By Danielle Fodor
A UC Davis alumna and artist, Danielle Fodor, has coordinated a socially distanced Earth Day Sing Out. She writes about it here. This project celebrates the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, and calls for a green economic stimulus. Read on to hear more from Fodor about this movement and how readers can participate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in plant biology (1999) and master's degree in community development (2012), both at UC Davis.
Difficult times call for music
It's rough times on planet Earth. In addition to the pandemic health crisis, we are struggling with an economic crisis, and the long-running destruction of our earth, water, and air for future generations.
How do we move forward? How do we find some joy and energy to keep going?
Music and art are the time-tested way for societies to make sense of hard times — ways for us to nourish our mental health, remember our values, and feel connected. I'd like to invite you to join with some climate activists — and support local musicians — by supporting and joining in an Earth Day Sing Out, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and call for an economic stimulus that prevents future crisis — a green stimulus and a bailout focused on people, not profit.
Join our Earth Day Sing Out — find lyrics for our seven unifying songs — and download our songbook here. Sing out with your household on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22 from noon to 1 p.m., and 5-6 p.m., and whenever it makes you happy. The #EarthDaySingOut page on the Davis Climate Strike website invites you to sing with your household out the front or back door while sheltering in place. Or, sing in the park while staying a safe distance from others. The same website also offers a pertinent reminder: It is more important now, than ever, that we find time to express joy, solidarity, and kindness — and take action to protect our planet and the people on it.
Fodor’s previous work includes chalk art for mental health awareness. Read more here, and for more of Fodor’s art portfolio go here.
Support local musicians
Fodor is also raising money to support seven local musicians to record new music — seven unifying Earth Day songs for a shelter-in-place Community Sing Out, spreading the word online through #EarthDaySingOut. "Our local musicians are hurting from lost gigs, canceled teaching jobs, and lost day jobs — making it hard to manage monthly living expenses."
She asks that if people can lend a hand, with a small donation to support local musicians they do the following: Contribute through PayPal to the Independent Music Initiative (DIMI) Davisindependentmusic@gmail.com. DIMI is a local initiative aimed at securing funding for emerging musicians to create new work. Any money that is received will go directly back to musicians. In exchange they will perform a song for the environment that we can all sing-a-long to at home, share through KDRT, and beyond.
Fodor is associated with Climate Strike Davis, which is working in collaboration with Sunrise Movement Davis, Cool Davis, Davis Independent Music Initiative, Mothers Out Front, Extinction Rebellion Sacramento, and the Yolo Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice