Norway’s annual national televised charity fundraiser known as TV-aksjonen raised more than NOK 183 million (USD 22.5 million) on Sunday, including NOK 155,901 in an auction of British singer Sting’s bass guitar. Sting himself used it to perform in the fundraiser, which this year supported the fund for preserving rain forests that he helped found nearly 30 years ago.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg also auctioned off her Real Madrid shirt, signed by all the football team’s players, and it went for nearly NOK 100,000. The vast majority of the money, however, was raised by around 100,000 Norwegians all over the country, who walked the streets and went door-to-door soliciting donations.
Proceeds from the fundraiser, aired live and heavily promoted by state broadcaster NRK, will go towards preserving rain forests in Peru, Brazil, Congo and New Guinea, which in turn can help reverse climate change. The most generous donors were, once again, those living on Norway’s Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, who contributed NOK 423 each on average. Residents of Utsira in Rogaland County were next, donating around NOK 311 each despite the area’s economic downturn sparked by the dive in oil prices.
Rounding out the top five municipalities in terms of total giving were Træna in Nordland County, Bokn in Rogaland and Kåfjord in Troms.
newsinenglish.no staff
