Charly Alberti, known throughout the Spanish-speaking world as the drummer of the legendary Argentine rock group Soda Stereo, was onstage in Mexico City this week, leading teens in a pledge to protect the planet.
Over a million young people in Latin America have taken the Juramiento Ambiental (Environmental Pledge), according to R21, the non-profit founded by Alberti (revolucion21.com). As the face of the organization at schools and universities, the drummer turned activist has capitalized on the superstar status he gained touring Latin America with Soda in the eighties and nineties to make kids aware of the environment in their daily lives, and inspire them to work to combat climate change.
R21 partners with education officials and local governments to make a “commitment and responsibility for the environment” standard in public schools.
Alberti frequently makes rock star-worthy stadium presentations on global warming enhanced with music and videos. Since 2009, he has conducted the pledge every June 5, in honor of World Environment Day. This week marked R21’s first such initiative in Mexico City, where Alberti had last performed on Soda Stereo’s 2007 reunion tour, playing for 60,000 people for each of two nights at the Foro Sol.