Canadian space tourist hosts space show to push water conservation

Circus billionaire hosts space show

MONTREAL — Canadian space tourist and circus billionaire Guy Laliberte mixed star power, science lectures, music and poetry with water hosting a TV/Internet show from the International Space Station.

People from around the world tuned in via TV and the Internet on Friday the Cirque du Soleil founder, brought his crusade to preserve the world’s water resources down to Earth from his host’s chair on the International Space Station.

Former U.S. vice president Al Gore, U2 and Shakira were among the parade of entertainers and activists that participated back on Earth with acts performed in 14 cities on five continents.

The show was aimed at raising awareness for Laliberte’s One Drop Foundation, which seeks to draw attention to the growing shortage of clean water.

Production costs for the multilingual show are estimated at between US$6 million and US$10 million — which is on top of the US$35 million Laliberte paid to become Canada’s first space tourist.

It was seen on the Internet beginning at 8 p.m EDT; 0000 GMT through the One Drop Foundation’s Web site: www.onedrop.org.