Heavier Octaves Radio Program Update

This is Friday and it is time for the weekend inspiration.Today's blog is short,sweet and to the point.

I'm thinking about beginning each weekend with a Radio Program Update and Summary,which will provide a brief rundown on important issues and developments in the world of pop culture which includes social and humanitarian action.You are probably already aware of some of the developments, if you've read the emails I've sent out earlier this week.

I hope this audio provides reassurance that I am not out to wear your vision down with long blogs. In celebration of the weekend,just click on the link provided below and get the latest news prepared especially for you. After all,I have to provide some evidence that I "speak" to stay in line with the title of this blog(smile). Here you go:

Heavier Octaves Radio Program Update

If you care to subscribe to the podcast,go here and click on one or more of the feeds of your choice on our podcast page.


Talk to you on Monday.

Peace,

Cynthia

"Instant Karma":The Campaign to Save Darfur

Today,I lift up the subject of Darfur. I just received an email from Rock the Vote. I've been a long time supporter of their activities. As station host of the Heavier Octaves internet radio broadcast, I promoted a fair amount of their PSA's by celebrities encouraging young people to vote.They've sent out information regarding the release of the new "Instant Karma"benefit CD, a compilation of John Lennon songs covered by some of today's top established and emerging artists.

Lennon's widow Yoko Ono will donate the publishing royalties associated with the album to the cause.In a statement associated with the announcement of the CD project earlier this year,Ono stated:

"It's wonderful that, through this campaign, music that is so familiar to many people of my era will now be embraced by a whole new generation," Ono said in a statement. "John's music set out to inspire change, and in standing up for human rights, we really can make the world a better place."

Needless to say,I agree with Yoko.

I have been involved in an effort to keep the Darfur issue before a portion of the intelligentsia, as well as the popular culture through various blogs and an online publication on which I served as Senior Editor while a seminary student,Heavier Octaves High Notes,a blog which was more like a "blogzine"(my word for it anyway). An article on the Sudan genocide was written and contributed to that publication by Dr. Colleen Birchett,a colleague and friend who is also an author and educator. She travels to various churches and informs them how they can get involved. Click on the link below to review it:

Update On Sudan

And,for a short blurb about the CD project,click on the following link:

Instant Karma:The Campaign to Save Darfur

Darfur is a place and subject which is either in the forefront of your mind or placed in the far recesses of it out of sheer determination to preserve your sanity. The unfathomable atrocities that are being committed by humans against their fellow beings is something that you don't want to stay fixed in your mind's eye for too long. Unfortunately,however,it must be acknowledged in order to be resolved and an end put to it.

This is a "Daily Inspiration" column where I attempt to report on events and developments with an eye towards making us all feel better. After all, what more powerful tool can be used to channel effectively constructive energies from the masses? By making us hopeful, inspiration certainly goes a long way towards putting an end to the sense of hopelessness which usually envelopes these kinds of issues.

I mean what could I or you possibly do to save a life way over there? If a janjaweed militiaman came in either of our directions,we'd probably be at a loss. I don't even know how to shoot a gun less alone defend another against an assault by one.You probably don't either. And,hopefully,you nor I will ever have to come up against such a choice in order to make a qualitative difference.

I am happy to see the issue being stirred up, the information being circulated and the music getting out there. I have not had a chance to listen to the tracks in their entirety. As soon as I do I'll send you a review as a follow up along with an update on the crisis.

I just hope the Sudanese leaders and those doing the actual killing will call "time out" and really listen to the music and the message of each song.Let's keep singing the chorus in our hearts as we go through the day.

Spinning the music to inspire and generate activism is a step in the right direction. A prayer or two would also help... In fact, global prayer coupled with musical harmony and the world singing the finale in unison, may be the only action powerful enough to galvanize the forces needed to counteract this madness.

Peace,

Cynthia

Darfur

Darfur is a place and subject which is either in the forefront of your mind or placed in the far recesses of it out of sheer choice to preserve your sanity. The unfathomable atrocities that are being committed by humans against their fellow beings is something that you don't want to stay fixed in your mind's eye for too long. Unfortunately,it must be acknowledged in order to be resolved and an end put to it.

Protest Songs:Sing Up!

"A Wish for Peace" by Peppita Selles As today's inspiration,I thought it would be great to make a joyful noise in celebration and praise of the freedom to vote,to speak our minds and to protest. While at it,you might want to check up on the Voting Rights Amendment news or register to vote yourself,if you have not done so already. The right to vote did not come easily.It was hard fought.So was the right to speak freely and responsibly.Often,people have given their lives so that we could have the freedom to express ourselves without fear of reprisal,retaliation or execution. Follow the link below to an article on a MySpace blog originally copied from the archives of the "Heavier Octaves High Notes" Blogzine which was published on April 24,2006.It contains Heavier Octaves' top pics from Mojo Magazine's Top 100 Protest Song List of all time.Find it at the Heavier Octaves MySpace blog here.Some new songs have been added as well from recent times,including Alicia Keys and Bono "Don't Give Up Africa",Stevie Wonder and India Irie's "Time To Love" and John Mayer's "Belief". In addition,a link has been provided to a sample of each song listed.You can find complete versions of most songs at the itunes music store.Just click on the link. Now go ahead and pump up the volume. As you sing and/or dance to the music,send out good vibrations and prayers to those areas of society or the globe for that matter,that you feel need to be lifted up for positive change. Enjoy. Peace, Cynthia

www.heavieroctaves.org: Radio Program Update

http://heavieroctaves.blogspot.com/2004/09/radio-program-update.html

www.heavieroctaves.org: Live 8-The Long Walk to Justice

Photo Source

Today with the Live Earth concert a little less than a month away,I was reminiscing about "Live 8",the global concert organized by Bono and Bob Geldolf to make poverty history in July 2005. I attended the show in Philly . I even got a chance to conduct a few interviews of people who traveled near and far to catch the concert. I also have the T-shirt which frequently adorns my upper body.I got one of the rare tie-dyed editions from a local street vendor,probably home grown. And,I love it!

Anyway,this blog will likely be written in two installments. Maybe three. I have a lot to say about poverty, making it history, the world of benefit concerts and awareness raising,which I now call "perspective heightening" out of homage to a friend. By the way, the "Live Earth Concert in the New York City area will be held on July 7,2007 at Giants Stadium.Click here for more information.

I will return soon with a little something to say about "Live Earth". Hopefully,I'll be providing the story through the lens of a backstage observer, music lover and social activist a la life poet. I will explain what that is one day. Promise.

This is just an article to get your thought wheels turning. What does it really take to make positive change in the world? Will heightening perspective and raising levels of awareness really do it? Are global concerts the way to go?

Anyway,enjoy the read which was posted on the Heavier Octaves blog on Friday,June 3,2005:

www.heavieroctaves.org: Live 8-The Long Walk to Justice

Have a good weekend.

Peace,

Cynthia

A Missing O'Donnell Observation...

(More...)






www.heavieroctaves.org: Rosie O'Donnell's- For All Kids Foundation-Help for Katrina Survivors

I thought I'd top the above blog post from the Heavier Octaves blog dated December 12,2006. Here's why:

Recently Rosie O'Donnell has been in one battle after the other with fellow "View"talk show hosts and business magnate Donald Trump.The story has been all over the news and in gossip driven media like TMZ. Both have made less than charming references to one another.In fact,the hostile and mostly vitriolic "back and forth" would seemingly have come to blows, if the two were in close proximity to one another when making the provoking exchange of remarks.

All in all, it seems the whole matter has taken public discourse down a few notches,if that is at all possible in today's age. But seriously, if adults can't communicate with civility towards one another, choosing to make spectacles of themselves "playing the dozens" , as the old folks call it, and for whatever reasons,before millions of viewers, how can the kids be expected to behave differently? Do some public figures even care anymore? Or, has the ratings game and the obsession with the kind of popularity and viewership such dialogue potentially generates taken priority?

The Rosie controversy escalated and put a strain on relationship with View honcho Barbara Walters, which eventually led to her departure from the popular morning television program. Incidentally,I can't help but imagine how "Star" is taking all this in.

I've followed the breaking news reports,the gossip spins on the story and I have also reflected on the immense popularity and huge success Rosie enjoyed with her TV talk show a few years back. A lot of that was a result of the wonderful things she did for guests on the show and the kindnesses she extended to others in general.She was even dubbed the "Queen of Nice".

Well, let not your hopes be dashed.She still appears to be continuing her reign in the world of "niceness" and continues to"help others". She has a special fondness for assisting children and they are those needing the most care and attention.

Recently,Electronic Arts,Inc.'s casual gaming destination Pogo.com™ has teamed up with Rosie O’Donnell to launch their newest charitable program ‘Pogo Cares Benefiting Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation’. This two month program raises awareness within the vibrant Pogo.com community of 11 million players. Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation helps bring child care, education and happiness to America’s kids. With the help of its players, Pogo.com will donate $30K to the foundation.

I, then, recalled a blog that posted on Heavier Octaves last year reporting Rosie's generosity to the children of New Orleans in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. And, I thought to myself "someone should be talking about the good things she does and has done with as much zeal as this brouhaha with Trump has been reported".

So,click on the link above,if you have not already done so and be further enlightened.You may also visit her foundation's website here.

Enjoy reading it. As you do,wonder what is going on in New Orleans. I hear reports of progress. But it is, from what I gather, very slow. Also, and perhaps as important,wonder what is happening to our media and interpersonal communication standards. There seems to be a lot of "upheaval" taking place in that arena, whether for the good or the bad.

One thing that has become clearer to me throughout my observation of this whole thing,is that it is not always "what you say,but how you say it". In addition, you can't always judge a person by what they say. While that is important,their broader body of work should be taken into consideration as well i.e.,the kinds of contributions they've made to their communities,the quality of person they have demonstrated themselves to be over the long run,etc.

What is in a person's heart is ultimately more important than what they say. And,we can only hear it if we listen with ours. Admittedly,this is not always the case. But ,I think it is very applicable here.

Keep Rosie, the children, the people of New Orleans and "respectful dialogue" lifted up in your thoughts today.

Peace,

Cynthia