PLAYING FOR CHANGE

This worldwide version of "Stand By Me" comes from the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music." The Ben E. King classic was sung by musicians around the world, each adding their part to the song as it traveled the globe. Very cool.

The concept driving the project is obvious: Music is a common factor uniting different cultures, ethnicities and regions. Working and playing together is a step toward recognizing one another as human beings. No one is suggesting that all our problems will be solved by a simple singalong, but as poverty and injustice and nationalism continue to divide us, and battles rage worldwide, we must applaud this effort to bring people together with a song. Besides, bullets, guns and bombs don't seem to be working all that well.

Playing for Change is not just about making and distributing music. The PFC foundation is building and sustaining a music school in the township of Gugulethu, and an arts center in Johannesburg, South Africa, as a way to provide opportunities for growth and education for youth in the community. PFC is also maintaining a Tibetan refugee center in India and Nepal.

Here is an extended trailer of the documentary:


The film and music will be available in 2009. More information on the project can be found at the Playing for Change website.

Tip sent in from Vic Rini (thanks, Dad!)

PEACE ON EARTH

This 1939 MGM cartoon directed by Academy Award-winner Hugh Harman was released at the dawn of the second world war. In this animated reel, the war is over and mankind has been wiped out.


According to Harmon's obituary in the New York Times, the film was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, though it is not listed in the official Nobel database. Either way, it is a classic cartoon from the golden age of animation and worth your time.

All that, and singing squirrels.