Rockin’ the Boat
 Rock the Earth continues to work to force the cruise industry to clean up their act. As we have noted before in Rock the Earth Notes, 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. It is our view that cruise lines must take measures to reduce their impact on the environment, and cannot continue to operate outside of legal requirements simply because operations take place in international waters.
It appears that EPA is finally starting to take action on the issue. In June, EPA published draft regulations concerning general permits for discharges from vessels including cruise ships. While RtE applauds EPA’s work towards starting to regulate this damaging source of ocean pollution, in our opinion, these regulations could use some improvement, including setting numeric limits for certain discharges, as opposed to the generic (and inconsistently applied) “Best Management Practices” currently employed by cruise lines. Consequently, on August 1, RtE commented on the proposed regulations. Our letter can be found here.
This action simply marks the next step in our activities to compel the cruise industry to reduce the deleterious impact that their ships have on our ocean and coastal areas. Stay tuned! This fall, we’ll be taking a significant step to encourage those within the music community who collaborate with cruise lines to take a harder line when it comes to the practices of the cruise industry.
For more information on this project see the Rock the Earth Cruise Ship project page.
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Summer Tour: The Road Goes On Forever
RtE Intern Virginia Borcherdt
Rockin’ the Earth on Tom Petty tour |
It’s August! That means heat in the east, the end of summer coming, and our annual tour with the Allman Brothers Band. For the third summer in a row, RtE will have education and outreach booths up and down the East Coast and through the Midwest with these legends of Rock. Adding to the excitement, Bob Weir and Ratdog are joining the tour! Stop by the RtE booth, say hi and sign up for membership or renew your membership, and you’ll be entered to win a free copy of the Allman’s set recorded that night, courtesy of Munck Music!
As we go to press, we are still unsure as to whether we’ll be adding another full tour in September. As for now, we’re very happy with the progress and the support we received from the tours we were on in May, June, July and now in August. Look for a full wrap up of Rock the Earth Summer Education and Outreach Tour 2008 in the September edition of Rock the Earth Notes!
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Colorado River Litigation Update – Rollin’ on the River
 This past month, the National Park Service has submitted a response to a legal challenge to the 2006 Colorado River Management Plan in Grand Canyon National Park. The case is currently before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The groups challenging the Park's river plan include Rock the Earth, River Runners for Wilderness, Wilderness Watch and Living Rivers. The four groups filed a lawsuit against the plan just days after the Plan was finalized in March, 2006.
Two groups, the Grand Canyon River Outfitters (trade) Association and the Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association, also submitted 9th Circuit Court of Appeals responses, as interveners in the litigation in support of the Park’s current river plan.
Go here to finish this article »
For background and more information, go to the RtE Colorado River Management Plan Project Page.
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New Belgium Brewing Company and Southwest Airlines Rock the Earth!
 For the fourth time in as many years, Rock the Earth has been the recipient of a grant from our friends at Ft. Collins-based New Belgium Brewing Company. This eco-conscious microbrewery is a member of 1% for the Planet and recently donated $2,500 to Rock the Earth.
 Meanwhile, as prices for airline tickets continue to climb this summer, Rock the Earth has saved thousands of dollars. This past spring, Southwest Airlines made a grant of free airline tickets to our organization, allowing us to maintain our enthusiastic staff of trained volunteer interns on our 2008 Summer Education and Outreach tour, without incurring additional expenses.
We thank New Belgium and Southwest Airlines for their generous support to help us defend the planet one beat at a time!
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In the Key of Green: Saving Money On the Road
 Everyone’s feeling the pinch of high gas prices - want to save money and help Rock the Earth at the same time? You don’t need to have a plug-in electric or biodiesel vehicle to reach those goals. There are some simple and easy steps you can take to improve your gas mileage, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution and save money all at once.
First, drive sensibly. Avoid aggressive starts and stops, obey speed limits, remove excess weight from your vehicle, avoid excess idling (if it’s more than a minute, shut ‘er down) and use your cruise control if you’re driving mostly on flat roads.
Second, take care of your car. Get regular tune-ups, use the proper motor oil, replace air and oil filters and, yes, keep your tires inflated to the correct pressure.
Third, think about where you’re going. Can you combine errands or even avoid driving altogether? Take public transportation, ride a bike or even walk if you can.
And, finally, if you are thinking about getting a new car, make fuel efficiency a priority!
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RtE August Auctions:
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Signed Poster &
Bob Weir Signed/Numbered Photo
This month, we are very happy to offer up auction items by two legends of Rock!
 Rock the Earth spent the better part of the first half of the summer on Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers tour, educating and activating fans all over the country. Thanks to the band’s kindness and generosity we are able to offer up a SIGNED and NUMBERED Rock the Earth Summer Tour 2008 poster--signed by Tom and all of the members of the Heartbreakers! Numbered 206/250, this beautiful Ryan Kerrigan original is the 5th in our series of Summer Tour posters and will go to one lucky bidder in our August Auction.
To bid on this item, go here.
 Meanwhile, thanks to the generosity of rock photographer Norman Sands, we are happy to offer up a signed and numbered photograph of Grateful Dead and Ratdog guitarist Bob Weir. This limited-edition print is signed by both the photographer and Bobby, and is numbered 10/30.
To bid on this item, go here.
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Why is being a Rock the Earth member so great?
When you become a member of RtE, you become an active participant for environmental protection around the country. Your financial support allows us to continue fighting for protection of sensitive areas that are important to the health of the environment, as well as allows RtE to expand outreach efforts needed to continue educating the public about our work.
We offer some great member-only benefits, such as discounted tickets to concerts and festivals around the country, as well as discounts with eco-conscious companies like Bamboosa, Guayaki Yerba Mate, Faded Line Clothing Company, and eConscious Market. View the full list of benefits here.
 Without a doubt, one of our most popular membership gifts over the years was one of our limited edition prints by concert poster artist Emek. Entitled “Unnatural Resources,” this image was created as part of a three print series back in 2004, along with Jeff Wood’s “Pretty Fly for an Earth Guy” and Gary Houston’s “Man as Caretaker,” all loosely based around four themes: Earth, Air, Water and Humanity. In 2006, Pearl Jam used the image for a very special concert poster, commemorating a benefit show at the Santa Barbara Bowl, and immediately thereafter all of our copies sold out.
Well, we’ve brought the image back, but this time it’s on a new shirt being produced by our partners at The Faded Line Clothing Company. Printed on a U.S.-made, 100% organic cotton t-shirt, this amazing piece is sure to be a favorite for any collector! The Faded Line is bringing music illustrators into the forefront rather than behind a band's name.
We are now taking orders on our website; the $35 level of membership receives the Emek t-shirt as a gift.
Go here to renew your membership or join Rock the Earth!
| Rock
the Earth Member Benefits: |
 |
20% discount on Charlie Ayer's new cookbook Food 2.0 Secrets from the Chef Who Fed Google. |
 |
Free membership ($30 value) at eConsciousMarket.com |
 |
15%
discount on all orders from Sama
Living |
 |
10%
discount on all merchandise from The
Faded Line Clothing Company |
 |
20%
off beautiful nature ecards from Tree
Greetings that plant a tree
for someone special! |
 |
20%
off all Advice from Nature books, journals, tshirts,
postcards, bookmarks and tree planting cards from Your
True Nature |
 |
20%
off all products from Guayaki
Yerba Mate |
 |
20%
off Eco
Express gift baskets (or donate
20% of all fullpriced 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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Rockin the Gothic and Fox Theatres in Colorado With Free Tickets!
Next in our year-long series of events with Denver’s Gothic Theatre and Boulder’s Fox Theatre, Rock the Earth will be tabling at the following upcoming shows, educating and activating fans about important local and national environmental issues:
FREE TICKETS: If you are already a Member of Rock the Earth, you can win a pair of FREE TICKETS to one of the above concerts. To enter, email info@rocktheearth.org; include the name of the band of your choice in the subject line and your name in the email.To volunteer at these shows contact volunteer@rocktheearth.org. For more information please visit wwwrocktheearth.org.
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Volunteers
Rock!
If
you are looking for ways to get more involved with
Rock the Earth, now is the time to step up and make
your voice heard. Here some ways you might volunteer
with Rock the Earth:
- Participating
in environmental education, membership solicitation
and outreach at events
- Providing regional coordination of events and volunteers
- Supporting
our fundraising & membership drives
- Offering
legal & technical assistance to RtE projects
- Assisting
with data entry & mailings in our Denver office
- Writing
press releases
Please
drop a note to volunteer@RocktheEarth.org and a let us know how you wish to get involved. Be
sure to include your name, geographical area, and
the best way in which we can contact you. We look
forward to rocking the earth with your help in 2008!
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Cornmeal's Chris Gangi Rocks the Earth: Interview
 Chris Gangi is the bassist for the up-and-coming, Chicago-based “newgrass” band Cornmeal. Cornmeal is forging a path all their own, pushing the boundaries of bluegrass, Americana and folk for a new generation of music lovers. The band has proven to be an influential presence in the world of roots music by consistently evolving its sound and stage performances, using bluegrass as a springboard for long improvisational work and songs that range from country, rock and blues, to jazz, funk and disco.
Spending over half the year on the road is beginning to pay off. The last year has seen the band win its first Jammy award for “New Groove” as well as to garner slots at Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, and High Sierra Music Festival.
Known for their vast musical repertoire, lightning fast tempos, and impeccable harmonies, the five-piece acoustic-electric band prides itself on the energy it puts forth each night to create a live performance that shapes itself into a truly unique experience.
What environmental issue(s) do you consider to be the most critical at this time?
Global warming, pollution, factory foods and their impact
What has inspired you to combine environmental activism with your music?
I started traveling to other countries in my early twenties; it was then that I saw the deep impact that the US has on global communities, both economically and environmentally. I also noticed that certain cultures were much more advanced and in tune with the global environment and preservation, and much more advanced than the US in alternative energy resources. I believe that having a voice is an important step in helping to spread awareness, and that you should use that voice in any way possible to affect positive change. Music is another form of communication for me, and my passion for the environment will always seep its way through into my songwriting.
Where is your favorite place in nature to go to find solace or inspiration?
I really enjoy being in the mountains biking or hiking, and camping along the way. Being from Chicago I’ve really learned to appreciate the landscape and flora that can be so foreign to the Midwest.
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Rockin the Earth on the Olympic Peninsula: Photo
RtE Member Michael Kswnyak hiking on the Olympic Peninsula
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