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UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe partners with the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation to support aspiring artists

UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe signed a partnership agreement with the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation to support six musicians with an opportunity to produce original music video and perform concerts in 2022. This will be part of the Foundation’s www.concertwithyou.com initiative, a streaming concert platform that allows artists to share their music and engage with the public.

Nicholas Hodac, Director General of UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, states: ‘’We are thrilled to support the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation. The soft drink sector’s social impact goes beyond the jobs it generates. Providing wider benefits to our local communities by giving back to them is equally important. The number of social initiatives undertaken by our members in the countries they operate is a testament to that. As an EU industry association, we also want to do our part to change lives for the better. Music is a universal form of art, but not everyone has equal access and opportunity to create it. Our aim is to break some barriers and help new artists unlock their full potential and succeed. As violinist Yehudi Menuhin influenced generations of people during his time – and continues to be a source of inspiration to many across the world -, we want to empower the artists who we will support to show their talent and inspire others through their music and noble example.’’

Marianne Poncelet, Executive Vice-Present and co-founder of the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation in Brussels, comments: ‘’We are delighted to establish this cooperation with UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe to strengthen our mission to support the next generation of talented artists. Making our societies more inclusive and united is truly transformative and music is a powerful tool in achieving it. We are grateful to UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe for its commitment to promote artistic excellence and give new artists the chance to contribute to our society with the sound and power of their music. With this partnership, we demonstrate that we can drive change together and make a positive difference in the lives of several artists.’’

The original music videos by the six artists that UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe will support will be freely accessible to anyone on www.concertwithyou.com as well as on the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation’s YouTube channel upon their announcement.

UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe will provide further information on each concert on its social media channels as they are organised. The indicative calendar of concerts is as follows:

 

Concert 1

  • Date: 5 January 2022
  • Artist: Matthieu Saglio

 

Concert 2

  • Date: April 2022
  • Artist: Les Violons de Bruxelles

 

Concert 3

  • Date: May 2022
  • Artist: Karim Baggili

 

Concert 4

  • Date: June 2022
  • Artist: Marianne Aya Omac

 

Concert 5

  • Date: October 2022
  • Artist: Jason Carter

 

Concert 6

  • Date: December 2022
  • Artist: Altea Narici

 

Note to Editors

For further information, please contact:

Inês Rebelo

Communications Manager, UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe

M: +32 477 860 901

irebelo@unesda.eu

 

Simon Eychenne

Project Manager, International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation

M: +32 470 55 21 36

simon.eychenne@menuhin-foundation.com

 

Juliette Van Maele

Project Manager, International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation

M: +32 484 986 330

juliette.vanmaele@menuhin-foundation.com

International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation

Established in Brussels in 1991, the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation pursues Menuhin’s humanist goal of giving voice to the voiceless through the arts. The Foundation aims to develop people’s musical abilities, protect cultural identities, and foster social inclusion of vulnerable groups through the organisation of events, trainings, workshops and concerts. In association with different partners, it initiates, implements and coordinates many socio-cultural projects: “Homelands, places of belongings”, “UCRATE”, “MUS-E On Stage”, www.concertwithyou.com. The IYMF is also the head coordinator of the MUS-E® network. MUS-E was created by Yehudi Menuhin in 1993 to implementing the use of creative arts in traditional primary school curriculums, working particularly with children from disadvantaged backgrounds. MUS-E® is now active in 12 countries in Europe, Brazil, Israel and Kosovo.

www.menuhin-foundation.com

 

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Current water challenges

We cannot deny the current water challenges our world is facing. We are experiencing increased water scarcity, with demands for safe, usable water exceeding supply in many areas, including in Europe. 

  • Freshwater use has been growing by about 1% per year since the 1980s and as water demand is expected to continue increasing at a similar rate until 2050, this will account for an increase of 20 to 30% above the current level of water use1.
  • This increase in water demand is leading to a reduction of renewable water resources of 24% per capita in Europe2
  • Around 30% of the European population lives in areas with permanent water stress and up to 70% live in areas with seasonal water stress during summer3.
  • Europe’s aquatic ecosystems are severely degraded: only 17% of protected river, lake, alluvial, and riparian habitats are in good conservation status and 90% of protected wetland habitats are classified as poor or bad4.
  • Globally, 85% of wetlands have been lost in the last 300 years, with more than 50% lost since 19905. This is particularly critical as wetlands play an important role in filtering water and removing pollutants, as well as providing shelter to wildlife and capturing carbon.

 

This situation entails severe risks for the world’s population. 

  • For the last decade, the World Economic Forum has placed water-related risks among the world’s top five in its annual Global Risks Report. 
  • Water-related disasters have also dominated the list of disasters over the past 50 years and account for 70% of all deaths related to natural disasters6.
  • Nearly 95% of infrastructure loss and damage reported between 2010 to 2019 were due to water-related disasters7
  • More frequent and intensive flooding has cost lives and livelihoods across Europe, while at the same time, more than 50% of the continent has, in recent years, been affected by extreme drought conditions, which also breed a range of negative social, economic and human outcomes8.

A situation driven by a combination of factors

The deterioration of the natural water cycle stems from a confluence of factors: growing urbanisation, growing populations, increased consumption, poor management, pollution, lack of or damaged infrastructure, and climate change.  

Agriculture was responsible for 59% of total freshwater use in Europe in 20179, while industrial and domestic uses are the main drivers of increasing water demand. Indeed, as economies industrialise, populations urbanise and water supply and sanitation systems expand. 

Additionally, rising temperatures and more extreme weather patterns are causing more droughts and flooding. Climate variability is also bringing more uncertainty as to the availability, predictability and geographical distribution of water. Water and climate change are inextricably linked. From unpredictable rainfall patterns to shrinking ice sheets, rising sea levels, floods and droughts – most impacts of climate change come down to water (UN Water).