One year ago Rock the Earth kicked off in style, celebrating our birth as an organization in conjunction with the annual Earth Day festivities. One year later, Rock the Earth has grown immensely thanks to our members and friends, and we look forward to another wonderful year of growth while we Defend the Planet One Beat at a Time.

Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and organized by Denis Hayes in 1970. The day serves as an annual reminder to celebrate the wonderful gifts we receive from the earth and to remember our commitment to build a safer, healthier and more sustainable future for us all. In September 1969, Senator Nelson attended a conference in Seattle and announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a national grassroots effort on behalf of the environment. He invited everyone to participate and the response to his call was far more than he had imagined.

The first Earth Day was truly remarkable in that it organized itself. All it took was a voice to call for participation. The 20 million demonstrators and thousands of schools and communities worked locally on issues important to them, building an incredible grassroots effort that continues to flourish today.

The 35th anniversary of Earth Day is this Friday, April 22nd and wonderful events abound throughout the nation. We encourage our members and supporters to become involved with one of these many local projects and actions, and help us move toward a more sustainable future.

Rock the Earth is proud to be a beneficiary of Microbrews for the Environment, a concert on Friday evening at the Boulder Theatre featuring our friends, The Motet. Visit the Boulder Theater site (www.bouldertheater.com) to purchase tickets and join us at the Boulder for some fine music and libations in celebration of Earth Day.

Other resources include the Earth Day Network, which was founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day and has a wealth of information about local events, resources, and ideas to celebrate the earth. Envirolink has an excellent search engine as well, where you can find out about local events taking place around the nation.

Earth Day can be celebrated in many ways – take a hike, plant a tree with your children, write a letter to your elected officials, or become a member of an organization like Rock the Earth.

Happy Earth Day!

» Back To Top

Renew Your Membership and Keep On Rockin'!

Have you received your renewal notice? If so, your membership is expiring! Your membership is crucial to our ability to continue our work protecting the Earth's natural resources for future generations to enjoy. Please send in your renewal now and pledge your continued support - 2005 will continue to be an exciting year for RtE and we want you to be a part of it! As you know we count on the support and involvement of our members to allow us to continue the important work we are doing.

Remember we currently have (and will continue to develop) some very special offers for our members. Discounts on merchandise and select concert tickets are only the beginning of your membership perks! Read about our Members-only sale below to take advantage of your benefits!

Jam Cam Chronicles DVD

We're so appreciative of the generosity and support from our members, as a special thank you we are giving all renewing members a free copy of the JamCam Chronicles DVD from Smilefest 2004, featuring RtE! To see just how much we accomplished in 2004 thanks to your support (as well as the musicians and music fans around the country), please check out our Annual Report now posted on our website (hard copies available upon request by emailing info@RockTheEarth.net).

Don't forget - renew your membership today and help us continue to Defend the Planet One Beat at a Time and to take advantage of your member benefits!

Did you know… as a member of RtE, you can receive 20% off all SCIGear Merchandise and take advantage of discounts on signed posters, CDs, DVDs and much more from a variety of artists. This month in our members only sale we are featuring a limited number of Ozomatli Street Signs CDs signed by the band for only $25, our Snow Ball Benefit Show poster for only $10 and Steve Kimock Band's Live at the Gothic Theater DVD, specially priced for only $20 (regular price is $25). These items are in limited supply so email us at Membership@RockTheEarth.net to find out how to receive your discounted merchandise from SCIGear and RtE! Don't forget to keep an eye out for member discounts on select summer festivals - your membership or volunteer time may earn you discounted tickets!

Members only sale items:
Ozomatli Street Signs CDs signed by the band: $25	[Click for a larger image] Snow Ball Benefit Show poster: $10	Steve Kimock Band's Live at the Gothic Theater DVD: $20 (reg. $25)
To order any of these items, email Membership@RockTheEarth.net.

» Back To Top

Benefits Rockin' the Earth!

March 2005 will go down as one of the biggest months in RtE's development to date. Not only did we hold our second benefit concert, but a major band played not one, but two benefit shows for us!

On March, 23, RtE kicked off String Cheese Incident's annual Filmore run with a benefit concert of our own - the 1st Annual Snow Ball. Held in Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, RtE played host to Boulder bluegrass pickers, Shanti Groove (with help from Runaway Truck Ramp's Greg Schochet), and Dr. Banjo Pete Wernick's Live 5. About 200 people passed through the doors and the event raised over $1,500 after expenses!!! Special thanks to Dave Ratner (D. Rat Management) who coordinated the entire event, Shanti Groove, Pete Wernick's Live 5, Greg Schochet, Jay Bianci, Scott Morrill, and the staff at Cervantes, Kaewyn & John Kulsar and the Eclectic Groove Therapy family for the amazing production, Ami Heinrich, Ross Rowe and JamBase.com for publicity, Jocelyn Paul for her wonderful concert poster, and Eric Maiorana for his beautiful batik shirt design. Thanks to the event's sponsors: Ovation Event Designs, Marquee Magazine, Purple Haze, Colfax Center Deli, Herbs & Arts, Oh My Goddess, Earth Science Club of Metro State (Denver), and North Star Bakery. Finally, thanks also to the following business who provided items for the raffle and silent auction: Aleken Games, Flipside Industries, Thielen Designs, In Radio/Utne Magazine, Hyperactive Music Magazine, Deluxe Engraving and Screening, Streak Records, SCI Gear, Janet Planet Jewelry.

A little over a week later, The String Cheese Incident, playing in the smallest domestic venue that they have played in recent history, set up for a weekend of shows at Suede in Park City, Utah, in which part of the proceeds were donated to Rock the Earth. During the shows, SCI bassist, Keith Moseley urged audience members to stop by the Rock the Earth table and sign up for membership. On the second night, SCI was joined by members of moe. and Railroad Earth, surprising us all and making the RtE benefit show an instant classic that will go down in history as one of the most exciting jamband collaborations of 2005. Very special thanks to SCI, Madison House, SCI Gear & Gouda Causes, moe. and RRE for helping to make these shows such a huge success!

More events are being planned to benefit Rock the Earth so stay tuned to www.rocktheearth.org for more information.

» Back To Top

Love Your Mother and Rock the Earth!

Boulder Adventure Film Festival and Dirt Days

Earth Day celebrations are happening across the country this month and Rock the Earth is excited to be participating in the festivities locally in Boulder, CO as well as on the coast in Santa Cruz, CA. RtE is a beneficiary and participant in Boulder's Earth Day festival, Dirt Days, which is part of the Boulder Adventure Film Festival at Central Park in Boulder. Held on April 23rd, this active festival shows Colorado's adventurous spirit with an Adventure Challenge and hosts local non-profit organizations and companies with philosophical and environmental consciousness. We are also a beneficiary and participant in Microbrews for the Environment on April 22nd at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, CO. For more information on RtE's involvement in Microbrews for the Environment feel free to read the article posted below.

RtE will also be celebrating Earth Day in Santa Cruz at the annual Earth Day Festival in San Lorenzo Park, organized by the CA Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG). This year's theme, "Clean Energy, Clean Earth," will promote and educate the public about the expansion of renewable energy. Look for the RtE booth and stop by to say hello, ask questions and sign up for membership!

What are YOU doing to celebrate Earth Day?

Kan'nal in Denver on April 23rd

In addition to the Earth Day festivities, we continue to remain very active in the music scene around the country, particularly on the Denver CO area. Next weekend we'll be tabling the Kan'nal show at Cervantes in Denver on April 23rd. Kan'nal was formed by a group of travelers in 2001 and has an eclectic mix of primitive tribal, earthy, rhythmic sound that transcends musical boundaries. This "primitive rock experience" gets the audience moving & produces an exhilarating multi-sensory event!

In May, RtE will kick off its summer festival season with Pickin' on the Poudre, a 2-day bluegrass festival in Fort Collins, CO featuring Head for the Hills, Shanti Groove, Benny Galloway, Slipstream and more! Held May 14-15 at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre in the beautiful and inspiring Rockies, this is sure to be a sweet start to the summer fun. Stop by to say hello to our staff and volunteers, and to learn more about RtE!

Cinco de Mayo in Los Angeles

Last, but not least, on Cinco de Mayo (May 5, 2005), there will be a Rock the Earth benefit party at Fais Do Do 5257 West Adams Blvd., in Los Angeles, from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The party will feature some of LA's hottest salsa and latino bands: Mezklah, Santino, and Domingosiete. Sponsored by El Burrito and Shaman Chocolates, there will be free chocolate and soy meat taquito appetizers for all. The cost is $10 and all proceeds will go to Rock the Earth and the Dance of the Deer Foundation. For more information, call 323-954-8080.

The RtE Crew will be on the road again soon … stay tuned to our website to see where we'll be this summer! If you are interested in volunteering for RtE at concerts and festivals this summer please send us an email at Membership@RockTheEarth.net.

» Back To Top

13th Annual Microbreweries for the Environment Benefit
Think Globally, Drink Locally with The Motet Big Band; 20 Breweries serve $1 Pints!

The Motet

KGNU and the Boulder Weekly proudly present the thirteenth annual Microbreweries for the Environment benefit on Friday, April 22 at the Boulder Theater. Since 1993, the Microbreweries for the Environment benefit has raised over $70,000 for local environmental causes. The proceeds from this year's benefit will further the environmental efforts of the University of Colorado Environmental Center, Center for Native Ecosystems and Rock the Earth. Over twenty Colorado microbreweries serve their best beers for only $1.00 each. The evening's entertainment features The Motet Big Band and Holy Moses & the High Rollers. The unique blend of Afro-Beat, Afro-Cuban, Latin, Funk and Jazz traditions are sure to go well with your favorite beer.

We encourage people to walk, bike, or bus to the event. Doors open and beer tasting starts at 8:00pm, and music will run to 1:00am. Admission costs $16.50 and includes a commemorative pint glass. Tickets are available at the Boulder Theater Box Office (303-786-7030 or www.bouldertheater.com).

» Back To Top

Rock the Earth Fights Pesticide Use

In February, the EPA proposed regulatory amendments that would allow for the continued practice of the unmonitored application of pesticides to the waterways of the United States, in violation of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ("Clean Water Act" or CWA), which regulates the discharge of pollutants to our nation's waterways. In March, RtE filed comments opposing these proposed regulatory changes.

Background:
In 2003, the U.S. EPA published an Interim Statement designed to address two sets of circumstances where the EPA believed that the application of pesticides to waters of the United States, consistent with the relevant requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), does not constitute a discharge of a pollutant that requires an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit under the CWA:

1. The application of pesticides directly to waters of the US in order to control pests;
2. The application of pesticides to control pests that are present over waters of the United States that result in a portion of the pesticides being deposited to waters of the United States.

It is the Agency's position that these types of applications do not require NPDES permits under the CWA if the pesticides are applied consistent with the requirements of FIFRA.

In February 2005, the EPA published proposed regulatory amendments to the CWA that would make the Interim Statement law as well as published interpretive guidance that would expand the exemption beyond the two categories outlined in the 2003 Interim Statement and in the proposed regulatory amendments.

RtE Position:
It is RtE's position that the proposed regulatory amendments providing that the application of pesticides to waters of the United States consistent with FIFRA does not constitute a discharge of a pollutant under the CWA is patently illegal and without appropriate legal authority. Not only is the application of pesticides to water courses a discharge of a pollutant requiring permit authority under the CWA, but nothing within FIFRA or the law that has interpreted either FIFRA or the CWA would allow the waiver or superceding of the CWA NPDES permit requirements for such activities. Further, as is demonstrated in our comments, there are legitimate health and safety concerns associated with the application of pesticides to watercourse, such that the protections found in the CWA NPDES permit program are necessary. Lastly, the EPA does not have the authority to waive the Congressional mandated statutory permit requirements of the CWA.

It is RtE's goal to continue to apply sound, professional legal and scientific pressure to regulatory decisions, such as this, that seek to undermine the health of our environment and communities.

Links:
» RtE Pesticide Regulation Letter
Rock the Earth letter of April 1, 2005, to the EPA concerning the Application of Pesticides and the Clean Water Act Definition of "Waters of the United States."

» Back To Top

Roan Plateau Wrap-Up

On April 8, RtE filed formal comments to the Bureau of Land Management's proposed plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which plan would allow drilling on Colorado's Roan Plateau. In our comments, RtE opposed the currently proposed plan on the grounds that the BLM failed to evaluate reasonable alternatives considering viable and applicable drilling technologies currently available that would allow for the extraction of all natural gas beneath the Plateau, without needing to impact wilderness areas on top of the Plateau. In addition, RtE also joined in the broader comments submitted by a coalition of groups under the umbrella organizational name, "Save Roan Plateau." To read the full Rock the Earth comment letter as well as the Save Roan Plateau coalition letter, please see our website.

» Back To Top

Guster's Adam Gardner Rocks the Earth

Adam Gardner plays guitar and sings in the wildly popular band Guster. Since 1992, Guster has been performing to packed halls and recording a string critically acclaimed albums ("Parachute," "Goldfly," "Lost And Gone Forever" and "Keep it Together"). Guster's popularity has been cemented by the group's performances at everything from Woodstock '99 to their own sold-out shows in venues like the FleetBoston Pavilion (Boston), Central Park SummerStage (New York), The Riviera Theater (Chicago), The Warfield (San Francisco), and The Tabernacle (Atlanta), not to mention sharing bills with a raft of heavy hitters. Adam hails from the Garden State of New Jersey, currently lives in Maine. When not touring the world or recording with Guster, Adam spends time with his wife Lauren, working together as co-founders of Reverb, a nonprofit born from the success of the "Green Highway" traveling eco-village created by musician/activist Bonnie Raitt and executive producer Kathy Kane. Reverb seeks to spread their eco-village model to new tours and audiences throughout North America. Last summer, Rock the Earth joined with Reverb on the Alanis Morissette/Barenaked Ladies "Au Natural" tour and we anticipate another successful Reverb/Rock the Earth tour this summer!

RtE: What environmental issue(s) do you consider to be the most critical at this time?

Lack of environmental awareness among "average" Americans. I, myself until fairly recently, knew very little about how bad a condition this planet is in, and what I could do about it. I didn't realize that making the simplest of choices can have a large effect on the environment.

We live in a consumer culture. If your average consumer chose products that were more eco-friendly--a non-petroleum based lip balm, for example--the consumer demand for products that don't have such a negative impact on the earth will help lead companies to do the right thing. I don't believe that companies are inherently evil; they are just programmed to do one thing one thing: make money. If the demand is there for responsible
products, companies will supply them to make money. The more people understand the need to improve the status of the environment and the more they become aware of the small changes they can make in their lives to help, the better chances we all have to make a significant change.

RtE: What has inspired you to combine environmental activism with your music?

My wife! She has been working in the environmental field for the past 7 years, and I have been in music for the past 10. After seeing first hand how strong a relationship a musician has with their fans, I wanted to harness that power to do something positive. After sharing this sentiment with my wife, Lauren, she came up with the concept for our non-profit, Reverb. Reverb promotes environmental support and awareness by linking touring bands and their audience to environmental issues and organizations via an interactive eco-village.

Traveling to each venue along an artist¹s tour, this environmental "bazaar" of sorts consists of alternative energy and transportation exhibits, local and national non-profits, and eco-friendly consumer products. The aim of the eco-village is to enhance the overall concert experience while educating, inspiring, and invigorating fans into positive action.

We also "green" the tour itself, through facilitating renewable energy offsets for power consumed during shows, using biodiesel in the buses and trucks, and offering recycling programs at strategic venues.

RtE: Where is your favorite place in nature to go to find solace or inspiration?

The Coast of Maine. I try to go Acadia National Park every year. I love how you can hike to the top of a mountain and see the ocean dotted with ragged islands.

» Back To Top

Rockin the Earth: Photo

RtE Staff enjoy a day at Elitch Gardens in Denver, CO for Spring Spin 2005 - a Charity Day for local non-profit organizations - Sunday. Pictured are (from bottom left): Marc Ross, Jeff Hanson, Lori Gray, Barbara Ross, Pari Beigi and Mike Gerfin enjoying the Twister Two wooden coaster.

» Back To Top