Monthly Archives: August, 2011

From WNYC.org:

Marlon Bishop - WNYC Culture Producer

“Hopefully we’ll put this out in two weeks, when he’s really gone” said Khaled.

Khaled was raised in the Libyan dissident community based in Lexington, Kentucky, home of an anti-Gadhafi group called the National Front for the Salvation of Libya. His father was one of the founders of that group, and according to Khaled, was tortured for five years by the regime for opposing the government. Khaled spent the first years of his life on the run, using false identities and traveling from country to country.

Read more...

By Agence France-Presse
Sunday, August 21st, 2011 -- 10:20 am

LAHORE, Pakistan — Against a backdrop of militant bombs and bullets, wealthy young Pakistanis are turning to the beat of modern music to help bring social change to their troubled Muslim nation.

"I love how when you enter the place, you're completely transformed," said DJ Faisal Big at a recent all-night rave in a brick factory courtesy of London's Ministry of Sound.

"It doesn't feel like Pakistan -- definitely not the Pakistan you see on the media."

The one-off Ministry of Sound event cost $100 dollars, an expensive night out in the impoverished country -- but the mini-revolution has spread far beyond the brick factory doors.

Organisers persuaded the famous London nightclub, billed as the home of dance music and celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, to send over a DJ to lead a club for one night only.

The youth music scene in a deeply conservative Islamic state, dogged by deadly Taliban and Al-Qaeda attacks, is opening up to new influences -- offering anger-release and a space for political expression.

The cultural capital of Lahore is centre-stage for young people looking to modern music for a break from stifling militancy and political crises.

(more:)

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/21/young-pakistanis-turn-to-music-to-beat-bombers/

Well known African musicians, bands and poets have come  together for the campaign, "Africans Act 4 Africa" to help raise awareness and funds for the worsening famine problem in East Africa. Youssou N'Dour from Senegal, Sara Mitaru, Nameless, Juliani and Sauti Sol from Kenya, P-Square and Asa from Nigeria, and poet Maya Wegeris from Tanzania are all throwing their support behind the campaign. Sara Mitaru, is organizing the event, and has been using social media to spread the word and call on her other fellow musicians in Africa to help out. “The response has been overwhelming, like nothing I have seen in Africa for the last ten years,” she said. “Everyone’s response has been the same, they want to be involved. We all agree that it is completely and utterly wrong for people here to be dying, when we have the power to change that. ”

The UN has reported it has a shortfall of $1.3 billion of the $2.4 billion needed to help alleviate the suffering. 6 of the 48 countries in Africa have helped, South Africa, Sudan, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya and Ethiopia but the other 42 have not pledged funds yet. “That is simply unacceptable,” said Ms. Mitaru. A fundraising conference is set for August 25th, and the hope is leaders will give generously to the aid groups. They also want to convince countries to invest in long term infrastructure projects to help prevent future droughts from being so disastrous as this one. Oxfam is one of the aid groups involved, and the Pan-Africa director, Irungu Houghton, has said the response so far had been “wholly inadequate. That’s why this campaign is so important,” he said. “It’s a powerful way of showing our leaders that there are issues which are not domestic, but which still require their action. This is a pan-African crisis and the government of Nigeria for example, should help even though the people affected are not the ones voting for you as a Nigerian politician. ”

Individuals wanting to help out with the cause can do these things:

• Use social media to connect and raise awareness by going to the Act  4 Africa Facebook Page.

• Follow the campaign's Twitter account: @africansact

One can also go the campaign's website and help out by recycling used cell phones, volunteering, donating, and many other things. They are also giving away a car in a raffle. Please check out their website at act4africa.org.

Here is a video of many African musicians and bands asking for support in the cause:

Bob Marley's song, "High Tide or Low Tide" has been released by "Save The Children" to raise awareness and much needed funds for East Africa's desperate situation, for the groundbreaking new "I'm Gonna Be Your Friend" campaign. This campaign is getting the support of many musicians, including Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, U2, Eminem, Beyonce, Elton John, Coldplay, Robert Plant, Kanye West, Britney Spears, Madonna, Brian May, Sting, Rhianna, Jennifer Lopez, and many more. There are millions of lives facing starvation and lack of clean water in East Africa, and if we don't act tens of millions of children will die. On the "Save The Children" website, it says, "Bob's music has always conveyed a message of  unity and love. And this is a message needed now more than ever."

"High Tide and Low Tide" was specially chosen by the Marley family for the resonance of the single’s lyrics, “I’m Gonna Be Your Friend”. In a statement Rita Marley said, "Not one child should be denied food nor water. Not one child should suffer. Along with Save the Children, we must stand up together as friends to put a stop to this, to feed our children and to save their lives." Justin Forsyth, CEO of Save the Children said, "Save the Children, along with other aid agencies, is already supporting families with food, water and medicines. But the crisis is getting worse by the day and millions of children are facing starvation. We can stop this happening. But we need to act now. Every day counts. Please help us by downloading this powerful single and let’s stop this catastrophe getting any worse."

To help out, one can do the following:

• Go to Bob Marley's Facebook page and join the network that has swelled to hundreds of thousands of people.

• Download the song from iTunes, or other music outlets, the proceeds will help the cause.

• Donate to the East Africa Appeal on ImGonnaBeYourFriend.org

• Watch the accompanying short film by award-winning director Kevin MacDonald.

• Spread the word: Tell friends and family about this campaign and ask them to help.

Rapper will.i.am has launched a campaign called "i.am.FIRST: Science is Rock and Roll" to promote science and technology, and has used his own money to air a special on ABC highlighting a robot competition called "My Robot is Better that Your Robot". The musician has been teaming up with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization started by Dean Kamon, inventor and entrepreneur, to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology.

Check out FIRST's website by going to usfirst.org.

The special will air on Sunday, August 14th on ABC, and will feature young people in a competition centered around robotic technology, and hopes to spark the imagination and creativity of young people to get interested in science. In a PSA (watch below), he and other musicians, such as Steve Tyler of Aerosmith to Jack Black, point out how the smartphones we rely on so much these days were invented by geeks and nerds and we should embrace and celebrate science. There will also be performances by the Black Eyed Peas, Bono, Justin Timberlake and Justin Bieber. 

For more information, check out i.am.FIRST's site by going here:
http://iamfirst.dipdive.com/