Climate change is real. As real as the very earth we live in. Our actions, our choices, consumption, competition, greed and ignorance has lead to this global break-down of the 'natural order'. An undeniable impact which is being felt today in many parts of the world, set to escalate and worsen for the future generations. Our children and grand-children (and their's) are set to suffer the consequences of unlimited growth, rabid consumption, industrialisation and globalisation. The amount of carbon 'pumped' by us is simply killing the planet and it's inhabitants. Humongous forest fires in California, Finland, Portugal, Spain and Greece. Epic hurricanes in Florida, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Cuba. Flash floods in France, China, India, Bangladesh, Honduras and Mexico. Ice caps melting at 'a never before' rate in the Arctic, Antarctica, Alps and Himalayas. Acute ground-water shortage and erratic rainstorms in Central Africa, India, USA and Honduras. The oceans rammed with polymer and industrial acids. The extinction-rate of birds, animals, fish and insects is higher than ever. Two in seven children suffer from respiratory diseases in the biggest cities of the world. The list of catastrophes that rises every year has set a wild-fire of fear, speculation and alarm amongst thousands of scientists, academics, activists, policy makers and citizens [of all faiths and none] in many nations : those who realise the morbid symptoms of a planet which is clearly sick. So sick of it all? So what does music have to do with climate-change? What does a Polar Bear have to do with Carbon Emissions? What do bees have to do with your holiday package? Does popular music react to the biggest threat facing the planet (since the discovery of the N-Bomb)? How can music make a difference in this war against extinction? Do we as artists, care about awareness, survival and counter-action? Increasing number of artists do, however as always, the action is at the margins. The answers not easy and we are left with little time...
The Doomsday Song!
Antonio Gramsci, Italian theorist and writer, circa 1920, wrote "Humanity has a choice in the twentieth century : do we continue to serve the machines and masters or do we stand, work and live as equals? That should not be a difficult choice for most people" Gramsci's question, almost a century later is still as valid. Billions hooked on the internet, feeding and serving algorithms owned and controlled by Google, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook. "The information systems are created to promote business, sales, full of click-baits geared for increased consumption. Therefore we see little space dedicated to conservation, awareness and information about climate-change on Facebook and Twitter. Google Ad-sense tells us labels like "Christmas" and "Black-Friday" is more 'profitable and attractive' than words like "Climate-Change" and "Carbon Emission" Emma Grienger speaking at the Impact Of Climate-Change Summit UK 2017. Scientists, politicians and academics are at war, over climate change and future risks as time runs out. We are at the tipping point now, as more ice melts and global temperatures soar. The call of the rational is about action - not be an alarmist nor live in the fake bliss of denial. "Where did all the blue skies go ...got poison in the winds that blow" sang Marvin Gaye in 1971 in his soul-hit 'Mercy Mercy'. Big industries, coal and petro-chemical giants and vicious capitalists (the likes of Donald Trump, Shell, BP and Exxon) continue to deny climate-change and their responsibility in the on-going destruction of the planet's ecosystem. It's mutually assured destruction. Spells MAD! Mainstream media-bells are ringing the doomsday jingle every once a while, however failing to provide any cohesive reforms or recourse. Mainstream culture has very little 'space' for addressing extinction, instead dancing away to the death march of acquisition and consumerism. Most pop-artists, major record labels, music festivals and popular blogs remain silent or oblivious about the subject. A large part of their content is instead looping on brand hype, icon-worship, merchandise, tickets and discounts, as seen on twitter, instagram and facebook. 'Rock and Roll Gods' and 'high-profile Divas' have voiced solidarity for the protection of the environment, however it mostly serves their public-image and career, sans any real sacrifice or tangible effects. 95% famous DJ's and EDM superstars flying around the world are 'mute' or clueless about climate-change. World Tours and tens of thousand watts running on fossil fuel economy. The 'petro-billionaires' keep counting their profits. The crux of artist activism and environment based music is at the fringe, the 'up-standers' scattered in countries like Canada, UK, France, Germany, Brazil, South Korea, South Africa and USA. At an intersection of arts, science and activism. We are hearing emerging voices, music, rap, dance, poetry inspired by climate-change and the environment - concept based compositions, installations, video and code using climate-data. 'Disruptive Culture'. The old social paradigm, now digitally re-activated via people across the world, is engaging in 'non-violent disruption' - aimed for real change and as a possibility to avoid mass extinction!
'And Then?' Art by The Climate Music Project
Progressive Extinction Rebellion?
"You cannot use the word hope if your not going to resist" said writer, journalist and public activist, Chris Hedges at the annual Oxford Debate in 2017. "We are in a herd-mentality under mass hypnosis of sorts. Why are we waiting for the state and industry to intervene? when evidence shows 'they' have done nothing to stop fracking, mining, coal emissions, nuclear threat and industrial pollution" asks Gail Bradbrook of Extinction Rebellion. 'Grandfather of climate-science' and environmentalist, James Hansen puts it out straight - "As individuals, if we are not going to reduce our carbon-footprint, we are adding to the problem, making it worse every day. Our pollution, plastic, carbon-di-oxide and emissions directly effects the climate and everything connected to it. Think again about those cheap airline tickets, duty-free shopping, the trash on the beach and tourism. It's all connected". Radical change may not happen, nor is impending doom going to disappear by denial or mere hope. Folks who deny climate-change are similar to those who believe in a flat earth. The progressive side of change is in the assertion of individual and collective will, which translates into action, on a daily basis, however small or fringe. "The Dramatis Personae, are deficient as well, being us. Too many villains can mar a plot as easily as too few, and “starring everyone with a car” is a large cast indeed. We don’t much want to be told that we’re the problem, primarily because it implies we would have to change some of our ways" says Bill Mckibben, pioneer climate-scientist. The Monsanto Years, Niel Young's 2015 album and the Crazy Horse live edition titled 'Earth' speaks of the devastation done in the name of agricultural science, progress and the downside of rabid consumerism. Artists & Climate Change is an action group founded by Chantal Bilodou which is building various strategies, engaging in discussions and advocating pro-active options for a cleaner, healthier and organic future. The Climate Music Project, is a new movement which combines disciplines from science, arts and activism. The team's aim is to combine the talents and expertise of scientists, composers, musicians, artists, and technology visionaries to build effective solutions to combat climate-change and environment protection. Recently Daniel Crawford, from the University of Minnesota, has written music for a string quartet that uses data and computation charts from rising temperatures since the 1880s. The composition was performed by various classical-musicians at the Smithsonian Museum as a 'Song Of Our Warming Planet'. A study done by Impetus Global this year states "The words 'baby', 'honey', 'booty' and 'love you' were repeated 124,331 times inside 610,000 odd tunes, while words like 'environment', 'extinction' and 'pollution' showed up less than 800 times." David Viner, working at Climate Resilience states "The economic repercussions caused by global climate-change will eventually impact all sectors of human life, which includes arts and music as well. If we don't activate 'climate conscious values' within cultural and educational institutions, artists and musicians, consequently a large part of the population will not pursue progressive changes and habits."
Antonio Gramsci, Italian theorist and writer, circa 1920, wrote "Humanity has a choice in the twentieth century : do we continue to serve the machines and masters or do we stand, work and live as equals? That should not be a difficult choice for most people" Gramsci's question, almost a century later is still as valid. Billions hooked on the internet, feeding and serving algorithms owned and controlled by Google, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook. "The information systems are created to promote business, sales, full of click-baits geared for increased consumption. Therefore we see little space dedicated to conservation, awareness and information about climate-change on Facebook and Twitter. Google Ad-sense tells us labels like "Christmas" and "Black-Friday" is more 'profitable and attractive' than words like "Climate-Change" and "Carbon Emission" Emma Grienger speaking at the Impact Of Climate-Change Summit UK 2017. Scientists, politicians and academics are at war, over climate change and future risks as time runs out. We are at the tipping point now, as more ice melts and global temperatures soar. The call of the rational is about action - not be an alarmist nor live in the fake bliss of denial. "Where did all the blue skies go ...got poison in the winds that blow" sang Marvin Gaye in 1971 in his soul-hit 'Mercy Mercy'. Big industries, coal and petro-chemical giants and vicious capitalists (the likes of Donald Trump, Shell, BP and Exxon) continue to deny climate-change and their responsibility in the on-going destruction of the planet's ecosystem. It's mutually assured destruction. Spells MAD! Mainstream media-bells are ringing the doomsday jingle every once a while, however failing to provide any cohesive reforms or recourse. Mainstream culture has very little 'space' for addressing extinction, instead dancing away to the death march of acquisition and consumerism. Most pop-artists, major record labels, music festivals and popular blogs remain silent or oblivious about the subject. A large part of their content is instead looping on brand hype, icon-worship, merchandise, tickets and discounts, as seen on twitter, instagram and facebook. 'Rock and Roll Gods' and 'high-profile Divas' have voiced solidarity for the protection of the environment, however it mostly serves their public-image and career, sans any real sacrifice or tangible effects. 95% famous DJ's and EDM superstars flying around the world are 'mute' or clueless about climate-change. World Tours and tens of thousand watts running on fossil fuel economy. The 'petro-billionaires' keep counting their profits. The crux of artist activism and environment based music is at the fringe, the 'up-standers' scattered in countries like Canada, UK, France, Germany, Brazil, South Korea, South Africa and USA. At an intersection of arts, science and activism. We are hearing emerging voices, music, rap, dance, poetry inspired by climate-change and the environment - concept based compositions, installations, video and code using climate-data. 'Disruptive Culture'. The old social paradigm, now digitally re-activated via people across the world, is engaging in 'non-violent disruption' - aimed for real change and as a possibility to avoid mass extinction!
'And Then?' Art by The Climate Music Project
Progressive Extinction Rebellion?
"You cannot use the word hope if your not going to resist" said writer, journalist and public activist, Chris Hedges at the annual Oxford Debate in 2017. "We are in a herd-mentality under mass hypnosis of sorts. Why are we waiting for the state and industry to intervene? when evidence shows 'they' have done nothing to stop fracking, mining, coal emissions, nuclear threat and industrial pollution" asks Gail Bradbrook of Extinction Rebellion. 'Grandfather of climate-science' and environmentalist, James Hansen puts it out straight - "As individuals, if we are not going to reduce our carbon-footprint, we are adding to the problem, making it worse every day. Our pollution, plastic, carbon-di-oxide and emissions directly effects the climate and everything connected to it. Think again about those cheap airline tickets, duty-free shopping, the trash on the beach and tourism. It's all connected". Radical change may not happen, nor is impending doom going to disappear by denial or mere hope. Folks who deny climate-change are similar to those who believe in a flat earth. The progressive side of change is in the assertion of individual and collective will, which translates into action, on a daily basis, however small or fringe. "The Dramatis Personae, are deficient as well, being us. Too many villains can mar a plot as easily as too few, and “starring everyone with a car” is a large cast indeed. We don’t much want to be told that we’re the problem, primarily because it implies we would have to change some of our ways" says Bill Mckibben, pioneer climate-scientist. The Monsanto Years, Niel Young's 2015 album and the Crazy Horse live edition titled 'Earth' speaks of the devastation done in the name of agricultural science, progress and the downside of rabid consumerism. Artists & Climate Change is an action group founded by Chantal Bilodou which is building various strategies, engaging in discussions and advocating pro-active options for a cleaner, healthier and organic future. The Climate Music Project, is a new movement which combines disciplines from science, arts and activism. The team's aim is to combine the talents and expertise of scientists, composers, musicians, artists, and technology visionaries to build effective solutions to combat climate-change and environment protection. Recently Daniel Crawford, from the University of Minnesota, has written music for a string quartet that uses data and computation charts from rising temperatures since the 1880s. The composition was performed by various classical-musicians at the Smithsonian Museum as a 'Song Of Our Warming Planet'. A study done by Impetus Global this year states "The words 'baby', 'honey', 'booty' and 'love you' were repeated 124,331 times inside 610,000 odd tunes, while words like 'environment', 'extinction' and 'pollution' showed up less than 800 times." David Viner, working at Climate Resilience states "The economic repercussions caused by global climate-change will eventually impact all sectors of human life, which includes arts and music as well. If we don't activate 'climate conscious values' within cultural and educational institutions, artists and musicians, consequently a large part of the population will not pursue progressive changes and habits."
What Can I Do?
"Give or take, we have 15 odd years before the extinction cycle and climate goes through the roof. As of now we have a curtain-raiser of sorts with all the fires, storms, droughts, tsunamis and ice caps melting" states Guy McPherson, a scientist emeritus who quit professional academia instead opting for activism, mentoring, and a career dedicated to climate-action. His utterly gloomy research and evidence shows, that we as a race have reached a point-of-no-return, and around the year 2030, the earth set to witness a 'Near Term Extinction'. Naturally the big question, with immense ethical and practical importance being - As individuals what can we do? The 'Individual Will' facing a very alarming condition. Sensationalism is mostly entertainment, as loose-talk is with zero consequences in reality. Scientific data, jargons and the on-going skullduggery mostly remains beyond public dissemination. George Monboit, author of Out Of The Wreckage says "Just by eating meat and dairy we are causing immense damage to land, forests, agriculture, plus the horrid cruelty we inflict on millions of animals everyday". Millions of posters, slogans, speeches, donations, resolutions and hashtags will not save us. Awareness, action, disruption and empathy is the need of the hour. Consider life and resources on earth as finite. Consider extinction as a big possibility if we don't change our habits and point-of-view. Consider infinite growth as a complete hoax. Consider choices in life which you find challenging. ★ Question the very nature of consumption. Deduce and reduce. We could reduce or quit eating meat (mass evidence shows that a significant part of climate-change is related to animal harvesting and production of meat). ★ Could we boycott brands which abuse farmers, workers, animals and consequently destroys nature? ★ Could we reject harmful sugar-based poison like Coke and Pepsi? ★ Reject chocolate manufactured via bondage of child-labor? Could we be less cruel? ★ We could use more public transport and drive less. Use a bicycle for short distances. We can walk! Use the air-conditioner less (our 'cool' is actually creating immense heat) Could we implement renewable energy sources or even try growing vegetables at home? ★ We could question our daily diet, loaded with sugar, salt and all sorts of unwanted chemicals and additives. Home cooked food instead of plastic wrapped insta-gobblers (made somewhere you may know nothing about). ★ We could re-examine our possessions, our energy habits and our rampant material desires (screw 'black-friday offers' and cyber-monday discounts). ★ We could write songs about climate-change? ★ Check if synthesizers and musical instruments are made under climate-friendly conditions? ★ We could constructively speak about climate-change with our peers, friends and family? However 'Could' is not a sufficient word. Not anymore. Rather we activate change (however small or local) not just for ourselves but for the future generations of human, animal and plant life on earth. Climate-change is certain. Action Now!
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