From the Article in Innovators magazine December 2020 called Why Artists Will Change the Planet, Claudia Rinke writes, “We are living in challenging and exciting times. The world is changing fast and not as we’ve known it. How should we address complex global issued from inequality over pandemics to climate change?”
“Art has the ability to move people and offer new experiences. Art presents reality in a way that may change the vision and perspective of the audience towards the world. Be it a painting, drama, song, a novel or film, art may motivate people to think about life positively or differently. Art offers a unique way of understanding the meaning of life and how beauty and pleasure could be part of existence. It combines the imaginary world with reality and encourages people to change their thinking and perceptions. Good art has the power to engage the world to change the world.”
Rinke says “I do think that art and creativity truly have the power to change societies and the world. It will take collective effort of artists, institutions and individuals to envision a better future and to take steps toward this vision. As the playwright Jonathan Larson said ‘ The opposite of war isn’t peace; it’s creation.’ “
Film
Note: Claudia Rinke’s Film NOW abut the climate movement won the international Golden Nymph Award in 2021 as best environmental documentary.
Music
Lucy had the privilege of going to the Edmonton Folk Festival and the Edmonton Blues Festival and was moved by the music, and inspired by songs about taking care of Mother Earth. Susan O’Neill of Ireland shared her powerful 2017 song “Our Mother is Begging to Breathe“. Here is a link if you would love to hear this song.
So many songs have been written about caring for our planet and the plight of animals going extinct. . Rolling Stones Magazine in April 2020 edition “Earth Day: Now or Never: The Race to Save the Planet The Crusade of Greta Thunberg” featured 15 Pro-Environment Songs. Here is what was on the list:
- The Beach Boys, “Don’t Go Near the Water”
- Jack Johnson, “The 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle)”
- Crosby and Nash, “To the Last Whale”
- will.i.am, S.O.S. (Mother Nature)”
- Kenny Loggins, “Conviction of the Heart”
- The Eagles, “The Last Resort”
- Three Dog Night, “Out in the Country”
- Counting Crows and Vanessa Carlton “Big Yellow Taxi”
- John Denver, “Sunshine on My Shoulders”
- Miley Cyrus, “Wake Up America”
- Celine Dion, “Skies of L.A.”
- Dave Mathews Band, “Proudest Monkey”
- Julian Lennon, “Saltwater”
- James Taylor, “Gaia”
- Yes, “Don’t Kill the Whale”
10 Most Endangered Species in Canada
Listening to this music, we hear many musicians make reference to endangered and extinct species. One quote we read recently said that if the bee goes extinct the planet will only survive four years. Wow! Here is a list of the most endangered species in Canada:
- Peary Caribou
- Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Vancouver Island Marmot
- Wolverine
- Beluga Whale
- Atlantic Salmon
- Rusty-patched Bumblebee
- Sea Otter
- Narwhal
- Burrowing Owl
As a birder Lucy is aware of projects in Arizona and Alberta that are set to help increase the numbers of Burrowing Owls. She visited one of these sites that had man-made tunnels for the owls to burrow in. Above is a Burrowing Owl at one of these sites.
Earth Day: 15 Pro-Environment Songs
Inspiration from Words of Wisdom
“Being born as humans to this earth is a very sacred trust. We have a sacred responsibility because of the special gift we have, which is beyond the fine gifts of the plant life, the fish, the woodlands, the birds and all the other living things on earth: We are able to take care of them“. Onondaga Nation Clan Mother, Audrey Shenandoah
FRIENDS4TREES4LIFE 