On Saturday, the Global Citizen Festival concert brought acts like Beyoncé and Pearl Jam to New York’s Central Park. Hosts included Stephen Colbert, Hugh Jackman and Salma Hayek. Celebrities and dignitaries that appeared included Joe Biden, Malala Yousafzai, Leo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington and Bill and Melinda Gates. Thousands attended — not via tickets — but by spreading the word about world hunger by either social media or writing to their Congress members.
As you might expect, an agenda of combating hunger, wiping out poverty and educating girls brought out the trolls. On Twitter, under the hashtag #GlobalCitizen, one could find not just positive messages and pictures, but snarky ones as well.
These are representative…
You can't fix stupid. pic.twitter.com/TXdb6TfQM5 #PJNET #WakeUpAmerica #PopeInPhilly #GlobalCitizen #RedNationRising #tcot #ccot #REDNATION
— E.Z. Rider (@ezridersos) September 27, 2015
Here's what a #GlobalCitizen looks like. Global warming aka climate change is a myth. #tcot pic.twitter.com/FSaO30Xi2o
— Al Gorelioni (@Al_Gorelioni) September 27, 2015
Due to recent global cooling events, I pledge to increase my carbon footprint. #itm #noagenda #globalwarming #tcot #globalcitizen
— Danny Spell (@Spellinator) February 3, 2011
#GlobalCitizen #GlobalWarming #EarthDay<—Lies so big, only a statist could speak them and only a #Liberal could believe them… #TCOT
— Kafir Supreme (@Kafir_Supreme) April 23, 2015
A couple seem to be concerned for us:
This entire #GlobalCitizen charade is gathering momentum. Babel didn't end well, neither has ANY such ideological movement. #Tcot .@greta
— Tamara Davis (@warriors_mom) September 27, 2015
Would a #globalcitizen know the #BenefitsOfComingToGod, we will receive eternal life! http://t.co/UVSVBn2ln3 #tcot
— David Moynihan (@hamedelic) September 29, 2013
And there’s always the conspiracy nuts:
WE ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS. #GLOBALCITIZEN MEANS SLAVE TO #UN #NoArmsTradeTreaty #BRTT #tcot #tlot #p2 #2ndAmend
— PRESIDEBT OBAMA (@CloseTheGulag) July 6, 2012
.Global Collaboration for UN-led #globalcitizen. INDOCTRINATION AT WORK @mariagrce @Bexofeasttex @Dan_Gray_ #tcot pic.twitter.com/KL5K2qzPpb
— Stop the Magnet (@HOUSTONPETITION) April 24, 2015
In a few years from now, I bet the #GlobalCitizen Festival will be investigated as a scam.
— BoogsterSU2 (@BoogsterSU2) September 27, 2015
Hey, pardon us if we think that every human being deserves to eat. Or be educated. Or have healthcare. Or clean water. Or breathable air. Or a job. Excuse us if we think that we are responsible for our fellow humans and can help one another. Certain religious figures told us as much. People who say they follow those figures need to put up or shut up.
Whether we like it or not, we are all interdependent. We all share the same water, air and resources. We all live on the same planet and need to take care of it. People who refuse to see this are sad and sick.
If you missed the live streaming or broadcast, there are video of performances by Pearl Jam, Beyoncé, Sting, Common, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay available at MSNBC.com. You can also find speeches by Vice-President Biden, Malala, the Gates and many others. The message is the same: let’s end poverty now.
You can find out more here at GlobalCitizen.org. Read about the Global Goals. Get involved.
Photo Credit: GlobalCitizen.org