Montreal: Canadian space tourist and
circus billionaire Guy Laliberte mixed star power, science
lectures, music and poetry with water, hosting a TV/Internet
show from the International Space Station.
People from around the world tuned in via TV and the
Internet yesterday as the Cirque du Soleil founder brought his
crusade to preserve the world's water resources down to Earth
from his host's chair on the International Space Station.
Former US Vice President Al Gore, U2 and Shakira were
among the parade of entertainers and activists that
participated back on Earth with acts performed in 14 cities on
five continents.
The show was aimed at raising awareness for
Laliberte's One DropFoundation, which seeks to draw attention
to the growing shortage of clean water.
One of the most anticipated segments of the evening
was a chat between Laliberte and Bono, who was performing with
U2 at a concert in Tampa, Florida.
"You are the first clown in space and we think it's a
great idea for you to give us your perspective on our little
planet while you're not on our little planet and instead
looking down on it," Bono said. "How do we look from there,
how does our little planet look, Guy?"
Laliberte replied that "planet Earth looks so great
but also so fragile."
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, October 10, 2009, 18:17