Photo via PBS

Anyone that doubts whether music can change the world has probably never heard of folk legend and activist Pete Seeger. A champion of labor unions, civil rights, peace, and the environment, he’s the ultimate example of how the power of song can inspire people to action.

It was Pete that resurrected an old spiritual, tinkered with a few words, and gave the civil rights movement its anthem “We Shall Overcome.” His stirring anti-war songs like “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” and “Turn! Turn! Turn!” provided momentum for protests against the Vietnam War. His historical legacy is so great that there’s a petition to award him a Nobel Peace Prize.

And at 90 years old, he’s still at it.

Last night, PBS aired Pete’s 90th birthday concert, which took place back in May at Madison Square Garden. More than 40 music notables lent their support to the event, including Bruce Springsteen, Arlo Guthrie, Ben Harper, Joan Baez, and Steve Earle. In true Pete Seeger fashion, his birthday celebration was not so much about him as it was about a cause near and dear to his heart.

The concert was a benefit for the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a nonprofit organization Pete founded in 1969 to preserve and protect the Hudson River. Pete, a native New Yorker, felt that the river should be enjoyed by the people, not used as a dumping ground for toxic waste.

Pete built a replica of a 19^thcentury sloop and sailed it down the Hudson, giving performances on the deck of the ship along the river banks. Pete thought if he could draw people to the river, they’d see how polluted it was and want to help clean it up.

It sounds crazy, even now. But it worked.

The Hudson is a lot cleaner than it was forty years ago (you can even swim in it!), but the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater still has important work to do. Proceeds from the concert will help fund the “Next Generation Legacy Project,” the organization’s new education program to help kids become the next green leaders.

Missed the premiere? Not to worry. The special is airing all this week. Check your local listings for details.

via The Associated Press

Photo via Flytrap Gear

For those of you looking for new ways to experiment with your sound, check out Flytrap Gear’s Dragonfly. The Dragonfly is an all-analog effects pedal with an eco-friendly twist: it’s made from 80% recycled computer components. It’s also energy-conscious, requiring little power to run and featuring a rechargeable 9-volt battery.

The Dragonfly’s creator got the idea while looking to enhance his own computer-based music:

“I thought, ‘How can I process my sound while staying true to making music with old computers? I know, I’ll make effects *out* of old computers!’  I looked through the guts of an old computer…and decided that it would be sacrificed to the Gods of Rock!”

Just connect the pedal to your guitar, synthesizer, computer, or any other music or recording gear for some extra crunch or sizzle. Intrigued? Hear the Dragonfly in action for yourself.

Not content to simply promote its own green gadgets, Flytrap Gear hopes to inspire other would-be innovators to turn computer trash into treasure by hosting a clearinghouse of information about computer components and circuit designs. Eventually, the website will include resources to help builders market and sell their creations as well.

Get it here: Flytrap Gear (Economy Lite Edition $281.11, Full Edition coming soon)

Photo by Mic to Mic via Flickr

Oscilloscope Laboratories – the film production and distribution company founded by Adam Yauch, better known as MCA of the Beastie Boys – has picked up the rights to the eco-documentary No Impact Man.

No Impact Man chronicles Colin Beavan’s transition to a zero environmental impact lifestyle over the course of a year. We’re talking about extreme changes, here: lighting candles instead of switching on the lights, walking and biking instead of any kind of fuel-consuming transport, and making do instead of buying new.

Did I mention Colin lives in Manhattan? And has a wife, toddler, and dog? Oh yes, folks, this is gonna be good. Adam himself says in Oscilloscope’s press release that the film is “the first time I’ve seen an environmentally concerned film with a strong comedic element. I still think about it every time I go to the supermarket.”

No Impact Man, which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, will open in theaters September 4. You can watch the trailer below:

When it’s time to release it on DVD, you can bet the theme won’t be the only thing about the movie that’s eco-friendly. All of Oscilloscope’s DVD packaging is printed on FSC-certified, 80% postconsumer recycled paper and produced in a carbon neutral, hydroelectric, ISO 9001 and ISO14001 certified plant.

via ecorazzi

Photo via Rothbury

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the greenest music festival of them all? This year I’m placing my bets on Rothbury. Now in its second year, the music festival – which just wrapped up its four-day stint yesterday in Rothbury, Michigan – calls itself a “party with a purpose.”

True to its tagline, Rothbury does all the important green event stuff like reducing waste, recycling, composting, using clean energy, promoting carpooling, and more. But what sets this music festival apart from its peers is the Think Tank, an event within the event that offers concert attendees the opportunity to discuss pressing environmental problems and potential solutions with scientists, scholars, writers, politicians, corporate leaders, activists, and artists. This year’s theme? Joining the new green economy.

It’s not all talk either. In addition to panel discussions, Rothbury features how-to workshops that covers topics like finding a green job, making your home and office energy efficient, growing your own organic food, and becoming an eco-fashionista.

For those of you interested in the  music – and why wouldn’t you be with superstars like the Dead, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson topping the bill- you can view photos and watch videos of the festival’s highlights here.

Photo by sun dazed via Flickr

You’ve taken the first step and found new homes for all your old jewel cases. Now you’re admiring binder after binder of CDs on your bookshelf and scratching your head thinking, “when was the last time I actually played a CD?”

Um, probably a looong time ago. Digital downloads, computers, and iPods have made the CD virtually obsolete. You now realize your CDs are just taking up precious space. But what’s the best way to get rid of them?

CDs are made of petroleum-based plastics, metals, dyes, and lacquers. Not something you really want sitting around in a landfill, or worse yet, burnt to a crisp in an incinerator. Because they’re made of so many different materials, CDs are also hard to recycle.

But all hope is not lost. If you’re thinking about parting ways with some or (gasp!) all of your CDs, follow these simple tips for a smooth, eco-friendly transition into the digital age:

1. Create a digital library. Okay, kids. I am not going to insult your musical intelligence and will assume you’ve heard of a little thing called iTunes. For you nonconformists, there are plenty of music management alternatives out there like Songbird, JetAudio, and Rockbox that will convert your precious Bikini Kill and Dead Kennedys CDs to mp3s without having to sell out to the man. For most of us, though, it’s a simple matter of finishing what we started. So get going!

2. BACK IT UP! Uploading CDs to your computer is time-consuming and not particularly pleasant. Do you want to do it all over again if your computer crashes? Didn’t think so. Do yourself a favor and buy an external drive for about $100 and back up your digital library. Just remember to repeat the back-up process periodically so any new music you amass is accounted for.

3. Make some cash. The greenest thing you can do for the environment and your wallet is to sell your CDs to someone who is still stuck in the ’90s. Sometimes it’s easier to go straight to the middleman and get some cash for your old CDs at your local music store. If you’re too embarrassed to hawk your Backstreet Boys CDs to a real live person, try online resellers like SecondSpin and Half.com.

4. Get crafty or donate. CDs can be the building blocks for iPod docks, solar cookers, and 10 lb dumbells. Try out a few DIY CD projects yourself. Post your leftovers on Freecycle or Craigslist for others to salvage. Heck, if you find a DIY idea you really dig but don’t think you have the skills to pull it off, commission someone else to make it for you.

5. Recycle. As a last resort, ask your city or county solid waste office if there are any recyclers in your area that accept CDs. Don’t forget that Greendisk will also take up to 20 lbs of your old jewel cases, CDs, and other electronic waste for $7 (plus shipping).

The most important part, however, is putting yourself on a CD-free diet from this point forward. It’s okay to cheat sometimes – for that box set you just gotta have or to support a small indie band. But for the most part, buy digital whenever possible.