporting actions against, the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa.

Why you should listen

After decades of global fame as part of Eurythmics and as a solo artist, Annie Lennox was moved by Nelson Mandela's call to stop the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa, where it disproportionately affects women and children. She founded the SING campaign in 2007 to raise both awareness and money. "This is an illness that has a lot of stigma," Lennox says on her video blog. "What we need to do is normalize HIV."

Drawing on her talents, she combines music and film to put a human face on the crisis and emotionally connect people to the cause. South Africa has a tradition of activist songs and singing; inspired by this, in spring 2007 Lennox invited 23 female artists to record the benefit single "Sing." The record incorporates the South African activist song "Jikelele," which means "global treatment." So far, sales of "Sing" have raised 100,000 pounds, while other appearances since then have multiplied that sum. SING's money goes to support efforts such as the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), which works to fight mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Lennox is active in many other causes, both personal and political; in 2008 she was awarded the Services to Humanity Award by the British Red Cross.

More profile about the speaker
Annie Lennox | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal 2010

Annie Lennox: Why I am an HIV/AIDS activist

Annie Lennox: Porque sou uma ativista da HIV/AIDS

Filmed:
542,975 views

Nos últimos oito anos, a cantora pop Annie Lennox tem se dedicado à campanha SING, conscientizando o público e arrecadando fundos para combater o HIV/AIDS. Ela compartilha as experiências que a inspiraram, desde seu trabalho com Nelson Mandela até seu encontro com uma menininha africana em uma situação desesperadora.
- Activist, singer-songwriter
The most successful female British pop musician in history, Annie Lennox has now committed herself to raising awareness of, and supporting actions against, the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:15
I'm going to share with you the story
0
0
3000
Eu vou compartilhar uma história com vocês
00:18
as to how I have become
1
3000
2000
de como tornei-me
00:20
an HIV/AIDS campaigner.
2
5000
3000
uma partidária na campanha da HIV/AIDS.
00:23
And this is the name of my campaign: SING Campaign.
3
8000
3000
O nome da minha campanha é SING.
00:27
In November of 2003,
4
12000
2000
Em novembro de 2003
00:29
I was invited to take part
5
14000
2000
fui convidada para participar
00:31
in the launch of Nelson Mandela's
6
16000
2000
do lançamento da Fundação 46664
00:33
46664 Foundation --
7
18000
3000
de Nelson Mandela.
00:36
that is his HIV/AIDS foundation.
8
21000
2000
Essa é a sua fundação para a HIV/AIDS.
00:38
And 46664 is the number
9
23000
2000
E 46664 é o número
00:40
that Mandela had when he was imprisoned in Robben Island.
10
25000
3000
de Mandela quando estava preso na Ilha Robben.
00:44
And that's me with Youssou N'Dour,
11
29000
2000
E esta sou eu com Youssou N'Dour,
00:46
onstage, having the time of my life.
12
31000
3000
no palco, me divertindo muito.
00:51
The next day, all the artists were invited
13
36000
2000
No dia seguinte, todos os artistas foram convidados
00:53
to join Mandela in Robben Island,
14
38000
3000
para uma reunião com Mandela na Ilha Robben,
00:56
where he was going to give a conference
15
41000
2000
onde ele iria dar uma conferência
00:58
to the world's press,
16
43000
3000
para a imprensa mundial,
01:01
standing in front of his former prison cell.
17
46000
2000
em pé, na frente da sua antiga cela da prisão.
01:03
You can see the bars of the window there.
18
48000
3000
Vocês podem ver a barras nas janelas.
01:06
It was quite a momentous occasion for all of us.
19
51000
3000
Foi uma ocasião importantíssima para todos nós.
01:09
In that moment in time,
20
54000
2000
Naquele momento,
01:11
Mandela told the world's press
21
56000
3000
Mandela disse à imprensa mundial
01:14
that there was a virtual genocide
22
59000
2000
que um genocídio está virtualmente
01:16
taking place in his country;
23
61000
2000
acontecendo em seu país,
01:18
that post-apartheid
24
63000
2000
aquela Nação Arco-Íris,
01:20
Rainbow Nation,
25
65000
2000
pós-apartheid,
01:22
a thousand people were dying on a daily basis
26
67000
3000
onde milhares estão morrendo diariamente,
01:25
and that the front line victims,
27
70000
2000
e que as vítimas de linha de frente,
01:27
the most vulnerable of all,
28
72000
2000
as mais vulneráveis de todas,
01:29
were women and children.
29
74000
3000
são as mulheres e as crianças.
01:32
This was a huge impact on my mind,
30
77000
3000
Isso causou um grande impacto em minha mente,
01:35
because I am a woman and I am a mother,
31
80000
3000
porque sou mulher, e sou mãe,
01:38
and I hadn't realized
32
83000
2000
e eu não havia me dado conta
01:40
that the HIV/AIDS pandemic
33
85000
2000
que a pandemia da HIV/AIDS
01:42
was directly affecting women in such a way.
34
87000
3000
estava afetando diretamente as mulheres assim.
01:45
And so I committed -- when I left South Africa,
35
90000
2000
Então eu me empenhei – quando fui embora da África do Sul,
01:47
when I left Capetown,
36
92000
2000
quando fui embora da Cidade do Cabo,
01:49
I told myself, "This is going to be something
37
94000
2000
eu disse a mim mesma: “Isso é algo
01:51
that I have to talk about.
38
96000
2000
que preciso divulgar.
01:53
I have to serve."
39
98000
2000
Preciso servir.”
01:55
And so, subsequently
40
100000
2000
Subsequentemente,
01:57
I participated in every single
41
102000
2000
eu tomei parte em todos
01:59
46664 event
42
104000
2000
os eventos do 46664
02:01
that I could take part in
43
106000
2000
que pude participar
02:03
and gave news conferences,
44
108000
2000
e dei conferências de imprensa,
02:05
interviews,
45
110000
2000
entrevistas,
02:07
talking and using my platform as a musician,
46
112000
3000
falando e usando minha plataforma como músico,
02:10
with my commitment to Mandela --
47
115000
2000
com o meu compromisso para com Mandela,
02:12
out of respect for the tremendous,
48
117000
3000
por respeito para com o tremendo,
02:15
unbelievable work that he had done.
49
120000
2000
inacreditável trabalho que ele faz.
02:17
Everyone in the world respects Nelson Mandela,
50
122000
3000
Nelson Mandela é venerado no mundo inteiro.
02:20
everyone reveres Nelson Mandela.
51
125000
2000
Todo mundo reverencia Nelson Mandela.
02:22
But do they all know
52
127000
2000
Mas será que estão sabendo
02:24
about what has been taking place in South Africa,
53
129000
2000
o que está acontecendo na África do Sul,
02:26
his country,
54
131000
2000
seu país,
02:29
the country that had one of the highest incidents
55
134000
2000
o país com um dos maiores incidentes
02:31
of transmission of the virus?
56
136000
2000
da transmissão do vírus?
02:33
I think that if I went out into the street now
57
138000
3000
Penso que se eu saísse nas ruas neste momento,
02:36
and I told people what was happening there,
58
141000
2000
e contasse às pessoas o que está acontecendo lá,
02:38
they would be shocked.
59
143000
3000
iriam se chocar.
02:41
I was very, very fortunate a couple of years later
60
146000
3000
Sou muito, muito afortunada, porque dois anos depois,
02:44
to have met Zackie Achmat,
61
149000
2000
encontrei Zackie Achmat,
02:46
the founder of Treatment Action Campaign,
62
151000
2000
o fundador da TAC - Campanha de Ação e Tratamento
02:48
an incredible campaigner and activist.
63
153000
3000
um incrível partidário da campanha e ativista.
02:51
I met him at a 46664 event.
64
156000
2000
Eu o conheci em um evento da 46664.
02:53
He was wearing a t-shirt like the one I wear now.
65
158000
2000
Ele vestia uma camiseta como a que estou vestindo agora.
02:55
This is a tool --
66
160000
2000
Isso é uma ferramenta.
02:57
this tells you I am in solidarity
67
162000
2000
Isso é para dizer a vocês que sou solidária
02:59
with people who have HIV,
68
164000
3000
com as pessoas com HIV,
03:02
people who are living with HIV.
69
167000
2000
as pessoas que vivem com HIV.
03:04
And in a way because of the stigma, by wearing this t-shirt
70
169000
3000
E de certa forma, por causa do estigma, ao vestir esta camiseta,
03:07
I say, "Yes, we can talk about this issue.
71
172000
3000
Eu digo, “Sim, nós podemos falar sobre este assunto.
03:10
It doesn't have to be in the closet."
72
175000
3000
Isso não precisa ficar no armário.”
03:13
I became a member of Treatment Action Campaign
73
178000
3000
Tornei-me um membro da Campanha de Ação e Tratamento,
03:16
and I'm very proud to be a member
74
181000
2000
e sinto-me muito orgulhosa de fazer parte
03:18
of that incredible organization.
75
183000
2000
dessa organização incrível.
03:20
It's a grassroots campaign
76
185000
2000
É uma campanha local
03:22
with 80 percent membership being women,
77
187000
3000
sendo que 80% dos associados são mulheres,
03:25
most of whom are HIV-positive.
78
190000
3000
a maioria com HIV positivo.
03:28
They work in the field.
79
193000
2000
Elas trabalham no campo.
03:30
They have tremendous outreach
80
195000
3000
Elas têm tremenda influência
03:33
to the people who are living directly
81
198000
2000
nas pessoas que vivem
03:35
with the effects of the virus.
82
200000
2000
com os efeitos do vírus.
03:37
They have education programs.
83
202000
3000
Elas tem programas educativos.
03:40
They bring out the issues of stigma.
84
205000
3000
Elas salientam os problemas de estigma.
03:43
It's quite extraordinary what they do.
85
208000
3000
É extraordinário o que elas fazem.
03:46
And yes, my SING Campaign
86
211000
2000
E sim, a minha campanha SING
03:48
has supported Treatment Action Campaign
87
213000
2000
tem apoiado a Campanha de Tratamento e Ação
03:50
in the way that I have tried to raise awareness
88
215000
3000
no que tento aumentar a consciência
03:53
and to try to also raise funds.
89
218000
2000
e angariar fundos.
03:55
A lot of the funding that I have managed to raise
90
220000
2000
Muito dos fundos que consegui angariar
03:57
has gone directly to Treatment Action Campaign
91
222000
2000
foram direto para a Campanha de Tratamento e Ação
03:59
and the incredible work that they do,
92
224000
2000
e o trabalho incrível que eles fazem,
04:01
and are still continuing to do in South Africa.
93
226000
3000
e que continuam fazendo, na África do Sul.
04:04
So this is my SING Campaign.
94
229000
2000
Então essa é a minha Campanha SING.
04:06
SING Campaign is basically just me
95
231000
2000
A Campanha SING é basicamente, só eu
04:08
and about three or four wonderful people
96
233000
2000
e umas três ou quatro pessoas maravilhosas
04:10
who help to support me.
97
235000
2000
que me ajudam e me encorajam.
04:12
I've traveled all over the world
98
237000
2000
Tenho viajado pelo mundo todo
04:14
in the last two and a half years --
99
239000
2000
nos últimos dois anos e meio.
04:16
I went to about 12 different countries.
100
241000
2000
Fui a 12 países.
04:18
Here I am in Oslo in Norway,
101
243000
2000
Aqui estou em Oslo na Noruega,
04:20
getting a nice, fat check;
102
245000
3000
pegando um cheque legal e alto,
04:23
singing in Hong Kong, trying to get people to raise money.
103
248000
3000
cantando em Hong Kong, convencendo as pessoas a angariar fundos,
04:26
In Johannesburg, I had the opportunity to play
104
251000
3000
Tive a oportunidade de tocar em Joanesburgo
04:29
to a mainly white, middle-class South African audience
105
254000
2000
para uma platéia de sul africanos, na maioria brancos de classe média
04:31
who ended up in tears
106
256000
2000
que acabaram chorando,
04:33
because I use film clips
107
258000
2000
porque uso clipes de filmes
04:35
that really touch the heart, the whole nature,
108
260000
2000
que realmente mexem com o coração, a natureza,
04:37
of this terrible tragedy that is taking place,
109
262000
3000
dessa tragédia terrível que está acontecendo,
04:40
that people are tending to avoid,
110
265000
2000
a qual as pessoas tendem evitar,
04:42
because they are fatigued,
111
267000
2000
porque estão fatigados,
04:44
and they really don't quite know what the solutions are.
112
269000
3000
e eles realmente não sabem de uma solução.
04:47
Aaron Motsoaledi, the current health minister,
113
272000
2000
Aaron Motsoaledi, o atual Ministro da Saúde,
04:49
attended that concert
114
274000
2000
foi ao concerto,
04:51
and I had an opportunity to meet with him,
115
276000
2000
e assim tive a oportunidade de o conhecer,
04:53
and he gave his absolute commitment
116
278000
2000
e ele absolutamente se comprometeu
04:55
to try to making a change,
117
280000
2000
a tentar fazer reformas,
04:57
which is absolutely necessary.
118
282000
2000
que são absolutamente necessárias.
04:59
This is in the Scottish Parliament.
119
284000
2000
Esse é o Parlamento Escocês.
05:01
I've subsequently become an envoy
120
286000
2000
Subsequentemente tornei-me uma emissária
05:03
for Scotland and HIV.
121
288000
2000
para a Escócia e HIV.
05:05
And I was showing them my experiences
122
290000
2000
Eu estava compartilhando minhas experiências com eles
05:07
and trying to, again, raise awareness.
123
292000
3000
e, ao mesmo tempo, os conscientizava.
05:10
And once again, in Edinburgh
124
295000
2000
E mais uma vez, em Edimburgo,
05:12
with the wonderful African Children's Choir who I simply adore.
125
297000
3000
com o fantástico Coral de Crianças Africanas que simplesmente adoro.
05:15
And it's children like this, many of whom have been orphaned
126
300000
3000
E são essas crianças, muitas das quais são órfãs
05:18
because of their family being affected
127
303000
3000
porque suas famílias foram afetadas
05:21
by the AIDS virus.
128
306000
2000
pelo vírus da AIDS.
05:23
I'm sitting here in New York with Michel Sidibe --
129
308000
3000
Aqui estou em Nova Iorque com Michel Sidibe.
05:26
he's the director of UNAIDS.
130
311000
2000
Ele é o diretor da UNAIDS.
05:28
And I'm very honored
131
313000
2000
E fico muito honrada
05:30
by the fact that Michel invited me,
132
315000
2000
pelo fato de que Michel Sidibe convidou-me,
05:32
only a few months ago,
133
317000
2000
há alguns meses atrás,
05:34
to become a UNAIDS ambassador.
134
319000
2000
para ser uma embaixatriz para UNAIDS.
05:36
And in this way, I've been strengthening my platform
135
321000
3000
E assim, tenho reforçado minha plataforma
05:39
and broadening my outreach.
136
324000
2000
e aumentando o meu trabalho de difusão.
05:41
The message that UNAIDS
137
326000
2000
A mensagem que a UNAIDS
05:43
are currently sending out to the world
138
328000
2000
atualmente envia ao mundo
05:45
is that we would like to see the virtual elimination
139
330000
3000
é que gostaríamos de ver a eliminação virtual
05:48
of the transmission of the virus
140
333000
2000
da transmissão do vírus
05:50
from mother to child by 2015.
141
335000
3000
de mãe para o filho em 2015.
05:53
It's a very ambitious goal
142
338000
2000
É uma meta muito ambiciosa,
05:55
but we believe it can be achieved with political will.
143
340000
3000
mas acreditamos que possa ser atingida com uma determinação política.
05:58
This can happen.
144
343000
2000
Isso pode acontecer.
06:00
And here I am with a pregnant woman,
145
345000
2000
E aqui estou com uma mulher grávida
06:02
who is HIV positive
146
347000
2000
com HIV positivo,
06:04
and we're smiling, both of us are smiling, because we're very confident,
147
349000
3000
e sorríamos, nós duas estamos sorrindo, porque estamos muito confiantes,
06:07
because we know that that young woman
148
352000
3000
porque sabemos que esta mulher jovem
06:10
is receiving treatment
149
355000
2000
está sendo tratada
06:12
so her life can be extended
150
357000
2000
e assim sua vida pode ser prolongada
06:14
to take care of the baby she's about to give birth to.
151
359000
3000
para cuidar do bebê que está prestes a nascer.
06:17
And her baby will receive PMTCT,
152
362000
3000
E o seu bebê receberá PMTCT,
06:20
which will mean that that baby
153
365000
2000
o que significa que esse bebê
06:22
can be born free of the virus.
154
367000
2000
poderá nascer livre do vírus.
06:24
Now that is prevention
155
369000
2000
Isso é prevenção
06:26
at the very beginning of life.
156
371000
2000
no início da vida.
06:28
It's one way to start looking at intervention
157
373000
3000
Isso é uma forma de se começar a ver intervenção
06:31
with the AIDS pandemic.
158
376000
2000
para a pandemia da AIDS.
06:33
Now, I just would like to finish off
159
378000
2000
Agora, gostaria de terminar
06:35
to tell you the little story
160
380000
2000
contando uma historinha
06:37
about Avelile.
161
382000
2000
sobre Avelile.
06:39
This is Avelile --
162
384000
2000
Essa é Avelile.
06:41
she goes with me wherever I go.
163
386000
2000
Ela vai comigo onde quer que eu vá.
06:43
I tell her story to everyone
164
388000
2000
Eu conto essa história para todo mundo,
06:45
because she represents
165
390000
2000
porque ela representa
06:47
one of millions
166
392000
2000
uma das milhares
06:49
of HIV/AIDS orphans.
167
394000
2000
das órfãs da HIV/AIDS
06:51
Avelile's mother
168
396000
2000
A mãe da Avelile
06:53
had HIV virus --
169
398000
2000
tinha o vírus do HIV.
06:55
she died
170
400000
2000
Ela morreu
06:57
from AIDS-related illness.
171
402000
2000
de uma doença relacionada a AIDS.
06:59
Avelile had the virus,
172
404000
2000
Avelile tinha o vírus.
07:01
she was born with the virus.
173
406000
2000
Nasceu com o vírus.
07:03
And here she is at seven years old,
174
408000
3000
E aqui ela está com 7 anos de idade,
07:06
weighing no more than a one year-old baby.
175
411000
2000
pesando não mais do que um bebê de um ano.
07:08
At this point in her life,
176
413000
2000
Neste ponto na sua vida,
07:10
she's suffering with full-blown AIDS
177
415000
2000
ela está sofrendo com ‘full-blown AIDS’ (AIDS em seu ápice)
07:12
and had pneumonia.
178
417000
2000
e teve pneumonia.
07:14
We met her in a hospital in the Eastern Cape
179
419000
3000
Nós a conhecemos em um hospital no Cabo Oriental
07:17
and spent a whole afternoon with her -- an adorable child.
180
422000
3000
e passamos uma tarde com ela – uma criança adorável.
07:20
The doctors and nurses were phenomenal.
181
425000
2000
Os médicos e enfermeiros são fenomenais.
07:22
They put her on very special nutritious diet
182
427000
3000
Eles a colocaram em uma dieta muito nutritiva
07:25
and took great care of her.
183
430000
3000
e cuidaram muito bem dela.
07:28
And we didn't know when we left the hospital --
184
433000
2000
E quando deixamos o hospital não sabíamos –
07:30
because we filmed her story -- we didn't know if she was going to survive.
185
435000
3000
porque filmamos a sua história – se iria sobreviver.
07:33
So, it was obviously -- it was a very emotional encounter
186
438000
3000
Foi com certeza .... foi um encontro muito emocional
07:36
and left us feeling very resonant
187
441000
2000
que nos deixou em sintonia
07:38
with this direct experience, this one child,
188
443000
3000
com essa experiência direta, essa criança,
07:41
you know, that story.
189
446000
2000
sabem, aquela história.
07:43
Five months later,
190
448000
3000
Cinco meses depois,
07:46
we went back to South Africa
191
451000
2000
retornamos à África do Sul
07:48
to meet Avelile again.
192
453000
3000
para ver Avelile mais uma vez.
07:51
And I'm getting --
193
456000
2000
E eu estou sentindo –
07:53
the hairs on my -- I don't know if you can see the hairs on my arms.
194
458000
2000
os cabelos no meu – Não sei se podem ver os cabelos nos meus braços.
07:55
They're standing up because I know what I'm going to show you.
195
460000
3000
Estão arrepiados, porque eu sei o que vou lhes mostrar.
07:58
This is the transformation that took place.
196
463000
3000
Essa é a transformação que aconteceu.
08:03
Isn't it extraordinary?
197
468000
2000
Não é extraordinário?
08:05
(Applause)
198
470000
10000
(Aplausos)
08:15
That round of applause is actually
199
480000
2000
Esta salva de palmas é, na verdade,
08:17
for the doctors and nurses of the hospital who took care of Avelile.
200
482000
3000
para os médicos e enfermeiros do hospital que cuidaram da Avelile.
08:20
And I take it that you appreciate that kind of transformation.
201
485000
3000
Pelo que vejo vocês apreciam esse tipo de transformação.
08:24
So, I would like to say to you,
202
489000
2000
Então, gostaria de dizer a todos vocês,
08:26
each one in the audience,
203
491000
2000
cada um de vocês na platéia,
08:28
if you feel that every mother
204
493000
3000
se vocês sentem que toda mãe
08:31
and every child in the world
205
496000
2000
e toda criança no mundo
08:33
has the right to have access
206
498000
2000
tem o direito de ter acesso
08:35
to good nutrition and good medical care,
207
500000
3000
a boa nutrição e bons cuidados médicos,
08:38
and you believe that the Millennium Development Goals,
208
503000
3000
e acreditam que as Metas de Desenvolvimento do Milênio,
08:41
specifically five and six,
209
506000
2000
especificamente as 5 e 6,
08:43
should be absolutely committed to
210
508000
3000
deveriam ser absolutamente a obrigação
08:46
by all governments around the world --
211
511000
2000
de todos os governos ao redor do mundo –
08:48
especially in sub-Saharan Africa --
212
513000
2000
particularmente na África Subsaariana –
08:50
could you please stand up.
213
515000
2000
por favor levantem-se.
08:58
I think that's fair to say,
214
523000
2000
Penso que seja justo declarar,
09:00
it's almost everyone in the hall.
215
525000
3000
que são quase todos neste salão.
09:03
Thank you very much.
216
528000
2000
Muito obrigada.
09:05
(Applause)
217
530000
4000
(Aplausos)
Translated by Nadja Nathan
Reviewed by Rafael Eufrasio

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Annie Lennox - Activist, singer-songwriter
The most successful female British pop musician in history, Annie Lennox has now committed herself to raising awareness of, and supporting actions against, the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa.

Why you should listen

After decades of global fame as part of Eurythmics and as a solo artist, Annie Lennox was moved by Nelson Mandela's call to stop the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa, where it disproportionately affects women and children. She founded the SING campaign in 2007 to raise both awareness and money. "This is an illness that has a lot of stigma," Lennox says on her video blog. "What we need to do is normalize HIV."

Drawing on her talents, she combines music and film to put a human face on the crisis and emotionally connect people to the cause. South Africa has a tradition of activist songs and singing; inspired by this, in spring 2007 Lennox invited 23 female artists to record the benefit single "Sing." The record incorporates the South African activist song "Jikelele," which means "global treatment." So far, sales of "Sing" have raised 100,000 pounds, while other appearances since then have multiplied that sum. SING's money goes to support efforts such as the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), which works to fight mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Lennox is active in many other causes, both personal and political; in 2008 she was awarded the Services to Humanity Award by the British Red Cross.

More profile about the speaker
Annie Lennox | Speaker | TED.com