| The
Roan Plateau Still Needs Our Help
 The
Roan Plateau in Western Colorado is currently threatened by
a federal proposal to allow the drilling of thousands of new
natural gas wells. Last September, the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) issued an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and proposed
management plan. The plan emphasizes oil and gas development
over the Roan Plateau's other public and traditional uses,
to the degree that other uses, including substantial environmental
protection and preservation, will be irrevocably compromised.
Rock The Earth, elected state officials, and other organizations
submitted formal protest documents in October 2006. These
documents specify how the plan does not meet legal and technical
standards, or reflect reasonably available approaches for
satisfying community stakeholder demands for multiple uses
of the land, including
environmental protection required to preserve sustainability
of these multiple uses. Despite these formal protests,
on June 8, 2007, BLM issued its Record of Decision (ROD),
unchanged from the proposed plan issued in September 2006,
which would immediately open up most of the Roan Plateau's
public lands to oil and gas leasing and development.
The flight
is not over, and you can help. In May, John Salazar and Mark
Udall, Colorado members of the U.S. House of Representatives,
publicly called upon BLM to impose a one-year moratorium on
oil and gas exploration on top of the Roan Plateau, and to
reopen the plan to reconsider alternative land management
strategies that will best meet the demands of all stakeholders.
They submitted to Congress a request to block funding, effectively
prohibiting BLM from leasing the Roan Plateau through September
2008. This funding limitation request must still be passed
as part of the Department of Interior's appropriations bill,
and -- once enacted -- would only prohibit leasing of Roan
Plateau for one fiscal year. Nonetheless, this is a tremendous
step toward permanent protection of the Roan Plateau's unmatched
open spaces, critical habitat, backcountry, and wilderness-quality
lands. Please contact your Representative and Senators to
let them know you support wilderness protection for the Roan
Plateau and the one-year moratorium proposed by Congressmen
Mark Udall and John Salazar. Rock The Earth supports this
effort and, in collaboration with Colorado Environmental Coalition
and associated organizations, is considering alternatives
to address the issue should the congressional measure fail.
Go
here to read more about on this issue.
More
info: www.SaveRoanPlateau.org
»
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In
The Key of Green: Waterwise Gardening
 The
days are longer, flowers are blooming, grass is growing, and
temperatures are rising - summer is here! In the summer our
lawns and gardens tend to need more water to grow and thrive,
but this is also the time when water, a valuable commodity,
is often taken for granted. Landscape, lawn and garden plants
tend to gain value over time, so the last thing you want is
to lose your plants due to lack of water, but you also don't
want to overuse a limited resource. There are many things
you can do in your garden to reduce water use and waste.
- Plant
native vegetation. These plants are already acclimated to
your environment, so they can withstand periods of drought
conditions.
- Place
plants with similar water needs near one another. There
is no need to water a succulent garden as often as a vegetable
patch.
- Reduce
the amount of grass lawn in your yard with flower beds.
If you choose to keep your lawn, mow it high to reduce water
loss and consider not watering it.
- Make
sure you have healthy soil. The use of organic matter, often
added in the form of compost, is a good step towards great
soil.
- Water
early in the morning or late at night. If you water in the
middle of the day, not only will evaporation occur, but
plant leaves may get burned.
- Install
a drip irrigation system or use soaker hoses. These are
more efficient water delivery methods than sprinklers.
- When
you do water, make sure you water deep. Root systems will
grow larger and deeper and will be able to uptake more water.
- Use
mulch on flower beds to retain water. Try to utilize mulch
made out of locally recycled materials.
The Watersaver
Home website has more great information about
saving water and ideas on how to have beautiful gardens. Watch
your garden thrive with less water and show your neighbors
that they too can have a waterwise garden too.
»
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Bobby-roo!
RtE
Interview with Bob Weir at Bonnaroo 2007
Photo by Butch Worrell |
For the
second time in as many years, Rock the Earth played a significant
role in programming at Bonnaroo,
the grand-daddy of all U.S. festivals! In the sixth year of
Bonnaroo, 80,000 tickets were sold and fans from around the
world flocked to witness the most diverse line-up to date.
2007 headliners included the classic rock of The Police, the
alternative sound of Tool, and current jamband kings Widespread
Panic. Also on the line-up were bands as diverse as Gillian
Welch & David Rawlings, Mavis Staples, Dierks Bentley,
The Hold Steady, DJ Shadow, Ravi Coltrane Quartet, Franz Ferdinand,
Paolo Nutini, The White Stripes, and many more.
Photo by Parry Ernsberger |
Rock the
Earth created much of the programming for the Solar
Stage in Planet Roo, the village dedicated
to preserving the environment and promoting sustainable and
healthy living. Nonprofit organizations, eco-friendly vendors
and performers on the Solar Stage gathered to interact and
educate the public about what we can all do to protect our
planet's health. Rock the Earth held a series of panel discussions,
artist interviews and musical performances on the Solar Stage
each day, all centered around the theme of "Social
Change Through Music." Moderated by Rock the Earth
Executive Director, Marc Ross, the sessions explored the synergies
between the artists that create music and its interconnectedness
to the environment and the world around us.
RtE
Interview with Warren Haynes
Photo by Annabel Lukins |
Friday
kicked off with an interview with Rock the Earth Advisory
Board Member Michael Franti, followed by a panel discussion
with Hunter Brown, David Murphy and Jeffree Lerner (STS9),
Trevor Garrod (Tea Leaf Green), Lindsay Guetschow (Stop
Global Warming), and Justin Baker (Conscious Alliance).
Saturday's panel had Michael Kang and Michael Travis (String
Cheese Incident), Naomi White (Susan G. Komen for the
Cure), Peter Shapiro (Green Apple Music Festival),
and Andy Bernstein (Headcount), followed by an interview
and musical performance on the Sonic Stage with Warren
Haynes (Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule). Later, the
NYC-based band Haale performed and sat down with Marc
for more discussion on the conscious power of music. Sunday
began with the keynote of the weekend, a 45-minute one-on-one
interview of legendary guitarist, Bob Weir (Grateful
Dead, Ratdog). Later, Marc hosted another panel on Social
Change Through Music with John Butler, Adrian Zelski
(Dubconscious), Chris Baumgartner (Music Matters),
Anna Borofsky (Clean Vibes), Brendon Smyth (Grist),
and Carrie Lewis (Humane Society). Closing out the
busy weekend was a music performance and interview with the
band Dubconscious.
Social
Change Through Music Panel - Photo by Jennifer Kirk
It was
a powerful weekend for Rock the Earth and our mission to defend
the planet one beat at a time. Hundreds of folks came
through the Rock the Earth booth over the course of the festival
and many more were inspired by the artists and activists who
participated in the discussions! Special thanks to Chris Crowell,
Nick Algee, James Gooch, Rich Goodstone and the kind folks
from Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment who, once again,
gave Rock the Earth the exclusive opportunity to head up these
efforts and the resources to run with it. We are already talking
about next year and Rock the Earth is looking forward to being
involved in Bonnaroo 2008!
For
a brief video from Stop Global Warming featuring RtE Executive
Director go here and select the video on Rock the Earth.
Another
video highlighting our efforts can be seen here.
»
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Win
a Piece of Bonnaroo History
You, too,
can collect a bit of Bonnaroo history by bidding
on a rare copy of Rock the Earth’s Summer Tour 2007 poster,
signed and numbed by artist Ryan Kerrigan and also signed
by each of the musical artists who participated in the
“Social Change Through Music “ interviews, panel
discussions and performances. Help us to “defend the
planet one beat at a time” by bidding on this unique
item.
Go
here to start bidding.
»
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Battle
for Colorado River goes to Court
 On
May 25, 2007, attorneys for Rock the Earth, River Runners
for Wilderness, Wilderness Watch and Living Rivers filed our
opening round of briefs in our battle to protect the Colorado
River corridor through Grand Canyon National Park. Rock the
Earth challenged the plan just days after it was finalized
in March, 2006.
In the
initial challenge, the coalition stated that the Colorado
River Plan inequitably allocates "use on the Colorado
River between private commercial concessionaires and non-commercial
users. The 2006 ROD and CRMP give preferential treatment to
commercial concessionaires and users who can afford to pay
for guided trips down the Colorado River by giving them guaranteed
access to the Colorado River during the high demand summer
season. In contrast, members of the public who cannot afford
to pay for or do not wish to take a commercial trip must wait
decades to gain access and, under the CRMP's lottery system,
may never obtain a permit to access the Colorado River."
The coalition also stated that the new River Plan illegally
authorizes "motorboat use and helicopter passenger exchanges
at levels that have caused, and continue to cause, adverse
impacts and impairment to the wilderness character and natural
resources of the Colorado River corridor."
Two groups
(Grand Canyon River Outfitters Trade Association and the Grand
Canyon Private Boaters Association) have intervened in the
litigation in support of the present inequitable allocation,
including resisting wilderness protection for the Colorado
River in Grand Canyon. The May 25, 2007, brief will be followed
by a response/opening brief by the Park Service due August
3, 2007. The coalition will then file a response/reply, which
must be submitted by September 3, 2007, with a reply by the
National Park Service on or before October 3, 2007. The documents
filed May 25, 2007, including a history of river management
and a review of the issues in question, have
been posted here.
»
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Rock
the Earth Is Hiring!
If you
have nonprofit development experience and would like to help
Rock the Earth protect important natural areas like the Roan
Plateau and Grand Canyon, we're hiring a new Part-Time Development
Director for our Denver Office. If you have experience in
the areas of development, grant writing, donor cultivation,
corporate sponsorships and special events, you may be an ideal
candidate to join our growing organization. A
full job description, list of desired qualifications, and
instructions on how to apply for the position can be found
here.
»
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On
the Road Again
RtE at Bonnaroo - Photo by Parry Ernsberger |
For the
third year in a row, Rock the Earth started our tour at Summer
Camp - moe.'s Memorial Day Festival at the
Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL. During the same holiday
weekend, RtE volunteers worked Strange Creek Festival in Massachusetts.
Following that weekend, we made our way to Gov't Mule's Mountain
Jam at Hunter Mountain, NY before heading to
the grand-daddy of them all -- Bonnaroo
in Manchester, TN (see
above).
Joining
RtE Executive Director, Marc Ross, on tour for Rock the Earth
this summer are eight enthusiastic and inspired interns: Jennifer
Biederman, Parry Ernsberger, Leah Festa,
Amiee Maxwell, Marissa Stern, Erica Meza,
Sarah Tell and Stephanie Mansolf. We couldn't
be more pleased with the quality of students and recent graduates
that will be representing RtE this summer!
 Coming
up are stints on the Indigo
Girls tour, a large part of the Vans'
Warped Tour, a few dates with Ozzfest,
several shows on the swansong tour by the String
Cheese Incident, and a return to the Allman
Brothers Band tour - a tour in 2006 in which
RtE enjoyed record success. In addition to work with these
artists, RtE will also be at several festivals this summer
including High
Sierra Music Festival, 10,000
Lakes Festival, All
Good Festival, and Gathering
of the Vibes.
For stories
from the road, show reviews, pictures and set lists, check
out our Tour
Blog. For the latest news and tour dates, see
the RtE
website.
»
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Become
a Member and Follow Our Tour
Renew
your Rock the Earth membership this summer, and take full
advantage of the wonderful discounts available to 10,000
Lakes Festival and Gathering
of the Vibes!
RtE
has a limited number of discount tickets still available for
our Members to the following festivals:
10,000
Lakes Festival - only $110 for RtE Members! A savings of nearly
$50!
 10KLF
is held in Detroit Lakes, MN, July 18-21 at the Soo Pass Ranch,
a 600-acre state-of-the-art concert and camping venue with
4 stages, vendors, activities, huge restroom facilities with
running water and beautiful wooded and lakeside camping. Featuring
artists such as Bob Weir & Ratdog, moe.,
Trey Anastasio, the Disco Biscuits, Gov't Mule
and Umphrey's McGee, 10KLF is surely a festival
not to be missed in 2007. Email us at info@rocktheearth.org
for tickets.
Gathering
of the Vibes - only $110 for RtE Members! A savings of $30!
 In
its 12th year, this festival brings a variety of music to
two stages to inspire, illuminate and expand our collective
consciousness. This year brings many inspirational musicians,
such as Bob Weir & Ratdog, Mickey Hart Band,
Los Lobos, Assembly of Dust, Martin Sexton,
Railroad Earth, and many more. In a new location in
Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT, with car-side camping, flush
toilets, showers, playgrounds, a skate park, and over a mile
of pristine beach within a short walk, this is shaping up
to be the best Vibes yet! Email us at info@rocktheearth.org
for tickets.
»
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"Eye
of Gaia" Now Available for Members at $100!
 Over
the past three years, Rock the Earth has provided art by notable
rock artists Emek,
Gary
Houston and Jeff
Wood (Rock the Earth Series No. 1) at the upper
end of membership premiums. This year, we are very excited
to be rolling out Series No. 2, which will feature art from
Justin
Hampton, Jim
Pollock and Jeff Wood. The first piece
in this second series is now available. For a $100 donation
to Rock the Earth, members will receive a signed and numbered
hand-screened print (limited edition of only 500!) of noted
rock poster artist Justin Hampton's "Eye of Gaia".
Justin's work has been used by bands such as The Roots, Tool,
Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam, Spearhead, The Killers, and many others.
"The
image that I created for the 'Eye of Gaia' print was designed
to reflect the current issues that humanity is facing with
global warming, pollution and war by using the most direct
and graphic means possible. The idea of 'Mother Nature' (or
'Gaia' in Latin) shedding a tear for the condition of the
planet seemed to be the perfect fit. My intent was to not
come off too 'preachy', 'apocalyptic' or 'new age' but to
find a balance that coveys the message across the age/ gender/
political lines. 'Eye of Gaia' is one of my favorite prints
to date, I hope you enjoy it." Justin Hampton (2007)
This unique
piece is printed on 25% hemp / 75% post-consumer waste paper.
To
get your copy of "Eye of Gaia" go here.
And
don't forget our Rock the Earth Summer Tour poster by artist
Ryan Kerrigan.
 RtE
Summer Tour Poster: Now available with
a $25 membership donation, this beautiful poster created by
artist Ryan Kerrigan is the fourth in our series of
Summer Tour posters. Printed on Living Tree paper (100% hemp/flax
and recycled content) the poster is hand-signed by the artist
and numbered out of a series of 200.
With every
contribution you receive a membership to Rock the Earth. Help
us build a unified voice for the music community so we can
Rock the Earth together!
»
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Volunteer
with Rock the Earth this Summer
Rock the
Earth is on the road, powered mainly by volunteers. Have you
considered volunteering with Rock the Earth? You can do it
from the road or at home! We have dozens of opportunities,
and can certainly find one that matches your skills. Consider
one of the following:
- Tabling
events
- Coordinating
volunteers
- Fundraising
& membership drives
- Legal
& technical assistance
- Assisting
with data entry & mailings in our Denver office
- Writing
press releases
If you're
interested in volunteering with us, please send an email to
volunteer@RockTheEarth.org
to find out how you can help Rock the Earth! Be sure to include
your city and state so we know the region of the country you
live.
»
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Carpool
to All Good
In an
effort to decrease their environmental impact, the All
Good Festival is partnering with Conscious
Alliance, the Rex
Foundation and Rock
the Earth to promote carpooling. For every
car arriving on site with three or more passengers, the All
Good Festival will donate $1.00 to the three organizations.
One carpooling vehicle will be chosen at random and all passengers
will be upgraded to V.I.P. camping. Each person in carpooling
vehicles will receive a raffle ticket, which will be collected
at the festival Merchandise Tent. Winners will be announced
by the festival MC during intermissions in the music. Prizes
include but are not limited to: 2008 All Good tickets, 2007
All Good Merchandise, and artist autographed posters. Help
reduce pollution this summer by carpooling to All Good and
all of your festivals!
Stay tuned
to our website, www.RockTheEarth.org,
and our monthly newsletter for more information about discounts
for RtE Members!
»
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Interview
with Dubconscious' Adrian Zelski
 Rock
the Earth caught up with Adrian Zelski, lead singer
of the Athens, Georgia-based Dubconscious.
Adrian has long been a champion of the environment. Born in
Atlanta, Georgia in the Virginia Highlands district near downtown
amongst all ethnicities, financial situations and sexual orientations,
Adrian learned to be very open minded despite stereotypes
of a non-progressive south. While in college in Athens, Georgia,
Adrian fell in love with the music scene and at age 27, helped
to found Athens' reggae/dub/afrobeat band "Dubconscious".
Adrian's focus on healthy living and sustainability comes
out beautifully in his work with Dubconscious, and he continues
to have a profound impact on the band's fans.
What
environmental issue(s) do you consider to be the most critical
at this time?
All of
them really, but I'll try to narrow the topic for discussion.
There are a couple of issues that hit me the hardest in the
Southeastern United States: the depletion of our lush natural
habitat and the politics behind this degradation. I feel like
water quality and native forest conservation are being overlooked
in the present movement. The focus seems to be on alternative
energies for cars and homes and I am very grateful for the
attention that these issues are getting. But we should also
consider the damming of rivers for our power and clearcutting
of virgin forests for our building supplies and toilet paper
as equally important.
The most
critical need, realistically, in the environmental movement
is obviously the leadership issue. We need to have leaders
that focus on the environment first and foremost so that we
can trust the direction that the environmental movement of
today will take. Presently, all elected officials seem to
be adhering to the old philosophy of capital resource management
based on profit motive and immediate gratification. Until
leaders step up, people must work with non-profits and N.G.O.'s
(Non-Government Organizations) to cause a grassroots movement
that will ultimately change the politics by sheer numbers
rather than political debate. Conscious use of the dollar,
protests, boycotts, marches, civil disobedience, and sit-ins
are the ways that ignited the Civil Rights movement. Perhaps
it is time for these measures to be instilled into the environmental
movement.
What
has inspired you to combine environmental activism with your
music?
Environmental
activists and naturalists that inform us of the perils of
our modern relationship with nature are the reason Dubconscious
has chosen to include activism with the music. In fact, if
it weren't for these people, Dubconscious probably would not
be pushing the music to the masses. The old paradigm of sex,
drugs and rock n' roll is not rewarding enough to pursue music
as a profession for any of us. We all share the belief that
our being on stage should be used as a collective voice for
change. There is a movement growing in all parts of the world
that we as a band support wholeheartedly. The possibility
of being part of the enlightening of our society is a great
opportunity not to be overlooked, in our opinion.
We, as
a people, have come a long way in the industrial age toward
creating peace and positive communication between all nations,
religions, ethnicities and even the gender gap. The melting
pot is stirring and it is wonderful to be a part of this dramatic
social awakening. However, through our friends and inspirations,
we now believe that we are at a tipping point in our relationship
to nature. Our industrialized society based on capital gains
over sustainability, is the plundering of the earth. Some,
in fact, believe we have already gone too far. For example,
a friend of mine who works with the Environmental Protection
Agency to protect rivers and creeks by enforcing buffers and
revitalizing water sources believes that World War III is
not going to be nation against nation but, in fact, WWIII
is already happening in respect to humankind and its destruction
of nature. He lives each day as if the battle lines have been
drawn and that moral victory will come only with sustainable
living practices. I like this outlook because it means that
peace is in our hands as a collective, not as a nationality
or religion. This is a war with an obvious means to an end.
We would need to respect all living matter from the earth's
core to the sky. Each species that disappears is potential
disease and a threat to the balance of our delicate ecosystem.
Each catastrophe caused by man will be equaled by nature.
All depleted soil and water will not provide a healthy future
for anyone. Our synthetic solutions will only last so long.
We must end the war on our provider, our Mother Nature.
If we
can turn our power towards this cause, I believe our collective
conscience will be able to sleep comfortably and not be so
afraid of terror and evil. Imagine the terrorist cells hearing
that we are going to stop expanding our military industrial
complex and fund environmental conservation groups instead.
I think that the "enemies of freedom" would have
a different perception of the "civilized world"
and lay down their arms. This is the idealism and hopefully
materialism I hope to manifest through our music and our example.
Dubconscious is committed to these causes and will always
support our heroes, the environmentalists and naturalists
that are on the front lines. They are the inspiration.
Where
is your favorite place in nature to go to find solace or inspiration?
I love
everywhere Dubconscious goes and we always try to get to the
natural beauty of each region. I have a very special place
in my heart for the Piedmont virgin forests of Georgia, for
it is beautiful and lush beyond compare if respected. And
the mountainous region of Western North Carolina calls to
me in dreams and I often go there to hike and visit the oldest
mountains in the world. I live in rural Georgia amongst red-tailed
hawks, possums, oaks, walnut trees and an exotically green
landscape. And I recently built a yurt near Asheville, NC
to be a mountain getaway with nothing but a woodstove and
sleeping area to get back to nature when the world is running
me down. Everywhere has so much beauty though. The deserts,
high plains, young mountains, islands. I wish I could be in
all of them all at once.
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Rockin'
the Earth at Bonnaroo: Photo
RtE
Executive Director Marc Ross with Tea Leaf Green's Trevor
Garrod
at the Social Change Through Music panel at Bonnaroo 2007
Photo by Jennifer Kirk
|
