What’s Going On? “I Have A Dream!” Carrying forward the resonating message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Rick Ulfik, Founder of We the World and George Polisner, Founder of Civ.Works

What’s Goin On by Marvin Gaye

Mother Mother

There’s too many of you crying

Brother, brother, brother

There’s far too many of you dying

You know we’ve got to find a way

To bring some lovin’ here today, yeah

Father, father

We don’t need to escalate

You see, war is not the answer

For only love can conquer hate

You know we’ve got to find a way

To bring some lovin’ here today

Picket lines and picket signs (sister, sister)

Don’t punish me with brutality (sister, sister)

Talk to me (sister)

So you can see (sister)

Oh, what’s going on (what’s going on)

What’s going on (what’s going on)

 “Whats Going On” by Marvin Gaye, is an incredible musical piece that offered, like the everlasting message of Martin Luther King Jr., enlightenment and compassion at a time of confusion and hate. Marvin Gaye and MLK had much in common, as they both advocated for civil and environmental justice, as well as peace, love and understanding. In a recent online article in Country Living magazine, Katie Bowlby and Terri Robertson wrote that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “was one of the most powerful voices of the Civil Rights Movement.” Throughout his lifetime, he had a lot to say about justice, love, leadership, service, equality, freedom, and the hope for (and struggle for) change.  Much insight can be gained from reading Dr. King’s speeches and writings in their full context, from his “I Have a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington to his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” and his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 10, 1964. He concluded the award was granted in recognition, “that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time — the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression.”In the speech, King spoke about the urgent need for support and the long road ahead to end racial injustice in the United States. 

On this episode of TMSOG my guests Rick Ulfik, Founder of We the World, and George Polisner, Founder of Civ.Works give us some insight and some inspiration of the teachings of Dr. King, and what needs to be done to carry forward his work. We also delve into the state of media coverage, voting, the environment and the need for citizens to be active participants in democracy. While we celebrate Dr. King’s birthday each January, it is important that we always think about his message, and work to carry out his legacy every day. You are invited to join We The World and to help Inspire, Inform, and Involve millions to take action and to be of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr’s messages and teachings. Your participation is CRUCIAL to carry forward his work and legacy to end Poverty, Racism and, of course, War. To make a difference, please sign up at WE.NET/MLK . Also, please visit Civ.Works to find out how you can take civic action on various issues, especially during the 2024 election cycle. For past TMSOG shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Follow The Many Shades of Green(TMSOG) on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen. Subscribe to TMSOG podcast on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

War, what is it good for? And Some Good environmental news in Portugal and more with George Polisner founder of Civ.Works

WAR by Edwin Starr 1970War, huh, yeah…What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, uh!

The sixties and seventies were filled with protest songs like WAR, as battles raged in Vietnam and Cambodia, killing thousands of young men and Vietcong, as well as the collateral damage of innocent lives. There was a draft, and young men did not want to fight what they thought was a senseless war. A song written in the 50’s by Pete Seeger, Where Have All the Flowers Gone, has the lyric “When will we ever learn”? And the Rodgers and Hammerstein song from South Pacific, “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” has lyrics which delve into racism and hate, placed within a beautiful ballad: Here are some of the lyrics: 

You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear. You’ve got to be taught from year to year, it’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear—You’ve got to be carefully taught!

You’ve got to be taught to be afraid of people whose eyes are oddly made, and people whose skin is a different shade—You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late, before you are six or seven or eight, to hate all the people your relatives hate—You’ve got to be carefully taught! You’ve got to be carefully taught!

Fast forward to October 2023, and the question stays the same, WAR what is it good for, absolutely nothin’!!! There are no words for the atrocities which are being unleashed in Israel and Gaza. Mankind has once again plummeted into yet another war. So what is the answer? Does one avenge and take revenge? How does one cope with the humanitarian and moral dilemma? I truly have no words to express my feelings and outrage. How long will this hate and destruction go on? So the tune “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” keeps popping into my mind, and the refrain written by Pete Seeger in 1955, “when will they ever learn when will they ever learn” is now a constant ear worm in my head. There is much to discuss, and on this episode of TMSOG George Polisner our resident political, economic, environmental, social justice expert and founder of Civ.works gives us some insight into the Israeli conflict with Hamas, the insanity of US Politics and some positive energy solutions from Portugal. For more info check out Civ.Works and for past podcasts go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Please subscribe to The Many Shades of Green on all major podcast apps. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

WECAN: Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network

Maxine-Abba-Meg_2This weeks episode takes us to the Global Women’s Climate Justice Day of Action at the UN, sponsored by the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN). This event was attended by women from over 50 countries. To have such a collection of amazing women in one place, who presented stories of courage and resilience in combating climate change was deeply touching. Women play a key role in adapting solutions to climate change, and it was an honor to speak with WECAN founder Osprey Lake, environmentalist visionary Sally Ranney, as well as Neha Misra founder of Solar Sister, Harriet Shugarman Executive Director of ClimateMama, Executive Director of CELF Katie Ginsberg and student Coreena, and Patricia Gualinga-Montalvo, Indigenous Leader of Ecuador, whose interview was translated by Amazon Watch’s Executive Director Leila Salazar-López. For more information visit wecaninternational.org

 

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#1445: Sunday, September 21st 2014, The People’s Climate March

Abba-Carmichael-Maxine-Margo-Rubin-The-Many-Shades-of-Green-Peoples-Climate-March-New-York-City400,000 strong, a mosaic of humankind gathered at the People’s Climate March in NYC, to voice their concern about the climate crisis, and demand that the leaders of the world take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. My co-producer, Abba Carmichael and I, were able to witness history and walk with those who trekked from across the globe, and from across the street, to take an active role in showing support for Mother Earth. We spoke to actor/activist and academy award nominee Mark Ruffalo, NY Senator Charles Schumer, former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, author, environmental and civil rights activist Van Jones, Climate Project Presenter Marc Sussman, Grandparents Climate Campaign of Norway and many many more. It was truly an uplifting moment in time, and an example of peaceful, democratic protest on behalf of Mother Nature. For more info go to 350.org and peoplesclimate.org

#1228: Brooklyn Borough Historian Ron Schweiger

Ron-Schweiger-Brooklyn-Borough-Historian-The-Many-Shades-of-Green

Brooklyn Borough Historian Ron Schweiger eats, sleeps and breathes all things Brooklyn. Did you know that Williamsburg used to be spelled with an H until the mid 1800s? Find out why it was dropped, and how the letter H now defines the new demographic associated with W’Burg. Can you say ‘Hipster’? Tune in and find out stuff you didn’t know about the many sides of Brooklyn, as it transformed through the centuries from barns to beer to bars! Green gossip included.

 

 

#1228: Brooklyn Borough Historian Ron Schweiger

#1221: Thelma Thomas of Elders Share the Arts

Thelma-Thomas-Elders-Share-the-Arts-The-Many-Shades-of-Green

Features Thelma Thomas, Artistic Director of Pearls of Wisdom, a program of Elders Share the Arts, based in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. She is also a founding member of the African Folks Heritage Circle and an extraordinary storyteller.

 

 

 

 

#1221: Thelma Thomas of Elders Share the Arts