running with The Parlotones - Run for water project

THE PARLOTONES TO TAKE PART IN THE DOW LIVE EARTH RUN FOR WATER – the largest global water initiative in history aimed at HELPing solvE the world water crisis 

Register to Run Now at www.wildlands.co.za/runforwater to See

The Parlotones Perform Live in Concert at The Spier Wine Estate in Cape Town 

Cape Town South Africa – (17, February, 2010) – Live Earth, organizer of The Dow Live Earth Run for Water, and Wildlands Conservation Trust, Cape Town race director, today announced that The Parlotones, highest grossing rock band in South Africa, will perform live at the event taking place at the Speir Wine Estate in Cape Town on April 18, 2010.  The largest worldwide water initiative on record to help combat the global water crisis, The Dow Live Earth Run for Water is a series of 6km run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to get water), culminating with a water education village and live musical performance, taking place in 80 cities across 40 countries around the world, to raise awareness and funds that will help solve the global water crisis. 

“We are thrilled to be performing at the Dow Live Earth Run for Water in Cape Town and to lend our support to helping solve the global water crisis,” said Khan Morbee lead vocalist for The Parlotones.  “As alumni of the Live Earth concerts in 2007, we are proud to be partnered again in another global event aimed at identifying solutions for critical environmental issues.” 

The live performance at The Spier Wine Estate is restricted to registered run/walk participants.  In addition to the live performance, the band is committed to lending its name and support to generate awareness for the event locally in Cape Town, as well as the larger global intiative to help solve this critical issue.   

“Live Earth is honoured to have The Parlotones as part of this global movement to help raise awareness for the global water crisis, said Kevin Wall, Founder of Live Earth.  “As one of the biggest bands in South Africa with millions of fans across the country, they can make a significant impact in the hearts and minds of South Africans in encouraging them to participate in the run/walk and ultimately help solve the global water crisis.” 

People in Cape Town can register for the Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walk today via the Wildlands website on www.wildlands.co.za/runforwater or via The Active Network at http://liveearth.org/run.  All participants will receive a free online ActiveTrainer plan to help them prepare for the event. Ten percent of all registration fees go directly to Wildlands Conservation Trust, a non profit organization working to conserve South Africa’s biodiversity. 

“We’re so excited to be part of this event” said Heidi Mocke, Events Manager for the Wildlands Conservation Trust.  “Wildlands have been running sports events for many years now to raise funds for our projects, but to be part of a global initiative of this scale, for such a vital cause, is really special. Spier is a stunning venue and walkers and runners will be able to get their hearts pumping in one of the most beautiful parts of the South Africa.” 

The funds raised from the event will go towards Wildlands’ Indigenous Trees for Life project.  The project teaches poor and vulnerable community members (children, youth and adults) to grow indigenous trees to sustain their livelihoods.  Once they reach a certain height, the trees grown by the ‘tree-preneurs’ are traded back to Wildlands at ‘tree stores’ for goods such as food, clothes, school fees, and anything else the tree-preneurs might need.  The funds raised from this event will be used to purchase rainwater tanks and wheelbarrows for the tree stores for community members who have to walk far to fetch water.  

“Some of our tree-preneurs need to walk kilometres back and forth to fetch water for their trees and the rainwater tanks and wheelbarrows will have a huge impact on their lives”, said Wildlands Communications Manager, Simone Dale.  “We have over 3500 tree-preneurs growing trees for us all around KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Mpumalanga and we’re starting projects in the Eerste Rivier, Stellenbosch and Lynedock communities in the Western Cape in October this year.”  The trees grown by the tree-preneurs are planted out in reforestation projects.   

The Dow Live Earth Run for Water is a global movement focused on the actions individuals can take to effectively address the issue.  People are encouraged to START solving the problem today, RUN in a Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walk in their community or organize their own run/walk through the Friends of Live Earth program, SAVE water in their home and local community through conservation efforts, GIVE money to support clean, safe water projects and SPEAK UP by signing the Live Earth petition to add water as a basic human right to the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. 

“As the title sponsor for the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, Dow is committed to bringing the science, technology and “human element” it will take to help solve one of the world’s greatest challenges – the global water crisis,” said  Ian Barbour, general manager at Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of Dow. “On April 18, 2010, Dow’s 46,000 employees will join people from around the world to help millions of people around the world gain access to safe, clean drinking water.” 

For more information about the Dow Live Earth Run for Water visit www.liveearth.org, and to participate in the Cape Town event visit or www.wildlands.co.za/runforwater.