Tag: justice

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 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 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)

FEB 3, 2012 - SanLuisObispo.com has a great article up on one of the best musical activists ever, Peter Yarrow, who is playing a concert in the Arroya Grande area on February 10 at the Clark Center. Speaking on Occupy he says, “The Occupy movement is about the heart of America, not just the policies.” Speaking of his longtime group Peter, Paul and Mary and their activism he said, “It’s what kept us together. We had a sense of purpose.” Read more on SanLuisObispo.com here.
(Photo credit: Philkon/Wiki)

FEB 3, 2012 - Pink Martini, a band started in 1994 to perform at progressive events to raise awareness and funds for issues, will be playing the 2012 Savannah Music Festival. In a SavannahNow.com interview, founder Thomas Lauderdale says, “The Occupy movement is interesting and complicated because a lot of their talking points are issues which actually most Americans are thinking about. Entertainment is one of the few ways of reaching Americans. It’s not an activist sort of thing. If anything, it’s sort of subtle, more diplomatic than political. ” The 2012 Savannah Music Festival takes place from March 22 through April 7, 2012. Numerous bands are scheduled, check out the whole lineup here. Pink Martini is scheduled for March 29 at the Lucas Theater.
(Photo credit: Ryan Harvey/Wiki)