Radiohead Are Friends Of The Earth

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:30:00 -0000

British alternative rockers Radiohead are the latest band to turn their current world tour environmentally-friendly.

The band – which consists of Thom Yorke on lead vocals, Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien on guitar, Colin Greenwood on bass, and Phil Selway on drums – are reducing their carbon emissions by limiting the amount of equipment they take with them, using low-energy LED lights and refillable water bottles, and making all of their merchandise from recycled materials. It is an effort that has not escaped notice from Friends of the Earth, whose spokesperson Anna Mitchell is delighted with the band’s attempts to be eco-friendly.

“I’m not sure whether it is the most environmentally friendly tour ever, but it certainly feels like it,” she said. “They are doing everything they possibly can to cut emissions. It’s incredibly impressive.”

The green initiative continued with Radiohead’s tour of Scotland last week, where the band called on concert-goers to lobby their MSPs and push for an effective law as part of Friends of the Earth’s Big Ask campaign.

“We’re doing what we can to tackle climate change and encourage our fans to do the same,” said Thom York. “It’s time our politicians play their part as they are the only ones who can put the structures in place that will help us. That’s why I am supporting the Big Ask Scotland and asking anyone who cares about climate change to support it too, either by taking action at one of our concerts or online at www.bigaskscotland.org.uk.”

Radiohead Joins Child Labor Awareness Campaign

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:05:11 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

With a 20-year history of raising awareness for human rights and environmental causes, Radiohead is no stranger to the activist scene. And now, in partnership with MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking), the band has released the “All I Am” video to bring child labor practices into the spotlight.

“It’s cool that MTV is taking this up, because normally, this is something I only get to talk to people about who are considered ‘extreme left-wing’ or whatever, but it’s good it’s hitting the mainstream, because I don’t consider it a left-wing issue; I consider it a political-stability issue,” he told MTV UK. “I think if [the campaign] does one good thing, it would be to make this concept of slavery — which is what it is — less taboo. If they can make it something that is OK for us to talk about, and for politicians in the West to actually accept that this is an issue, well, then we’re doing a good thing.”

There are currently more than 2.5 million men, women and children who are forced, defrauded or coerced into various forms of labor or prostitution. Radiohead recommends checking out Amnesty International, Witness and The The Fair Trade Resource Network to learn more.

“I think it’s important for everyone in the West or on High Street to understand the consequences of our economic activity. You must be aware of the level of exploitation that’s going on,” Yorke said. “It’s part of our Western life, and one we should accept responsibility for. There’s no such thing as a free lunch or a free ticket to another country.”

Watch video of Thom Yorke speaking on the topic of child labor at Think MTV.

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