World Humanitarian Day 2012 - Behind The Scenes with Beyoncé

United Nations, New York, August 2012 - 1 Day, 1 World, 1 Message

Help the world take notice and register at www.whd-iwashere.org

A look behind-the-scenes of the 2012 World Humanitarian Day event in the United Nations General Assembly Hall which featured the taping of Beyonce's WHD 2012 'I Was Here' music video.

Every year on August 19th, World Humanitarian Day recognizes those who face danger and adversity to help others. August 19th is the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 people.
We honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and we pay tribute to those who continue to help people around the world, regardless of who they are and where they are.
Every day we see and hear images and stories of pain and suffering in our own neighborhoods and in countries far away. But we also find acts of kindness, great and small. World Humanitarian Day is a global celebration of people helping people.

So Beyonce, how did you get evolved with the World Humanitarian Day?

Well, I was definitely attracted to raising awareness

of this day of recognition.

I know... found out that 22 people lost their lives helping people. And...

In Baghdad.

In Baghdad, yes.

And you know, I thought it was an incredible thing

to turn that into something positive

and trying to include the world to do something great for someone else.

I feel like we all want to know our life meant something

And that we did something for someone else

And that we spread positivity

no matter how big or how small.

Now you're trying to reach a billion people

on World Humanitarian Day

What are you hoping to accomplish?

What is the idea behind it?

This is really about, saying to everyone out there

This is a day that's both a commemoration

Because there's a lot of people

who lose their lives trying to help people

But it is also a celebration of the things that people do

There's an amazing amount that people do

every single day, that goes unrecognized.

So this is about the big things

and it is also about the small things.

If we are to do something small

and if all of us on one day, do something effective

it will be so impactful.

We can make a difference through a small act

Some people will give some money

Some people have a skill that they can donate

Some time that they can donate

All of that matters.

What do you see

when you are on that stadium in front of the General Assembly?

Well, we wanted to make sure that we invited humanitarians

and people that have been affected by humanitarians

and I know that some of the people speaking

are family members of the 22 people that lost their lives

So while I'm performing

you can't help but think about how they must feel

and the pride that they must have

knowing that they didn't lose their lives in vain.

So on August 19th, you're both hoping that

people around the world

will do whatever they can

and will volunteer in their communities

will donate money, will donate time, wherever it is.

We want to see millions of little pins

across the world.

As people pledge.

Everyone can go to
whdiwashere.org

And we want to encourage everyone to pledge

their act of kindness.