Cynthia Wilson, affectionately dubbed “Chaplain of Pop” has built a bridge between theology and popular culture as a blogger for twenty years providing commentary on faith,art, politics and music. Listen to her podcast by clicking the web version link at the bottom of this blog and at the top of the web version after the jump.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Live Earth Part II-Seven Point Pledge:Will it Inspire A Shift in Our Spending and Thinking Priorities?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Live Earth Part I-The Seven Point Pledge: A Panoramic View For Effective Environmental Action?(Revised 7.13.07)
The Live Earth 7 Point Pledge
I PLEDGE:
- To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;
- To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become “carbon neutral;”
- To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;
- To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;
- To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;
- To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,
- To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.
Today in the afterglow of "Live Earth",I lift up a podcast Reflection dated July 2,2007 which examines the Live Earth Seven Point Pledge.Click here to listen. Today's blog entry is the first in a series of supplements to that.
After careful reflection,I could not help but think that the pledge with all its fine points and high minded principles,still needs further tweaking to develop a fuller or more panoramic view in arriving at truly sustainable solutions to Earth's environmental problems. People from all walks of life have to be included in working out a solution to make it work.
There are still sub-issues of poverty,environmental racism and fair accessibility to resolution of the problem that have not been addressed within the pledge. One of the largest disasters in our country's history--Hurricane Katrina-- was brought on, some scientist speculate, by climate change(more...) as well as the human factors of environmental racism and glaring poverty.People in New Orleans are still reeling from its impact. Some,still can't return home because of the devastation.
That is why this effort in resolving the crisis should be as much of an exercise in participatory democracy as possible. There must be room made at the table for youth,the elderly,the poor and the disenfranchised(Yes. The disenfranchised still exist). Some of the points in the pledge they can not commit to from a practical standpoint because some lack a home to flip a light switch off or the socket from which to change to the use of another brand light bulb.They first need sustainable housing.
It was good that many people who would have otherwise been unable to attend the event were there because they volunteered for the "greening" part of the concert,which I see as a total plus. However, there was still a sector of society that could not experience the concert because they simply could not afford it.Some people just can't afford to "go green". They just don't have the wherewithal.There should be some kind of structure set up to assist those that are marginalized in taking advantage of the opportunities to fully participate in the effort to protect and conserve our environment as well as to be educated about the impact of global warming and other environmental threats. And,If you can't afford to make a sizable donation or pledge to "the cause" where does that leave you? Will your influence still be felt or your favor curried?
The spirit of the times is currently high with music and causes. As most artists shared modern styles and versions of songs of protest,social observation and enlightenment,I thought of the many protest songs of the past and how music has been such a tremendous force for constructive social action for so many years.Music has been used to raise awareness, make cultural and human rights statements during Woodstock,the Civil Rights Movement,the Concert for Bangladesh,Monterey Pop Festival, the Summer of Love,Tsunami Concert of Hope,Katrina Relief,etc.
The concert for Live Earth on Saturday was no different. Perhaps the lyrics by most artists were more subdued than the blaring protest sirens of yesteryear penned by icons such as Dylan,Springsteen,James Brown,Marvin Gaye,Stevie Wonder,Curtis Mayfield, John Lennon,etc. But that result more than likely has to do with the "spirit of the times" than anything else.
Channeling the creative and healing power of music is something that I believe will continue to serve as a catalyst for harmonious community action on the entire spectrum of environmental concerns including global warming.The sets performed by each musician at Live Earth all had their special moments. I can't believe that I actually set through 5 hours of music.From 5:15-10:30,one magnificent act after the other.John Mayer's songs really set the tone for the concert,particularly "Belief" and "waiting On the World to Change". Click here for a link to the play list located in the right profile section of Heavier Octaves.org
I could not help but to think of the "synchronicity" that was taking place. The spirit of cooperation and unity that was being set forth and molded. Although an avid music fan, there is no way I would have under normal circumstances sat through all of the sets,even though I enjoy a broad range of musical genres and many of my playlists reflect that.My initial musical motivation for attending were artists such as John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Kanye West,Ludacris,Akon,the Dave Matthews Band and a few others.I never even felt that "Smashing Pumpkins" would have been the kind of music that I would be exposing my auditory canals to on an extended basis.But this past Saturday,I surprisingly found myself enjoying their music as well as other bands providing further proof that the spirit was indeed high,alive and ripe with positive expectancy.
I would like to find myself in the future once the afterglow of the unifying musical vibrations from this concert event have settled, grooving and jamming the same way towards a workable solution. It is so vital to the outcome of this, that the community and its leaders be sincerely engaged and working with others from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds in arriving at solutions that are inclusive of all interests. The diversity and sheer number of artists that came together on one day at a set time, date and place was an illustration of the unity we can achieve in the broader community in alleviating the climate change crisis in our neighborhoods,local communities and globally.It was tremendously inspiring.
Live Earth was a wonderful beginning on a journey whose destination is within reach.The 7 Point Pledge is a document that should take on a "living,breathing" context,as any other document used as an instrument of galvanizing,motivating,defining,directing and molding constructive social action.
I think it will work. The engine has been ignited and propels forward with the fuel of positive energy and good will that has been generated by the music and leadership. While I think its safe to say that we can rely on the "spirit generated so far" in guiding us towards the ultimate goal, there is still some traveling and "tweaking" to do yet.
To be Continued...
Peace,
Cynthia
Related Blogs:
Week In Review and Daily Reflection
www.heavieroctaves.org: Poverty,Racism and Katrina-First Stop, Atlanta, Georgia
Protest Songs:Sing Up!
Relationship
Global Warming Notes Inspired by John Mayer
www.heavieroctaves.org: DECLARE Energy Independence on October 19th, 2004 (click here for further details)
Friday, July 6, 2007
Relationship
With the monumental event "Live Earth" rapidly approaching...tomorrow,July 7 at Giant's stadium and other venues across the globe,including London,Tokyo,Shanghai,Johannesburg,
Hamburg,Sydney and Rio,I thought this blog entry I posted over a year ago on MySpace would be very appropriate.
Connecting with people is what its all about anyway. Yes. Connecting,coming together with others for the good of the globe is really the ultimate "greening vibe" and I feel the positive energy of "linking up" and "hooking up" with others setting the tone and representing the spirit of the event. That's a wonderful thing.
The more inhabitants of planet earth can appreciate and respect each others true value and worth in this "global warming" challenge we all face, the better we can care for our planet... in the same spirit and manner. After all we hold the future of generations to come in our hands by the actions we now take.
With that said,I'd like to dedicate this blog entry,emphasizing the paragrah with bold print, to all the "Global Warming" heroes out there,sung and unsung alike.
And, of course,kudos to Gore,the visionary and Wall,the producer and their staff.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the concert whether you are a headlining musician,an organizer,a visionary,a producer,a "greening" volunteer or a member of the media.
Check out my "Week in Review" and "Reflection for Today" in the GCast widget in the upper right hand column. You can find Heavier Octaves PSA's,videos and links to podcasts at www.heavieroctaves.org.
Peace,
Cynthia
The following was reprinted from MySpace blog -Thursday, March 30, 2006
Connecting with people is a special thing. I'd like to be able to call you up, call upon you and you have the ability to recognize my voice immediately without the aid of caller ID or feeble introductory remarks. However, I need your number literally and figuratively in order to be able to do that. I might have had it or have it filed away somewhere. But I don't want to call you up and you get pissed off because I'm calling a number you didn't give me. Or, because you don't feel comfortable talking with me over the phone since we don't have relationship--no established track record of relating to one another. No history. Get it? You see my face or hear my voice in a crowded room and you don't know me from Adam or Eve. I'm sure that has actually happened to some on occasion. Attention span is at such a premium these days .There's no substitute for putting in real quality time with people and developing genuine relationship over a period of time. If you can't do the time, then don't expect a good and lasting friendship. It takes years of care,trust building and demonstrated concern to qualify as "friend." Sometimes doing the outlandish, which I've been known to do, to communicate a point can get lost in the translation without accurate interpretation.While I believe in the possibility of the miracle of "love at first sight" and the effectiveness of the "quick fix" internet contact, there is just no substitute for years spent in conversation and dialogue with a person, helping them out of jams, attending concerts and movies together,sharing jokes,etc.
Yes. Building up the formidable "relationship" track record has its benefits. For one,it makes it easier for the person to get your cue.We get our most compelling experiences with that relating to family. Fights with siblings over mistaken tooth brush use or a favorite take out eaten up that was left over in the fridge and gone missing in the morning... are the stock from which lasting relationships based on sometimes embarrassing, but decipherable nuanced conversations are made."Excuse my French!" Even better yet, can you imagine the kind of place the world would be, if people really started genuinely reaching out to one another in a real quality fashion? Seriously, if every person in the world were sitting down at their computer right now or on their telephone key pads trying to make contact in some profound and meaningful way with another person in the world, the shooting and other obnoxious forms of mayhem would stop at such an alarming rate that it would cause immediate shock to the global environment. Yes. The climate pattern shifts behind the current global warming crisis would likely permanently reverse their trends as well. Name dropping and other scandalous attempts at trying to be in the loop with someone would probably cease. It would completely eliminate the need for such escapades, because you'd have that person right there on the phone or IM. Do you think I'm being a bit unrealistic or over the top? Well, probably...yet, just give it some thought. If you have years of good memories spent with someone, through the thick and thins of life, you've got a friend in deed. The kind of quality found in friendship that's built over the years shooting marbles, skateboarding, collecting ants, dirt biking, playing with dolls, working out together in the gym is to be treasured. Having lunch and dinner together, sharing stories, attending class together and other real time experiences just don't seem to count as much as they once did. But,that's really where its at eventually. In today's cyber age time spent with others on message boards, in chat rooms and IMing count just as much. Even though it may be quite a difference in the style and form of relationship, it still is relating...just by modern standards.
While I love being able to communicate with so many people instantaneously, which is what internet communication affords, there is still no substitute for invested physical touch and interaction. I love sitting around with friends, either shooting the breeze or chewing the fat, giving each other skin when extending a hand, giving high fives i.e., the slapping on the palm kind that used to follow the phrase "Give me five". I also love cuddly bear hugs and hearing someone's breath in my ear during the pauses in our phone conversations. If you can give me that kind of hug or the breathy telephone pause, you're very likely to end up being a very good friend of mine. That is, if everything else checks out and measures up okay over the years. Yes, my friends. Call me, blog me, email me, friend me up, comment me, IM me, write me, parody me, satirize me and delay me... I'm always happy to hear from you. I prefer direct flights. But, in a pinch I'll take a connecting one.
|
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
So, What About the Streaming Wars...You Ask Me?
Photo Source
The current battle raging between the recording industry and internet radio broadcasters seems to be heating up.I've been following developments all along,having once maintained a stream on a major internet radio stream server. I've received and reviewed most,if not all of the emails they've sent out to their customer base, including one --I'm still on the email list--concerning D-Day of recent past where broadcasters claimed a day of silence in protest of the looming increase in royalties which go into effect on July 15,2007.
Today, I stumbled upon some interesting articles summarizing developments in that area.
As an internet stream radio host and enthusiastic proponent of internet radio,I wonder how long it will take for independent internet radio streams to be completely wiped out by what appears to be efforts of larger corporate interests to contain their streams, and indirectly benefit therefrom? While implementation of the policy appears inevitable, my most pressing question is:
What should small internet streamers that were finally starting to "get a taste" of revenue opportunities flowing from internet radio do now in the wake of this new regulation?
The RIAA continues to go about what appears to be a very aggressive agenda to control and keep "revenue streams" from various sources favorably disposed and routed in their direction.
I will weigh in on this topic and others in my "Week in Review" podcast,which is issued every Friday.
In the meantime,enjoy the linked blog articles and find out how you can save internet radio,if that is your wish.
Peace,
Cynthia(Revcoolc)
Recommended Reading:
Internet radio compromise on the way?
Congress Urges Peace Talks in Net Radio ConflictRoyalty Hike Could Mute Internet Radio
Royalty Wars:To Stream or Not to Stream?
Suggested Links:
Save Net Radio
Kurt Hanson.com
Orbit Cast-All Things Satellite Radio
Monday, July 2, 2007
Week in Review and Daily Reflection
Live Earth, Saturday,July 7- Venue-Giants Stadium
Photo Source
Artists performing include John Mayer,Alicia Keys,
Kanye West,Sheryl Crow,Akon,Ludacris
Hi Friends:
I hope all the "green" and "not so green" folks are gearing up for Saturday's Live Earth Concerts for a Climate in Crisis event. The local concert venue is Giants Stadium in New Jersey. For more info about artists performing there on Saturday and how to get to Giants click here.
For my "Reflection for Today" which includes observations on the Live Earth 7 Point Pledge released by Al Gore and Kevin Wall last Thursday click on that post on my GCast in the far right column above.
Today you not only receive the "Week in Review",which is a summary of important developments last week,but my "Reflection for Today" as well. Call it "Daily Inspiration Meets Word Economy". I've decided to change the format just a bit and lighten the load,so to speak. We all have busy days and schedules with information buzzing in from every medium and angle. And,if not,we're certainly working on it.
I want to be short ,sweet and to the point. That way,you'll be happy to see me coming... I'll still try and sneak a sermon in every now and then.
From henceforth and now on,I will be sending out short daily audios called "Reflections for Today". There will be no more "Daily Inspirations",though I hope you will still be inspired by what you do receive.I will send out a "Weekend Inspiration" every Friday,which will include the "Week in Review" audio summary.
If you stay posted to this blog and the Heavier Octaves blog,you'll
be pretty much up to date anyway. Just subscribe to either or both on the links provided and you'll receive updates automatically. You may also go to the Heavier Octaves Radio site and receive podcast updates as well by clicking on the audio link. And,of course you can add my Gcast to your website by copying in the html code.Just follow the instructions provided on the "Subscribe Free" and "Add to my page" links.Find the GCast widget in the upper right hand column of this page.
I'm still working on the Gospel,Lobluja(Love, blues and jazz) and High Notes playlists. It's still pretty much just me working in all departments(smile). Hope to have them available for your listening pleasure in the near future. In the meantime,feel free to travel over to my Ilike or MySpace page and check out the music of musicians in my Friends List.
Remember,"it takes the entire village to build community".
Peace,
Cynthia(Revcoolc)
Thursday, June 28, 2007
John Coltrane's Reflections on Religion
Photo Source
John Coltrane had to be one of the most profound musicians of his generation. Some of that wisdom has carried over into today. I have definitely enjoyed interviews that I've come across and other treasured source information on this great jazz saxophonist.
I thought I'd top this entry from a blog that I wrote earlier this year, which I maintain over at Myspace.
Monday, January 29, 2007
John Coltrane Reflections/Profile Songs of the Week I happened to come across a John Coltrane Myspace page today in search of the ideal Profile Song of the Week. These reflections on music by the Jazz master himself did just the thing for me. Unfortunately,I can't place any of his music in the Heavier Octaves' profile song player,because this John Coltrane page does not have any music uploaded. I did place a video of his performance of Afro Blue featuring Elvin Jones on drums....in the meantime,if you like,read some profound thoughts by Coltrane posted below,which I also stumbled upon here: "I think the majority of musicians are interested in truth." Enjoy your day. And if you are a musician,I hope the above in addition to this interview ,conducted in 1960, will provide you with some delicious food for thought. BTW, Coltrane's "Afro Blue" shares the Profile Song of the Week slot with Gospel/R&B legend Sam Cooke's "What A Wonderful World". Peace, Revcoolc |
Sunday, June 24, 2007
What Do You Do When You Get There?:The Katrina Rebuilding Effort
Photo Source
The Sunday New York Times ran a special comprehensive spread today on progress in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The much needed full issue dedication is pretty timely,especially in light of the "Weekend Inspiration" emailed out to friends on Friday-- a copy of my sermon ,What Do You Do When You Get There?-A Reflection on the Poverty Initiative's January 2006 Katrina Relief Team Trip to the Gulf Coast. It chronicles last year's mission trip to the Gulf Coast,Ocean Springs,Biloxi and New Orleans while at the same time, wrestles to make some sense of the devastation in the face of slow motion recovery and rebuilding efforts. I am happy to be in such good tune with current events. I hope that edge will inspire healing in the form of timely, equitable and effective rebuilding in the great city of New Orleans.
To date, the move towards progress continues at a snail's pace even for real estate mogul Donald Trump, who has a $400 Million Dollar High Rise project currently at stake and in parked status in New Orleans. Trump is committed to the city and is involved to do whatever he can to help the city out.
However, the overall delay in rebuilding New Orleans seems to be facing ostensibly begs the question,"What seems to be the hold up?" A more probing follow up would inquire what continues to be the underlying problem with unifying people and forging ahead for the good of all the city's residents?
From my experience,usually when there's a delay in major activity on a scale of this magnitude,it usually means one or two things. Either there is strong disagreement among the key players, money is in short supply or there has been a delay in processing it due to cash flow issues or even worse,no one quite knows how to approach the problem.
Based on an assessment of the current situation, there appears to be a web of overlapping issues that continue to contribute to the murky state of rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. First of all, I suspect there may be some tension behind the fact that the levees are still not up to par. The Army Corps of Engineers released a report recently on that issue as reported in the New York Times.
Then,there is theBaker Bill. Grassroots community organizers and membership organization,The Color of Change,has a campaign underway which opposes the bill, claiming it caters to the rich and powerful real estate interest,encouraging gentrification, while sacrificing the poor and placing them in the untenable position of being uprooted from their life long homes and being forced to live elsewhere.
Then there is HR 1227 which is a Bill to allow public housing residents back into the city after being forced out indefinitely after Hurricane Katrina. There is also the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project which is designed to give the citizens of New Orleans the right to return to rebuild their homes themselves without the gentrification threat community leaders feel the Baker Bill poses.
There has been a move afoot to organize the community to support these two pieces of legislation which grassroots organizers feel will better provide pre-Katrina homeowners a fair and fighting chance to come back to New Orleans and rebuild.The bills are important.They also interplay dynamically with the issues of poverty,racism and poor structural support for the levees and would seem to inform any plans by developers and master builders to restore New Orleans.
I suspect that Trump's as well as other real estate developer's projects may have gotten bogged down by the cloud of uncertainty that continues to hover over New Orleans. Further, the Army Corps of Engineers doesn't seem to have much promising news about the ability of the levees to withstand another deluge of water and wind from future hurricanes.There are probably a whole slew of additional "hidden" issues that have not even surfaced yet that contribute significantly to and perpetuate the current inertia.
When the Poverty Initiative's Relief Team first arrived in New Orleans in January of last year we met with a real estate developer(more on that story here), someone who could provide us with a pretty straightforward summary of the rebuilding quagmire."Press", almost a year and one half ago was concerned with the fate of the Baker Bill which he supported as a viable means of proceeding with rebuilding efforts.However,that now seems to be facing grassroots opposition. It seems efforts to spread awareness concerning the need for passage of HR 1227 and the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project continues as a grassroots priority.
The latter gives long time residents of New Orleans who are being permanently displaced due to Hurricane Katrina,the muscle to stand their ground and successfully fight to save and remain in their homes. They can also be gainfully employed in the process by rebuilding New Orleans and receive compensation for their efforts.The former is a provision that would allow residents of public housing to return to the city,because now they are being blocked. Many poor feel New Orleans is being stolen right out from under them and that rich and powerful development in the city will unjustly squeeze them out.
In light of the foregoing,I'd like to offer some suggestions to those in New Orleans making valiant or otherwise efforts to rebuild based on my observations as a member of the Poverty Initiative's Fact Finding Mission Trip last January. The following course of action may get some rebuilding activity going.
If you haven't already,you may want to:
-meet, talk and form alliances with grassroots community,religious and civic leaders
-meet with long time residents,residents of public housing units and other people who will likely be permanently displaced if they are not allowed to return to the city
-Reach out. Become familiar with their stories,their pains,their anguish,their losses
-Take a look at Jonathan Demme's "Right to Return" movie on New Orleans
-View Spike Lee's documentary-"When the Levees Broke"
Other Suggested Resources:
"Katrina":Listening With Our Hearts",as well, found on the Poverty Initiative's website
A sermon reflecting on the trip to New Orleans,which was preached in Union Theological Seminary's James Chapel on February 6,2006. You will find it here, or just scroll down to the blog entry prior to this one.
There are still so many uncertainties. However,if people can come together in the spirit and vein of "Rich and Poor Alike" ,working together in solidarity to rebuild,then,I think you may get some movement on this...
Peace,
Cynthia(Revcoolc)
Related Photos and Blogs:
Above Photos taken by Cynthia D. Wilson from Moving Van(passenger side) upon approach to New Orleans-January 13,2006. The Poverty Initiative of Union Theological Seminary- Hurricane Katrina Relief Team Trip
Related Blogs:
What Do You Do When You Get There?( A Reflection on the Poverty Initiative's January 2006 Katrina Relief Team Trip to the Gulf Coast)
www.heavieroctaves.org: January 11, 2006- Ocean Springs, Mississippi-Rich and Poor Alike-More Photos
www.heavieroctaves.org: Jan 13-New Orleans-Final Stop on Katrina Trip-Part I
www.heavieroctaves.org: Jan. 13-More Pictures of New Orleans Area...5 Months After Katrina- Part II
The photos in the link immediately above and the ones below depict the remains of Lower Ninth Ward Homes in Jan.2006
For further information, email cynthia@cynthiadwilson.com
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