National Sing Out for Earth Day

National Sing Out for Earth Day
Singouts Across the Nation
April 22nd, 11:30 AM (Pacific Time)

San Francisco: Civic Center Plaza
(Polk betw.. Grove and McAllister)
And Berkeley: Civic Center Park
(MLK betw.. Allston and Center)

Join people across the nation to simultaneously sing our aspiration to control our destiny together. At noon, Pacific Time, we will join many others across the US in singing Woody Guthrie’s “This land is your land, this land is my land.” We join together across this nation, stand side by side for our Occupations to tax the rich and the corporations, so we can sustain democracy.

The San Francisco event will feature individuals and members of area choruses (Rockin’ Solidarity Labor Chorus, Vukani Mawethu, La Pena, World Harmony Chorus and others), who will join Occupella and special guest Country Joe MacDonald for the noon sing. Sign language interpreter, lyrics in Spanish, and new lyrics will be shared. This event will be videotaped by Archive Productions, Inc. Coordinated by Hali Hammer.

The Berkeley event will feature individuals and chorus members will participate. This event will be videotaped by Archive Productions Inc. Coordinated by Max Ventura.

Other events in New York, Palo Alto, Eugene, Ft. Lauderdale, Tallahassee, Sarasota, Dallas, and Vermont. In San Francisco, participants from the iMatter March will end their march at SF Earth Day and join us at the Main Stage for the sing. Videotaped performances from around the country will be used to create a montage of the events.

Wikipedia tells us Woody Guthrie, born 100 years ago this July 14, wrote “This land is your land” in response to “God Bless America,” which he thought was not only unrealistic, but also complacent. In fact, in 1944, he sang:

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

And

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

In the squares of the city, In the shadow of a steeple;
By the relief office, I'd seen my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?

Email Hali Hammer at halih [at] yahoo.com for further information.