JTMP

Today, a bill that would deliver a devastating blow to arts in schools was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Education and the Workforce. The Committee voted 23-16 to approve H.R. 1891, legislation sponsored by Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) that would eliminate all funding for the federal Arts in Education Program. The bill will now proceed to the full House of Representatives for consideration.   

Contact your Representative now by clicking here https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml and let your them know that you oppose H.R. 1891 and its shortsighted cuts to valuable arts education programs. Just a minute of your time is all it takes to help protect funding for the arts in America's public schools. With your voice we have a chance.

Alaa Wardi, is an Arab musician who sings of his want to get a visa and leave the Arab world, because of what he describes as a "very boring" life for young people. Even joking how he hasn't "seen a woman in months" because of the Saudi Arabian laws that women must be completely covered in public. He also has made A Capella videos, and uses beard scratches and other natural sounds for the "instruments", and the videos have gone viral in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and thought the Arab world. The videos are below.

The Black Eyed Peas will play a free concert in New York's Central Park to benefit Robin Hood, a non-profit that fights poverty in New York. Robin Hood's website points out that 55% of children born in New York City are born into poverty. They also look at poverty as not a single problem, but as a "series of overlapping issues that feed upon each other". Robin Hood is there at early childhood, and extends into adulthood where they are trained to work and survive in the world.

 The concert has been put together by Robin Hood, The Black Eyed Peas, Chase, DAS Communications, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, the Central Park Conservancy and Clear Channel Radio. It will be their first-ever live concert in Central Park, which will be held on June 9, 2011. The concert will benefit Robin Hood and its mission to fight poverty in New York City, as well as fund the creation of three new sites for The Black Eyed Peas' Peapod Academies in New York City.

The Black Eyed Peas are especially excited about their youth academies, which are part of their Peapod Foundation. The academies are cutting-edge schools that cater to disadvantaged and foster kids, and was started back in 2008 on South Central Los Angeles, and they are now expanding these academies to New York.

As they say on their "Peapod Website":

"The Peapod Music & Arts Academy (PMAA) seeks to give foster and at-risk youth the necessary technical skills, educational supplementation and social awareness to initiate social change and to act as their own advocates by using their voices and creative vision.The PMAA has a unique structure that is simultaneously curriculum driven and project-based to ensure the youth are having an educational experience, as well as developing a personal vision for social change and having an opportunity to express their voices creatively."

Although the concert is free, concertgoers must have tickets to attend the event. For more information please go to:

Peapod Foundation Website:
http://peapod.dipdive.com/

Robin Hood Website:
http://www.robinhood.org/home.aspx

Musicians Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and Graham Nash have spoken out against nuclear power through the website NUKEFREE.ORG. In their statement they say "We may be on the brink of stopping the US nuclear industry from building new reactors". They mention that Japan and Germany have turned away from nuclear power, and urge citizens to contact the White House and their US Senators and Representatives "as often and as forcefully as you can".

Bonnie, Jackson and Graham specifically point out a $36 billion dollar loan guarantee by the US government being sought by the nuclear energy lobby industry. These decisions will be in front of the Appropriations subcommittee as early as June 2nd, so JTMP urges everyone to contact their representatives as soon as possible, and speak out on this important issue.

You can read their statement here:

http://nukefree.org/bonnie-jackson-graham-we-may-be-brink

Global climate change is widely believed to be the cause of the devastating tornadoes that ravaged Alabama this spring, with some tornadoes wreaking a path of destruction 300 miles long. Hundreds have died, and thousands are homeless now, and their plight has caught the attention of musicians who want to raise awareness of the issue, and to help raise funds for the Red Cross who are trying to help the victims of the recent storms, tornadoes and flooding across the south.

A collection of local and national artists have launched a campaign called "the wind will carry the voice of the people". It is a "soundtrack for healing and rebuilding", with 100% of the proceeds going to the Red Cross for their efforts to help the people affected by the devastation.

One of the artists, Jon Black, told CBS 42, "I hope this is a soundtrack for healing and rebuilding. I'm honored to be a part of it and I'm proud of my friends for organizing this and contributing songs. My song is simply my account of watching the live coverage of the tornadoes hit Tuscaloosa. Shortly after that we were huddled in our basement watching online streams when it moved through Birmingham.  We escaped with only a stray shingle in our yard but our hearts are still heavy for those who lost loved ones and homes.  This is an easy way to help but there's still great need for volunteers, clothes, food, and money all across the state.

The album is a digital download, and you can sample the tunes and purchase it by going here: http://musicforalabama.bandcamp.com/