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ROCK YOUR RIGHTS 3 DVD IS OUT!
JTMP announces the release of “Rock Your Rights 3” DVD! This DVD contains artists and musicians talking about politics and issues, and will even contain a few full-length performance videos! We have artists such as O.A.R. And Eisley talking about voting, going green, and rocking out! This DVD urges young people to register, vote, and get involved!
For every DVD we sell, we can donate 10 FREE to voter registration and “Get Out The Vote” organizations to help mobilize young people to get out and VOTE! To order yours today, please CLICK HERE!
WATCH THE PREVIEW BELOW
JTM Launches New Online Voter Registration Form
JTM now has a new online voter registration form that you can fill
in right from your computer. It tells you exactly where to send the form to
ensure that you are properly registered. Please feel free to put
this linkable voter registration button on your site to help us register a
record number of voters this election. We will be partnering with several
youth voter organizations this election that will be using this form and we
will add those names here as they join with us.
JON BON JOVI AND ANDY MADADIAN
TEAM UP FOR SOLIDARITY WITH
THE IRANIAN PEOPLE
Jon Bon Jovi, Iranian superstar Andy Maddadian, and Richie Sambora teamed up and recorded the classic, "Stand By Me", to show support and solidarity for the Iranian people's struggle for democracy. The Iranian people are struggling to have their voices heard after their recent election was rigged and manipulated by unelected officials within their government. JTMP wants to throw in their support along with them and hope the Iranian people acheive their goal of democracy. The video for the song is below.
Also, here is a video of an Iranian rapper, Farinaz Be Name Zan using her artistry to speak out about the struggle.
MICHAEL JACKSON
REMEMBERED
JTMP wants to remember Michael Jackson in recognition of his passing. In 1995 he released his "Earth Song", a song showing Michael's concern for the environment. He had released socially concious songs in the past, such as "Man in the Mirror", and "We are the World", but this song was described by some as being more overt. Way before Al Gore and others, he saw the environment being affected, and was concerned. The video is below.
Michael was known for using his position and music to raise awareness and concern for social issues ranging from recording songs, to speaking out, to forming foundations. In 1985 he and Lionel Ritchie wrote and recorded "We Are Te World" raising awareness of global poverty and famine, and went on to form the "Heal the World Foundation". When Ryan White died of AIDS in 1990, he recorded "Gone Too Soon", and urged then President Clinton to increase funding for AIDS research.
JTMP wants to recognize Michael Jackson for being an artist that used his position and artistry to raise awareness and help causes he was concerned about, and he will be missed by many.
VIDEO: EARTH SONG
JTMP ATTENDS CONFERENCE
CAMPAIGN FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE
JTMP is at the Campaign For America's Future Conference here in Washington, DC that is running from June 1st through June 3rd. It is a collection of bloggers, speakers, organizations and individuals coordinating the promotion of progressive policies; such as health care for all, social justice, and green technology jobs. We are networking with like minded organizations and individuals all working for common goals. For years we attended the "Take Back America" conferences, but the conference has now changed names since us Progressives have "taken back America" from conservative policies we felt were hurting America and individuals. We are proud to be a member of this crowd. Here are some pictures of the event. Please visit their websites and support their cause.
A group of human activists has formed a new group called Zero dB that seeks to ban using loud music as a means of torturing prisoners. Military and Intelligence personnel have been using loud music from such artists as Eminem and Bruce Springsteen as a means of applying psychological pressure to individuals in custody. Zero dB is appealing to artists, fans, and even producers and engineers to join their protest by signing their petition on their website, and even submitting a 5 second clip of them standing in silent protest against this policy.
The campaign, known as Zero dB which stands for zero decibels, was launched by Reprieve, a British legal charity. They represent dozens of prisoners held or formerly held at the U.S. Military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. One former detainee, Rhuhel Ahmed, was subjected to hours of loud music from artist Eminem. He started to hallucinate, and was quoted as saying that "the music torture stripped away the last sanctuary you had in your mind." Another former detainee that was held for seven years, Binyam Moham, has stated that the hardest torture he had to endure was not the physical torture, but the music that was played for hours on end.
The campaign has already signed up British artists David Gray, Massive Attack, and Dizzee Rascal and seeks to sign up American artists. Chloe Davis, a representative of Reprieve and Zero dB, held a conference recently on music and torture stating that he is discussing with US lawyers possible legal action that musicians might take against the US government to claim compensation for copyright infringement. Trent Reznor of the band Nine Inch Nails is among the artists pursuing legal action.
Both Chloe Davis from Reprieve, and Thomas Keenan of the Human Rights Project point out that the Geneva Convention and the Army Field Manual do not explicitly address using music as torture, and are pushing for recognition as such. Keenan said, "What's needed is a debate. We need to repudiate it explicitly."
Wal-Mart has refused to sell Green Day's new album, 21st Century Breakdown, because they wanted it edited for language and content, and Green Day refused. Green Day's vocalist, lyricist, and guitar player Billie Joe Armstrong said, "Wal-Mart's become the biggest retail outlet in the country, but they won't carry our record because they wanted us to censor it. They want artists to censor their records in order to be carried in there. We just said no. We've never done it before. You feel like you're in 1953 or something."
Armstrong also added, "If you think about bands that are struggling or smaller than Green Day ... to think that to get record your out in places like that, but they won't carry it because of the content and you have to censor yourself," he said. "I mean, what does that say to a young kid whose trying to speak his mind making a record for the first time? It's like a game that you have to play. You have to refuse to play it."
Guitarist Mike Dirnt said: "As the biggest record store in the America, they should probably have an obligation to sell people the correct art." JTMP couldn't agree more.
The censorship actions by Wal-Mart has not hurt sales of the new album, which at last count was at 215,000 and landed them on top of the charts. The tour for the album kicks off on July 3rd in Seattle, Washington.
JTMP urges fans to contact Wal-Mart and protest their actions of attempting to censor artists, and urge them to let art be sold in its form the artists create them. Click here to email Wal-Mart, call them at 1-800-925-6278, or write to them at:
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Bentonville, AR 72716-8611
We also urge fans to support Green Day and their courageous behavior by standing up to Wal-Mart. Please click here to go to Green Day's website and buy their album. Support their tour, and support artistic freedom. JTMP pats Green Day on the back for standing up for freedom of creativity, and refusing to censor their art. Nice work!
DC RADIO LEGEND
PROMOTES SUSTAINABILITY
JTMP was at Earth Day on the Nation Mall last month, and we ran into legendary radio personality music guru, Cerphe, “America’s Greenest DJ”. Cerphe has been a DC area radio personality for over 30 years, and has interviewed countless musicians and artists over the years. His rock and roll resume is a mile long. I got a chance to sit down and do a phone interview with Cerphe to ask him about his involvement with Earth Day and how he felt about artists speaking out.
Cerphe has been involved with Earth Day in the past, and Ed Begley, Jr. who has been going green since 1971, is the spokesperson for his wife’s green home supplier company; so when Kathleen Rogers, the president of Earth Day Network, asked them to join the festivities again they jumped at the chance. “We believe in being good to the planet…sort of a no-brainer”, he told JTMP.
Cerphe and his wife Susan have started a nationwide company called www.MyGreenCottage.com that renovates and constructs homes so they are “green” and sustainable. He told JTMP that he and his wife were building a vacation home back in 2002, and as they were building it they started to be aware of building something that would be in sync with the planet. He went on to say that building green houses was at first not widely known, but currently it is “so much on everybody’s radar. If people go to the website they can see these homes fit into any neighborhood with the same look that can apply to homeowner’s covenants”.
Sadly, Cerphe recently left his last DJ job when the last classic rock FM radio station in DC changed music formats. Before he left, he was part of a group of staffers that approached the parent company executives at CBS and persuaded them to pay extra to obtain their electricity generated from sustainable sources -- wind power. He said, “it was an experiment by CBS...to see if we could blend certain kinds of music together and also have us on the radio talking about conservation and global warming. We had hybrid promotional vehicles and we paid extra for wind-generated electricity.”
JTMP asked him how he felt about the new movement by us and other organizations for artists and fans to “go green”. “I think it’s a wonderful idea”, he said. He told of the time when he first interviewed Jerry Garcia, “he was talking about the fact that the Grateful Dead had just started their own record label. Garcia went to some of the plants…where LPs were being made and he was very concerned about the people working inside the pressing plant because of the polyvinyl chloride.”
“Musicians have been outspoken for a very long time. Not only about being green and the ecology, but being spokespersons for a generation.” He reminded JTMP about the “No Nukes” concert in 1979 that involved Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, and John Hall among many other musicians. Cerphe, Frank Zappa, John Denver and Dee Snyder testified in front of Congress in 1985 at the so-called “porn rock” hearings to go on record against government censorship of song lyrics. Cerphe thought Zappa summed it up best in his opening statement when he said, “How dare you. This is like treating dandruff with decapitation.”
He continued, “All of these people have sort of a common thread. Beyond being great performers, singers and songwriters they have a conscience, that’s kind of what you guys are all about too, Justice Through Music. Here is a way that gets the attention of a whole lot of people that you can do something good with it besides being a pop star.”
We asked if conservative groups attacked the artists that spoke out in the ‘70s in the same way the Dixie Chicks were attacked for speaking out politically in 2003. He replied, “People were much more critical of the Dixie Chicks than they were of the artists that played at No Nukes. I had never seen a reaction before like that.”
Cerphe said, “It is absolutely vital [for young people to register and vote]. The one thing that was very apparent when Barack [Obama] was elected that to a very large extent a lot of those votes came from young people. Youth is beginning to pay attention that politics is in everything. You cannot separate politics from music, certainly not radio, groceries, and gas at the gas station… it is all connected. Kudos to you, because you are bringing a lot of important issues to people’s attention. Music is a great outlet to reach people who may have not been politically motivated before.”
When we asked if it was the role of artists to speak out he replied emphatically, “I think it’s patriotic. I admire people for saying what’s on their mind and being true to their heart. This is one of the things that has attracted me to these great artists over the years that they have been, in my eyes, very honest. It’s an act of patriotism, I mean this is America! C’mon!”
Cerphe closed by inviting people to visit his new website, www.cerphe.com, that has photographs, videos and audio conversations from over the years with artists including Lindsey Buckingham, Coldplay, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Stevie Nicks and many others. With Cerphe being a unique interviewer we highly recommend that fans check this site out.
MILEY CYRUS ATTACKED
FOR EXPRESSING OPINION
Miley Cyrus, the tween pop/rock/country star, Disney Channel star in the show/movie "Hannah Montana" and daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus, has stirred up outrage directed at her for speaking out in support of gay marriage. "I am a Christian and I love you--gay or not--because you are no different than anyone else! We are all God's children. Everyone deserves to love and be loved and most importantly smile." Miley wrote on her Twitter page.
A conservative group, "OneMillionMoms" has reacted with shock and anger and have posted on their website, "Such statements will send the wrong message to our children who are influenced by this teenage megastar. Parents need to realize that Cyrus is not the positive role model she was once thought to be."
JTMP believes this is similar to the Dixie Chicks being attacked by conservative groups for speaking out politically. We wonder why people will trumpet that America has free speech, but attack artists who exercise that righ? JTMP is especially disappointed that someone who has spoken out in support of basic human and civil rights has been attacked. We applaud Miley Cyrus for being brave and speaking out.
JTMP FEATURED ARTIST
A soulful voice, moving rhythms, and not afraid to speak out politically...sounds like an artist that JTMP loves to write about.
Kirsten Price, is a British-born artist currently living in New York. She has just come off of her "Tough Times" tour promoting her latest album, "Guts and Garbage", and is in the studio making her second album. We got a chance to talk to Kirsten and get her thoughts about artists using their music for activism. She shows no fear of speaking out politically, from her first self-produced video "Freedom", to the Jeff Knight directed poignant video of the song "Fall" from her first album; which touched a few raw nerves by showing the struggles an Iraq War veteran goes through when he gets home. In an interview she told JTMP that the song is a "statement about unconditional love", but the video is about an Iraq War veteran who upon coming back from the war, had to wrestle with the demons that haunted him because of the things he had to do over in Iraq, and "not being able to really cope".
She told us it was really about "loving people through their crises. loving them through their pain, and not judging them". She went on to say it was about someone close to her. Below you can watch "Freedom", and the "Fall" video can be purchased on iTunes, which you must see.
SCREENSHOT FROM KIRSTEN'S VIDEO "FALL"
FREEDOM VIDEO
She also told us that "often artists are scared to express their political points of view for fear of sounding preachy." She noted that artists such as Bob Dylan spoke out, and that was "one of the most important times in American politics. Without music as a motivating force...I am not sure things would have turned out the same way."
Kirsten is remarkable also for the fact she not only sings, which she says is her "main instrument", but she also plays the keyboards, guitar, and bass. She told JTMP that she "grew up playing the piano", and her music is very "rhythm and bass driven". Currently she is mainly playing the bass guitar.
Her song "Magic Tree" was used for the soundtrack of the Showtime series, "The L Word", and she remarked that it resulted in a strong following from the gay community. When asked if she is a supporter of gay marriage, she told JTMP, "I'm in support of basic human rights for everyone. I think people will look back on it in 50 years time, and it will be the same as us [looking back]...laughing...confused...what do you mean you couldn't have bi-racial marriages? That's crazy." When asked about states recognizing same-sex marriages from other states she remarked, "I think that is probably the most important issue that hasn't been resolved. People...can only have their legal rights in a very small area where they live."
Kirsten then said as a European, "I feel much more strongly...about the health care issue, and the fact that we are the only civilized country in the developed world that doesn't have health care for free...that is another "right" that is a privilege." When we asked her about the global climate crisis and how some artists are "going green" she said, "I think that's fantastic. I think it's really, really important...we lead the way by just making these very simple statements in the sense of sustainability. The idea that everybody doing a little bit makes a big difference".
When asked if she thought young people should register, vote and get involved she said, "I think it is the single most important thing that anyone can do...is vote." After President Bush got re-elected she started asking people, "Well, did you vote? Who did you vote for? And a lot of people said "I didn't vote, I haven't voted for awhile.", and so I put a polite smile on my face and said, well that's why he got in. I think that a lot [of us], especially my generation, are just incredibly apathetic, and I think it's wonderful that this whole new impetus around basically saving the planet, and voting was something a lot of people didn't bother doing for a long time. Perhaps things had to get bad before they realized how important it was to vote." When asked if she thought Bush angering a lot of young people and Obama giving young people hope had a lot to do with the election of Obama she replied, "Absolutely...I think without the generation gap he wouldn't have...he gave a whole new generation a voice."
Kirsten is currently in the studio recording her followup album to "Guts and Garbage", and although there are no songs yet about social issues she said, "If I happen to plug into that type of energy then that's what will happen." You can check out her latest album, stay up to date on her touring and her next album by going to her website at www.kirstenprice.com, and be her friend on MySpace at www.MySpace.com/kirstenpricemusic. All of her tunes are available via all major digital distributors worldwide including iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon.com, in regional FYE stores and at Amoeba Music. Look for her on our Rock Your Rights 4 DVD coming out in 2010!
JTMP TAKES PART IN
EARTH DAY 2009
JTMP was at Earth Day 2009 on the Mall in Washington, DC on Sunday, and it was awesome. There were speakers, exhibits, and of course music all dedicated to treating Mother Earth well, and combating our global climate crisis. Some of the musicians that performed were DJ Spooky, Los Lobos, MOE, and the Flaming Lips. Check out our YouTube Channel weekly for vidoes of these performances as we will be releasing many videos of this event as the days go by.
JTMP AND OP-CRITICAL
WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD
JTMP and Op-Critical have teamed up to do a remake of Alvin Lee's great song, "Change The World". Ten Years After released this song way back in 1971. This version has a new arrangement, updated lyrics, and a second lead solo that wasn't on the original version.
We hope this video inspires people to act and volunteer for the many great organizations that are featured in the video. We can Change The World by our individual acts.
A JOURNEY INTO A
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
While JTMP was at Power Shift 09, we ran into the BioTour Bus. BioTour is a non-profit organization that is traversing the country on a bus converted to run on waste vegetable oil (WVO) and solar paneled electrical power. They travel to colleges, schools, and local community events to give presentations to educate people on renewable energy and sustainability.
More so, they say that the journey is "one that aims to enliven the Sustainability Movement while exploring the depths of America — the people, the land, and our diverse cultures. We aim to address the vital issues of climate change, environmental degradation, and peak oil while presenting pathways toward sustainability in renewable energy, the potential in green jobs, and perhaps most importantly, advocating for a more active and participatory democracy; a truly educated electorate."
Several musicians have teamed up with them to release a "digital" benefit album, and we have downloaded a pre-release version, and have posted one of the songs. (See link on the right) You can also visit our MySpace site where we will be featuring more of the album soon. This album is also intended to promote the use of "digital" album releases by artists, instead of releasing a "plastic" CD and jewel case version of their music, which is better for the environment and also sustainable.
PAUL MCCARTNEY, RINGO STARR
AND OTHERS TO PLAY AT
DAVID LYNCH FOUNDATION BENEFIT
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are teaming up with other musicians for a benefit concert for the David Lynch Foundation, a foundation that seeks to promote transcendental meditation. David Lynch, and many other practitioners of TM, believe it can help us with the daily stress of modern life, help children with education, and bring about a better world.
The concert sold out very quickly, and promises to be a great show. You can visit David Lynch's website by clicking here.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
HEAVY METAL BAND
FROM BAGHDAD, IRAQ
Acrassicauda, which means "black scorpion", is a heavy metal band that is featured in a documentary called "Heavy Metal in Baghdad" by filmmakers Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi. Some heavy metal bands sing about war, death and destruction but haven't experienced it; these guys have. Their practice space was even destroyed at one time. They have recently moved to the US, and currently live in New Jersey and are pursuing a rock music career.
JTMP attended Day 1 of the Power Shift 09 Conference in Washington DC yesterday. It is a gathering of thousands of young people from across the country to network, organize, and to train on how to work politically to bring about legislation and policies that promote sustainablity and green technology. One of the main issues that was stressed was "green jobs", that will not only help bring about renewable energy practices, but it will also help with the current economic crisis by creating millions of new jobs.
Reverb, a non-profit that promotes "green tours" to musicians and fans (see our post on them below), had a booth, and young people gathered in small groups to connect and organize. They will be attending workshops all this weekend to learn how to effectively organize and lobby their representatives to help bring about a "green revolution". A "Lobby Day" is planned for Monday where they will converge on the US Capital to call their representatives to the urgent action needed to solve global warming and energy issues.
President Barack Obama's pick to run the EPA, Lisa Jackson, and his pick to run the Department of the Interior, Ken Salazar, both gave keynote addresses to an enthusiastic crowd. They both pledged to get the young people in the audience involved, and to protect the environment for future generations. Lisa Jackson repeated her earlier pledge that science and law will rule at the EPA, to a roaring approval by the crowd.
We will report back on how Day 2, 3 and 4 went, so check back regularly for updates. In addition, we will continue to work with the individuals and organizations we networked with throughout the year, so please visit often.
REVERB EDUCATES MUSICIANS AND
FANS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY
Adam Gardner, guitarist for Guster, and his wife Lauren Sullivan, have formed a non-profit organization that educates and engages musicians and their fans to promote environmental sustainability. They promote carbon neutral concerts and venues, biodiesel tour buses, and more. They have a fan carbon offset program, promoted at their "Eco-Village" tent they set up at shows. Adam is a part of the Power Shift 09 Conference!
10,000 young people to gather in Washington to hold elected officials accountable for rebuilding the economy and reclaiming our future through bold climate and clean energy policies.
From February 27th to March 2nd, 2009 young people from all across America will converge upon Washington D.C. to press upon our elected officials to tackle climate issues and create green technology jobs, and many other concerns.
It is also geared to connect young activists together, and form a movement we can take into the future to help bring about bold, progressive change when it comes to taking care of the environment, and leading the world in green technology.
JTMP is going to attend, and we will share with you our thoughts, pictures, videos, and more. JTMP fully supports the vision that green technology development will not only be good for the environment and our health, but will lead us out of the current financial crisis by creating millions of good paying jobs that cannot be "outsourced".
If you live in the D.C. area, please register here. Hurry, because registration closes tonight! We hope to see you there!
The Kennedy Center is showcasing artists from 22 Arab nations bringing together music, dance, theater, and more. This is a three week festival, running from Feb. 23rd to March 15th, that features the "extraordinary diversity in geography, traditions, landscape, religion, and contemporary aesthetics" of the Arab world. The festival will also feature art exhibits, fashion, cuisine, and more. Please visit the Kennedy Center's website to learn about this wonderful festival, and if you can, please attend!
EMOTIONALLY CHARGED RAPPER
RAPS ABOUT POLITICS
Felipe Coronel, known by his stage name as "Immortal Technique",
is a Peruvian-born musician that uses his talent
to speak about important political and social issues.
In a song called The 4th Branch from his second album,
Revolutionary Volume 2, for example, Tech sings:
Media censorship, blocking out the video screens
A continent of oil kingdoms, bought for a bargain
Democracy is just a word, when the people are starvin'
The average citizen, made to be, blind to the reason
A group of peace loving citizens are calling for respect for the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Iran. They also call for peaceful dialiogue between the citizens of Iraq and America, to prevent any war in the region. They have written an open letter to Barack Obama calling for him to extend a hand of peace and friendship, and for all Americans to light a candle on September 11, 2009 to remember those killed on September 11, 2001, and to pray for peace.
The ACLU is calling for a full investigation into the past actions of the previous administration when it comes to torture, rendition, and illegal detention. They have set up a comments section where you can add your comments, and they might get read on the Senate and House floor. They want to show Congress that the American people do have a stomach for an investigation, and want to assure we never repeat those policies again.
Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, has called Kellogg's dropping of Michael Phelps for endorsements because he was photographed smoking from a marijuana pipe "hypocritical and disgusting", citing his previous conviction for drunk driving apparently did not stop Kellogg's from signing him for endorsements in the first place. MPP's Bruce Mirken also said, "To drop him for choosing to relax with a substance that's safer than beer is an outrage, and it sends a dangerous message to young people." He and others have called for a boycott of Kellogg's to protest this decision.
JTMP RECOGNIZES PRESIDENT CARTER'S VISION ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CALLS FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA TO PROMOTE GREEN TECHNOLOGY
We wrote about this last year, and since it is now being picked up by more websites, and the new Obama Administration has come to the White House, we want to repost this article and restate our call for the Obama Administration to promote green technology.
JTMP, musicians, and many of our supporters are concerned about global warming and the environment. In supporting the research, development and extensive use of green technology that will be better for the environment and help prevent global warming, we want to recognize former President Carter as a visionary leader of renewable energy.
THE MORAL EQUIVALENT OF WAR
Thirty years ago, President Carter cautioned us about dependence on foreign oil and provided a plan to lead us on the path to energy independence. He declared the "moral equivalent of war" on our energy crisis. As President he:
Installed Solar Panels on the White House
Created tax breaks for people who installed them on their homes
Installed a wood burning stove in the White House living quarters
Signed into law the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) providing favorable terms to entrepreneurial companies that produced electricity from solar cells, wind turbines, and other renewable energy sources
Sought tax credits to spur individuals and companies to insulate their homes, stores, and factories, thus reducing energy use
Established tax incentives for Gasahol (Ethanol)
Created the Energy Department and provided substantial funding dedicated to the research and development of green technologies; such as solar power and wind turbines; as well as coal, nuclear, and domestic sources of oil and oil shale
Proposed a bold and sweeping $142 billion energy plan, with 113 parts, which would achieve energy independence by 1990
Set a goal of obtaining a fifth of America's needs from renewable energy by the turn of the century
Lobbied for acceptance of a tax on gasoline--rising to 50 cents a gallon--if consumption did not decline as mandated, as well as a tax on "gas guzzler" cars
"To give us energy security, I am asking for the most massive peacetime commitment of funds and resources in our nation's history to develop America's own alternative sources of fuel -- from coal, from oil shale, from plant products for gasohol, from unconventional gas, from the sun."
THE SOLAR PANELS
In 1979, to set a good example and spur the development of solar power and other forms of renewable energy, or "green" technology, President Carter had 32 solar panels installed on the West Wing of the White House. These panels were visible from Pennsylvania Avenue to show a commitment to renewable energy development. They were dedicated in a Rose Garden ceremony on June 20, 1979. These 32 solar thermal collectors heated the water for the "Mess" in the White House and remained on the White House for seven years. In 1986, they were removed for roof repairs, and never reinstalled.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?
The solar panels ended up on the campus of Unity College in Maine. Mark Tardif, associate director of communications for Unity College, informed us that in 1992 Unity College's development officer at the time, Peter Marbach, read about them in an article and discovered they were sitting and gathering dust in a warehouse in Virginia. After many phone calls and perseverance, he succeeded in getting them donated to the school. He drove down in an old Unity College school bus and picked them up. Sixteen of the panels were then refurbished and restored, using funds from donations. One of the leading donors was the actress Glenn Close. These 16 panels were then installed on the school's cafeteria, and heated the water for the school's cafeteria for some 12 years, and the rest were put into storage. Unity college, like President Carter, supports energy conservation and renewable energy development. In 2004, the 16 panels became worn out and stopped functioning. Mr. Tardif said they will remain there on the cafeteria roof as a symbol to inspire the development of renewable energy.
A ROAD NOT TAKEN
To preserve them for posterity, two panels were selected to be donated; one to the Carter Museum and one to the Smithsonian. Two Unity College students drove down to deliver them in a pickup truck converted to run on vegetable oil. Their journey, along with America's energy policy, was documented in a film by Swiss directors Roman Keller and Christina Hemauer titled, "A Road Not Taken". WATCH THE TRAILER HERE.
Although in 2003 the Park Service installed solar panels on buildings adjacent to the White House, the White House itself still does not have any solar panels installed. We call for President Obama to put solar panels back on the White House, dedicate them to President Carter, and to restore President Carter's commitment to renewable energy by providing ample funding for the development of green technology.
We would have been wise to listen to President Carter's words thirty years ago. This time, let's make sure is is a road taken.
YUSUF ISLAM AND KLAUS VOORMAN RECORD GEORGE HARRISON SONG
Musicians Yusuf Islam and Klaus Voorman have come together and have recorded a version of the George Harrison song, "The Day the World Gets 'Round", and are donating the proceeds to the United Nations Work Relief Agency (UNRWA) and Save The Children to aid children and families affected by the violence in the Gaza Strip. The song will also appear on Klaus Voorman's forthcoming album to aid Native Americans living on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
Yusuf Islam of course was known to all of us for years as "Cat Stevens" prior to his conversion to Islam. Klaus Voorman was a longtime friend of the Beatles, designed the cover to the Beatles' Revolver album, a bassist for Manfred Mann, and has been a respected session musician.
Both musicians are concerned about the plight of the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, and are strong advocates for peace. Yusuf came across the George Harrison song, a beautiful song about world peace, and decided to record it. Yusuf also reminded us that George Harrison was a pioneer for using music to promote justice in the world, with his concert for Bangledesh in 1971.
JTMP AND OP-CRITICAL
RE-MASTER AND RE-RELEASE
HAPPY SPRINGTIME VIDEO!
JTMP and Op-Critical remade the John Lennon song, "Happy Xmas - War Is Over" with new lyrics and a fresh sound to call for a new era of hope over two years ago. We congratulate President Barack Obama on winning the Presidency, and are happy to see a new era of hope begin. In honor of the inauguration and the new Presidency of President Barack Obama, we have re-mastered the video into widescreen HD format, and we are re-releasing it. We hope you enjoy it!
We here at JTMP support and urge musicians to use their music to speak out and bring about social change and justice, and John Lennon at the end of his career devoted almost all of his creativity to this effort. He has inspired us and moved on so many levels, and we have found a video of an interview of him in 1969 speaking the truth. Enjoy.
JTMP ARE GUESTS OF SABERTEC, MAKERS OF "THE BLADE" AT
NPC NEWSMAKER DISCUSSION ON AMERICA'S AIR QUALITY
The Nationonal Press Club Newsmaker Committee held a Discussion on America's Air Quality, and the report was disturbing. The EPA has released a report that 158 million Americans still live in areas that contain pollution that is harmful to our health, and much of that pollution is particulate matter coming from the tailpipes of our cars.
JTMP was at the press conference as a guest of William O'Brien, CEO of Sabertec, who was on the panel. JTMP discovered Sabertec at Earthday 2008 here in Washington, DC. They have developed a product called "The Blade", which attaches to the tailpipe of your car, and filters out much of the CO2 and particulate matter using a replaceable filter. JTMP had this product installed on our vehicles, and not only are we polluting less, we have also seen a 15% increase in gas mileage. We stake our reputation on this product, it really works!
This event announced the completed second round of testing at ATDS this Fall, using the EPA 511 Protocol and Society of Automotive engineers (SAE) J 1321 road test. The results prove without a doubt that the Blade effect is real and repeatable across foreign and domestic, 4 cylinder, 6 cylinder, 8 cylinder and Hybrid vehicles. These results make Blade the first and ONLY automotive aftermarket product to EVER show significant CO2 reductions and fuel economy increases by the EPA 511 Protocol. Please visit Sabertec.org.
