Electronic Music Alliance Embraces Fight Against Belo Monte Dam | Amazon Watch
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Electronic Music Alliance Embraces Fight Against Belo Monte Dam

April 12, 2012 | Maira Irigiray | Eye on the Amazon

The Crystal Method

Last weekend I was blown away at Lollapalooza Brazil in São Paulo, where several top-notch artists publicly joined the battle against the Belo Monte dam. Lollapaloza – an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock, and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths – also provides a platform for nonprofit orgs and other groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over three days.

At Lollapalooza São Paulo, more than 75,000 people came out to enjoy bands like The Crystal Method and Foo Fighters.

I was hosted by Janine Jordan, Executive Director of the Electronic Music Alliance and spouse of Ken Jordan, a member of The Crystal Method. While performing, Jordan stood in solidarity with the Movimento Xingu Vivo, wearing the movement’s t-shirt and shouting “Stop Belo Monte!” during one of his sets.

Rami Jaffee

Later in the evening I crossed with Rami Jaffee backstage. Jaffee is best known as the keyboardist for bands like The Wallflowers and the Foo Fighters, with whom he was playing that night. I gave him a t-shirt and he acknowledged that he knew about the dam, and that he was fully against it. We both agreed that Belo Monte is just a silly old fashion idea in these modern times.

Thanks to the folks from “The Crystal Method”, music brought together people not only to dance and enjoy their great music, but also in solidarity with our campaign at a critical moment!

It’s amazing how the universal language of music connects people from different believes, cultures, genders, and colors on one cause – in this case, against the Belo Monte dam. Beautiful! If I close my eyes, I can still hear the crowd vibrating as Jordan’s voice boomed “Stop Belo Monte” in Portuguese. Hopefully that sound continues to resonate in the heart of another member of the crowd that night. One by one, that’s how it goes, until together we can make the difference.

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