Robert Redford Sponsors Environment-Themed Slam Poetry
July 22, 2008 · Print This Article
Of course, we all know that Robert Redford has been an environmentalist since back when it was still considered eccentric. He has produced documentaries about solar power, lobbied Congress, fought to keep beautiful natural land out of the hands of developers and still campaigns against drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. But, his newest way of expressing his dedication to the environment is a surprising one.
From NPR:
These days, he has a new venue for environmental activism: slam poetry. Sponsored by Redford’s Sundance Preserve, in collaboration with Youth Speaks, a nonprofit that presents spoken-word performances, the Academy Award-winning actor is getting his message out in rhyme.
Redford spoke with Lauren Whitehead, associate director of Youth Speaks, and Simone Crew, slam poet and participant in “Brave New Voices: Youth Speaks! 11th International Youth Poetry Slam,” on Talk of the Nation about his latest project and getting young people involved in the fight against global warming.
Sigh – Robert Redford is cool. Slam poetry is cool. Green is cool. All three together – OMFGGFSMBBQ! No word on whether Robert himself will actually get up on stage. How awesome would that be?!
Link [NPR]
Photo credit: Flickr user jurvetson
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I always like Mr. Redford. This is a dope event. It would be nice to see some of the poets online. I would like to hear the environmental theme pieces. Spoken word poetry seems to be tied to urban themes. This will be a nice change of pace.
One,
DLUX: THE LIGHT
The Spoken Word Hip Hop Poet
http://www.dluxthelight.com
well am a young poet of 16 years old in tanzania Africa.I am very found of poetry and i do belive that am a good poet.I would like to request if its possible to get a sponcer so as to help me out in my talent.
I come from a small village called Keringet that is in Molo – Kenya. My home area has been so much affected with tribal war which has given me a lot of challenges in life. I have seen people dying, people losing parts of their bodies, living their beloved suffering. Death a very miserable thing has left many without home and nowhere to turn to.
The image of our environment world wide has been destroyed and this is what my feelings most of the time steaks on to, our environment cries for conservation, our environment is losing its shape. Action is needed so urgent. We as the owners of the planet, environment is accusing us for destroying it. That is why it had no option but to judge us by reducing our life span. Oh! yes we are guilty for the accuse but still we have chance to appeal and make a move, a move to bring a new and beautiful picture to our environment, a move which will make the wild animals in the forest not to suffer and forced to come out and danger the lives of our kids and destroy our food, a move which will convince our environment increase our life span like the one of our great grand parents. That made me come up with a programme called ‘PLANET CARE’ I need us to join hands together and care about our Planet. I have been longing for a chance, a chance like this to let this programme spread worldwide like UN and make everyone sing ‘PLANET CARE ‘. Who will change our environment if not we as the whole Planet? Now I want us to move, move towards the place of action, action not to tear down, but to build the Planet and make a difference, in our social and economic order. Be part of the force, the momentum of change, to transform our environment and global economy, now and for generations to come.
It’s not beginning now, but all the way from our fathers, who fought with sticks against guns. Up-to-date this revolution carries on. Echoing more and more from the rich to the poor, the young and old
This is our time, this is our turn, an era for sacrifice, in the fullness of time, to bring meaningful change to our environment and lives.
If you can’t see you can listen, pay attention to the whistling wind, the breeze of joy, happiness delight and ecstasy. If you can’t listen, you can feel, the tremor of peace, the quake to shake off the old, and leave the new standing, it is time to let the poor go to the honey moon with their beloved, smile for the day go day come, time to make the people in the desert lands to see the clouds gather in the sky and make droplets to their melting heads from the hot sun, make the land full of dust and dry soil turn to ever green environment, time to give unable, be able to participate in global business which will add flesh to the global economy, time to give the young time and enable them explore their technology.
I need a sponsor to give me a chance to move towards direction of action, action and not only the writings but the change of environment globally.
Thank you for giving me your time
Yours faithfully
Stanley Ng,eno