Ethan Kaplan
Today, April 5, 2000
marks the 20th anniversary of REM. 20 years ago today, a band then known by the
temporary name "Twisted Kites" took the stage (or altar) in an
abandoned church at a friends birthday party. Playing mostly a loose collection
of covers, the 300 plus crowd was in awe.
And you fast forward 20 years later. Minus one original member, but lacking
none of the integrity, grit, charisma or creativity of that band so long ago.
And while the road had its ups and downs, there were constants. They have
been a band who produced work of the highest quality, consistently, without ever
letting success get the best of them. A band, while being huge still maintains a
good relationship with their fans. And a band whom each individual fan seems to
connect with on an very personal level.
They are our band, the world's band and mostly, the band they want to be
without compromising their own integrity.
Its hard to honor a band who means so much to each of us. But I think we can
do something to show our support. First of course, Murmurs.com gives you the
opportunity to talk about the band in We Talk. There is
a special conference in there to post your thoughts about the band.
I’ll be weeding through them in a few weeks and will send something down to
Athens so hopefully they’ll see it. But more immediate and more important in
the long run is another way to show your appreciation
REM has specific causes they support, all non-profit and all in need of
donations. So in honor of REM’s 20th Anniversary, here are the charitable
organizations that they support. Please include with your donation a note
stating that you are doing it in honor the 20th anniversary of REM.
I know that REM really appreciates anything you can give back. Helping
support causes they feel passionate about is the best way to show and direct
your appreciation for what REM has done.
Click here
to make a donation to Witness
Some of us are getting together a little 'electronic' pass the hat in honour
of R.E.M.'s anniversary. Of all the causes they support we have chosen War Child
as the main focus ...their web site is at www.warchild.org. Check them out and
see if you would like to help us. We have chosen War Child for many reasons. One
being that the other charities have had recent media pushes and the other being
we don't have a lot of time and one of our organisers lives almost down the
street from their DC office and can get the donations there quickly.
A few rules if you wish to participate:
Checks and money orders payable to War Child. The person who has agreed to collect and deliver the donations is Janet A.
She is a deep lurker on these (athens.net mailing) lists but many of you have
had dealings with her and you will most likely agree that she is an honest and
trustworthy person, besides I know where she lives.
Her address is:
Witness
Advancing human rights through the use of video and related communications
technologies. Michael Stipe is on the board of directors.
War Child
Include e-mail address so the checks may be acknowledged.
No cash please.
Janet A
P.O. Box 1545
Olney MD 20830-1545
USA
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is the world's
largest independent international medical relief agency aiding victims of armed
conflict, epidemics, and natural and man-made disasters, and others who lack
health care due to geographic remoteness or ethnic marginalization. Annually,
more than 2,000 volunteers representing 45 nationalities work in over 80
countries in front-line hospitals, refugee camps, disaster sites, towns, and
villages. Doctors Without Borders teams provide primary health care, perform
surgery, vaccinate children, rehabilitate hospitals, operate emergency nutrition
and sanitation programs, and train local medical staff.
Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that works to
promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and other international standards. In particular, Amnesty International
campaigns to free all prisoners of conscience; ensure fair and prompt trials for
political prisoners; abolish the death penalty, torture and other cruel
treatment of prisoners; end political killings and "disappearances";
and oppose human rights abuses by opposition groups.
4/5/00