The pop music industry is a business of epic proportions. It's size often immeasurable in terms of outreach, revenues, propaganda and the power to influence billions of people. Studded with stars of every generation, race and colour, now it's out to save the world. Some of biggest names are out singing, notching up their activism and selling records in their bid to save our sick planet. Like big business and it's good looking founders, pop artists, bands, starlets and celebrities too are 'woke' ! The colour of the business is surely changing, to green, yet the 'chameleon' within remains as is. The 'chameleon' as a metaphor of shifting appearance versus a fixed character. "We’re about to die if we don’t change” pop-diva Billy Eilish told the LA Times.
Yet this new 'woke revolution' is not about changing the system, nor about giving up privilege. The climate-crisis is transforming into a neo-liberal cash-cow actually. In this feature we are looking at a few cases of how the elite charade of 'I can save the world' works inside the mainstream entertainment industry. Hooking into the global crisis to further their own agenda, which is mostly about expansion, business and the upward flow of wealth. Pop-stars don't count their emissions - instead they prefer to embrace 'Green Mantras' (lies). The science of climate-change is mostly an arbitrary hook, in the change of colors, call it a change of exterior aesthetics, while the ethics remain loyal to profit, capitalism and wanton emissions of CO2.
Flying in his private jet, emitting hundreds of tons of CO2 every year, Sir Elton John has come up with a stupendously idiotic idea. A new tax based on carbon footprint, for all artists, big or small, and divert the dollars towards climate justice. Hailed by mainstream media as a novel proposition, it's supposed to be right up there as truly 'woke'. Yet we know well that the millionaire celebrity is best friends with the british royalty (Prince Harry, Charles, Princess Meghan et all) who own several private jets, emitting wanton amounts of of carbon. Paid by the taxpayers money off-course! Sir Elton John's pathetic liberal hoodwink (never-mind a career made of lame denial based songs and designer shades) is aptly explained by the skeptics scanning the greenwash industry.
Rap and Religion is woke too! And their rapport links up with greenwashing movements at the forefront of climate-action. When asked why Rap, The Gospel and Climate-Justice have united? Rev Lennox Yearwood, CEO of Hip Hop Caucus states, “It’s broadening the current climate movement.” A quick troll through Youtube reveals the true emancipation of the Reverend, who is busy harvesting youth hope and money, via iconic speeches and seminars (conducted in the arcane christian spirit) across america since 2014. The man lives in a petite mansion and was awarded the "New Green Hero" by the Rolling Stones in 2018. Karthik Ganapathy, 350.org’s communication manager, told the Guardian. “We’re proud to be a part of the tour, because we’re seeing it as another opportunity to reach new people, and grow our movement,” he said. Another opportunity to exploit hope, goodwill and money of the disenfranchised marginalised black, latino, brown and yellow folks in America. In essence, 350.org is an institution which simply mirrors the dominant greenwash manifesto. In bold fonts they claim "We are standing up to the fossil fuel industry to stop all new coal, oil and gas projects and build clean energy future for all." Multiple requests asking for their annual carbon foot-print, the organisation in question, never responds, be it emails or social media. Instead every week we receive anxious newsletters heckling for donation based solidarity. Less we overlook, 350 and it's founder Bill Mckibben are connected with the richest (and so woke) capitalist sororities like The Sierra Club and Bloomberg Energy Finance.
"Hands off the Antartic" - Thom Yorke is also woke. In a bid raise awareness about the on-going catastrophe of the melting Antartic, the gloomy bard and the greenwashing industry are marching together. The video and call for action is made of "stunning footage and breath-taking imagery" commissioned by Greenpeace, made of the footage from their ship called 'Arctic Sunrise'. Given Greenpeace's mission to save the world is long and outstanding, less we forget that it is also the world's richest NGO. Their global presence is totally dependent on thousands of flights, trains, taxis and some ships too, all adding up to thousands of tons of carbon emissions. Not a word on their website or propaganda about that. Millions of 'woke hipsters' donating 15 euros a month anyway. The top executives of this global network, earn monthly salaries of up to USD 200,000. Woke capitalism at war with capitalism is puzzling and smells fishy. Now what about Thom Yorke? Is he woke about Human Rights? Woke about children killed by deadly military occupation? Woke about Palestine? The public backlash and the BDS campaign which slammed back at his hypocritical stance over occupied Palestine, was apt, to crumble the super-star's ego. What's worse, that Thom Yorke remained loyal to the Israeli entertainment industry, disregarding global public pressure, which was urging Radiohead to cancel all futures concerts in Israel and occupied Palestine. We could say "Hands off Thom Yorke" - For he is the bard of fake sorrow. But then Radiohead has just introduced 'Bio-Fuelled' tour buses and cars, to zip in and out of venues...
Back in the 90's Bono, Sting and many 'woke' pop-stars tried to save the rain-forests, seals, polar-bears and what not. Bono also stashed millions of euros in offshore shadow banks to avoid taxes. The Panama Papers made that clear. Billy Eilish is repeating the same elite charade today. By donating 'five figures' annually to leading climate-action organisations, one can't omit the fact that Billy Eilish, like many pop divas, earns hundreds of times more every year. The couture, cloths, shoes, accessories that she endorses are proof of the hyper-privilege, stamped by big brands, which exploit vast number of poor starving labor in third world nations. The trail of 'woke pop' mostly leads us back to grandiosity dancing upon exploitation. Billy Eilish's carbon-footprint (plus that of her crew and management) is clearly preposterous yet the starlet dare not address the actual emissions of her sellout concerts and tours. Just drop some crumbs off the table for the unfortunate times and people. "The wealthy and their super popular friends will surely understand the criticism, yet the devious and ugly essences of capitalism will continue as is. You are as woke as your told..." says writer Anand Giridharadas when asked about how Woke Capitalism works.
Rock bands, singers and celebrities like Green Day, Jack Johnson, Bjork, Sean Paul, Pearl Jam, Adele and Coldplay are making lots of noise at the forefront of climate based activity. A perfect marriage of big entertainment and celebrities, ready with new green mantras for the fans across the world. Woke measures are applied, like a new coat-of-paint (green) upon an a system which is totally drunk on fossil fuels and generating a toxic trail of trash. Green Days Ahead, an american campaign launched by the frontman of Green Day, Billy Joe Armstrong aims to revitalise and realign the punk movement, with climate justice and awareness towards the environmental crisis. Blessed by the Rolling Stones as "an important step towards a green and clean future, one without fossil fuels". Well that was 2010, and since then, the 'Green Band' in question has travelled across the world hundreds of times. All aboard fossil fuel driven airplanes, limousines, tour buses and off course all the luxury hotels. Greenday's corporate charade is exposed in hindsight and the fan-following perpetuates the sanctity of business and money above all. “Young punk fans sometimes get a bad rap as not being politically aware and not being part of the environmental movement...” says NRDC coordinator Jordan Kessler. Imagine a corporate zombie speaking about the bad reputation of punks. Well, these folks are not punk, rather regular mamas boys who goto concerts in an Uber and practice yoga drinking smoothies on weekends. A bunch of twats being summoned to go green.
Climate Justice at it's roots is about love, equality, empathy, awareness and subsequent change. However, the loudest and biggest proponents of this movement are not be trusted or taken as role-models. The pop industry does not care about the ecosystem, given how it currently stands and it's complete dependence upon fossil fuels, money and banks. Yet we must be aware, and better equipped to resist. Use actual science as guidance, instead of this woke 'green' hoodwink ! The Green New Deal is rigged. The woke pop-stars of today are grappling with their own careers, heckling public faith, goodwill and anxiety. There is critical space in this movement for the arguers, the challengers, for those who are looking at science and facts - Outside the greenwash propaganda, constant heckling for donations and magnum videos of birds and penguins hovering on a melting continent. A system change is required instead of greenwash climate-change. Who wants to go ?!
Yet this new 'woke revolution' is not about changing the system, nor about giving up privilege. The climate-crisis is transforming into a neo-liberal cash-cow actually. In this feature we are looking at a few cases of how the elite charade of 'I can save the world' works inside the mainstream entertainment industry. Hooking into the global crisis to further their own agenda, which is mostly about expansion, business and the upward flow of wealth. Pop-stars don't count their emissions - instead they prefer to embrace 'Green Mantras' (lies). The science of climate-change is mostly an arbitrary hook, in the change of colors, call it a change of exterior aesthetics, while the ethics remain loyal to profit, capitalism and wanton emissions of CO2.
Flying in his private jet, emitting hundreds of tons of CO2 every year, Sir Elton John has come up with a stupendously idiotic idea. A new tax based on carbon footprint, for all artists, big or small, and divert the dollars towards climate justice. Hailed by mainstream media as a novel proposition, it's supposed to be right up there as truly 'woke'. Yet we know well that the millionaire celebrity is best friends with the british royalty (Prince Harry, Charles, Princess Meghan et all) who own several private jets, emitting wanton amounts of of carbon. Paid by the taxpayers money off-course! Sir Elton John's pathetic liberal hoodwink (never-mind a career made of lame denial based songs and designer shades) is aptly explained by the skeptics scanning the greenwash industry.
Rap and Religion is woke too! And their rapport links up with greenwashing movements at the forefront of climate-action. When asked why Rap, The Gospel and Climate-Justice have united? Rev Lennox Yearwood, CEO of Hip Hop Caucus states, “It’s broadening the current climate movement.” A quick troll through Youtube reveals the true emancipation of the Reverend, who is busy harvesting youth hope and money, via iconic speeches and seminars (conducted in the arcane christian spirit) across america since 2014. The man lives in a petite mansion and was awarded the "New Green Hero" by the Rolling Stones in 2018. Karthik Ganapathy, 350.org’s communication manager, told the Guardian. “We’re proud to be a part of the tour, because we’re seeing it as another opportunity to reach new people, and grow our movement,” he said. Another opportunity to exploit hope, goodwill and money of the disenfranchised marginalised black, latino, brown and yellow folks in America. In essence, 350.org is an institution which simply mirrors the dominant greenwash manifesto. In bold fonts they claim "We are standing up to the fossil fuel industry to stop all new coal, oil and gas projects and build clean energy future for all." Multiple requests asking for their annual carbon foot-print, the organisation in question, never responds, be it emails or social media. Instead every week we receive anxious newsletters heckling for donation based solidarity. Less we overlook, 350 and it's founder Bill Mckibben are connected with the richest (and so woke) capitalist sororities like The Sierra Club and Bloomberg Energy Finance.
"Hands off the Antartic" - Thom Yorke is also woke. In a bid raise awareness about the on-going catastrophe of the melting Antartic, the gloomy bard and the greenwashing industry are marching together. The video and call for action is made of "stunning footage and breath-taking imagery" commissioned by Greenpeace, made of the footage from their ship called 'Arctic Sunrise'. Given Greenpeace's mission to save the world is long and outstanding, less we forget that it is also the world's richest NGO. Their global presence is totally dependent on thousands of flights, trains, taxis and some ships too, all adding up to thousands of tons of carbon emissions. Not a word on their website or propaganda about that. Millions of 'woke hipsters' donating 15 euros a month anyway. The top executives of this global network, earn monthly salaries of up to USD 200,000. Woke capitalism at war with capitalism is puzzling and smells fishy. Now what about Thom Yorke? Is he woke about Human Rights? Woke about children killed by deadly military occupation? Woke about Palestine? The public backlash and the BDS campaign which slammed back at his hypocritical stance over occupied Palestine, was apt, to crumble the super-star's ego. What's worse, that Thom Yorke remained loyal to the Israeli entertainment industry, disregarding global public pressure, which was urging Radiohead to cancel all futures concerts in Israel and occupied Palestine. We could say "Hands off Thom Yorke" - For he is the bard of fake sorrow. But then Radiohead has just introduced 'Bio-Fuelled' tour buses and cars, to zip in and out of venues...
Back in the 90's Bono, Sting and many 'woke' pop-stars tried to save the rain-forests, seals, polar-bears and what not. Bono also stashed millions of euros in offshore shadow banks to avoid taxes. The Panama Papers made that clear. Billy Eilish is repeating the same elite charade today. By donating 'five figures' annually to leading climate-action organisations, one can't omit the fact that Billy Eilish, like many pop divas, earns hundreds of times more every year. The couture, cloths, shoes, accessories that she endorses are proof of the hyper-privilege, stamped by big brands, which exploit vast number of poor starving labor in third world nations. The trail of 'woke pop' mostly leads us back to grandiosity dancing upon exploitation. Billy Eilish's carbon-footprint (plus that of her crew and management) is clearly preposterous yet the starlet dare not address the actual emissions of her sellout concerts and tours. Just drop some crumbs off the table for the unfortunate times and people. "The wealthy and their super popular friends will surely understand the criticism, yet the devious and ugly essences of capitalism will continue as is. You are as woke as your told..." says writer Anand Giridharadas when asked about how Woke Capitalism works.
Climate Justice at it's roots is about love, equality, empathy, awareness and subsequent change. However, the loudest and biggest proponents of this movement are not be trusted or taken as role-models. The pop industry does not care about the ecosystem, given how it currently stands and it's complete dependence upon fossil fuels, money and banks. Yet we must be aware, and better equipped to resist. Use actual science as guidance, instead of this woke 'green' hoodwink ! The Green New Deal is rigged. The woke pop-stars of today are grappling with their own careers, heckling public faith, goodwill and anxiety. There is critical space in this movement for the arguers, the challengers, for those who are looking at science and facts - Outside the greenwash propaganda, constant heckling for donations and magnum videos of birds and penguins hovering on a melting continent. A system change is required instead of greenwash climate-change. Who wants to go ?!
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