Rock
the Earth to Take on Cruise Industry
 Discharges
and air emissions from cruise ships have an incredibly
damaging impact on ocean and coastal areas throughout
the world. The vast majority of cruise ships utilize
minimal water treatment, resulting in millions of
gallons of waste being discharged directly into the
ocean, sometimes in critical aquatic ecosystems and
in violation of federal requirements. Some cruise
ship waste such as "gray water"- water that
comes from sinks, showers, baths, laundry and galleys-
receive no treatment at all! These discharges not
only impact large numbers of fish and marine life,
but also coastal areas, birds, and marine mammals.
Additionally, untreated air pollution from cruise
ships release tons of greenhouse gasses each cruise,
and severely and negatively contribute adversely to
onshore human health.
Through
our two years of collaboration with Jam Cruise, Rock
the Earth got a first-hand look at the growing trend
of collaboration between the music industry and the
cruise industry. While we are proud of our work in
2006 and 2007 to green Jam Cruise, we found that there
is larger issue at play with regard to the damaging
impact that cruises have worldwide on our oceans and
coastal areas. As
highlighted by a recent EPA report,
without cruise lines taking more effective measures
to curb air and water pollution, this growing sector
of recreation is increasing its damaging impacts on
aquatic ecosystems and the planet overall.
Continue
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Thank
You for Your Support in 2007
 Our
Volunteer Staff is working hard on putting together
our 2007 Annual Report, and we want to take
a moment to thank each and every one of you who became
a member of Rock the Earth, bid on an item in an auction,
dropped a few bucks in a donation jar, or even just
spread the word about our growing organization. It
is only through generous grassroots support from kind
donors and volunteers like YOU that we were able to
accomplish so much in 2007! To preview some of our
2007 accomplishments, consider the following:
Continue
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Rock
the Earth Takes Colorado River Plan to the 9th Circuit
 On
January 11th, the 100th Anniversary of the dedication
of Grand Canyon National Park, Rock the Earth and
its plaintiff partners appealed the decision
by U.S. District Court in Arizona to
the Ninth Circuit as part of our on-going effort to
protect and restore the Grand Canyon's natural sounds
and wilderness values from a steady increase in motorized
and commercial uses.
The
plaintiffs, which include River Runners for Wilderness,
Rock the Earth, Living Rivers and Wilderness Watch,
claim that the National Park Service's new management
plan for the Colorado River corridor, authorizing
motorboat use and helicopter passenger exchanges in
the heart of the Grand Canyon, is inconsistent with
National Park Service obligations to preserve the
area's wilderness character.
Continue
Reading...
Please
help support our prosecution of this important case
by making a donation to Rock the Earth!
It is only with your support that we can protect special
places like the Grand Canyon!
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Patagonia's
Rockin' Contest
 With
the forthcoming opening of their Boulder, Colorado
store on April 5th, Patagonia has offered Rock the
Earth the chance to win a $5,000 grant by gaining
the most votes from the public. Between now and March
29, please go to www.Patagonia.com/boulder
and vote for Rock the Earth as your charity of choice.
To
put things in perspective, $5,000 means 500 hours
of low-cost legal assistance to help preserve some
of America's natural spaces like the Grand Canyon
or Yellowstone National Park! Please help Rock the
Earth win by voting at www.Patagonia.com/boulder,
and please help spread the word!
If
you can show us that you're spreading the word by
posting the contest on your website, MySpace, Facebook
page or the like, you will be entered in a contest
to win a Rock the Earth prize package! Just
shoot us a link showing us that you're spreading the
word to info@rocktheearth.org.
Contest ends on March 29. Thank you!
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Rockin'
the Park Service (again)
 For
the second time in twelve months, Rock the Earth has
opposed a National Park Service plan to allow for
the continued use of snowmobiles in Yellowstone and
Grand Teton National Parks (the parks)- use that was
formally to be phased out under a 2000 plan. In late
2007, a Record of Decision was made on the Final Environmental
Impact Statement concerning the winter use rules for
the parks, allowing for 540 snowmobiles per day in
Yellowstone and 65 per day in Grand Teton National
Parks. On January 8th, Rock the Earth officially opposed
the decision, continuing the fight to ban snowmobiles
from the parks. To read the January 8th, 2008 opposition
letter, go
here.
To
read more about this important issue, please see the
online Project
Page.
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Planet
Defender Awards Return
 Rock
the Earth is thrilled to announce a call for nominations
for our third annual Planet Defender Awards. Last
year, Rock the Earth members and friends sent in dozens
of nominations. Our Volunteer Staff settled on three
winners - musicians the Barenaked
Ladies, Blue Ocean Institute's Carl Safina,
and Illick's Mill Project's Karen Dolan. [Read
the article.]
On
Earth Day - April 22, 2008 - we plan to recognize
three more individuals or groups who are working to
protect some of our nation's most precious natural
areas. As with last year, each winner will receive
our gratitude along with a one-of-a-kind award created
by artist Scott Wolfson of the Crefeld School-- Crefeld
is a progressive, alternative learning community in
Philadelphia.
To
find our 2008 nominees, we once again need your help!
Rock the Earth will be accepting nominations from
its friends and members between now and March 2nd.
Help us identify those people who have advanced the
cause of environmental protection. Nominees should
demonstrate a strong commitment to defending the planet
within the realm in which they work. Take a look at
our categories listed below, and send us nominations
from the music world, your local community, or prominent
leaders who have made a broad impact in environmental
protection.
From
the list of nominees, Rock the Earth's Volunteer Staff
will vote on the three winners. Please send your
nominations to info@rocktheearth.org.
With your nomination, please include your reason
for nominating the individual or group. Rock the Earth
will include some of your comments when we present
our awards in each category.
You
may nominate individuals in the following three categories:
- Artist
- an individual or group
-
Grassroots Activist -
a community activist or grassroots organization
- Community
Leader - a leader in government, business or
another high-profile position
Rock
the Earth's members are increasingly stepping forward
to help us Defend the Planet One Beat at a Time.
Please nominate someone who inspires you!
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Calling
All Businesses - Help us Rock Earth Day!
RtE
is seeking businesses to collaborate with on the 38th
anniversary of Earth Day - when events and celebrations
take place throughout the week of April 11-20th. By
participating in a coordinated campaign, our impact
can be more significant. Please consider donating
a portion of your business' sales throughout the week
to Rock the Earth, or pick a specific day to let your
customers know you are committed to doing your part
in helping create a sustainable environment. In addition
to cash donations, there are other ways that you can
be a part of this effort-- please call our office
at 303-454-3304 or write to Scott at info@rocktheearth.org
for more information. As always, RtE will be a good
steward of your contributions, and by working together
we can all be part of the solution.
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In
the Key of Green: Building
Materials Re-Use and Deconstruction
 Thinking
about a building project? If you need to remove an
existing structure, consider deconstruction,
rather than demolition. Deconstruction is the careful
separation of building components for re-use in other
structures. This process is considered sustainable
development for several reasons - it drastically reduces
the amount of waste generated compared to demolition,
it gives the existing materials another life cycle,
it reduces the demand for virgin resources in new
construction, and it produces local business opportunities.
If
you're not tearing down an old building but have home
improvement or repair projects lined up, materials
reuse may be a green and often cheaper alternative
to a trip to the local big box hardware store. In
many communities, there are building materials reuse
centers that accept donated materials, including deconstruction
materials, and make them available for retail sale.
The Building Materials Reuse Association maintains
a directory
of its members, located in all 50 states,
the District of Columbia and several Canadian provinces,
all who are dedicated to building deconstruction and
the retail reuse/recycling of recovered building materials.
The US EPA also maintains extensive resources on deconstruction
and materials re-use.
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Limited
Edition Franti Poster Available to RtE
Members Only
 We
did a little year-end clean-up and found a few more
copies of concert poster artist Scramble
Campbell's limited edition Michael
Franti & Spearhead poster. Commemorating a
2005 concert and film debut to benefit Rock the Earth,
these beautiful posters are signed and numbered by
Campbell from a series of 200, and are printed on
Living Tree Paper. Ten new and renewing members who
make a donation of $25 or more can receive one of
the final copies of this popular and
special piece. Hurry!
Order yours now- there are only 10 copies available!
 And
speaking of Michael Franti…
This
month's charity auction for Rock the Earth is a signed
Michael Franti What I Be Poster. This beautiful
print has a stunning picture of Michael as well as
the poignant lyrics to his environmental and socially
aware anthem, What I Be. To
bid on this rare poster, go here.
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New
RtE Membership Benefits!
Thanks
to our friends at Tree Greetings and Your True Nature,
Rock the Earth members will receive 20% off of all
E-greetings, tree plantings and merchandise!
| New
Member Benefits: |
 Tree
Greetings
Send a beautiful nature ecard that plants a tree
for someone special and Rocks the Earth! 20%
discount to RtE members. |
Your
True Nature
 RtE
members receive 20% off all Advice from Nature
books, journals, t-shirts, postcards, bookmarks
and tree planting cards. |
|
More Member Benefits: |
 |
20%
off all products from Guayaki
Yerba Mate |
 |
20%
off Eco
Express gift baskets (or donate
20% of all full-priced orders to Rock the Earth
by designating donation in comments section of
each order) |
 |
20%
off Bamboosa
products |
 |
20%
off SCIGear
merchandise |
 |
Special
contests and discounts on concert tickets |
| To
find out how you can take advantage of these Members
Only benefits, write to info@rocktheearth.org. |
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Volunteer
with Rock the Earth
Like
any great organization, Rock the Earth relies on the
power of the human spirit to keep moving forward to
achieve our mission of defending the planet. In addition
to the valued contributions of our wonderful members,
there are many people (both members and non-members)
who contribute their time and energy to help further
our work on environmental causes. If you've never
volunteered before, we are prepared to provide the
training you need to make the most of your enthusiasm
and energy. If you've offered to volunteer in the
past, but have not yet had the opportunity to participate,
please feel free to contact us again. Simply drop
a note to volunteer@RocktheEarth.org
and a let us know how you wish to get involved (working
membership/outreach events, providing expert assistance,
writing press releases, etc.). Be sure to include
your name, geographical area, and way in which we
can contact you. We look forward to rocking the earth
with your help in 2008!
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Sue
Devine Rocks the Earth: Interview
 Sue
Devine, Senior Director of Film & Television
Music, works in Artist Development with both emerging
and more established artists both in ASCAP's Film/TV
Department (composers include East Coast's Angelo
Badalamenti, Carter Burwell and Howard Shore) and
in the Membership Department (songwriters and bands
include Lori McKenna, Josh Ritter, John Mayer, Dave
Matthews, Jack Johnson, Dan Mackenzie and Joss Stone).
Sue provides career development support and also produces
seminars, showcases, workshops and other events for
ASCAP songwriters and film composers. She also brings
music to film, to underfunded city schools, and to
environmental organizations.
Among
the programs Sue has launched are: The Sundance
Film Festival's Music Café, produced
by ASCAP, and which is the official music programming
of the Sundance Film Festival and showcasing songwriters
and bands to filmmakers and film industry executives;
The ASCAP Music Lounge, the official music
programming of the Tribeca Film Festival, and The
ASCAP/Tribeca VIP Film Music Dinner held at
the Tribeca Film Festival; The ASCAP Green Room,
a section of ASCAP's Playback Magazine (music biz
circulation 75,000) and ASCAP.com, spotlighting ASCAP
songwriters who are leading the way with sustainable
music business practices such as greening their tours
and educating fans about being a part of the solution
to Global Warming; and Green Minutes,
through which ASCAP, the Music Partner of iThentic.com,
works with iThenitic to produce one minute, cell phone
downloadable video interviews in which ASCAP songwriters
who are leading the way with resolving environmental
issues discuss solutions they are creating.
In
addition to being on the Advisory Board of Rock The
Earth, Sue works in an advisory role with 1% For The
Planet, and with The Sustainable Living Roadshow.
She also works with Native Energy, Reverb, Our Future
Now and Better Days Alliance.
What
environmental issue(s) do you consider to be the most
critical at this time?
EDUCATION
in that there are many interrelated issues to begin
with, that are very serious, critical and urgent.
Obviously the process of education has taken off with
the success of "An Inconvenient Truth" in
reaching a wide audience, as well as other films,
books, magazine features, etc. I believe that when
information is buried for so long while the problems
grow so big, this is why people do not know to take
action. Education is the key to inspiring each individual
to do what he or she can in the sphere of influence
of their own life. As Adam Gardner (ASCAP songwriter
and co-founder of REVERB) says, the solution is in
each person doing some, doing what they can-- not
in a few individuals trying to do the whole thing.
Education is what gets each individual involved in
their own way.
What
has inspired you to combine environmental activism
with your music?
I
came to work in music by following a passion for expression--
independent expression that may not follow the norm
or the masses, the drawing out and cultivation of
a deeper vision and the expressing of new ideas into
the world. My gateway artist, if you will, was Arlo
Guthrie, which led to Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger
(of course), and all of the 60's movements of social
change. I was also inspired early on by Hamell On
Trial, an artist consumed with frustration over the
lunacy in our culture and with a passion to raise
the intelligence bar. Over a career in music (that
began in indie film) I kept wondering, "where
is the community that the music came from?" I
was drawn to music that had a purpose behind it: "Okay,
500 more songwriters want to be famous, but why? What
do they have to say, and is it elevating the dialogue
in some way?"
I
had a begun to keep a folder called 'Music For A Reason'
of things to look into; it began with Eddie Vedder
and Pearl Jam and the work they do. One day I saw
a logo for 1% For The Planet and dropped it into the
folder. Within a day or two, while trying to book
Jack Johnson for an ASCAP event, I saw a press release
on his website indicating that he was the first major
artist to join 1% FTP.
I
was so intrigued about 1% FTP I called them to learn
more, then told them I would help them interface with
music in any way I could. I had several months of
meetings with Executive Director Terry Kellogg, then
began introducing 1% FTP to people in music and film
businesses because I am passionate about a beautiful,
thriving green earth, and it just made sense. Then
I saw An Inconvenient Truth, and read all sorts of
articles and scientific information, and my jaw dropped
and my heart broke. I walked around in serious shock
for a couple months. How could we not know about all
of this? I re-prioritized and jacked-up my level of
involvement in every area I could. I continue to remind
myself to re-prioritize, and re-prioritize more. Education
made all the difference with me. Of course I will
do everything I can; I just needed to know how very
necessary it was.
Where
is your favorite place in nature to go to find solace
or inspiration?
The
beach. The ocean. The wide expanse of sand and sea.
Light jumping and sparkling like diamonds on the vast
breathing water, which changes from sunny sun sparkling
blue to green to grey to sunset shades of deep purple.
All in a day. The sound of waves crashing, rhythmically,
in a way we believe will always be true. The smell
of hot sand, sand dunes, and salt air on a fresh breeze.
I
get up to Nantucket as much as I can (from NYC home-base)
for half of the year, and down to Costa Rica for the
other half. I took up surfing a couple years ago and
of course try to get as much time in the waves as
I can.
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Rockin'
the Earth Photo
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