La FIFA annule le Gala de la Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 2006, Berlin

La FIFA annule le Gala de la Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 2006

Suite à une nouvelle étude approfondie de la possibilité de poser un nouveau gazon après l’organisation du Gala de la Coupe du Monde de la FIFA, prévu le 7 juin 2006 à Berlin, à l’Olympiastadion, la FIFA vient de décider l’annulation dudit événement. Malgré la proposition fin 2005 de décaler les dates prévues initialement pour le gala et le premier match de groupes que doit accueillir l’Olympiastadion de Berlin (les 7 et 13 juin au lieu des 8 et 12 juin), les études ont montré que le démontage en temps utile des scènes complexes et des installations techniques prévues pour le gala, puis l’installation d’un nouveau gazon en parfait état pour accueillir dès le 12 juin les matches de la Coupe du Monde, comportaient de trop grands risques.

La FIFA et le Comité Organisateur Local Allemagne 2006 regrettent d’autant plus cette décision que les deux acteurs étaient ravis, et le sont d’ailleurs toujours tout autant, du spectacle concocté par le directeur artistique André Heller, en répétition déjà depuis des mois. L’idée de déplacer le gala dans une autre ville n’est plus d’actualité puisqu’il serait impossible de concevoir et faire démarrer à temps un tout nouveau spectacle avec des acteurs et des assistants bénévoles.

La FIFA n’a pas changé d’avis : elle juge très positive l’organisation d’une cérémonie d’inauguration séparée et proposera, en collaboration avec André Heller et son équipe, de nouvelles idées pour une éventuelle réalisation du gala dans le cadre de la Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 2010 en Afrique du Sud.

La FIFA remercie vivement la Ville de Berlin, tous les acteurs impliqués dans ce projet et tout particulièrement les 15 000 bénévoles pour leur enthousiasme et leur passion. De manière appropriée, la FIFA saura se montrer reconnaissante de leur engagement. Tous les billets déjà vendus pour le gala seront bien sûr entièrement remboursés.

« Pour ma part, l’organisation d’une grande cérémonie d’inauguration reste une excellente idée. Cette annulation tardive n’a pas été une décision facile pour la FIFA, mais il est certain qu’en notre qualité d’instance dirigeante du football mondial, nous devons faire passer les aspects sportifs en priorité. Je remercie André Heller et toutes les personnes impliquées pour leur grand engagement et espère qu’ils comprendront notre décision », a déclaré le Président de la FIFA, Joseph S. Blatter.

« C’est avec une profonde tristesse que j’abandonne ce travail aussi captivant que constituait l’organisation du Gala de la Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 2006 à Berlin mais je ne peux ignorer le fait que les matches de la Coupe du Monde, dont la finale, qu’accueillera l’Olympiastadion de Berlin, devront se dérouler dans de parfaites conditions. Les considérations artistiques, aussi remarquables soient-elles, doivent dans ce cas passer au second plan. Je vais à présent me consacrer pleinement à l’organisation de la cérémonie d’ouverture de Munich et à la cérémonie de clôture de Berlin », a déclaré André Heller.

Division de la Communication de la FIFA
Zurich, le 13 janvier 2006

Ozark Henry

Ozark Henry. Un prête-nom pour Piet Goddaer, un fourre-tout musical, des influences plein le cabas et un quatrième album rentre-dedans qui fait de la Belgique la terre d'asile définitive des créations originales.

Un bout de terre rêvée où se croisent pêle-mêle Ghinzu, Girls in Hawaï, dEUS, Ann Pierle, Arno…Et Ozark Henry.

On l'avait simplement croisé au détour d'une page. Une page de bons plans pour les cadeaux de fin d'année, le regard fier sur sa pochette noire ; l'air mystérieux et la mèche rebelle empruntée à Jay Jay Johanson. Et puis on était sorti du métro, l'idée avait germée sur le trottoir : Il fallait revenir à The sailor not the sea, ce titre alambiqué, ces chansons dérivatives.

Ces chansons, dix chansons, autant de bonheur pour finir l'année. La finir tout simplement sur une note positive, portée par le chant lointain d'un pécheur de mélodies. Loin des rivages, La donna mobile plante le décor et empile les couches atmosphériques pour créer le nouveau courant. Du trip pop. Batteries low-tempos, basse discrète et voix haute perchée, La donna mobile permet de croire encore aux concepts albums, écoutables d'un trait, sans lassitude.
L'émotion de la voix de Piet Goddaer coupe le souffle et l'on cherche la ventoline sur Indian Summer, tout clavier dehors, belle comme un soleil qui se couche. Cette voix de crooner flamand, ces violons pincés, rythmique impec', la mélancolie… On compte les secondes qui s'égrènent, le spleen belge sans doute qui fait son effet.

Si Ozark Henry reste dur à définir, sorte d'ovni musical oscillant entre la world music et la pop raffinée, The sailor not the sea touche au cœur comme un patchwork variant les ambiances, les décors. Résolument rock aérien sur "Jocelyn it's crazy" (Ses guitares en reverb'…), ambiance cosy sur "Give yourself a chance with me", ritournelle à la manière de Coldplay sur "At sea"…

Si l'on reconnaît un album à la mémorisation facile de ses refrains, The Sailor not the sea s'installe dans le peloton de tête. Facile sans compromis, difficile sans obstacle, les émotions sans les larmes, ce quatrième album s'affirme comme une réussite. Structure hybride portée par un collectif hors pair, Ozark henry tente la Soul intimiste sur "Free Haven" ou l'instrumentale inspirée sur "The Sailor not the sea" (très Morcheeba dans le style).

A l'heure des featurings intempestifs, Piet préfère la collaboration, et pas la pire. En allant chercher Jaki Liebezeit, mythique batteur de Can (auteur du plus bel album Krautrock, Tago Mago), Ozark Henry frappe haut et fort, assurant un rythme endiablé et tribal à ses compositions. Un bien bel effort donc, pour un artiste, un vrai puisant ses influences autant du coté d'Eno que de Peter Gabriel.

De belles références pour un prêtre de cantiques modernes à découvrir très, mais alors très rapidement. Avant l'extinction des feux.

A lire aussi sur Froggy's Delight : L'interview d'Ozark Henry

Ozark Henry en concert à la Maroquinerie en décembre 2005

En savoir plus : Le site officel de Ozark Henry

Sardinia plans tax bill for its tourist glitterati

The Sunday Times January 08, 2006 / John Follain

The white sand, crystal waters and five-star hotels of Sardinia’s Emerald Coast have long been a haven for some of Europe’s wealthiest holidaymakers, from Princess Caroline of Monaco to Roman Abramovich, the billionaire owner of Chelsea football club.

From this summer, however, they may feel somewhat less welcome. The authorities on the Italian island want to impose stiff new taxes on the yachts, private aircraft and second homes of foreign visitors.

Despite the money the tourists already bring in, Renato Soru, centre-left president of the regional government, has drawn up a draft budget that includes what the local media have called a “tax on luxury” — which he hopes will raise as much as £550m this year.

“Let’s tax the rich,” said Soru, a former internet tycoon. “In most cases they are tourists who don’t spend even one euro in Sardinia and yet are heavy users of the services provided by the regional authority.”

Under the proposals, a mooring tax will be imposed on yachts according to their size. The owners of boats more than 98ft long will have to pay £13,700. From the beginning of June to the end of September, owners of private aircraft will have to pay an extra levy of £140-£690, depending on the number of passengers the craft can take, each time they take off or land on the island.

Owners of second homes who do not live permanently in Sardinia will also have to pay more.

Soru wants houses of up to 2,153sq ft within two miles of the shore to be taxed at £2,060 a year; each extra 11sq ft will add £100 to the annual charge. Those within 300 yards of the sea will pay 20% more. There will also be a 25% tax on properties sold.

“Those who live in our region for three months and elsewhere for nine must pay taxes in Sardinia for those three months at least,” Soru said. “Until now we’ve been taken for a ride, now basta (enough).”

Soru, who estimates that 150,000 villas will be affected by the new rules, intends to spend part of the money raised by the new taxes on preserving the environment.

Among those hardest-hit would be Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s billionaire centre-right prime minister, who owns seven villas on the Emerald Coast, including the 27- bedroom La Certosa outside Porto Rotondo. Sardinian newspapers have estimated that Berlusconi could face a £165,000 tax bill for La Certosa alone.

At least Berlusconi will not be subject to the yacht levy: he sold his million-pound craft, the Principessa Vai Via, to a business partner three years ago.

Abramovich who last summer anchored his 340ft vessel, Pelorus, off the resort of Porto Cervo, will be affected as will Princess Caroline of Monaco, who sails there on her 1930s yacht, Pacha III.

Other owners of luxury villas in the area include Sheikh Yamani, the Saudi former oil minister; Peter Gabriel, the musician; and Fiona Swarovski, the heiress. Recent visitors include Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, Madonna and the supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

Berlusconi has refrained from commenting directly on the new taxes, but has sent Giuseppe Pisanu, Italy’s Sardinian-born interior minister, to spearhead opposition. On a visit to the island last week, Pisanu criticised the budget bill, saying it would discourage both investment and “high- quality tourism”.

“It’s an aberrant measure which risks inflicting a devastating blow to Sardinia’s tourism growth,” Pisanu said. The government is considering an appeal to Italy’s constitutional court to have the new taxes thrown out.

Didier Varrod: "Balavoine avait un charisme fondamental"

Didier Varrod: "Balavoine avait un charisme fondamental"

dimanche 8 janvier 2006

Daniel Balavoine (deuxième en partant de la gauche) en compagnie de ses amis à Agadez (Niger).

Photo de AFP/Getty Images

Le journaliste et homme de radio et de télévision Didier Varrod, auteur d'une biographie très complète de Daniel Balavoine, « Le roman de Daniel Balavoine » (Fayard/Chorus), souligne que le chanteur, qu'il a bien connu, « avait un charisme fondamental » et voulait « s'inscrire dans une démarche citoyenne ».

(...) - Q. : Le manque de considération de la la presse rock le gênait-il?

- R. : « Il en était blessé. Higelin, Lavilliers, Couture, puis Daho, les Rita Mitsouko, Axel Bauer, Lio: tous avaient des papiers dans la presse rock, et pas lui. Il disait: « S'il y a bien un enfant du rock, c'est moi. Mes fondamentaux ne sont pas Ferré, Brassens ou Brel, mais Yes, Genesis, Peter Gabriel ou Talking Heads ». Le portrait que lui a consacré l'émission Les Enfants du rock en 1984 a été déterminant, il l'a pris comme la fin de ses ennuis! » (...)

Daniel Balavoine, vingt ans déjà : les photos inédites

Gérard Rancinan, son ami photographe, nous révèle l’intimité de la star Photographe de renommée mondiale, Gérard Rancinan est aussi l’ami de toujours de Daniel Balavoine. Il l’a suivi au long de sa carrière. Ils étaient jeunes, débutant ensemble. Vingt ans après, le photographe a retrouvé toute une série de clichés oubliés dans un casier d’archives. « Des photos de copains », explique-t-il, d’instants présents pour celui qui le restera toujours, présent.

(...) « 1986, en Angleterre. Daniel venait de sortir son dixième album, le dernier, Sauver l'amour. Il voulait créer un groupe en Grande-Bretagne, là où se trouvait selon lui la source du rock. Il y a enregistré un 45 tours avec ses musiciens. Pour ce faire, il avait rencontré l'un des arrangeurs du groupe Yes ; là il est justement dans le jardin de la maison du musicien. Balavoine commençait à produire un son plus mûr, pour moi il était en passe d'entrer dans la cour des grands à l'instar d'un Peter Gabriel. Daniel a été l'un des rares en France à avoir pu s'aligner à ce niveau-là, aussi bien musicalement que textuellement. »(...)

Sek Loso

Thai rock star Loso set for debut concert

By Eunice del Rosario

ROCK star Sek Loso will take his fans by storm as he performs for the first time in Bahrain later this month. The star, who has sold more than 56 million albums in his native Thailand, will make his Middle Eastern debut along with his band on January 27, at the Delmon International Hotel's poolside in Manama.

Sek, whose real name is Seksan Sookpimay, is already being called a legend in Thailand, at the age of just 31. Critics have hailed him as the only musician who makes playing guitar look easy, often comparing him to Jimi Hendrix and even Curt Cobain.

Sek now lives in England, where he worked with some of the music industry's biggest names - including Tim Carr (Beastie Boys) and Owen Morris (Oasis) to produce his latest album, which contains many songs in English. Peter Gabriel is a fan and Michael Eaves, the man behind the massive Glastonbury festival in the UK, has personally asked Sek and his band to play there.

David Rhodes News

From http://davidrhodes.org/

January 3, 2006

Happy New Year!

Sorry the site update is late, but time just got away from us. Added to that, there isn't very much to report right now. David continues to work on the music for "China" and might still be working on the FIFA project, although that's unconfirmed.

Memories of John Lennon

Memories of John Lennon

Author: Yoko Ono Book

Format: HardbackISBN: 0060594551Price (NZ RRP):

$39.00Publication Date: 20 January 2006

The concept of Memories of John Lennon is simple, and yet its scope will be tremendous. Yoko Ono, the widow of John Lennon, will gather from those who knew him best, and from those who have been influenced by him, their memories of this legend.

This will be a tremendous eulogy, twenty-five years after his death to the month, from those people who spent the most time with him in his life. It will bring fans even closer to knowing the man who brought us ‘Revolver’ and ‘Imagine’.

Contributors include: Bono, Joan Baez, James Brown, Peter Gabriel, David Geffen, Dennis Hopper, Elton John, Alicia Keys, Annie Liebovitz, Harry Benson, Iggy Pop, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Reiser, Carlos Santana, Pete Townsend and many others!

Peter Gabriel Live 8 Events Heads To DVD

Peter Gabriel

by Paul Cashmere

January 4 2005

When Live 8 was taking place in July 2005, a total of ten concerts around the world also made up the event.

In Cornwall, England, Peter Gabriel held what was called the 'Africa Calling' concert.

Gabriel produced the event for WOMAD and as part of Live 8. It featured Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo and Dido as well as a performance from Gabriel

Disc 1 Tracklisting:

1. Africa Calling Concert Medley - Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited
2. Samson - Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited
3. Heesteena - Maryam Mursal
4. Barco Negro - Mariza
5. Taireva - Chartwell Dutiro
6. Lumbul - Modou Diouf & O Fogum
7. Bayeza - Shikisha
8. Lapowny - Geoffrey Oryema
9. Land of Anaka - Geoffrey Oryema with Peter Gabriel
10. Mbani - Siyaya
11. Set - Youssou N'Dour et Le Super Etoile
12. 7 Seconds - Youssou N'Dour et Le Super Etoile with Dido
13. Birima - Youssou N'Dour et Le Super Etoile

Disc 2:

1. Na Menguele - Coco Mbassi
2. Afrika - Angelique Kidjo
3. Tombo - Angelique Kidjo
4. Wa Winjigo Ero - Ayub Ogada and Uno
5. Chet Boghassa - Tinariwen
6. Amidiwan - Tinariwen
7. Amassakoul - Tinariwen
8. Fonotomfrom Chant - Frititi
9. Wallow - Kanda Bongo Man
10. Billi - Kanda Bongo Man
11. Nouzha - Akim El Sikameya
12. Aiwa - Emmanuel Jal
13. Exodus - Daara J
14. Mic Check - Daara J
15. Sunu Mission - Daara J
16. Finale - African Anthem

les choux pommés

Au moment de quitter son groupe Genesis, Peter Gabriel est resté mieux qu'un avocat, en informant ses compagnons avec une année d'anticipation.Toutefois, quand la presse lui a demandé une explication, Gabriel a écrit une lettre curieuse pour être expliqué : "Comme artiste, j'ai besoin d'absorber une vaste variété d'expériences. Il est difficile de répondre intuitivement et impulsivement aux plans à long terme dont le groupe a besoin. Je crois qu'il devrait surveiller à m'instruire/à développer mes moments créatifs et apprendre du travail qui est fait hors de la musique. Y compris les plaisirs occultes de la culture de légumes et la vie en communauté qui commencent à me révéler leurs secrets. Je ne puis pas espérer que le groupe compromette son agenda par la faute de mes liens avec les choux pommés ".

-------------
Peter Gabriel. En el momento de dejar a su grupo Genesis, Peter Gabriel quedó mejor que un abogado, avisando a sus compañeros con un año de antelación. Sin embargo, cuando la prensa le pidió una explicación, Gabriel escribió una curiosa carta para explicarse: “Como artista, necesito absorber una amplia variedad de experiencias. Es difícil responder intuitiva e impulsivamente a los planes a largo plazo que la banda necesita. Creo que debería mirar a / instruirme / desarrollar mis momentos creativos y aprender del trabajo que se hace fuera de la música. Incluso los placeres ocultos del cultivo de verduras y la vida en comunidad me están empezando a revelar sus secretos. No puedo esperar que el grupo comprometa su agenda por culpa de mis lazos con los repollos”.

L’année de toutes les ambitions

L’année de toutes les ambitions
Kathleen Lavoie / Le Soleil

(...)

Pour notre rédaction, la dernière année a débuté avec un projet majeur, celui de rendre hommage, à la veille des premières du Projet Andersen et de 1984, à l’artiste de Québec le plus célébré sur la scène internationale, Robert Lepage. Si le metteur en scène, dramaturge et acteur n’est pas musicien, toute sa création théâtrale, elle, est influencée par la musique, notamment celle de l’ami proche qu’est Peter Gabriel. Ce dernier, heureux de saluer son complice dans le crime, nous offrait alors une entrevue exclusive où il révélait les liens qui les unissent et sa passion pour la capitale, qu’il visite bien plus souvent qu’on ne le pense... Une discussion mémorable que cette journaliste n’est pas près d’oublier ! (...)

On the air

Tony Levin in the St Petersburg Times :

“I laugh to think that at the end of Peter Gabriel’s song ‘On the Air,’ I played a strong bass line, borrowed from a Shostakovich symphony. I don’t think many people in live audiences through the years noticed that, but probably the listeners in Russia would be aware of it. Hey, maybe we will do that song!”

Imagine there's no labels

1/29/2004 10:52:04 AM by Eric Bangeman

Veteran rockers Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno are launching MUDDA (Magnificent Union of Digitally Downloading Artists), an enterprise that will assist musicians in selling music directly to consumers, bypassing the record companies. With the Internet transforming how people buy and listen to songs, musicians need to act now to claim digital music's future both Gabriel and Eno argued at a at the annual Midem music conference.

"Unless artists quickly grasp the possibilities that are available to them, then the rules will get written, and they'll get written without much input from artists," said Eno. "There are some artists who already tried to do everything on their own," said Gabriel, adding that those musicians often found out they didn't like marketing or accounting. " We believe there will be all sorts of models for this."

Having been in and around the music business myself for over 35 years, there is the very distinct possibility that MUDDA or a similar endeavor could change the basic fabric of the music business. Artists have for decades complained that they lose all of their rights to content, style, copyrights and revenues by signing contracts with recording companies. Most musicians sign recording contract because they have little ability or skill in distributing or marketing their works. The Internet allows musicians a shot at levelling the playing field by being able to reach a wide audience and to sell their music without a third or fourth party taking a piece of the pie.

Gabriel is co-founder of a European company, On Demand Distribution, which runs legal downloads sites in 11 European countries. Their company would provide the technology for MUDDA, though Gabriel and Eno are looking for online partners. Europe's sites haven't caught up to the success of the U.S. portals. Apple's iTunes is planning a European launch this year, which is expected to build interest in legal downloading in a market where many people don't realize there's even such a service.

Personally, all of this makes me want to get back in the studio; I learned to hate A&R (Artist and Repertoire) guys while trying to make records years ago. Write-up by Bob "waterdoctor" Norcross

Geldof's year

2005 was supposed to be the year of Africa. Tony Blair committed Britain to ambitious targets on aid and debt relief. Museums staged major exhibitions dedicated to the continent's art. And one of the biggest popular movements ever - spurred on by a very big pop concert - called on eight world leaders in a Scottish hotel to make poverty history. But what, in the end, did it all achieve? Bob Geldof looks back on a year of 'world-saving bollocks' and argues that whatever his critics say, we really did change things (...)

Bob Geldof :

When I invited my righteously indignant critics to create an event to their liking, in say Regent's Park, and offered to incorporate it into Live8, answer came there none. Indeed, when Peter Gabriel suggested we adopt his Eden Project World Music gig in Cornwall I readily agreed.

Unfortunately, my point is borne out by the fact that 3 million were live spectators to Live8; there were 2,000 in Cornwall. More than 3 billion watched Live8; few saw or watched bits of Cornwall. The Live Aid and Live8 DVDs are the biggest and fastest-selling DVDs ever, now totalling millions of sales; Cornwall has sold a few thousand. That is not to be smug, triumphant or condescending; it is simply to make the point behind my cold, pragmatic thinking around what Live8 was for. If those critics promote an African concert in the future, I wish them well - and can I have some free tickets? But Live8 wasn't and could never be about that. (...)

Rock landmark at risk of becoming boomtown flats

By Steve Bird / The Times

ONE of Liverpool’s cultural landmarks is under threat from the city’s selection as European City of Culture. Parr Street Studio, a converted 19th-century warehouse that helped to create the Britpop movement and where Coldplay, Pulp, the Stereophonics and the Charlatans recorded, may be converted into flats.

The threat comes from an earlier generation of rock stars, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks of Genesis, who have applied for a conversion to 41 luxury flats worth millions to profit from the property boom generated by Liverpool’s status as the 2008 City of Culture.

For the past 12 years the three-studio complex, the largest in the city and the biggest outside London, has been used by Diana Ross, Feeder, the Beautiful South, Teenage Fanclub and Embrace. Other artists and groups to have recorded there include Barry Manilow, Sleeper, Björk, Simply Red and Take That.

Ken Nelson, a music producer who has won three Grammy awards during his time at Parr Street after working on Coldplay’s hit albums Parachutes and A Rush of Blood to the Head, said: “To lose the studios would be a great shame.” He added that if the studios closed, musicians would have no reason to come to Liverpool to record. The city’s rock heritage has helped to increase visitor numbers, and many music tours, which centre on the Cavern Club, where the Beatles played, include Parr Street.

Thomas Laing, a singer and producer who made the video that helped Liverpool to become City of Culture, said that he wanted to meet Collins to try to persuade him to abandon the plans to scrap the studio. “We don’t have the power to stop them selling the building to a developer,” he said. “There is a huge gulf between us and him and his group, he may not even know what is being proposed for the studio.”

Warren Bradley, Liverpool City Council’s executive member for culture, said: “The loss of Parr Street would be desperately sad. In my opinion the city centre does not need any more developments of flats. I want these creative people to continue to come to Liverpool and if the worst comes to the worst we must do our best to help to relocate people.”

The value of Parr Street has risen with two redevelopments in the area, a £750 million project by the Duke of Westminster and another called Ropewalks. Speculators have been buying old warehouses near the docks. The planning application has been postponed until councillors have visited the site, which could be worth £1.5 million. A spokesman for Collins’s property company, Hit and Run, said it was in disrepair and much of it was not used.

FOR THE RECORD - THE BEST OF BRITISH

Beatles fans still make the pilgrimage to the Abbey Road studios in St John’s Wood, North London, to walk over the zebra crossing on the Abbey Road album cover. The studios still exist

Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, in Box, near Bath, has been used by stars that include Kylie Minogue

Britannia Row, London, was first used by Pink Floyd. The group bought it in 1975 and it has been used by Westlife and Kate Bush

The Rolling Stones used the Olympic Studios in Barnes, southwest London, to record six albums. They have also been used by Duran Duran, Roxy Music, the Cranberries and Oasis

Eden studios, in Chiswick, West London, opened in 1967 and are used by Girls Aloud, George Michael, The Smiths and the Kaiser Chiefs

Le Patrimoine des tenors

Les Chants des tenors de la tradition sarde ont été reconnus "Patrimoine de l'humanité" à l'Unesco.

Originairement exécutés par des bergers et des paysans, les chants de tenors ont connu dans les années passées un instant de notoriété internationale avec le disque "Amore et 'mama" sorti par le Real World de Peter Gabriel.

Entre autres amateurs du genre, les jazzistes Lester Bowie et Ornette Coleman, outre Frank Zappa, qui définissait les chants tenors come "musique bovine".

publié : 25 décembre 2005

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Il Patrimonio dei tenores

I Canti a tenores della tradizione sarda sono stati riconosciuti dall'Unesco "Patrimonio dell'umanità". Originariamente eseguiti da pastori e contadini, i canti a tenores hanno conosciuto negli anni scorsi un momento di notorietà internazionale con il disco "S'Amore e 'mama" uscito per la Real World di Peter Gabriel. tra gli altri estimatori del genere, i jazzisti Lester BOwie e Ornette Coleman, oltre a Frank Zappa, che definì i canti a tenores "musica bovina".

pubblicato il: 25 dicembre 2005

Global Concert Tackles Climate Change

London 12/21/2005 2:25 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)

The Strokes, The Darkness and Super Furry Animals are the first three bands topping the bill at 2006’s gig of the year, to promote awareness of climate change and solutions to tackle humankind’s biggest problem. Millennium Stadium UK will host the much-anticipated ONE EARTH CONCERT whose line-up is expected to grow further in the next days. Influential supporters of the initiative include Brian Eno, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency and many more.

Why? To engage the public in positive action to tackle climate change, and to encourage one million Europeans to switch to renewable energy sources by September 2006.

The Strokes will showcase tracks from their much-anticipated album and sold out tour First Impressions of Earth. The concert, hosted on 28th January 2006 will be broadcast to millions world wide, and hopes to kick-start positive public action towards climate change – starting with the simple step of switching to renewable energy. Hitting the one million target should cut carbon dioxide emissions from household energy by 2 million tonnes per year, enough to fill over 340 million cars.

By logging on to www.ClimateChangeNow.com and switching to renewable energy people can reduce their CO2 emissions from household energy by a third or more. It is FREE to make the switch and only takes 5 minutes.

"People are genuinely concerned about the effects of climate change, but don’t know how easy it is to make a huge difference. 2006 will be the year people tackle climate change individually and the concert will focus attention on the part we can all play in doing so." Said Michael Mathres, co-founder of Climate Change Now.

More details of the line-up for the One Earth Concert will be announced shortly as further globally-recognised artists, celebrities and dignitaries join this unique and necessary concert. The campaign and concert are supported by UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), the European Commission, the Eden Project, The Big Issue, and are part of the Clinton Global Initiative.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Mikhail Gorbachev says, "We are guests and not masters of nature. We should elaborate a new paradigm for the resolution of conflicts surrounding the issues of development, security, and stability. Climate change is one of the realities of our time and we should address it with all seriousness."

Jacqueline McGlade, executive director of the European Environment Agency says, “The European Environment Agency gives its strong moral support to this initiative. Renewable energy sources are key to a low carbon future. Climate Change Now tells people that we are all part of the solution. We can all make a difference in the fight to limit global warming."

"Everyone now recognizes that climate change is real and that we need to respond urgently and cooperatively. Governments, businesses and individuals all have a role to play, and UNEP is committed to helping all actors to play their part." United Nations Environment Programme.

European Commissioner Stavros Dimas says, "People tend to believe that their personal choices do not make a difference for the greater good. In fact, they do. As much as we have been the source of climate change, we can help combat it. Each and everyone can contribute by making those choices that express respect for the environment."

More information and ticket details are available from www.oneearthconcert.com and Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.uk / 08705 582 582.

CONTACT:Rob LoweFreud Communications rob.lowe@freud.com 020 7291 6413

Rights group Witness puts media tools to good use

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Since its founding in 1992 by British musician Peter Gabriel, footage produced by the nonprofit group has aired on the BBC, CNN, Oxygen and ABC, and an available video archive is maintained at http://www.Witness.org. Witness also has attracted involvement from such celebrity activists as Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and Angelina Jolie.

"It's an unprecedented opportunity," Gabriel said about how technology is affecting the media landscape, "with the average person able to record and distribute their own media, easily and affordably, with something as inconspicuous and convenient as a cellular telephone."

The inspiration came to Gabriel in 1988, he said, while he was on a world tour sponsored by Amnesty International. He met victims of human rights abuse and was appalled that the perpetrators went unpunished. Caldwell said the national outcry on race and police brutality ignited by the Rodney King video and Gabriel's acquisition of funding from the Reebok Human Rights Foundation were the final factors in establishing the nonprofit organization.

"Witness was really founded ahead of its time," Caldwell said, referring to the nonprofit's Internet-based nature. "But we're at a point now where digital, Internet and mobile technologies are converging. An example of that is what we saw during the bombing in the London tube. It's changing the whole face of the citizen-journalism landscape."

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Changing the World, One Moving Image at A Time

12/22/2005: Press Release from Witness

Changing the World, One Moving Image at A Time

A New Book Shows how to Harness the Power of Video for Social Change Video for Change: A Guide for Advocacy and Activism (CSRwire) (New York) Tiananmen Square. The Rodney King incident. Omarska Detention Camp. Abu Ghraib. Visual images of these events captured crucial moments in human rights history.

For well over a decade, WITNESS, the nonprofit organization founded by musician and activist Peter Gabriel has been supporting human rights defenders to harness the power of visual images like these and testimony about human rights to make meaningful and lasting change. Finally, a comprehensive guide to their tips and strategies is available publicly for the first time in the newly published book Video for Change: A Guide for Advocacy and Activism (Pluto Press, UK/University of Michigan, USA). Written by leading video activists and WITNESS staff, this practical handbook will appeal to experienced, as well as aspiring video advocates.

Readers are shown how to plan, film, edit and distribute their video, as well as offered guidance on how to develop an effective strategy for using video as a catalyst for change. The book is unique in that it also covers the practical ethics and responsibilities of social justice video-work, as well as advice on using storytelling as a tactical tool in advocacy, and offers a global range of real-life stories to learn from.

"WITNESS has pioneered the use of video as an accessible and effective tool for human rights activists worldwide" said Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus. "This new book shares the stories of WITNESS' global partners and others who are using video to secure social justice. I hope it will inspire a new generation of activists to incorporate these powerful new tools into their work."

Editors and contributors include Peter Gabriel, (co-founder of WITNESS and celebrated musician and activist), Thomas Harding (author of The Video Activist Handbook, co-founder of Undercurrents), Gillian Caldwell (Executive Director of WITNESS), Katerina Cizek (co-director of Seeing is Believing: Handicams, Human Rights and the News), Sam Gregory (Program Manager of WITNESS) and Ronit Avni (founder and director of Just Vision). For more information and to purchase copies of the book go to www.witness.org.

WITNESS (http://www.witness.org/) uses the power of video to open the eyes of the world to human rights abuses. Over the past decade, WITNESS has partnered with groups in more than 60 countries, bringing unseen images, untold stories and seldom heard voices to public attention —catalyzing grassroots activism, political engagement and lasting change.

BOSTA Afrocelt Sound System au Liban

"Bosta", premier film musical libanais d'après-guerre

"BOSTA" (l'Autobus) a été filmé au Liban avec certains des acteurs libanais les plus populaires.

C’est le premier film musical libanais d'après-guerre avec des rythmes orientaux et un cachet contemporain, tels que la danse de Dabké, qui est du folklore national libanais, mixée avec un peu de techno occidental.

Ceci représente une nouveauté de production, parce que les films libanais, se fondent principalement sur les fonds culturels orientaux et arabes.

La musique de Bosta a également été un grand défi, elle a permis de joindre des efforts entre les compositeurs locaux (EL Khatib Ali) et le système d' Afro Celt, et un groupe britannique "vrai monde" de Peter Gabriel.

Une telle collaboration est la première dans la scène locale de production de cinéma libanais.
Ce film donne des perspectives positives de l'image stéréotypée de la guerre et du terrorisme...