In support of this momentously huge campaign taking over the world over 21 September globally, Neil Young wrote this wonderful anthem. 

Play it on this link at Democracy Now.  

http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2014/9/19/exclusive_listen_to_neil_youngs_new


Who’s Gonna Stand Up
Protect the wild, tomorrow’s child
Protect the land from the greed of man
Take down the dams, stand up to oil
Protect the plants, and renew the soil

Who’s gonna stand up and save the earth?
Who’s gonna say that she’s had enough?
Who’s gonna take on the big machine?
Who’s gonna stand up and save the earth?
This all starts with you and me

Damn the dams, save the rivers
Starve the takers and feed the givers
Build a dream, save the world
We’re the people know as earth

Who’s gonna stand up and save the earth?
Who’s gonna say that she’s had enough?
Who’s gonna take on the big machine?
Who’s gonna stand up and save the earth?
This all starts with you and me

Ban fossil fuel, draw the line
Before we build, one more pipeline
Ban fracking now, save the waters
And build a life, for our sons and daughters

Who’s gonna stand up and save the earth?
Who’s gonna say that she’s had enough?
Who’s gonna take on the big machine?
Who’s gonna stand up and save the earth?
This all starts with you and me

Who’s gonna stand up
Who’s gonna stand up
Who’s gonna stand up
Who’s gonna stand up
Who’s gonna stand up

Been getting a few requests from people writing in to post more funny green videos, and also to post more about making sustainability fun.  

Well, thought it was time to post some more music videos which combine music, humour (aka green humor) and sustainability messages. 

Here's the Formidable Vegetable Sound System performing their highly amusing song about the benefits of permaculture, making sustainability fun and it's called 'Yield'. 

Here's the link Mr Yielder - Charlie Mgee himself (who is apparently off to the Glastonbury Festival to perform) asked me to post up - 

http://music.formidablevegetable.com.au/

Speaking of funny permaculture videos, I have a blog - bloomingandbold blogspot having studied Sustainable Landscape Design, and have been in the business of promoting Footprint Flicks, the cute and funny videos which Sustainable Gardening Australia put out a while back. See link above to their site to view samples of these. With names like Mulch Ado About Nothing, Tank Girl and Weeds - Not in My Backyard, how can you go wrong!

Also, here's a link to Tim Minchin in his very popular You Tube video about canvas bags which definitely has comic moments (and some would call it a tad satirical).  It takes a few minutes for the song to get going, so give it a chance, as the rewards are there for your patience.  Tim Minchin has a wonderful talent for getting the audience roused as well as involved, and that is what we sustainability communicators want to achieve - isn't it!

There's quite a few videos on the internet which are purportedly humorous, which I don't find especially amusing, so I will endeavour to put just the very best ones up here, well from my perspective. 

I go in to green humor and making sustainability fun in my book Green Spin (Or) Promoting the Green Message.  If you like this site, then why not buy a copy of my book (US $2.75) as a sign of your support! 

There are more funny videos throughout this blog under the tage of humour in green message.

So we want the viewer to consider the emotions that get aroused when you watch the videos. How do they make you feel? The next time you see some environmental messages - ask yourself the same question - think emotion,  empathy, mirror neurons, emotion? Also, likewise when you  see images and cartoons attached to some green communication ask how does it make the viewer feel? Unless we are always asking ourselves these questions, we are not being effective campaigners.  

Andrew Ioannidis, musician and artist extraordinaire has now launched his two new websites, and they are well worth a visit! 

This is a man whose talents and inspiration know no bounds musically and artistically.  My favourites of his songs are: 'This is Your Day' from the Mercury album which I listen to several times a week.  

He wrote a song Environmental Take Over Bid which was drawn from some poetry I wrote about the latest backyard craze, the outdoor room and how people forget how our buzzy little friends, and their habitats, are affected by all that building up and out! You can go to the blog page to see the lyrics and listen to this.

Here is a link to the site.  Been spending some time getting the voice content ready for the You Tube video for the Eco Creativity exhibition we did back in Feb 013 so as usual my attention to this blog has been a bit remiss to say the least. 

Now politicians are recalling how they are inspired in their political platforms and communications by the music they grew up with.  In the case of Wayne Swan, Federal Treasurer (Aust.)  He has been talking a lot about Bruce Springsteen, and how he lives his life  guided by Springsteen's messages about the 'working class man'. 

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2012/s3558688.htm 

Perhaps we need to be using music in our campaigns more, just like they used to do in war-time to inspire people to take up helping out with the war-effort (and getting young men to sign up!)

I talk a little about the importance of art and music in our campaigns in my book (though I am speaking of campaigns of an environmental nature).  Any medium which has a way of tapping in to the consciousness of our audience, drumming up empathy, and generally improving your overall P.R is worthy of consideration.  No doubt Wayne Swan (and his daughter) has caught on to this.