Author Archive for Jonathan Wu
Mos Def, Kravitz Raise Money for Gulf with Song
Soon after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, musicians Mos Def, Lenny Kravitz, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band met for an all night jam session to cover “It Ain’t My Fault,” a classic New Orleans R&B anthem. Now they’re letting the public remix it.
Advocating assistance to those living on the Gulf, this group of all star musicians created Gulfaidremix.com — a site on which the public can remix their version of ”It Ain’t My Fault,” then upload it for others to hear. As it says on the the site, the purpose of the project is to “[offer] you the chance to engage the issue and music artistically.”
“It Ain’t My Fault” and the accompanying music video was recently made available exclusively on iTunes. All the proceeds benefit The Gulf Relief Foundation, and each purchase of the song comes with a 1-year subscription to Spin Magazine.
Check out the song and video here.
19 Ways to Help Pakistan
Days of overwhelming amounts of monsoonal rains have resulted in terrible floods in northwest Pakistan, leaving hundreds of villages destroyed, millions of people stranded, and many dead.
The World Health Organization reported on Wednesday that about 20 million people have been affected by the floods and that only around 1.2 million had access to safe water. Moreover, 200 of 1,167 health facilities, including several hospitals, have been damaged. In addition to the destruction of buildings and lives, the WHO also reported that water-borne diseases such as acute diarrhea and respiratory tract infections have been increasing in the area.
A photo on the homepage of CARE, an organization donating tents, emergency supplies and health clinics to the nation.
Karen Allen of the United Nations Children’s Fund said that, in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, “The Indus River is at 40 times its normal volume… Whole cities, of up to 250,000 people, have been evacuated, and people have lost everything.”
Though U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has said that “the world has never seen such disaster. It’s much beyond anybody’s imagination,” the international community’s reaction to the problem has been slow compared to previous situations, such as the disaster in Haiti. An appeal made by the United Nations on Aug. 11 for $460 million for food, clean water, shelter and medical care for about six million people has yet to be reached; nations have sent $228 million and pledged $42 million more. Aid officials have cited factors such as minimal news coverage and relatively low death toll as reasons for the stagnant international reaction. They also stated Pakistan’s image as a hotbed of Taliban activity to be a major reason for many donors’ reluctance.
Many have urged the public to provide aid for Pakistan. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, as mentioned earlier, is one advocate. Actress and U.N. goodwill ambassador, Angelina Jolie, stated during the London premiere of her spy thriller Salt: “it is getting hard for people [to give] — they see Haiti, they see these other events… and they get exhausted by the time another big one rolls around.” She urged people to give as Pakistanis face “mass death, mass displacement, and this situation is going to get worse.”
Huffington Post Impact recently compiled a list of ways to aid and support Pakistani families affected by the floods:
Health Aid
- Save the Children, which has worked in Pakistan for over 25 years, is providing plastic sheets, hygiene kits and other supplies to children and families in flooded regions. Make a donation to Save the Children’s Pakistan Children in Emergency Fund here.
- CARE is responding to the disaster in Pakistan by providing tents and other emergency supplies to displaced families. The organization is also supporting several mobile health clinics to treat the sick and wounded in flooded communities. Support relief efforts with a donation to the organization.
- International Medical Corps deployed six mobile medical units in Pakistan and has already distributed over 10,000 hygiene kits to those in need. Donate to its efforts.
- The British Red Cross is on the ground in Pakistan, bringing medical services, food, water and shelter to Pakistanis in need. UK citizens can donate online or by phone to support the organization’s efforts.
- Medical relief charity Merlin USA is helping flood victims by airlifting medical teams into inaccessible regions to set up mobile clinics and treat injuries. You can make a donation to the organization’s general fund to support its medical relief services.
Clean Water, Food, and Shelter Aid
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton encouraged Americans to donate $10 to Pakistan flood relief by texting “SWAT” to 50555. Funds will be used by the United Nations to provide food, water, medicine, tents and clothing to affected families.
- UNICEF is making its top priority the distribution of clean water in Pakistan, as many water supplies in the region have been polluted. UNICEF estimates that it will take at least three to six months to restore even basic facilities such as sanitation and agriculture. Make a contribution to UNICEF here.
- Concern Worldwide is aiding displaced families in Pakistan by providing them with food rations, clean water and hygiene kits. Make a donation to support their relief efforts.
- Oxfam is working to bring water, sanitation and hygiene products to devastated communities in northwest Pakistan. You can support the organization by making a contribution to its Saving Lives 24/7 Fund.
- According to the Mercy Corps website, it is “working to provide clean water, staple foods and clean-up tools to families.” A donation of $30 “provides a family with a two-week supply of cooking oil, rice, sugar and other staples.” Donate to Mercy Corps.
- ActionAid was already stationed in Pakistan when the rains hit, and were among the first organizations to bring food and hygeine kits. It’s helping to build shelters in the Upper Swat valley. Make a donation to ActionAid.
- Flood waters have forced international poverty relief organization BRAC to close 10 of its 12 local offices across Pakistan. BRAC workers are now directing their efforts toward humanitarian aid, distributing water sanitation supplies and food packets to families. The organization also plans to help rebuild houses and latrines in upcoming months. You can contribute by making an online donation or signing up to give a monthly gift.
- British organization Islamic Relief Worldwide has appealed for £2 million to provide water, food and shelter to victims. Donate through its official site.
General Aid
- The Acumen Fund has worked in Pakistan since 2002 and encourages donations to the following four organizations during the crisis: Rural Support Program Network, Kashf Foundation, International Rescue Committee, The Citizens Foundation.
- Relief International is providing emergency resources to the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Baluchistan and Punjab regions. You can donate a survival kit through its Pakistan Flood Emergency Response Fund online or at 1-800-573-3332.
- Music For Relief is providing emergency assistance to Pakistani families in need. You can help by making an online donation — Music For Relief will match all individual donations given to flood relief up to $10,000.
Sources: here, here, here, here and here
Neil Young Plans Benefit Concerts for Gulf Coast
Heart of Gold musician Neil Young recently announced the dates of four concerts that will aid the Gulf Coast in its recovery from the BP oil spill.
Sixty-four-year-old Young is a busy man, and after finishing tour and collaborating with the likes of Elton John, you would think he’d want to sit back and bask in his legend status. But no, Young announced that he will play four September benefit shows in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. He plans to ask concertgoers to bring non-perishable food items and will donate all proceeds from the limited-edition concert t-shirts to the relief efforts on the Gulf Coast.
Furthermore, Young has partnered up with Tyson Foods, which will donate 100,000 pounds of chicken products to the communities affected by the oil spill.
Young has a few other concerts scheduled between his Gulf Coast benefits.
Neil Young 2010 Tour Dates:
09/20 – Panama City, FL @ Marina Civic Center*
09/22 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
09/23 – Hollywood, FL @ Seminole Hard Rock Casino
09/25 – Biloxi, MS @ IP Showroom*
09/26 – Mobile, AL @ Saenger Theatre*
09/28 – Pensacola, FL @ Saenger Theatre*
10/02 – Milwaukee, WI @ Farm Aid
10/23-24 – Mountain View, CA @ Bridge School Benefit
*Gulf Coast Benefit Show
[Photo: Andrea Barsanti]
Worldreader: A Kindle Per Student in Ghana
Organizations and world leaders continually try to raise the literacy rate in developing countries, and Former Amazon VP David Risher believes that providing students in these countries with their own Kindles might be the best way to do so. Risher is the co-founder of Worldreader, a nonprofit that explores the potential of e-book technology in increasing worldwide literacy.
Still in its early stages, Worldreader — currently with only eight staff members — recently ran its first test trial in Accra, Ghana. As it states on its website, the purpose of the
organization’s first few trials is to:
- Identify motivations of children, teaching professionals, and school districts
- Understand the logistics involved and potential blockers to the successful adoption of the technology
- Help Worldreader.org make informed decisions on strategy, and set realistic goals, expectations, and metrics
- Capture stories and assets to better understand the experience
Students of these trials are given their own Kindle with pre-loaded books that can be read at school and at home. Mr. Risher states: “It’s important that this be positioned not just as an educational aid, but as something that can be used for personal pleasure… the long-term idea is that technology will ultimately help create a real culture of reading in parts of the world where that’s not been possible before.”
Due to the Kindle’s long battery life, free and easy access to the Internet and the generally lower costs of e-books, Worldreader believes that e-readers are a crucial technology in education advancement for developing countries.
photo taken from Worldreader.org
Good Style: NonProfit Sells Clothing, Helps Single Moms
Having seen firsthand the hardships of single mothers in East Africa, Internet entrepreneur Hilary Rowland created The Project Migration Foundation. It’s a business that sells women and men’s clothing, and one “with something other than profit as its goal.”
The Africa Everyday Tee
When an East African woman marries or gives birth, she becomes prohibited from returning to her parents’ home regardless of divorce, death, or abandonment. Often married at a young age, an overwhelming amount of these women are left single, unable to obtain an education or income, and dealing with the overwhelming responsibility of providing food, shelter and care for their children.
The profits earned from The Project Migration Foundation’s sales are used to provide medical supplies to treat pneumonia and diarrhea — two widespread medical conditions that account for nearly 1 in 5 child deaths worldwide and the deaths of 1.4 million children per year, respectively. According to The Project Migration Foundation’s site, these are two of the most common diseases causing child deaths in Africa, but they are easily preventable and treatable as long as the right medical supplies are available.
The foundation further contributes to the welfare of these families by funding the building of new wells to provide villages with clean water. Single mothers spend endless hours trying to purify dirty water and traveling to find clean water for their children. Often unable to collect enough clean water, contaminated water causes disease and even death.
The various types of tees, hoodies, and pants with the organization’s unique designs fund this cause. In addition to clothing, the site also offers ubuntu bracelets and photos, and is in the process of setting up an “Africa marketplace” and a charity auction section.
You can help The Project Migration Foundation by visiting its website and purchasing its clothing and photographs or by giving a donation.
Part Two of Our Interview with Zade
Zade Dirani, professionally known as just Zade, is a Jordanian pianist and composer who is known for his infusion of world, classical and pop qualities in his works. In 2005, motivated by his desire for cross cultural understanding and tolerance, he started the ZADE Foundation for International Peace and Understanding, a non-profit organization striving to help young musicians share their cultures and perspectives with the world and to allow them to grow as leaders in their own communities. With this organization, Zade has initiated The “Beautiful World” project, which introduced music to underprivileged children through concerts and workshops, and the “Roads to You” tour, which brought musicians from all around the world to perform together encouraging culture exchanges and building up of leadership. The Zade Foundation’s current project, which we wrote about a few months ago, is the Annual Young Composer for Peace Award.
I had the opportunity to talk with Zade over the phone last week. In part one of our interview, we talked about the effect music can have on the world, the challenges of being a leader, and living in the United States. In part two of our interview, we talked about the challenges and success stories of his non profit work, his foundation’s most recent project, and his views on music.
Relating back to the previous question, from your experiences on the road and through your foundation’s “Roads to You” and “Beautiful World” projects, could you share an example when you witnessed music tangibly bringing peace?
I was playing in a synagogue in Maryland, Virginia. I was the Muslim representative and there was a Jewish representative and a Catholic representative. We called it the Abrahamic Trio which was also part of the “Roads to You” Tour. During this event, the Muslim leaders of the community attended the concert in the synagogue and it was the first time these leaders ever entered the building. Months later, the rabbi of the synagogue sent me an email saying that because of that event, it helped break the ice between both community leaders and they were now working together on projects are that are mutually beneficial to both communities. So when you hear stories likes, that’s what it’s all about. Bringing people together to let talk and get a dialogue started.
On our website, we recently wrote about your Annual Young Composers for Peace Award. How did this project come about and what do you wish to achieve through this competition?
Well, the program was inspired by the idea of what will be your legacy. The main purpose of the Zade Foundation was that we wanted to create a platform that would create projects that were innovative to support young musicians from different parts of the world that are passionate about sharing a deeper understanding of their cultures with members of the international community. In line with this goal, we felt it was very appropriate to launch the Young Composers for Peace Award which aims at empowering young composers who compose music that blends genres and are passionate about building bridges of peace among different cultures of the world. It’s in line with the mission of the foundation, it’s also part of our vision for the future of the foundation. Moreover, it is a means to identify young musicians and support them this year and the years to come.
What advice would you give to young musicians who want to better their community and the world at large?
I believe bringing change doesn’t apply to just musicians, but to all young people and students. I do believe that the young generation now are going to be tomorrow’s leaders and that each of us are blessed with a talent. It could anything – music, art, journalism, whatever it might be. The trick is to find what is our God given talent and work hard at it, and I mean really hard. Then dedicating your work to community in whatever way – getting involved in the medical community, trying to work on homeless issues, it doesn’t matter. Unfortunately the world has so many issues that need to be solved, but once you grow with the foundation of philanthropy, then you’re setting yourself up, your future up, in a direction that is very fulfilling and also enable you to maximize your potential because the more established you become in your professional field, the more of a platform you’ll have to support your non-profit work. When you follow your dream and passion, then truthfully, you’ll feel like you haven’t worked a single day.
Are there any current issues in the United States and your home country of Jordan that you feel music could have integral part in resolving?
I would like to stress the importance of music education in public schools in the US, Jordan, and the Arab world in general. I think liberal arts in general, especially music, can help broaden the horizon of kids and help them get in touch with the artistic side of themselves. Granted, it’s not for everybody, however, everybody should have the right, or at the least minimum to be introduced to music. How is a kid going to know if they have talent if they’ve never been exposed to music education? When you have budget cuts, etcetera, affecting music education, that’s something that’s very sad to see.
If you were stuck on an island and could only listen to or play one song, which song would it be and why?
I’d play “Kingdom of Peace.” It’s one of my songs. I wrote it when I was still 18 years old, still living in Jordan at that time. It was inspired by the scenery from the terrace of my folks’ home in West Amman. Where, literally, you see the lights of Jerusalem on the right and the lights of Amman to the left. Ever since I was a boy and even to this day, every time I play it takes me back to that place, it takes me back home – my idea of home, and that’s where my whole journey started from.
To learn more about the ZADE Foundation for International Peace and Understanding, visit the website and please continue to support the arts in our schools. Music makes our lives richer and we must not let it fade away.
Photo: Prof_Alex
Musicians for Peace: An Interview with Zade
Zade Dirani, professionally known as Zade, is a Jordanian pianist and composer known for infusing world, classical and pop qualities into his music. Traveling the world, Zade has performed for public figures such as Queen Elizabeth, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and many others.
photo: Zade.com
In addition to his musical achievements, Zade — in 2005, motivated by his desire for cross cultural understanding and tolerance — started the ZADE Foundation for International Peace and Understanding, a non-profit organization striving to help young musicians share their cultures and perspectives with the world and to allow them to grow as leaders in their own communities. With this organization, Zade has initiated The Beautiful World Project, which introduced music to underprivileged children through concerts and workshops, and the Roads to You tour, which brought musicians from all around the world to perform together; encouraging culture exchanges and leadership building. The Zade Foundation’s most current project is the Annual Young Composer for Peace Award, which our website previously wrote about. Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Zade over the phone. A very easy, warm and enthusiastic person to talk to, I discussed with Zade his views on the effects music can have in the world, the challenges of being a leader, and living in the United States.
At what point did you see your music as a means to bring peace, tolerance and compassion between nations? Was there a specific moment that this happened?
It’s always been the purpose of my music. I think it has a lot to do with my upbringing in Jordan. We were taught the values of compassion, tolerance, and acceptance in my parent’s household and community at large. Also, there were some very positive role models, musicians actually and public servants as well, who dedicated their lives and their work for the cause of peace in the region and around the world. So for me, following in their footsteps and stemming from my sense of commitment to a goal that is larger than myself, that’s how I came to feel it was imperative to serve. And for me especially, coming from the Middle East, a very peaceful country that is in a desert plagued with turmoil, it was only natural for my music to take that course.
Was there a specific moment that this happened?
I think it just grew and evolved with my music. I don’t think there was one specific moment that a changing incident that made me realize that [bringing peace and tolerance] is what my music should be about. This idea grew with me. The idea was always there. When you play music you make people happy. For me, that is the reason we make music. When people feel elevated you can inspire them; and when you inspire them, you can inspire them to do good. It’s like one complex web of ideas, thoughts and principles that are built around the music that grew from the get go.
Based on your experiences, what is your current definition of music?
Firstly, music is an international language that literally every single human being can relate to. It doesn’t matter what religion, culture, ethnicity. It doesn’t matter. It cuts through all barriers and that is what’s so remarkable about it, it speaks to everyone at once.
Secondly, you can communicate across generations with music. If you look at it, music is vertical and horizontal. If you look at it vertically, music can move a 60 year old man or a 5 year old kid. Then geographically, if you want to look at it horizontally, it can transcend all barriers across the map. So if you look at it as such, it’s an incredible tool. Also, it covers the entire gambit of human emotions. If you’re happy you listen to music. If you’re sad, you listen to music. If you’re hoping and dreaming you listen to music. It’s so powerful and that’s why for me, I can’t imagine life without it.
As a young musician who has found a lot of success and recognition, did you find it difficult to step into roles such as the “cultural ambassador” of Jordan and creating and leading a large international foundation? How did you deal with the responsibilities of being a young leader?
I’m thirty years old, I don’t know how young that is! Truthfully, I think being a leader in whatever field and in whatever role, it takes a combination of talent, training, and rising to the occasion when the time comes. I’ve been blessed with having musical training as a boy. When you’re doing music, you try to embark on a career, and then you’re trying to perform publicly, and then you try to represent causes that are bigger than yourself. So the leadership role has been thrusted upon me, if you will, from an early age whether I chose it or not. Because you’re trying to do certain things, you just have to rise to occasion and maximize your potential and hopefully inspire others to follow suit. It was never a conscious decision for me to become a leader. The thing that I think makes a leader are the challenges that are set fourth and how you deal with those challenges, rise to the occasion, and set high standards and try to exceeds those standards. What I do to feel at peace is to know that everyday I do my absolute best to maximize my potential to serve the causes I represent.
Are you ever intimidated by the overwhelming issues you try tackle through your music, such as world peace and tolerance between different cultures?
I am aware of the complexities of the cause that I stand for, the camp of peace. But my primary concern is how does music affect the younger generation. I believe that through music you can affect the younger generation to be more accepting and open their horizons to new and different cultures, reaching hands of friendship across borders. When you look at it as such, I feel a sense of responsibility and it doesn’t intimidate me. On the contrary, it empowers me and it gives me even more steam to forge ahead with the missions through my work and try to help people. That’s the other thing, having been born and raised in Jordan until I was 18, the country is sandwiched between different countries who do not enjoy the stability that we do in Jordan. So you grow up aware of this environment and that’s how come it’s almost natural that, well, you want a good life for your community, for your neighbors, and neighboring countries. So what do we do? We just have to keep moving ahead and use our work to bring change one day. And I’m not naive about the challenges that lie ahead, but if you can put a dent somewhere, then that’s how I’m fulfilling my true calling.
Do you find any difficulties being a Jordanian-born musician living in the United States?
Let me share with you a story. I was scheduled to have a house concert in Maine on 9/11, but due to the circumstances, I had to reschedule the concert to the 29th. When I finally played the concert in rural Maine, there was an Arab and Muslim performing in the middle of an American living room, connecting with those of the American society at a very intimate level and the emotion was so overwhelming that the point escaped no one, that in the end we’re all the same. We all felt and witnessed that the fanatics do not represent any of us, that the majority of the people from America, the Middle East, Asia, wherever you want, all want to secure a better future for themselves and their kids. That’s the common denominator we all have to live in peace. So I took that house concert experience across the United States for the next three years, performing 250 nights per year. What was so beautiful about the experience was that people were going out of their way to make me feel that I was being taken care of. It was like I was adopted into the families that hosted me. It felt like I had mom in every state.
Also, I look at my career as a two way street. Not only am I representing my Middle Eastern heritage in America. But also, I love the United States, for what it represents and what it has given me. So I feel that it is also my duty to take those stories of kindness and beautiful hospitality back to my home country. So that as much as I owe it to the Arabs, I owe it to the Americans too.
To be continued….
Adrian Grenier Helps Oceana Save Bluefin Tuna
photo: Oceana.org
Celebrity Adrian Grenier, star of HBO’s hit TV series “Entourage,” recently teamed up with sea-saving Oceana to observe and swim with bluefin tuna. Grenier and the organization hope to raising awareness of the fish’s unfortunate status — the species is approaching extinction.
The world’s hunger for seafood, particularly bluefin tuna, has surpassed the amount of fish in the ocean. As Paul Greenburg of the New York Times Magazine reported, “global seafood consumption has increased consistently to the point where we now remove more wild fish and shellfish from the oceans ever year that the weight of the human population of China.”
The high demand for bluefin tuna has only exacerbated the problem, as the rareness of the fish has made it even more sought after. In 2009, a bluefin tuna was auctioned off for more than $100,000 in a Tokyo fish market. Consequentially, fishermen are given more incentive to catch the coveted fish, causing further destruction of the bluefin tuna population.
In addition to overfishing, the bluefin tuna population faces further woes as result of the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico — a major spawning area for the fish. It has been estimated that there are only 25,000 mature bluefins left in the ocean. Only 9,000 of them are able to breed in North American waters.
According to Oceana, current fishing rules “allow fishermen targeting yellowfin tuna or swordfish to catch and sell one bluefin tuna per trip, caught in one of only two known spawning sites.” Oceana’s Bluefin Tuna Campaign seeks to bring protection to the Mediterranean Sea, the second known spawning ground of bluefin tuna. The organization has called upon the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to authorize immediate fishery closures until the bluefin tuna population recovers, protect spawning bluefin, and reduce fishing capacity and the number of tuna ranching operations in the Mediterranean.
The Atlantic bluefin tuna can grow up to 15 feet long, weigh up to 1,500 pounds and accelerate “faster than a race car,” Grenier says. On the top of the fish’s head is a sextant-like pineal window that guides it over long stretches of ocean. And, though it lives in a mostly cold-blooded animal group, it can use its metabolic heat to increase its body temperature and swim through freezing subarctic waters. It’s a remarkable fish, but the bluefin tuna is known predominately for its dense, fatty, and flavorful meat.
You can join in on Oceana’s campaign to prevent the extinction of Atlantic bluefin tuna by signing a petition calling on Congress to protect bluefuns. You can also give a donation to Oceana in support of their work, which includes protecting wildlife, promoting responsible fishing, and stopping ocean pollution. Moreover, you can help prevent bluefin’s extinction by eating sustainable seafoods.
Our nation’s culture has for the most part been blessed beyond measures, and has grown custom to having an abundance of everything. But the facts don’t change. If we continue to consume Atlantic bluefin tuna and disregard the damage our appetites cause, we will lose one of the ocean’s most miraculous creatures.
Check out this video of Grenier’s and Oceana’s campaign to protect bluefin tuna:
Adrian Grenier Wants To Stop Bluefin Tuna From Going Too Fast from Oceana on Vimeo.
Sources: here, here, here, and here
Eleven-Year-Old Runs Hunger-fighting Nonprofit
Katie, with her 40-pound cabbage. Photo: katieskrops.com
Katie Stagliano started Katie’s Krops after she, at the age of nine, planted a cabbage in her family’s garden. The plant grew to an astonishing 40 pounds, and Katie donated it to a soup kitchen to create meals for 275 people.
“I thought, ‘Wow, with that one cabbage I helped feed that many people? I could do much more than that,” she said in an interview.
Now 11 years old, Katie recently began planting vegetable gardens through Katie’s Krops — a nonprofit organization that hopes to end hunger. She currently has six gardens — one of which is the length of a football field — and has enlisted classmates, family, and members of her community to help plant and water. Bonnie Plants donates the seedlings.
Over the past year, Katie’s Krops has donated 2,000 pounds of lettuce, tomatoes, and various other vegetables. Now harvesting spring crops, she is getting ready to donate another 1,200 pounds of produce in October.
Check out the Katie’s Krops website to see what she’s planting next, to donate, or to apply for a grant to start your own garden.
