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MAY 15, 2013 - JTMP blogged about the musical astronaut Chris Hadfield yesterday, and today I have come across an awesome performance he did with Barenaked Ladies on Earth, and him on the ISS. There was a children's choir also, and they knocked it out of the park. Chris sings about looking down at the precious blue ball of Earth, and his longing to get back to it. He wants us to remember we very lucky to have this precious Earth, not to take it for granted, and to take care of it.

The song is a celebration of 15 nations coming together in peace, science, and cooperation  with the ISS, or the International Space Station. Check out more info about the ISS on NASA's ISS website here.  Check the video out below. The song is called, "Is Somebody Singing?"

MAY 14, 2013 - Musician and former guitarist for the Drive-By Truckers Jason Isbell opened up about his battle with depression and addiction on NoDepression.com, and talks about his struggle with Jack Daniels and his personal demons. He is releasing a new album called "Southeastern" and comments on his approach to making it saying, "I have a lot of friends who make great records but they won’t turn loose of the reins. And they wind up making the same record over and over. ... I understand you want to keep those things close to your chest, but after going through the process of recovering from alcoholism, I think I was able to ... a little bit more familiar with that idea of turning over control to somebody else." JTMP urges our supporters to contact their elected officials and ask for more funding for addiction and mental health treatment. Many cities and states have inadequate funding for these important issues.

Read the great blog by Michael Bialas on NoDepression.com here.

MAY 9, 2013 - An organization calling itself "Heartbeat" wants to use music to bring young Israelis and Palestinians together in peace, and use music as a tool to bring this about. They mission is to use musicians to build understanding and to transform conflicts. They talk about how "fear, violence, ignorance and a pervasive lack of trust" has led to the current political and social atmosphere between Israelis and Palestinians. They state, "Most Israelis and Palestinians have only encountered the other side through televised reports of extremist violence, soldiers at checkpoints, or politicians..." Heartbeat intends to use music as a bridge to break this divide, and bring people together. Heartbeat believes, and so does JTMP, that "Music has an amazing ability to connect people, build trust and inspire hope in the darkest of places.  Modern, popular music has long been the voice of change all around the world and a powerful means for youth expression and nonviolent action. By bringing together young Jewish and Arab musicians and strengthening their voices, we are working to build a global culture of trust, compassion, and respect." Read more on the Heartbeat website here.  (photo credit: Heartbeat.fm)

MAY 8, 2013 - Ever wonder what it would take to motivate someone to become active in their community? How about FREE TICKETS to a Foo Fighters show? Seems like it would work great to me! In fact, an organization calling itself the Global Citizen Ticket aims to do just that. By teaming up with bands such as the Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, the Vaccines and more, they give away free tickets to a show. Interested activists go to the Global Citizen Ticket website, get assigned to specific projects that affect the poor in their area, take action and earn points, and then use those points to enter into the drawing to win those free tickets when one of the participating bands comes to town. 

Global Citizen Ticket say they want to be a "tool to amplify and unite a generation's call to justice. It's a place for you to learn, act and bring an end to extreme poverty...Every person has a part to play in writing the story of the end of extreme poverty. Become a Global Citizen, and start your journey today..."  Watch a PSA video from them below, and start your journey of activism as a Global Citizen on the Global Citizen Ticket website here.

MAR 20, 2013 - Several Michelle Shocked shows have been canceled after the singer, who has been known to "speak her mind" in the past, went on an anti-gay tirade the other night. Fans are outraged, and the blogosphere has not been kind to her. She was actually somewhat of a "gay icon" at one time, but not anymore after this stunt. Even after she tried to  distance herself from her remarks, it looks like she may have burned a bridge. Check out the juicy details at Queerty.com here, and start up a discussion and tell us how you feel about this on our Justice Through Music Facebook Page here. Abby Huntsman from HuffPo Live has a video on the story below.  (photo credit: CC/RKeaton)

MAR 18, 2013 - A group of activist musicians took part in a "Raise Your Fists: Music Meets Activism" panel discussion at a recent SXSW event, including Mikel Jollett of The Airborne Toxic Event and Mike Mills of REM and shared their thoughts on how being a musician and an activist can change the world. Mikel Jollett said, "You don't have to be a huge band, you just have to be upset and want to do something."  (photo: Mikel & Anna TATE - Credit: CC/Sake209)

Read more on BoiseWeekly.com here.

FEB 6, 2013 - An all-girl rock band out of Kashmir, "Praagaash", were forced to disband after a top cleric issued a fatwa against them. The 3 girls got scared for their lives and dissolved the group. They were starting to get many supporters, and even a "I Support Praagaash" Facebook page was put up to try and support them, but the pressure and fear was too much. A petition has been started on Change.org asking for the cleric to step down. The name of the band, Praagaash, means "first light" in Kashmiri, and they hoped to bring about more freedom for girls and music in their country; but their was a massive backlash against them by conservative and religious Kasmhmiris to what they saw as supposed bad western influence on their culture. Read more on Yahoo news here, including a video with video clips of the band. Watch a small clip of them playing below.

What do you think? Leave a comment on our JTMP Facebook Page!

FEB 5, 2013 - Teabagger and gun nut mouthpiece (and has-been musician) Ted Nugent told Piers Morgan in an interview that he wants Obama and the government to "just leave us the hell alone". Apparently, we have to solve our gun safety problem with out inconveniencing gun owners in any way shape or form. I don't know if we could do that Ted. Click the link below to watch the full video on CNN.com. 

Want to comment? Please visit our JTMP Facebook page and leave a comment, and maybe start a discussion!

JAN 24, 2013 - Sir Paul McCartney, has thrown his support behind the decriminalisation (or decriminalization as we Americans spell it) of marijuana use. He says, "People are smoking pot anyway and to make them into criminals is wrong." He has joined the campaign of the MarijuanaMajority.com campaign; where activists, celebrities, musicians and more are all coming together to try and stop the insane marijuana drug war that has ruined people's lives. If you want to learn more and join their campaign, check out their website here. JTMP urges you to contact your elected officials both state and federal and tell them to stop the war on drugs, which is an unjust war on the poor.  (photo credit: CC/Jim Summaria)

JAN 24, 2012 - Taylor Swift met with cancer patient Kayla, after her parents and friends started an Internet drive to get the activist musician to meet with her. They started a Twitter drive called #OperationGetKaylaToMeetTaylorSwift, and then set up a web page called TeamKaylaKinCannon.org, to tell her story and push for a meeting with the young artist. Taylor caught wind of it, and Kayla's dream came true when Ms. Swift visited her, and they said it was no quick meet-and-greet, she stayed for hours, ate lunch, gave presents, and even signed pictures. The family was moved and happily surprised and impressed with her great quality as a person. Kayla's dad said, "She is the sweetest, most down to earth person I have ever met!" Read more on Today.com here, and check out Kayla's story here.  (photo credit: TeamKaylaKinCannon.org)