Tag: Justice Through Music

Lady Gaga won the "Best Video With a Message" award at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards show on Sunday for her song "Born This Way", a song that speaks about the issue of civil rights for the LGBT community. The award was created to recognize artists that delve into social issues that are relevant and important to today's youth, and gay rights is one of the top issues. The other artists nominated also spoke out about domestic abuse, female empowerment, and even everyday bullying.

The Nightwatchman, and Tim McIlrath have joined forces and are launching the"Justice Tour", which will be swinging through Madison, Flint, and Cleveland. The tour will feature songs from Tom's current release, "Worldwide Rebel Songs" that feature Wisconsin protesters on the album. The tour will be going to places where “people need a little more wind in their sails,” Tom recently told The Nation, where “people’s spines need steeling.” This is how Morello operates: “fighting the good fight, guitar in hand.”

On The Nightwatchan's website it says:

Tom Morello & Tim McIlrath of Rise Against have joined forces for The Justice Tour. The tour will bring them to Madison, WI, Cleveland, OH and Flint, MI this September with all profits benefiting The Nation Institute. This month, Morello released the EP Union Town, with all profits benefiting the America Votes Labor Unity Fund via SaveWorkers.org. The release consists of pro-union songs and was inspired by Morello’s performance in Madison, WI in February of this year in protest to an anti-union bill put forward by Governor Scott Walker. Tom Morello stated, "This year’s Justice Tour aims to support independent media which is battling the mountain of disinformation and propaganda foisted on the public by right wing media barons. We will also return to the union battlegrounds of the Midwest to help steel the backbone of workers under siege." Tim McIlrath added, “Playing with Tom on the steps of the Capitol building in Madison last February was an inspiring experience. I cant wait to join him again for such an important cause. Media has become a battleground, and we're out to even the odds.”

A nonprofit media center, The Nation Institute was established to extend the reach of progressive ideas and strengthen the independent press in the United States. It's dynamic range of programs include a bestselling book publishing imprint, Nation Books; an award-winning Investigative Fund, which supports groundbreaking investigative journalism; the widely read and syndicated website TomDispatch; the internship program at The Nation magazine; and Journalism Fellowships that fund up to 15 high-profile, convention challenging reporters every year. Work produced by The Nation Institute has sparked Congressional hearings, new legislation, FBI investigations and the resignation of government officials, has changed the debate and has a regular impact on the most urgent social and political issues of our day. Much more on the Institute's work can be found at www.nationinstitute.org.

For more information, go to: http://nightwatchmanmusic.com/

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/

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.