Committing to change
Lots of people are struggling right now. The Black Lives Matter movement is at the forefront of our minds, as are the physical health risks caused from COVID-19 and the mental health risks from social restrictions and the loss of livelihoods for so many people.
It’s easy to be paralysed into inaction through the overwhelming amount of information & commentary being thrown out there.
However, inactivity doesn’t suit me. I feel it’s better to do what we can, share what information and awareness we can and try to make the word a bit better through education and whatever other support we can give.
Something is better than nothing.
Today I am starting a monthly donation to the Aboriginal Legal Service to help support those whose voices are at risk of not being heard in Australia.
Today I am starting a monthly donation to Support Act, to help support the crew, musicians and staff of the Australian music industry who are suffering financially & mentally now and due to the many
Today I am starting a monthly donation to Twenty10, to help support the future of LGBTQA+ people in Australia.
Today I'm re-affirming a commitment I made a year ago to reduce our carbon footprint by using recycled materials wherever possible and offsetting the emissions generated by the travel, production & operation of Bird's Robe activities.
None of these contributions are huge, but something is better than nothing.
Today I'm making a commitment to continue to share information I feel is important to educate myself and others about complex issues we face as a community.
Today I'm committing to continue to release and promote music to provide people with an escape and some small joy amongst all the consternation.
Today is also Bandcamp sale day. Bandcamp have waived their revenue share on all sales to help support artists during a time where tours worldwide have been cancelled for the foreseeable future and livelihoods crushed by COVID-10. You can read my previous post about this here.
We’re all fighting battles on many fronts and it’s OK to find your own way to show support for the many things you find important. Just because you post about something, donate to something else, talk about one thing with a friend and another thing with a family member, doesn't mean you're any better/worse a person for doing so.
It’s OK to care passionately about something, join the protest and help enact change.
It's OK to stay at home and social distance and read, educate/donate and critique.
It’s OK to take a break and watch TV or listen to music if you need it.
It’s OK to feel morose for a while at the state of the world, but then step outside on a sunny day (wearing sunscreen of course) and enjoy a walk/talk with a mate.
It’s OK to do what you need to do to feel happy and healthy yourself before seeking to give more of yourself to others.
Maybe that sounds a bit like an air safety briefing - “put your mask on first before assisting others.” After all, if you’re gassed, it’s gonna be hard to help.
Still here? OK cool. I'd like to share this article:
Black Lives Matter vs. All Lives Matter
It's not just about the misinterpretation of the BLM movement, but also the 'whataboutism' that tends to pop up.
We can't do everything at once, all the time. It's OK to focus on one urgent thing and try to help fix it. Social and political change needs good timing and sometimes you need to seize the moment.
We're all a work in progress.
I want to thank several of the artists I work with, my friends & family for continuing to educate me, challenge me, inspire me & support me.
Lastly - today is Friday. It's been a tough week/month/year. After the work day, I'm going to go play tennis with my brother for the first time in over a year. Have a good weekend.
cheers,
Mike