Help
Rock Roan Plateau
 Rock
the Earth is working to help bring balance back to public
lands oil and gas development. A focal point of concern in
Colorado has been the Roan Plateau; over the past few months,
you've
read a great deal about the Roan and many of
you have helped by making calls to key legislators in support
of protecting the Roan's important native cutthroat trout
watersheds. With your assistance, we secured some valuable
protections for the Roan Plateau in the House Energy bill.
An amendment sponsored by Representatives John Salazar and
Mark Udall places "no surface occupancy" protections
atop the Roan Plateau - so that natural gas can be leased
and developed, but through directional drilling from adjacent
public or private lands rather than by disturbing the sensitive
cutthroat trout watersheds above the rim of the Roan Plateau.
The amendment was adopted into the House Energy Bill. Now
the future of that Energy Bill is tied up in negotiations
between the House and Senate - and in addition to the Roan,
other issues are at stake in ensuring responsible energy development.
You can
help by contacting Colorado Senators Wayne Allard and Ken
Salazar and making 3 simple asks...
Continue
reading this article for ways you can help.
For
more information on the Roan Plateau and RtE's concerns and
involvement, visit RtE's
Roan Plateau webpage.
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John
Butler Trio Rocks the Earth in San Francisco
 Often
artists with whom we collaborate use biodiesel and/or let
environmental groups table their shows. But rarely will artists
make it a point to actually go out and organize environmental
service projects throughout their tours. Thanks to the assistance
of Music
Matters, Rock the Earth is collaborating with
the John
Butler Trio on environmental service projects
during an upcoming tour stop in San Francisco.
On December
2nd, JBT will be collaborating with RtE and the Surfrider
Foundation and Save
the Bay to clean up Ocean Beach in San Francisco,
California. The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots
organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of
our world's oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by
a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the
Surfrider Foundation now has over 50,000 members and 80 chapters
worldwide. The San Francisco chapter's Beach Clean-Up Program
is one of the most successful of its kind. As a recipient
of the Surfrider Foundation's distinguished "Clean Beach
Award," this program has set the standard for other Surfrider
chapters around the country, and increasingly, the world.
To
participate in the San Francisco John Butler Trio environmental
service project, write to tree@rocktheearth.org.
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Rockin'
the Court!
 Rock
the Earth, River Runners for Wilderness, Living Rivers, and
Wilderness Watch had a day in U.S. District Court, challenging
Grand Canyon national Park's mismanagement of the Grand
Canyon. The attorneys for RtE and the other plaintiffs were
Matt Bishop of the Western Environmental Law Center, and Julia
Olson of Wild Earth Advocates. Arizona District Court Judge
David G. Campbell held two hours of oral arguments on the
litigation, in which RtE and the other groups are seeking
to enforce National Park Service compliance with the new Colorado
River Management Plan in Grand Canyon National Park.
The hearing
was held Friday, October 26, 2007, in Phoenix, Arizona. In
attendance were members of RtE and River Runners for Wilderness,
along with ten staff members from Grand Canyon National Park,
and representatives from the various Defendant Intervener
groups. The court hearing addressed the merits of the case,
including Grand Canyon National Park's concessions use of
motorized tour boats and helicopter exchanges that continue
to destroy the river's wilderness character. The case also
contests the Park Service's commercialization of the river.
At present, 14,385 concessions passengers travel with only
2,270 self-guided river runners during the same summer season—a
ratio of over six commercial guests to each do-it-yourself
river runner.
Continue
reading this article.
For
more information on the Colorado River litigation and RtE's
concerns and involvement, visit RtE's
Colorado River Management Plan webpage.
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Save
the Cypress Reminder
 Rock
the Earth and the Gulf
Restoration Network are once again collaborating
to protect the Gulf Region. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina,
those in Louisiana now recognize the importance of the state's
wetlands as natural hurricane barriers, and statewide support
has been galvanized around the need to restore the vanishing
coast. Thousands of acres of wetlands must be restored if
urban centers are to be protected from future Katrinas.
In partnership
with GNR, fans are asked to text “COAST”
to 77007 in order to ask members of Congress to provide
economic support for the rebuilding of this city that is a
national treasure, as well as providing greater protection
of healthy wetland systems that serve to protect New Orleans
in storm events. Your support of this issue will help protect
and restore one of the most important natural resources in
the world – America's Wetland, which provides a habitat
for countless species of birds, fish and reptiles, a livelihood
for Gulf Coast fishermen, a port for the U.S. shipping industry,
and fertile ground for the continued growth of cultural traditions
such as the food and music of our coastal communities.
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Mimi
Fishman Foundation Rocks the Earth (again)!
 For
the fourth time in as many years, the Mimi
Fishman Foundation is conducting an on-line
auction to benefit Rock the Earth. Items donated include original
artwork by photographer Tobin Poppenberg, signed posters
from Jam Cruise, Ozzy Osbourne, Jack Johnson,
the Allman Brothers Band, String Cheese Incident,
and Incubus, limited edition signed and numbered prints
from Michael Everett, Ryan Kerrigan, and Jeff
Wood.
The auction
will open on Monday, November 19 and remain open until Tuesday,
December 4, so check back at www.mimifishman.org/auctions
often to make your bids and help Rock the Earth!
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Member
Benefits: New Rock the Earth Batik!
 It
has been two years since the last time we commissioned a batik
artist to create a hand-made, one-of-a-kind, line of batik
shirts for Rock the Earth. We have heard the clamoring and
requests! Thanks to the generosity of batik artist Eric Mairona
at Peak
to Peak Batiks, RtE has a beautiful new membership
gift. Eric's work has been used on shirts by Leftover Salmon,
Michael Franti & Spearhead, the String Cheese Incident,
Widespread Panic, High Sierra Music Festival, Big Head Todd
& the Monsters and many, many others. This unique and
limited edition (only 60 created) long-sleeve shirt is available
in both men's and women's cuts, for new and renewing members
at only $75! Order
now as they will be going quick!
|
More Member Benefits: |
 |
20%
off all products from Guayaki
Yerba Mate |
 |
20%
off Eco
Express gift baskets (or donate 20% of
all full-priced orders to Rock the Earth by designating
donation in comments section of each order) |
 |
20%
off Bamboosa
products |
 |
20%
off SCIGear
merchandise |
 |
Special
contests and discounts on concert tickets |
| To
find out how you can take advantage of these Members Only
benefits, write to info@rocktheearth.org. |
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Give
a Gift That Defends the Planet!
 Want
to avoid long lines and frivolous gifts this holiday season?
Looking for something unique to give those on your gift list?
Give
your friends and family a holiday membership package from
Rock the Earth! Each package includes appealing
and environmentally-friendly RtE merchandise as well as the
satisfaction of supporting a non-profit organization that
is working hard to protect the environment for us and future
generations.
In 2007
Rock the Earth made an impact on ground-breaking decisions
like persuading Wal-Mart to stop selling cypress mulch from
the Gulf region and greening Jam Cruise, in which nearly 11
tons of glass, plastic and metal waste were diverted from
being deposited in a local, mixed-waste landfill. Our work
would not be possible without the help of members and supporters
like you. As we take on new projects to Defend the
Planet One Beat at a Time, we know that we can make a
difference together by raising awareness, activism and funds
to protect our natural resources.
So, give
a great gift and help support our efforts to protect beautiful
and unique places like the Grand Canyon National Park's Colorado
River and Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park by
sending RtE membership gifts this holiday season! Packages
include our 100% organic cotton/hemp blend shirts and tote
bags, fleece hats, CDs, DVDs, posters and one-of-a-kind, glass
earth pendants from Touch of J. Our limited edition three
poster set by noted concert artists Justin Hampton, Jeff Wood
and Gary Houston, now valued at $250, is also
available in our holiday packages, so get yours soon. We also
have a special thank you gift for RtE members that purchase
holiday gifts, so order yours today at www.RockTheEarth.org!
Place
your order by November 28th (Hanukkah) or December 15th (Christmas)
to ensure delivery before the holidays.
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Help
RtE this Holiday Season and Win RtE Prize Packages!
Ah, the
holidays -- when thoughts turn to food, friends and charity.
Help us in our year-end work to grow Rock the Earth by posting
a RtE holiday banner on your website, MySpace or Facebook
page. It's easy to do and you can show your dedication
to the planet while helping us grow our movement of environmentally
concerned music fans.
To
show off your Rock the Earth pride, save the banner image
above and then link it to www.RockTheEarth.org.
Be sure to let us know that you posted it by writing to
info@rocktheearth.org
- two random posters will win cool Rock the Earth prize packages.
You
can use the following code to paste into your blog or website:
<a
href="http://www.rocktheearth.org" target="_blank"><img
src="http://www.rocktheearth.org/newsletter/2007-11/holidaybanner.gif"
width="120" height="60" border="0"
alt="Give a Gift to Save the Environment!"></a>
Join
us on the internet: MySpace
| Facebook: Group
|
Cause
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In
the Key of Green: Winter Energy
 Energy
prices are projected to reach new highs this winter, creating
a real crunch on household budgets and causing some to make
some hard choices. But, there's help. The following are steps
that you can take to reduce your household energy useage this
winter:
Install
a programmable thermostat
Programmable thermostats will automatically lower the heat
or air conditioning at night and raise them again in the morning.
They can save you $100 a year on your energy bill.
Wrap
your water heater in an insulation blanket
You'll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this
simple action. You can save another 550 pounds per year by
setting the thermostat no higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Continue
reading this article for 7 more tips.
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 Rockin'
Thanks to the 4 Peaks Festival
The 4
Peaks Festival is a new annual festival held
in Bend, Oregon. During this year's inaugural festival, bands
such as ALO, Hot Buttered Rum and New Monsoon
played to over 1,500 attendees. Over the past month, 4
Peaks made a donation to Rock the Earth. We are grateful,
and thank the kind folks behind this festival for helping
us to continue our mission of Defending the Planet One
Beat at a Time.
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RtE
Correction
In our
October edition of Rock the Earth Notes, we proudly announced
our new Board of Directors and humbly thanked those now-former
members of the Board who were stepping down. In our enthusiasm
for our new Board, we neglected to thank someone who has contributed
mightily to our organization's growth -- Deana Zoski,
who, for two years served as our organization's Treasurer.
Through Deana's leadership, RtE's financial management
procedures and accounting took tremendous strides forward
leading to greater accountability and documentation, and ultimately
her assistance greatly helped the organization to receive
permanent tax exempt status. Thanks, Deana and we're
sorry for the oversight!
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Volunteer
with Rock the Earth
Rock the
Earth is on the road, powered mainly by volunteers. Have you
considered volunteering with Rock the Earth? You can do it
from the road or at home! We have dozens of opportunities,
and can certainly find one that matches your skills. During
this time of year, we especially need help around the office
in Denver with our year-end donor appeals. If you have a few
hours to donate, we could use your help! Other volunteer
opportunities include the following:
- Tabling
events
- Coordinating
volunteers
- Fundraising
& membership drives
- Legal
& technical assistance
- Assisting
with data entry & mailings in our Denver office
- Writing
press releases
If you're
interested in volunteering with us, please send an email to
volunteer@RockTheEarth.org
to find out how you can help Rock the Earth! Be sure to include
your city and state so we know the region of the country you
live.
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Paul
Diaz (Tree Sound Studios) Rocks the Earth: Interview
 Paul
Diaz is Founder and President of Tree
Sound Studios, a green recording studio located
outside of Atlanta, in Norcross, Georgia, that has recorded
tracks by bands such as The Police, Indigo Girls, Aerosmith,
Gwen Stefani, Perpetual Groove, and many others. Between offsetting
100% of the energy used to power the studio, utilizing using
LED and compact fluorescents where possible, using Seventh
Generation cleaning products, which are biodegradable and
also recycled office supplies, Tree Sound Studios is setting
the standard for green recording. Their newest planned endeavor
is planting an organic herb, spice and vegetable garden on
site to help educate and feed their staff and clients and
enjoy the peace of nature. In 2008 they hope to get the roof
lined with solar panels and be making biodiesel for bands
on the road. Last but not least, Tree Sound now plants a tree
everyday and one for every ticket sold to our live events.
Paul's
love of music started at 8 when he heard the sounds of the
70's. The first incarnation of Tree Sound was built in his
parent's basement, which he quickly outgrew. He then built
a studio inside a local music school, where he became a teacher.
When space again became an issue, Paul began his search for
a new building. He happened upon an old printing plant in
Norcross Georgia and through his inspired vision and unrelenting
determination, Tree Sound Studios was reborn. Working in tandem
with renowned studio designer George Augsperger, the design
was created and implemented with artistry and precision. Since
then, Paul has expanded the facility to include three unique
studios and a killer live soundstage. He is an avid adventurist
and his interests include full tilt rock & ice climbing,
snow boarding, white water rafting, scuba diving, sky diving,
and he is also an expert marksman.
What
environmental issue(s) do you consider to be the most critical
at this time?
I think
that biggest issue is our consumption of natural resources
, wood , oil, water. We are using them all up at alarming
rates and our addiction to petroleum products is a recipe
for disaster, environmentally and economically. Preserving
what we have left of nature and changing our consumption habits
are at the top of my list.
What
has inspired you to combine environmental activism with your
music?
I believe
that music has the ability to reach people emotionally and
on a socio-political front as well. I think it is a pure art
form that for the most part remains unaltered by government,
so it like the last political frontier. In other words by
the time the man finds out what we are saying its too late
to stop the spread of information. Music also has the cool
factor which makes it very appealing to young folks so I thinks
its a great way to educate.
Where
is your favorite place in nature to go to find solace or inspiration?
Alaska,
we have a small homestead there and its the biggest wilderness
I have ever seen. We are 100% off the grid and its very satisfying
to live in such a simple and independent way. We carry our
water , beer and food in and use wood for heat and solar for
power. Planning to build a bath house next year that will
use wood stove and solar as well as gravity fed water. Lots
of food in AK also, great organic gardens, Moose, Caribou,
Salmon, Berries of all kinds, it is the most abundant place
I have ever seen, its easy to live off the land except for
the cold ass winters, but we head south like the birds.
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Rockin'
the Earth at Banff National Park: Photo
RtE
Member and former Summer Intern Kathryn Blau at
Lake Moraine in Banff National Park, Canada.
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