Tag: activism

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.

MAY 6, 2013 - Speaking out after a show at the Messiah College that openly discriminates against gays and lesbians, musician Josh Ritter took to his Facebook page and said:

"Messiah College requires all students to sign a 'Community Covenant,' promising to, among other things, 'avoid such sinful practices as…homosexual behavior…This policy, which I see as exclusionary and bigoted, could not run more counter to my personal beliefs. If I had done my homework, and read about Messiah's policies ahead of time, I would never have agreed to play there...I won't play Messiah College again - not until they welcome, in word and deed, all members of their faith regardless of sexuality, and I urge my fellow musicians to do the same." Read Josh Ritter's full Facebook post here.  (photo credit: Sean Rowe/CC)

MAY 1, 2013 - Just when you think Ted Nugent can't sink any lower, more insane garbage pours from his sick mind and he sinks to a new low. This time, he comments on the horrible tragedy of our soldier suicide epidemic, and blames it on...wait for it...wait for it...President Barack Obama. Raw Story has a great article out on his insane mind-fart ramblings on the "The Alex Jones Show" where Nugent said, "But I'll tell you why more and more warrior heroes of the military are killing themselves: because they are in absolute frustration and heartbreak that their boss, their commander in chief violates the Constitution that he has made an oath to, while their hero warrior blood brothers are being blown to smithereens and blown up while executing their oath to the same Constitution that the president, the vice president and the attorney general violate.” Read the whole article by Stephen C. Webster on RawStory.com here.