Freddie Mercury

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Richard BransonContent ='JJ Lin'> wants to buy to raise $100m to, say, help for VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'>

, VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> is in the midst of a political crisis, would be an understatement. PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Nicolás Maduro is Locked InContent ='JJ Lin'> a power struggle with Juan Guaidó, an opposition politician and self-proclaimed interim leader of the country.

So, what better way to make The SituationContent ='JJ Lin'> less complicated than a dispute BetweenContent ='JJ Lin'> one of The WorldContent ='JJ Lin'> 's richest people, and the Bassist of Pink FloydContent ='JJ Lin'> ?

" Yes . it is a rather strange situation.

Richard BransonContent ='JJ Lin'> , The BritishContent ='JJ Lin'> billionaire, announced behind the Virgin GroupContent ='JJ Lin'> of companies last week that he wanted to hold a concert to raise money for help for VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> - inspired by similar benefits as Live AidContent ='JJ Lin'> .

The ConcertContent ='JJ Lin'> , VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> Live AidContent ='JJ Lin'> happened on Friday in the Colombian Border TownContent ='JJ Lin'> of Cúcuta, in the vicinity of a bridge, that there's a connection to VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> (a bridge that, by the way, PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Maduro blocked to prevent containers that we get help).

Mr Branson, The ConcertContent ='JJ Lin'> will be free for the people that can go In PersonContent ='JJ Lin'> and via live-Stream internationally for those who can't.

The ultimate goal, Mr. Branson says, is to get the raising of tens of millions of dollars through donations and aid by PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Maduro, the blockages - although how he will do remains unclear.

"Let The MusicContent ='JJ Lin'> inspire and mobilize them," he adds. "United by music, we can make a big difference and help put an end to the unnecessary suffering of millions of people. "

In answer, Pink FloydContent ='JJ Lin'> , co-founder and bassist Roger Waters Content ='JJ Lin'> has published a video of Mr Branson told to "back off".

What to say to Roger Waters Content ='JJ Lin'> ? In a two-minute video posted on Twitter, the musician, says Mr. Branson's "Live AidContent ='JJ Lin'> -ish" concert "has nothing to do with humanitarian assistance to all".

"It has to do with Richard BransonContent ='JJ Lin'> , and I'm not surprised, after purchasing from US, they say: 'We have decided to take over VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> , for whatever the reasons might be,'" Mr Waters says.

"But it has nothing to do with the needs of the Venezuelan people, it has nothing to do with democracy, it has nothing to do with freedom, and it has nothing to do with the help. "

He adds that he is "friends in Caracas", the claim that there is "no Civil WarContent ='JJ Lin'> , no manslaughter, no murder, no apparent dictatorship, no oppression of The PressContent ='JJ Lin'> ".

So, who asked Richard BransonContent ='JJ Lin'> to do this? Mr Branson said it was a direct call from Mr Guaidó and opposition leader Leopoldo López.

In Social MediaContent ='JJ Lin'> , posted video last week, the billionaire said: "Juan Guaidó, which was recognized as the legitimate PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> of VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> from over 40 Nations and the EU, and Leopoldo López, an opposition leader currently under House ArrestContent ='JJ Lin'> in Caracas, have asked us to help organize a beautiful concert to help bring global attention to the unacceptable and avoidable crisis. "

Mr Lopez has been under House ArrestContent ='JJ Lin'> since 2014.

Who will carry out? The ConcertContent ='JJ Lin'> organisers have released a list of 32 people who have invited you to perform, even for young Latin-stars Rudy MancusoContent ='JJ Lin'> , Juanes and Despacito singer Luis FonsiContent ='JJ Lin'> , and the Swedish DJ Alesso.

a few celebrities have also confirmed that on Social MediaContent ='JJ Lin'> , you have to take.

Lele PonsContent ='JJ Lin'> , a Venezuelan-American singer and actress, The MostContent ='JJ Lin'> -looped Person on Vine, before it shut down in 2016, and Venezuelan singer Danny OceanContent ='JJ Lin'> , the two videos have to say that you are performing.

How much money do you want to increase? According to Mr. Branson, the aim is the enhancement of the $100m (£76 is. 8m), in 60 days by donating through a website.

to open An additional aim, the organisers say, "once again, VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> , on The BorderContent ='JJ Lin'> , so that the humanitarian aid finally reach those who need it most".

Which brings us seamlessly to our next point.

How are they going to help the country? This is a very delicate QuestionContent ='JJ Lin'> and The AnswerContent ='JJ Lin'> is: we don't know it.

context: there is a bridge BetweenContent ='JJ Lin'> Cúcuta and VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> , with U.S. military aircraft and trucks with tons of humanitarian aid was parked on the Colombian side.

So, the help is there. Mr Maduro has blocked Venezuelan side with containers.

trucks and planes carrying tonnes of humanitarian aid are to be kept, at The BorderContent ='JJ Lin'> , Mr Maduro says that the aid is part of a conspiracy by the US Invasion in the country, while his Vice-PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> , Delcy RodriguezContent ='JJ Lin'> , claims the U.S. aid is to poison the contamination with carcinogens, "our population".

The PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> Content ='JJ Lin'> has said that he is willing to take the help of its Allies Cuba and China, for ExampleContent ='JJ Lin'> - But he has refused explicitly to accept, nothing of his opponents.

Mr Branson, would explicitly drop the debt, Mr Maduro for The CrisisContent ='JJ Lin'> , most probably under this category.

Mr Guaidó has said he plans to get help into the country on 23 February, to mobilise by urging Venezuelans mass and form "caravans" and "humanitarian avalanche en" at the borders. Even with this effort, it is uncertain whether or not the aid is granted.

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A spokesman for Mr Branson told Bbc NewsContent ='JJ Lin'> that he is to organize with the Colombian entrepreneur Bruno Ocampo, The ConcertContent ='JJ Lin'> and sort out the LogisticsContent ='JJ Lin'> , while Mr. Ocampo said that their methods of first aid across The BorderContent ='JJ Lin'> "will remain confidential, to prevent us from our efforts".

He added: "Our plans are well-orchestrated, and we will share more details soon. "

Maduro has responded? This is where it will all even weirder.

As the news of Mr Branson concert, the embattled PresidentContent ='JJ Lin'> responded by promising a concert with his own - as the "Hands Off VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> " - only 300 meters away, on The OtherContent ='JJ Lin'> side of Las Tienditas bridge.

The GovernmentContent ='JJ Lin'> has not announced an official line-up, But unconfirmed reports claim that over 150 artists will participate.

supporters are pictured to the life, the construction of a stage on The OtherContent ='JJ Lin'> side of The BridgeContent ='JJ Lin'> , only 300 meters from VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> to help, politically, the aid is not? This is The ViewContent ='JJ Lin'> of Mr. water and humanitarian organizations such as the United NationsContent ='JJ Lin'> and the Red cross.

For ExampleContent ='JJ Lin'> , un spokesman Stephane DujarricContent ='JJ Lin'> told reporters earlier this month that "the humanitarian aid must be independent from political, military or other objectives".

He added: "it is important that humanitarian aid be depoliticised and that the needs of the people should lead, in terms of when and how humanitarian aid is used. "

Mr Waters referred to when he told Mr Branson: "don't politicize aid. Leave the Venezuelan people alone to exercise their legal right to self-determination. "

bass-player, however, purely political Waters murky, when he proclaimed confidently that there is "no obvious dictatorship" in VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> .

A spokesman for Mr Branson told Bbc NewsContent ='JJ Lin'> that the primary goal of The ConcertContent ='JJ Lin'> was to raise awareness and to pledge to "create an opportunity for the global community their support."

she added: "While the political context of The CrisisContent ='JJ Lin'> is complex, this is a purely humanitarian effort, not replace the need for a political and diplomatic solutions. "

Do people still want benefit concerts? Live AidContent ='JJ Lin'> was the highlight of The ConcertContent ='JJ Lin'> was, after all, the education of a reported $125m for the victims of The FamineContent ='JJ Lin'> in Ethiopia in 1985. In fact, it is so legendary that it was new in all of its glory in the recent Freddie MercuryContent ='JJ Lin'> biopic Bohemian RhapsodyContent ='JJ Lin'> .

And the announcement that he was hosting VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> -the help life, Mr Branson says expressly, he was inspired by The ConcertContent ='JJ Lin'> for Bangladesh in 1971, and through the Live help, and how they both "moved The WorldContent ='JJ Lin'> to Action ".

Richard BransonContent ='JJ Lin'> says he was partly inspired by Live AidContent ='JJ Lin'> In 1985 But behind The GlamourContent ='JJ Lin'> of these concerts were disturbing reports that The MoneyContent ='JJ Lin'> raised has not yet landed there, where it should be.

In the case of The ConcertContent ='JJ Lin'> for Bangladesh, The MoneyContent ='JJ Lin'> was tied up in a ten-year battle with the tax officials in the US, while Live AidContent ='JJ Lin'> was plagued with the urge to unconfirmed reports, The MoneyContent ='JJ Lin'> she had raised, was, in fact, collect from Ethiopia the leader, destroy weapons to opposition rebels.

There are similar concerns about the subsequent charity concerts. Huge, high-production performances were often ask, how money is organized and distributed to the people who needed it.

services after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, for ExampleContent ='JJ Lin'> , the mind is raised to More ThanContent ='JJ Lin'> $9bn, But these efforts were later organization of musician Wyclef JeanContent ='JJ Lin'> 's charity Yele HaitiContent ='JJ Lin'> . Years after the disaster, people in Haiti, said that their communities were not constructed at the far back.

VenezuelaContent ='JJ Lin'> -help-Live-organizers, however, explain to Bbc NewsContent ='JJ Lin'> , the Live AidContent ='JJ Lin'> concert for Bangladesh "contributed to the global awareness and mobilized unprecedented public support".

venezuela crisis, venezuela, richard branson

Source of news: bbc.com