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Thursday, 13 January, 2005, 10:11 GMT

Rocker Sting plays Thai concert

Sting Singer Sting has become the first international star to perform in Thailand since the tsunami disaster.

The concert, in the capital Bangkok, raised $50,000 (£26,700) for victims of the disaster, including a $20,000 (£10,600) donation from Sting himself.

The 53-year-old will also perform in Malaysia and India and play at a benefit show in Australia in February.

Pop star Ricky Martin has also visited Thailand, meeting survivors and touring affected beaches in Phuket and Patong.

Martin, who is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), appealed to fellow celebrities to help victims of the disaster.

Ricky Martin "To all my colleagues, let's do something," he said. "It's all about talking about things that need to be done to create a better world, especially for the generations to come."

He said he would make a donation to help Thai orphans through his charity, the Ricky Martin Foundation, which runs a project to help fight trafficking of adults and children.

Meanwhile, Sting is aiming to raise A$1m ($765,000, £400,000) at the benefit show on 10 February.

The concert, in the Western Australian region of Margaret River, was arranged after Sting was forced to cancel a show in Sri Lanka due to the disaster.

And Australian rock band Midnight Oil have said they will reform for a benefit concert at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 29 January.

" It's going to take a long time for those people to rebuild their lives, and they will need our help for years to come "
Celine Dion

Singer Peter Garrett said: "This is clearly a time in history for everyone to pitch in and help the people who are struggling to hold onto their lives in the wake of such a shattering event."

The show will also include performances from Nick Cave and ex-Crowded House member Neil Finn.

Other stars donating money include singer Celine Dion, who will give all proceeds of a special Mother's Day show in Las Vegas to victims.

"Like everyone else in the world, I've been devastated by the loss and suffering of so many," she said. "We can all see that it's going to take a long time for those people to rebuild their lives, and they will need our help for years to come."

The chart-topping singer is hoping to raise $1m (£535,000) from the show at Caesar's Palace Hotel on 8 May.



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