APE News
WYCLEF JEAN CONSIDERS HAITIAN PRESIDENCY
Wyclef Jean is apparently considering running for President of Haiti, as the country continues to rebuild after it was devastated by an earthquake earlier this year.
The Haiti-born R&B star who has contributed a track to APE's new album, 'Rhythms Del Mundo: Revival' was appointed 'Ambassador-at-Large' for the country by outgoing president Rene Preval in 2007, and has led various charitable initiatives to help disadvantaged youth in the country, although, in the wake of the earthquake which hit the country in January, Jean was accused of irregularities in the accounting of his own Haiti-supporting charity, the Yele Haiti Foundation, and later admitted that it had been "poorly run".
Despite various reports that Jean is considering moving properly into politics, his people remain tight lipped on the issue, saying in a recent statement: "Wyclef's commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless, and he will remain its greatest supporter regardless of whether he is part of the government moving forward. At this time, Wyclef Jean has not announced his intent to run for Haitian president. If and when a decision is made, media will be alerted immediately".
Source: CMU Daily
RDM REVIVAL LAUNCH PARTY!
A lakeside party in London featuring Rhythms Del Mundo playing live has successfully launched APE's third album 'Rhythms Del Mundo: Revival'. The party which was attended by APE's Trustees, Advisors, Transmission Recordings, PPR Media and members of the press and public kicked-off the new album in style. RDM played several tracks from the new album and some classics from the previous two albums - ensuring that a great time was had by all. But the main point of the evening was not overlooked: that this album is released in aid of people across the planet who are still suffering in the wake of this year's devastating earthquakes.
Already, RDM Revival is reaping great reviews from the press and public alike and is available via iTunes and Amazon - and very soon on APE's new Online Shop. Watch this space for more details!
REBUILDING LIVELIHOODS IN HAITI
Sales of APE's new album Rhythms Del Mundo: Revival will enable us to continue supporting organisations such as Fonkoze an innovative 'community bank for the organised poor' as they roll-out imaginative and accessible ways for Haiti's earthquake survivors to rebuild their lives. Initiatives include writing-off previous bank loans so that their members do not have to repay any monies owed after the earthquake struck; donating money to small businesses so that they can start working again, thereby kick-staring the local economy, and paying-out insurance money on destroyed homes and buildings even though the insurance policies were not even issued at the time of the earthquake. Check out these fascinating videos for insights into the revolutionary work of Fonkoze: http://fonkoze.org/publications/videos/post-earthquake-profiles/
APE AUCTION A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!
A big thanks to all of you who made bids for the items in the Artists Project Earth online Auction. With your help, we have raised thousands of pounds which will be used to further support our ongoing work in Haiti, Chile and the Tibetan Plateau, as earthquake survivors in these regions struggle to rebuild their lives.
As anticipated, the hottest bidding was for the signed guitars donated by Rodrigo y Gabriela and The Killers, with Madonna's autographed photograph and Eros Ramazzotti's signed Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt which he wore on stage, also getting a great deal of attention. APE would like to sincerely thank all the artists and musicians for their generous donations for this great cause.
APE will be holding another charity auction later this year, so if you missed out this time around, why not sign up to our newsletter (using the submit button above) to keep informed of our next auction.
Just Do It Crowd-Funding Appeal
Artists Project Earth has supported Left Field Films as they produce an exciting new documentary film on climate change - see Project 203. Now Left Field Films are asking for your help to get it completed. Just Do It looks into the mischievous and risky world of UK climate activists. The story follows Climate Camp, Plane Stupid and Climate Rush through 2009 as they take on the combined forces of global capitalism, run away climate change and those pesky metropolitan police.
The film is currently being produced by a crew of volunteers, film professionals, and award-winning Director Emily James. Emily is well known for her innovative style, prompting The Guardian to write, “Emily James is a genius,… and will in time be revered as a television innovator”, and Broadcast magazine called her “One of the ‘Hottest Talents in Town’”. What is really special about this film is that it is completely non-commercial. Rather than selling it to broadcasters and cinemas, the plan is to give the film away for free under a Creative Commons licence. In this way the film’s production and release will reflect the culture and spirit of the movement it portrays, and ensures that as many people as possible can see it and be inspired to take action on climate change.
The obvious implication of this model is that the production costs need to be raised in advance, and there won't be an income from sales. So, if this is the kind of film, you would like to see, please help to make it a reality and click here to make a donation.
To find out more about the project, have a look at the film’s website <http://www.just-do-it.org.uk/> . You can also join them on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/jdi.thefilm> and Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/justdoitfilm> and please tell your friends!
NEXT APE FUNDING ROUND NOW OPEN
Artist Project Earth's 9th Funding Round is now open with applications invited from organizations and groups who are working to prevent the causes of climate change and defend communities and ecosystems against the impacts of climate change. This may include projects that create awareness of these issues through the arts, music and theatre; or that create political and social awareness of the need for rapid lifestyle change and community preparedness. It may be a practical project that leads to the adoption of low carbon technologies and lifestyles, or support for vulnerable communities and ecosystems – particularly in the Global South - that are already affected by climate change.
APE has previously sponsored over 200 projects across the globe that are addressing climate change and natural disaster relief and helping to raise awareness of these issues. From regenerating coral reefs to campaigns against Tar Sand extraction; from solar-powered theatre to restoring wetland habitat in Africa, APE supports people and organisations that have a vision of a fairer and greener world. See our Project Pages for details of previously-funded projects.
The deadline for applications is 1st September, with grants being announced in early October 2010.
See our website for more details: http://www.apeuk.org/apply-for-funding
SUFFERING IN SILENCE: where no news means bad news
UPDATE ON THE YUSHU EARTHQUAKE
Yushu is a vast and remote county on the Tibetan Plateau. Despite being the epicentre of a catastrophic earthquake which ravaged the population and obliterated the township on April 14th, news from the area has since been conspicuous by its absence. Although now technically known as part of China, the population of Yushu is 97% Tibetan, most of whom live at subsistence level with little access to medical care or schooling.
True to it's motto of “Helping Where Help is Needed”, the ROKPA Charity has been quietly working in this forgotten part of the world since 1990, setting up projects with local people to improve their health, education and living standards whilst ensuring that their traditional culture is preserved. One of ROKPA's most successful projects has been the Yushu Orphanage School which was started in 1993 with just 53 orphans, each chosen from a different village in the area.
Droni, Palden and Tenpa were three of those original orphans and were all twelve years old when the school was established. They well remember helping local workers renovate the derelict old hospital that was to become their home and change their lives. Staffed by local teachers, augmented by visiting Western teachers, the school went from strength to strength. By 2010 it had expanded to accommodate 250 students in residence, many of whom had been sent from other areas of Tibet as the school's admirable reputation spread far and wide. Living examples of the Yushu Orphanage success story, Droni, Palden and Tenpa completed six years of general education then went on to study Tibetan Medicine for four years, followed by a further three years at a College of Health and Hygiene. For the last two years these bright and resourceful young Tibetans have been living in Edinburgh studying and working at the Royal Botanical Gardens on scholarships arranged by ROKPA with the Scottish Agricultural College. Currently studying conservation and propagation methods, with particular reference to medicinal plants, the students are committed to returning to Yushu where they will use their knowledge and experience to improve the health and environment of people in their homeland. Everything in the garden seemed rosy. And then the earthquake struck.
Shocked to the core by the tragic news of the earthquake, the students made their way to Samye Dzong Edinburgh, the capital city's branch of Samye Ling Tibetan Centre, to attend a special prayer service dedicated to the victims and survivors of Yushu. Poignantly clutching a bag of tea lights and a list of over eighty names of people they knew who had died in the quake the students lit candles and listened solemnly as the names of their families and friends were read out.
After the initial reporting of the quake, official news has virtually dried up. But thanks to mobile phone technology the students were able to keep in contact with survivors in Yushu. From people on the ground it became known that first on the rescue scene were Buddhist monks who came to help the local volunteers, often arriving on foot from surrounding monasteries, many of which had also been destroyed. Working tirelessly with their bare hands they pulled out bodies from the rubble, some still alive but many more dead, then presided over harrowing, mass cremations and prayers for those who had perished. The scale of the devastation is unimaginable. There is barely a building left standing and those that remain are unsafe to inhabit.
Hampered by poor access for their lorries the Chinese rescue teams eventually arrived to take over operations. The official figure given for the number of dead was about 2,000 but it is now known that this is but a fraction of the actual number, which is closer to 20,000 dead and with many more people left injured and homeless. Incredibly, miraculously, all 250 children at the Yushu Orphanage survived. It was the only school in the region to suffer no fatalities. However, the orphanage itself was reduced to rubble. Most of the children are living with families in surrounding areas who have temporarily taken them in. Others, not so lucky, are living in the bushes or in flimsy tents unsuited to the climate which, even in spring, finds night temperatures dropping below zero.
Conditions are dire, with water and food hard to come by. In a few months time, when winter sets in, it will be impossible to survive. As there are now more orphans than ever in this benighted area. ROKPA needs to build two Orphanage Schools to replace the old one, enabling them to house and educate up to 500 more orphans. It is vital that the work starts now while the weather is relatively mild.
News from this far flung region is ominously silent, smothering the voices of thousands of Tibetans in grave need. Of the population living in the Yushu area only 60% have been granted residents' permits by the Chinese authorities. The remaining 40% have just 'dropped off the radar' and are not eligible for any kind of government help. As far as the authorities are concerned, they don't exist. They are the forgotten people ROKPA reaches out to, the old, the sick, the homeless and dispossessed who don't fit bureaucracy's boxes.
Out of the ashes of what was Yushu, ROKPA is committed to building a new hospital, clinic, school, monastic college, old people's home, and other vital projects in the area. In the short term, funds are needed to buy insulated tents for 600 families whose homes were destroyed but who are not on the official list and who are therefore entirely dependent on charity. Food for a further 10,000 families also needs to be subsidised and essential medicines supplied. These people have nothing but the clothes on their back. In fact they could use some warm clothes too.
Thanks to its many years of experience working in the region, ROKPA has the infrastructure in place and the ways and means to ensure that every penny donated goes where it is most needed and can best benefit the people of Yushu. But it can only be done if we listen to the silence that speaks louder than words. Please don't let it fall on deaf ears. Help ROKPA help those in need. Thank you on behalf of them all.
Artists Project Earth has made a donatiion to ROKPA to support their work. See Project 207 for more details. But a great deal more help is needed. For more information or to make a donation visit www.rokpauk.org
Thank You.
Ani Rinchen Khandro
Kagyu Samye Dzong Edinburgh
HEARTBREAK IN HAITI
The focus of the world's press and media has moved on to other global events, but in Haiti there is still much heartbreak and suffering. Makeshift hospitals struggle to provide prosthetics for amputees, and schools, homes and civil buildings remain in ruins. APE was recently sent this film about the Under 17s Women's Soccer team of Haiti - their grief and loss epitomises that of the country as a whole. We urge you to watch this short film and to remember the daily difficulties that these people still face.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5140800&categoryid=3060647
APE is soon to launch it's new album in support of the people affected by the most recent earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and the Tibetan Plateau, and our upcoming Auction also hopes to raise much-needed funds for this purpose.
If you can help, please make a donation via the 'Donate' button on our Home Page. Thank You.
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