Nearly 30 years ago, Live Aid proved that musicians from around the world could unite to raise money for charity and spread awareness of serious issues. In that spirit, Guy Laliberté's One Drop Foundation has teamed up with stars from around the world -- including Bono, Shakira, Salma Hayek, Peter Gabriel and Joss Stone -- for the 'Poetic Social Mission,' a program discussing issues related to access to water set to be webcast on Friday, Oct. 9 at 8PM ET.

Unlike Live Aid, the 'Mission' isn't just a concert; it's a "poetic tale" written by award-winning author Yann Martel ('Life of Pi') that will be told in installments from 14 cities around the world, many accompanied by multimedia works from local artists. The event will kick off from the International Space Station with an introduction by Laliberté (left), the founder of Cirque du Soleil. He will then introduce Al Gore and environmentalist Dr. David Suzuki, who will illustrate many of the problems relating to the safety and accessibility of the world's water resources.

From there, the program shifts into the artistic portion, beginning in Montreal, with Martel and Canadian astronaut Julie Payette reading the first installment of the poem. Bouncing from continent to continent, the readings include diverse music acts and celebrities: Shakira will read a paragraph from New York, followed by a surprise guest; Peter Gabriel will read from London and introduce singer Joss Stone; and Bono is slated to speak to Laliberté -- currently orbiting the globe on the International Space Station -- from Tampa, Fla. Among the film stars participating, Salma Hayek will introduce a performance by singer Lila Downs from Mexico City, and Matthew McConaughey will read from Santa Monica, Calif.

The world's top musical acts are represented, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo -- the South African vocal group known by rock fans for their work on Paul Simon's 'Graceland' -- performing from Johannesburg. Grammy-winning Brazilian singer-songwriter Gilberto Gil will perform in Rio de Janeiro, French pop star Garou will join via video from Paris, Australian soprano Tiffany Speight sings at the Sydney Opera House, Moroccan rappers Fnaïre will play from Marrakesh, and Japanese pop star Tatuya Ishii will sing from Osaka. A special taped performance from Bollywood composer A.R. Rahman -- who won two Oscars for his work on 'Slumdog Millionaire' -- will air during the Mumbai portion.

The two-hour program will conclude with remarks from Laliberté. To find out more information about the organization and the program, check out the official One Drop Foundation website. Head to the site this Friday, Oct. 9 at 8PM ET to catch this once-in-a-lifetime event.