Environmental Music

A Few weeks ago I blogged about films with an environmental meaning. So it makes perfect sense to delve into the world of music.

the small choice here concerns songs that I like and are

A) not done by hippies, who get over a clear message – but have this hidden sense of being on drugs and believe love to be the only answer (I’m afraid this includes John Lennon - sorry)

B) not part of the world music genre. Its all good having some Peruvian music with in a film, TV etc when you are showing how a family or community cope in Peru. But not many of us would gladly listen to it unless we were hippies.

Manic Street Preachers – ‘If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next’
So its really about the Spanish Civil War, being a quote upon a poster to recruit idealistic volunteers.

Isn't that what most of us climate orientated youth are? Plus we are thinking of our future and the future our kids live in – therefore it fits perfectly.

Jamiroquai - ‘When You Gonna Learn?’

Within Jamiroquai’s Greatest hits CD pamphlet it stated that they were ahead of their time singing about fish stocks and its true – I don’t even think you can get away with it in 2010

Joni Mitchell - ‘Big Yellow Taxi’

Parking lots, tree museum, the use of synthetic pesticide. She covers it all and makes you realise you don’t know what your got until its gone.

Marvin Gaye - ‘Mercy Mercy Me’

If you don't actual listen to the lyrics, you might think he is trying to swoon you into bed – that might be possible, but what he is really is stating is that we F*** the world.

Jack Johnson - ‘The 3 R’s’

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. made for the film Curious George. but it is very simple and very catchy.

The Kinks - ‘Apeman’

To me this song is about one of those posh people who believe they save the world just by being a vegetarian. But one day it hits them, that they are just the same as everyone else and should really do more about it – stand up and fight.

Bad Religion - ‘Kyoto Now’

A song that should get credit as its all about the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 & a USA ‘Kyoto Now’ student led movement to cut down CO2

Pixies - ‘Monkey Gone To Heaven’

This particular monkey is ‘killed by ten million pounds of sludge from New York and New Jersey’ simple connection really

Michael Jackson - ‘Earth Song’

WOW its the King of Pop saving the children of the world by written a song that sold millions of copies worldwide and had a video costing $3.5 million.

Being the King he could of made a video from REAL LIFE torment and destruction, instead of having pre-planned trees falling down on cue. Then gave the money to charities.

Though I guess that wouldn't look as cool.

You can find all these songs on YouTube, Last Fm, MySpace, Spotify

Bonn Climate Change Conference Pt 3

The best way to understand what actions the youth took at Bonn, to change negotiators opinions and their actions within the many meetings their attend.

Is to let you click on these two videos made by Danny Hutley, a Southampton Uni student.

 

not bad for us youth.
and has lead to us making a difference, connecting to those in suits.

You can tell, the time was taking to learn about what was being talked about; so that the actions we took were accurate and made the negotiators think.

You can also tell that the youth from around the world were truly united in what they were doing and what they believed in.

you may also be wearing a smile on your face because of the shear AWESOME-NESS of it!!!

Bonn Climate Change Conference Pt 2

The youth within the Bonn climate change talks going on this week, are from a mixture of nations, UK, Nepal, Australia, German, French, Zimbabwe, Sweden, Denmark and others.
Many of them have also gone there out of choice and not getting paid for their efforts. (Including moi)

Thus if you were going to split this motley crew of climate campaigners into certain categories, you could go for the groups of -

Unaccredited: These youth turned up for the excitement, because they knew it was important and to check out the stuff going on in Bonn (talks, climate camp) which they could gain entry for.

Accredited: many of those from the UK were accredited via www.350.org, meaning they could enter certain UN talks and gain experience on what it was all about. Here’s a blog all about it – UK youth at UNFCCC

Young Friends of the Earth: Two people gained accreditation via the organisation that had 25 placements in all. Two out of 25, does not sound like much, but be assured that they were loud and passionate enough to kick up a good UN fuss.

UNFairplay:A group of youth were there to support smaller nations, who could not afford or have several negotiators at Bonn, giving them a bigger voice amongst those who actually are causing the most carbon emissions.

Adopt a negotiator: this scheme started of in Copenhagen, but gathered speed and lead to being part of YOUNGO– a youth movement that gained constituency status within these UNFCCC meetings. That we all then fell into.

But no matter if their gained entry to the conference or got paid for their efforts. What brought them all together was the aspect of action and making the negotiators discuss and act in making the low-carbon future we all would want and are aiming for.

All of these young people (or shall I say YOUNGO) met up daily to discuss what is going on and what actions can we take. We talked to negotiators from around the world and mingled with those from Non-Government Organisations. We even had an international youth meeting to discuss goings-on globally, COP16 in Mexico and what we could do together as a collective.
But did we actually make any sodden difference whilst at Bonn? did the actions we take lead to anything?

Blog 3 coming up.

Bonn Climate Change Convention. Pt 1

Bonn in Germany is famous for a couple of reasons – Beethoven, Haribo, being the capital of West Germany and for being the home of many a UN Intercessional.
Last December, the latest craze within the media and the environmental world was Copenhagen and the climate talks. Everyone was hoping for a deal to be placed on the table which would save the world from future climate change, for every country represented in the UN to agree on a certain percentage to cut down their carbon emissions by. – For there to be a moment, that would change history and would become as significant as the fall of the Berlin wall or man walking on the moon.

However- we know this did not happen, for what ever reason no country could agree on a percentage of carbon cuts. At the end of this conference we were left with defining images of human failure.

But what next? Climate issues may not grab the front headlines like it did in December anymore, but that does not mean talks are still happening.

The meetings are giving the catchy abbreviation of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and they happens roughly 3 times a year, in the lead up to a huge convention in December a.ka. Copenhagen.
Though this year, it shall be moving to Cancun in Mexico.

These intercessionals, are so much more important then the big end of year events – As it is within Bonn where the little things are sorted out, which can make or break a fantastic climate deal.
It is monotonous as all they do is talk about stuff that makes no sense to a novice or they talk about whether a comma is in the right place of a document statement.

Maybe a metaphor will help in this instance
The UNFCCC is like baking a cake. In December you get the finished product of that years baking. However if you did not put in the right amount of eggs, flour, sugar, or baked it thoroughly – you end up with a sodden mess that no one practically likes.

Youth love cake! Thus it is no surprise to find youth attending the UNFCCC bake of.
Aiming to make it a delicious, sugary mess. That ever nation – developed, developing, small island can enjoy.
But how you ask? What do the youth do?

That shall be answered in part 2