Last year Colombia's Juanes organized the Peace Without Borders concert, an extravaganza that promoted Latin American unity and drew more than 100,000 eager fans to the Simon Bolivar Bridge between Colombia and Venezuela.
Earlier this month, Juanes announced plans to hold a second Peace Without Borders Concert on September 20, this time in Havana, Cuba. The choice of Havana for this second concert has sparked controversy, probably to no one's surprise.
Juanes has received official permission to hold the concert at Havana's sprawling Plaza de Revolution where you can find a statue of Cuban hero Jose Marti on one side and a huge outline of Che Guevara on the other. Simply the fact that the concert has received official government blessing and is being held in a plaza that has been used for government speeches and demonstrations has anti-Castro activists up in arms.
Juanes has also met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the hopes of getting permission to have U.S. artists join with musicians from twelve other countries who are scheduled to perform; the Colombian superstar is hoping to include artists that have been banned by Cuba in the line-up so the permission will have to come from both ends of this discussion.
The Juanes camp has stated that there is no political agenda attached with the concert and calls this move a bridge towards peace; the opposition calls it support of the Castro regime.
The international Latin music community is busy queuing up on one side or the other although the performance schedule has yet to be announced.
Stay tuned for more on this controversial concert in the days ahead but, in the meantime, here's a chance to make your opinion known.
POLL:
Do you think that holding the 'Peace Without Borders Concert' in Havana is a good idea?
1. Yes, it will promote peace and build bridges
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