Monthly Archives: February, 2012

FEB 6, 2012 - Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers and Mike Mills, bassist from the recently defunct REM, have written a song and put out a video in protest to a massive 94,000 square foot complex that includes a WalMart in the heart of downtown Athens, Georgia. The song is called, "After It's Gone", and is a group of local musicians put together by Hood and called the Downtown 13.

The video refers people to the ProtectDowntowAthens.com website, where it says they are a group of concerned citizens that formed "to discuss our concerns with Selig’s proposed development of the A&D property. We were concerned with the design, the lack of interaction with local initiatives and the impact a development of this scale would have on the city we love. We were also frustrated by the lack of accurate information and meaningful dialogue."

For more information on this issue, check out www.ProtectDowntownAthens.com, and check out the video below.
(Photo credit: SaveRivers/Wiki)

FEB 6, 2012 - Occupy in a museum? That will be a display in the future at various museums in New York soon. ArtNet.com is reporting that the Smithsonian Institution, The New-York  Historical Society and the Museum of Jewish Heritage and other cultural repositories are collecting buttons, posters, and other memorabilia from the Occupy movement.

They have also launched a photography show by photographer Accra Shepp called, "Occupy Wall Street: A Photographic document", that includes pictures of Occupy activists. Check out some pics and read more on ArtNet here.

FEB 6, 2012 - Occupy Palm Beach has been a model for Occupy movements for other cities. The government has granted them access to land, and even water and electricity, and everything has been peaceful and a model for free speech rights. However, the city of Palm Beach is asking for funds to pay for the electricity, water, and upkeep of the encampment. So the folks at Occupy Palm Beach are planning a benefit concert to raise funds. It is titled, "Benefit for the 99%", tentatively scheduled for the weekend of February 25.

On the Broward Palm Beach NewTimes Blog, Alex Rendon says "They are asking for a "little help from friends." So if you are a musician in tune with the 99 percent who would like to get down with the cause and/or are a performing artist in other media, including poets, dancers, and acrobats, you're also welcome. Contact occupypbc @ gmail.com to get involved." Read the full NewTimes Blog here.

FEB 6, 2012 - President Obama has issued a strong statement against the Assad regime and its brutal tactics it has perpetrated on its own citizens, and saying to the Syrian people, "We are with you, and the Assad regime must end." The statement goes on to describe how Assad has been killing citizens, and he has lost all legitimacy to rule. President Obama also calls on the nations of the world through the UN to act, telling the council it "now has an opportunity to stand against the Assad regime's relentless brutality and that it is a credible advocate for the universal rights that are written into the UN charter."

To Read the Full Statement click READ MORE.

FEB 3, 2012 - Miley Cyrus is once again delving into her musical activism, this time writing an essay for Glamour magazine explaining why she got her equal tattoo that started a Twitter controversy and talks about why she supports same-sex marriage and civil rights for our LBGT community. She writes, " I believe every American should be allowed the same rights and civil liberties. Without legalized same-sex marriage, most of the time you cannot share the same health benefits, you are not considered next of kin and you are not granted the same securities as a heterosexual couple. How is this different than having someone sit in the back of the bus because of their skin color?" Read her whole essay on Glamour here.
(Photo credit: calmdownlove/Wiki)