Earthman, Choir and Friends Perform at VP Debate

Posted on 14. Oct, 2012 by Howard Salus in Education, Environment, featured, Florida News, Green Events

Lanny “The Earthman” Smith

Thursday, October 11^th,  the world came to a beautiful little town about an hour and half from where I live in Kentucky. Danville was the site of the Vice Presidential Debate between “Smiling” Vice President Joe Biden and “ Massive H20 Drinker” Congressman Paul Ryan. Earthman was there too. The VP Debate Committee asked me to perform one of my award-winning “Earthman Please Don’t Litter” Concerts in front of the debate hall.

Earthman, Choir and Friends

Earthman, a children’s choir and friends brought a little “positive trash talk” to the event. I say that because litter has become a serious problem across America. Scientists are finding cigarettes in fish around here. People forget littering is a choice and it has become a habit which affects the health, economy, and spirit of a community.

Both Paul Ryan and Joe Biden were invited to come on stage with us and tell the children across America that although they disagree on most political issues, they stand together when it comes to people not littering. They were no shows. To bad, we all could use a moment of agreement between our leaders.

Flyer promoting event

Around here in Kentucky, as in most places across the USA, if I took the American flag and trashed it in public, someone would beat the crap out of me. Yet people think nothing of throwing bottles, cans, dirty diapers, paper, cigarette butts, tires, and you name it out onto the American land. The flag is a symbol, the land is our nation. Our founding fathers and mothers, and soldiers from every war fought to give us freedom. I can’t believe they gave their all so we would use that freedom to litter. As I share with kids and adults all over, freedom takes responsibility.

So Thursday, we raised our voices to share our powerful message with the world. Earthman had lots of media coverage on radio, TV and newspaper from both local, national and international sources. Was interviewed live during the very conservative Sean Hannity broadcast. I spoke about Republicans, Democrats, Independents and everyone doing the patriotic thing and never littering. I did not hear whether Sean disagreed with that thought. I even talked to Al Jazeera. Just imagine some terrorist group sitting in a cave looking at the news and seeing an American in an Earth costume talking about protecting the environment. Maybe they will think we are to crazy to attack!

The concert was tremendous and so many folks came by to say thanks for the message. We were the only issue oriented musical act on the main stage all day.

The election is in a few weeks. Yet, we vote each day with our actions in creating the community, nation, and world we want. Perhaps one day, Barack and Mitt, Joe and Paul, with all their wives and children, will go to a park and pick up all the litter and show the nation how beautiful things can be when we work together for the common good. What a patriotic day that would be.

9/20 Green Worker

Posted on 11. Sep, 2012 by Howard Salus in Business, Eco Tourism, Environment, featured, Florida News

Hurricane Andrew Commemoration

Posted on 15. Aug, 2012 by Howard Salus in Education, Environment, featured, Florida News

40 YEAR GROVE PLAYHOUSE CHILDREN’S THEATER FOUNDER, CORKY DOZIER DIRECTS MUSICAL REVUE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES AT NEW SOUTH MIAMI-DADE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER FOR 20 YEAR HURRICANE ANDREW  COMMEMORATION

SEE FLYER BELOW

 Miami, FL- On Saturday, August 18, 2012, at 7:00 pm, at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC), 10950 SW 211 Street Cutler Bay, Florida 33189, The Office of Commissioner Dennis C. Moss, District 9, CACEC, Caribbean Artistic & Cultural Events for the Community, celebrating its 15th anniversary connecting Haitian, Caribbean, and New World cultures through performing, visual, media, folk and literary arts, whose mission is to empower Haitian and Caribbean American populations living in South Miami-Dade County through the Arts, Education, and Cultural Expressions, in cooperation with Redland Tropical Gardens and Mal Jonal Productions, commemorates the 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY of HURRICANE ANDREW with a theater for young audiences production, “LA FLORIDA…ISLAND OF DISCOVERY”, a New World Multicultural Story Theater for Young Audiences Musical with a 40 member cast of multicultural children and youth ranging in ages 7-21 years.

“La Florida…the Island of Discovery” captures the rich multicultural heritage of Florida, that is truly mirrored in South Miami-Dade County, bridging the old world cultures of  Europe, Africa, and Asia with new world Native American, North, South, Central American and Caribbean cultures, through folk and contemporary music, song, dance, and storytelling. It celebrates Viva Florida 500, the 500 year anniversary of the State of Florida, and Culture Builds Florida’s Future an initiative of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture to advance, preserve and sustain Florida’s arts and cultural heritage.  It was created to make Florida’s rich natural heritage and diverse old world and new world cultural history, come alive for youth through 2013.

“A story “is told eye to eye, mind to mind, and heart to heart.  Storytelling creates a bridge between teller and listener.  This production will tell the multicultural stories of the past that will help children connect to each other, help them find identity, define purpose and place, imagine new possibilities and find hope for the future.  Since time immemorial, stories have helped us discover the meaning in our experiences, offered possible explanations for what we struggle to understand. Stories invite our imaginations and hearts to reach out to one another and to realize, commonality and how to be human.” – Corky Dozier, Artistic Director

It will feature Redland Tropical Garden’s “Dean of Green” an eco-musical theater production that will promote the visions of Miami-Dade County’s Community Image Advisory Board, Chaired by Commissioner Moss.  It will focus on promoting post Andrew green recovery with a healthier and cleaner environment, and the importance of earth education, environmental stewardship, sustainability, social responsibility, eating local, physical fitness and healthy living for youth.

Both productions have been written and directed by Coconut Grove Playhouse Children’s Theater, Founder/Artistic Director Corky Dozier, whose professional performing  company of youth have been internationally recognized receiving national television’s Corporation for Public Broadcasting  Award  for Best Children’s Programming in the United States, and  is a three-time Emmy Award winning recipient.

Ms. Dozier has a long history of over 40 years of creative leadership particularly in the South Dade area where she has helped to establish core values, empowering relationships, and innovative action that piloted and co-founded Miami Dade Public Schools first arts in basic education program Performing and Visual Arts Center (PAVAC) at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus.  She helped young people heal through the arts after Hurricane Andrew, programming initiatives that started in Tent City, Harris Field in Homestead, while producing and directing a post Andrew storytelling musical “Voices in the Wind”, written by young survivors and members of her professional company.  The production served as an intervention tool for healing, growth and change for thousands of youth, families, and communities throughout all of Miami-Dade County.  The company of 35 youth was asked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to travel to natural disaster areas throughout Florida and the Caribbean, and each member was recognized by Miami-Dade County as an Ambassador of the Arts.

Saturday evening’s production “La Florida” captures the rich multicultural heritage of children of families who survived or came after the hurricane 20 years ago. After Hurricane Andrew devastated South Miami-Dade in 1992, Commissioner Dennis C. Moss developed a comprehensive vision, known as the Moss plan for revitalization of the area, which included among many things, the building of a state-of-the-art cultural center, but little was ever done to define the local culture that greatly changed.  In many instances the hurricane changed the ethnic composition with social and economic decline that has affected local safety, health, and well-being. Areas once with a dominate monoculture influence have become a confusing multicultural mix in a rural environment, a mirrored image of most of the State of Florida, with immigrant creolized young Hispanic families from Mexico, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Native American Indian populations with a very disconnected value system, struggling for cultural identity, with no sense of purpose or place.  Culture contributes to building a sense of local identity and solidarity.

Throughout the production young people, their families and communities will learn to understand and appreciate many cultures, establish relationships with people from cultures other than our own, and build strong alliances with different cultural groups.  They will also be introduced to the influences that the many cultural groups have had on our mainstream history and local culture, in order to build communities through culture, that are successful at improving conditions and resolving problems.

“La Florida” is the culmination of a six week intensive young performers’ summer arts program entitled CAMP ARTS AMERICAS whose goal was to establish creative leadership, enrich the lives, and bridge the diverse cultures of youth, families and communities living in South Miami-Dade as a 20 year post Hurricane Andrew Recovery initiative focused on earth, cross cultural and multicultural education through the arts.

All programming was under the Artistic Direction of Dozier who used Drama for whole learning development with classes in Pantomime, Improvisation, Character Development, Scene Study, Showmanship/Performance, Multicultural Reader’s Theater, Speech and Diction, Accents and Dialects for the Theatre, Acting for the Camera, Audition Skills, and Storytelling, that emphasized Creative And Critical Thinking, Innovation, Organization Skills, Problem Solving, Confidence, Team Work, Self-Esteem, self-discipline, creative leadership, communication and life skills, which encourages individual expression, group interaction, and team building, cultural pride and sensitivity.

Other instruction was conducted by South Miami-Dade creative industry professionals committed to developing young creative and cultural capital.  Classes and workshops were offered in Folk And Contemporary Dance under the direction of Ray Young, Artistic Director of Dedication Dance Academy,  recently representing Florida at the Olympics in London, England, Instrumental, Music Composition, Music Performance and Production by Ana Maria Peña-Jaramillo, international recording artists and co-director of Master’s Studio, Multicultural Visual Art and Crafts by Maria Lilly, Video Production by Kenny Silva Productions,  Earth Education by Redland Tropical Gardens, Healthy Living (Nutrition And Fitness), by Dr. Imelda Medina, University of Miami Health,  Creative Writing, by  author and playwright, Dr. Alice Johnson, who will publish a book of stories about multicultural experiences written by summer camp participants.

For SMDCAC ticket information call: 786-573-5300- Box Office Hours: Wednesday through Friday from Noon to 7 pm- Saturday from Noon to 5pm.      Print Tickets At Home Today!  Order online: www.SMDCAC.org  *ADA ACCESSIBLE 

With the support of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, and Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

2012 GREENRAISER

Posted on 26. Jul, 2012 by Howard Salus in Business, Education, Environment, featured, Florida News, Green Business, Green Events

The REVERB organization

Posted on 16. Jul, 2012 by Howard Salus in Eco Tourism, Education, featured, Florida News, Green Business, Products

Nancy Powell Radlauer (PowellReviews@aol.com)

The REVERB organization

REVERB, based in Portland, Maine, is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2004 by environmentalist Lauren Sullivan and her musician husband, Adam Gardner of Guster. Reverb provides comprehensive, custom greening programs for music tours while conducting grassroots outreach and education with fans around the globe. In addition to our greening work with bands and artists, Reverb also works to move forward the sustainable practices of music industry leaders, including venues, record labels, and radio stations. They take a positive “work-with” approach and believe that all of us can be active participants in protecting the environment and creating real, large-scale, and measurable change.

To date, REVERB has greened 116 tours and 1823 events, reduced 99,000 tons of CO2; involved 2,579 enviro-groups, and reached 14.5 million fans.

ILLEGAL WOOD GUITARS

Well-known musicians, such as Mick Jagger, Sting, Dave Matthews Band, Willie Nelson, Sarah McLachlan, Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Adams, Maroon 5, Barenaked Ladies, Bonnie Raitt, Raiza Said, and Simon Le Bon, among others, have stepped up to the plate in support of amendments added in recent years to the Lacey Act, aimed at preventing the importation of illegally logged wood from protected forests.

The Lacey Act combats trafficking in “illegal” wildlife, fish, and plants. The Lacey Act now, among other things, makes it unlawful, as of December 15, 2008, to import certain plants and plant products without an import declaration. But last year a bill was proposed in Congress to amend the federal Lacey Act that could significantly ease the regulatory burden on importers of wood.

THE MUSICIANS’ PLEDGE

Widespread illegal logging is placing at risk the wood we treasure in our musical instruments, and thus the future of music as we know it. As musicians dedicated to our art and to protecting the earth’s natural resources, we call on everyone involved in the sourcing, crafting and production of musical instruments to join us in our commitment to eliminate all trade in illegally logged timber and forest products. We will not buy a new instrument without asking where the wood comes from and if it was harvested legally and sustainably.

We support the Lacey Act and other laws that prohibit trade in illegally sourced wood and we oppose the efforts currently underway to weaken the Lacey Act.  We urge lawmakers, suppliers and craftsmen to ensure that our art has a positive impact on the environment rather than contributing to forest destruction. We call on our fellow musicians to do the same.

FAN OUTREACH at CONCERTS

REVERB reaches thousands of music fans every year with a positive, uplifting message of environmental sustainability. Some of their practices include:

• Eco-Village | Festival-like village with environmental displays and activities to educate and engage
• Non-Profit Groups | Environmental organizations hosted at each Eco-Village
• Carbon Offset Program | Allows fans to offset their carbon footprint
• Volunteers | Reverb volunteers coordinated to encourage fans to participate in Eco-Village activities
• Eco-Concert Program | Takeaways for fans describe green initiatives of the tour and tips for action
• Jumbotron Slideshow | Includes eco-trivia, tour greening information, text messaging campaigns
• Greening Website | Custom, tour-specific site on all greening elements taken on tour with resources
• Online Carpooling | Resource for fans looking to carpool to and from shows

BEHIND the SCENES at CONCERTS

REVERB also works behind the scenes with each band or artist to create backstage greening programs with the aim of reducing the overall environmental impact of their tour.

• On-Site Coordinator | Reverb staffer in the tour’s crew to execute and oversee all greening elements
• Green Rider & Venue Advance | Custom rider creation and advancement of greening requests per venue
• Biodiesel Fueling Coordination | Working with production team and drivers to arrange biodiesel fuelings from local and sustainable stock

• Waste Reduction & Recycling | Assistance with with large-scale waste reduction and recycling initiatives
• Hospitality & Catering | Coordination of eco-friendly choices backstage including locally sourced organic food, green cleaning supplies, etc.
• Carbon Offsets | Calculation and neutralization of carbon emissions created on tour

Lauren Sullivan, REVERB Co-Founder                                 

Willie Nelson and the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance recognize environmental visionaries Adam Gardner & Lauren Sullivan of Reverb by presenting them with the 2009 SBA Visionary Award.                

Get involved!

Whether you’re a fan, non-profit organization, business, or artist we’ve got lots of ways you can connect with the Reverb community. You can volunteer to help them promote environmental sustainability at concerts across the country. If you’re interested in manning a table at a concert or partnering with Reverb to reach the masses, they are ready to collaborate with you. And, as a non-profit Reverb, they rely on the generous monetary and in-kind support of environmentally and socially responsible businesses. If you’re interested in supporting their mission or sponsoring the greening of a tour, visit www.REVERB.org,