“ As a perpetual emotion machine — producing and guzzling its own political fuel — the “war on terror” continues to normalize itself as a thoroughly American way of life and death. Ongoing warfare has become a matter of default routine, pushed along by mainline media and the leadership of both parties in Washington. Without a clear and effective upsurge of opposition from the grassroots, Americans can expect to remain citizens of a war-driven country for the rest of their lives. ”
Norman Solomon (via azspot)
Richie Havens, “Handsome Johnny”
Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of Vietnam?
Looks like Handsome Johnny with an M15
Marching to the Vietnam war, hey, marching to the Vietnam war
Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of Birmingham?
Looks like Handsome Johnny with his hand rolled in a fist
Marching to the Birmingham war, hey, marching to the Birmingham war
Hey, what’s the use of singing this song?
Some of you are not even listening
Tell me what it is we’ve got to do, wait for our fields to start glistening
Hey, wait for the bullets to start whistling
RIP
Did you organize your 6th grade class to clean up the trash in Van Cordlandt Park in 1970, around (but I don’t believe exactly on) the original Earth Day?
No, but in 1971, on the second-ever Earth Day, I won second place among the fourth graders in my school’s Earth Day poster contest.
My poster depicted the earth as a round bomb with a burning fuse on top, surrounded by the words “TIME … IS … RUNNING … OUT.”
It should have won first place, really.
pretty awesome!
(Source: pbsthisdayinhistory)
Did you organize your 6th grade class to clean up the trash in Van Cordlandt Park in 1970, around (but I don’t believe exactly on) the original Earth Day?
April 22, 1970: Earth Day is Created
On this day in 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson accomplished his goal of creating Earth Day, a day dedicated to increasing awareness of environmental issues.
During the first Earth Day, Senator Nelson spoke to the Denver public and said:
“Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human being and all living creatures.”
Today, the American public will perform an array of actions to help our environment, whether it’s through cleaning up local neighborhoods or promoting environmental protection.
Celebrate Earth Day with this exclusive PBS’ Our Planet collection!
Image: Cleanup Along Bank of Chattahoochee River, 1972 (National Archives).
Bob Dylan, “Thirsty Boots,” Eric Andersen cover, recorded in 1970 and first released this past Saturday for Record Store Day 2013.
