Stevie Wonder’s Fiery Induction As U.N. Messenger Of Peace
Multiple Grammy Award-winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Stevie Wonder has been named a United Nations Messenger of Peace to focus on helping people with disabilities. The announcement was made today (December 3) by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during an event that had a little bit of drama.
Wonder was giving his acceptance speech when a fire alarm went off in the basement conference room at U.N. headquarters in New York. After six long alarm blasts, the Associated Press reported, Wonder said, “I’m trying to figure out a new melody!” U.N. security officials ordered an evacuation of the three basement levels of the 39-story building, but a U.N. official said soon after that the program could continue. “I didn’t realize that what I was going to say was going to create so much heat,” Wonder said as he resumed his speech.
Less than a minute later, however, the AP reports that U.N. security officials interrupted and ordered Wonder, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice and more than 100 others in the conference room to leave. The three were taken to a different location. Those in the audience were taken outside, but they returned about 15 minutes later when the all-clear was given.
U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said the alarm was triggered by smoke from construction work in the second basement level. There was no damage and no fire.
Wonder, who has been blind since shortly after birth, is being recognized for his philanthropic work with the U.S. President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and Junior Blind of America.
Wonder is the 11th U.N. Messenger of Peace, joining a list of notable figures including Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wisel, actor Michael Douglas, primate expert Jane Goodall and conductor Daniel Barenboim.