Colorado’s Roan Plateau Gets Fresh Look

As reported previously, last summer Rock the Earth and our conservation coalition partners won a significant victory in Federal District Court to protect Colorado’s Roan Plateau from a drilling plan that would have decimated one of the last remaining blocks of wilderness-quality land in the state. In holding that Bureau of Land Management (BLM) had failed to properly review the full environmental impacts of drilling as well as consider alternatives that would have been more protective of the Roan, Judge Kreiger instructed BLM to conduct additional analysis.

Last month, the BLM announced that it is reopening the environmental review on its plan for development on and around the Roan Plateau near Rifle.

Through scoping, the BLM solicits public input on the types of issues and impacts they should address in their environmental review, as well as the alternatives they should consider. One of Rock the Earth's main criticisms of the original, flawed Roan Plateau plan has been BLM’s failure to consider alternatives that would allow for energy development while better protecting the Roan’s outstanding fish and wildlife resources. For example, greater use of directional drilling can lesson disturbances in sensitive habitats.

The new process gives BLM – and all of us – a second chance to “get it right” for the Roan. The Denver Post added its voice to the chorus calling for a more balanced approach to development on the Roan Plateau in a recent editorial. You can also add your voice!  As part of scoping, BLM will be hosting two public meetings run in open house formats, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.:

Feb. 27 in Silt, at the Colorado River Valley Field Office, 2300 River Frontage Rd.
Feb. 28 in Grand Junction, at the Clarion Inn, 755 Horizon Dr.

You can also submit comments electronically by emailing to: roanplateau@blm.gov by March 30.

Some points we suggest that you make in any comments to BLM:
1. The Roan is a jewel of Colorado public lands. BLM and the Colorado Natural Heritage Program have ranked the Roan as one of the four most biological rich places in the state – and the other three are already part of the National Park System. The Roan deserves protection as well.
2. The Bush administration plan would have turned the Roan into an industrial zone. The original EIS admitted that it would cause permanent and irreparable harm there.
3. We don’t need to sacrifice the Roan to have a robust energy development program on federal lands. Even without the Roan, there are 4.2 million acres of federal lands leased for oil and gas development in Colorado, and fully 65% of those leases have not been put into production by the companies that hold them. Nationwide, the oil and gas industry has leased an additional seven million acres of federal land in just the last four years. Energy companies already have plenty of places to drill.

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Save the Date!  Coming to Denver this April will be an AMAZING event to celebrate Earth Day, music, and the natural beauty found in the Denver metro area.   On Sunday, April 21, up to 75 2-person teams will compete for cash prizes by following clues and completing challenges that will guide competitors to some of the most notable entertainment and natural spots on the Front Range!  Look for an announcement as to registration and the rest of the event details in the coming weeks.

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Since 2006, Rock the Earth has presented an annual Planet Defender award to inspirational defenders in three categories to those who uphold the ideals that Rock the Earth believes in. In 2012, RtE recognized Willie Nelson in the "Musician" category, Amory Lovins (Rocky Mountain Institute) in the "Community Leader" category, and Lynn Henning (Sierra Club Water Sentinel and Goldman Prize winner) in the "Grassroots Activist" category. These winners were chosen from among dozens of nominations made by Rock the Earth members and friends.

We are once again asking for nominations of those individuals who embody Rock the Earth's mission of Defending the Planet One Beat at a Time. Keep an eye out for those folks who you feel are helping to protect our planet's most precious places, and nominate them for the prestigious Planet Defender Award. Send your nominations to info@rocktheearth.org. Winners will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2013.

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Key of Green: Green Beauty

The majority of personal care products on the market are loaded with chemicals. And to make matters worse, the toxicological effects of these exposure are not very well known. In fact, according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, of the 10,000 chemicals ingredients in personal care products on the market, 89 percent of all ingredients in cosmetics have not been evaluated for safety. Even more depressing, the synergistic interactions of many chemicals are just becoming known. But rested assured, there options out there to help you navigate the daunting market of personal care products. You simply need to arm yourself with information.

Do Your Research
Wondering what chemicals are in the products you currently have? Start by reading the label. Who really knows the health impacts from Titanium oxide? The best approach is to use online databases for reviewing what you have or plan to purchase. Two good ones are: Consumer Reports’ Greener Choices.org, and the Environmental Working Groups’ Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. Both websites provide a searchable database of product names and categories.

The Consumer Reports database offers informative fact sheets on many different products, while providing a database on other products. The Skin Deep website is specific to personal care products and provides a ranking system for understanding impacts on health.  

Look for the Label
The International Organic Standard for Natural & Natural Organic Cosmetic Certification is the gold standard for cosmetics. The certification requires that 95% source materials be organic, and that the company follow eco-friendly guidelines - including employing production methods that incorporate fair trade and recycled materials for a low environmental impact.

There are other certifications to look for on products including: USDA Organic Certified, Europe’s COSMetics Organic Standard, or the Whole Foods Premium Body Care Seal. Some companies simply list their chemical-free qualities, such as Paraben, Phthalate-, or PCB-free. Do keep in mind that just because something is organic, doesn’t mean it’s healthy!

Use a Common Sense Approach
Many people go with the approach, “if I can’t pronounce the ingredient, then it must not be good for me,” or, “if the ingredient is over eight syllables, then it’s not good.” While not the most rational approach, these could offer some indication of what might be a natural versus a manufactured ingredient. The organization Health Legacy offers a very easy 10-step approach to personal care products. The steps include:  Simplify. Read and verify labels. Use milder soaps. Choose fragrance-free products. Reduce your use of nail polish. BRUSH OFF the fluoridated toothpaste. Always read the ingredient lists on personal care products. Don’t get tricked by marketing claims.

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Member Benefit: FREE Concert Tickets for Rock the Earth members!

Did you know that Rock the Earth members can enter to win FREE TICKETS to concerts at the following exciting venues? Denver's Fillmore Auditorium and Ogden and Bluebird Theaters, Boulder's Fox Theatre and Boulder Theater, Washington, D.C.’s 9:30 Club, and in New York, The Fillmore at Irving Plaza, and Best Buy Theatre Times Square. YOU could be rockin’ out to The Infamous Stringdusters, The Dunwells, Donovan Frankenreiter, and MANY MORE, ABSOLUTELY FREE! What are you waiting for?

We advertise any available free/discounted tickets for Members in the Tour Dates section of the RtE Website.  Enter to win tickets by emailing info@rocktheearthg.org. Include the upcoming show and venue of your choice in the subject line, and your full name and contact details in the email.

Remember – you can only win these tickets if you are a current member of Rock the Earth – be sure your membership is up-to-date before entering.

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Member Benefit: DISCOUNT Festival Tickets for Rock the Earth Members!

Festival Season is almost upon us, and if you’re a Rock the Earth Member, you know what that means: great music, camping out, fun times and DISCOUNTED tickets. If you’re a Rock the Earth Member you can save $40-$100 on EACH ticket to great festivals such as Summer Camp, Camp Bisco, and others to be announced soon! To make sure your membership is up to date and to grab your discounted tickets, contact our office at (303) 454-3304. For more information, write to info@RockTheEarth.org.

For a full list of your membership benefits GO HERE.

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Does your ultimate summer job include motivating a team of people to spread the word about defending the environment while attending major music festivals and concert events across the United States? If so, we invite you to apply for the role of Rock the Earth's Summer Tour Coordinator or one of our Summer Tour Intern positions!  For more information, write to us at info@rocktheearth.org

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Paul Miller (a/k/a DJ Spooky) Joins RtE Advisory Board

We are very proud to announce the newest addition to the Rock the Earth Advisory Board, Paul Miller (a/k/a DJ Spooky). Paul is the executive editor of ORIGIN Magazine and is a composer, multimedia artist, editor and author. His DJ MIXER iPad app has seen more than 12 million downloads in the last year. In 2012-2013 he became the first artist-in-residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. He's produced and composed works for Yoko Ono, Thurston Moore, and scored the soundtracks of award-winning films.

Miller's work as a media artist has appeared in the Whitney Biennial; The Venice Biennial for Architecture, the Ludwig Museum in Cologne, Germany; Kunsthalle, Vienna; The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, and many other museums and galleries. His book Sound Unbound, an anthology of writings on electronic music and digital media, is a best-selling title for MIT Press. Miller has been featured everywhere from Elle to CNN to SyFy.

DJ Spooky's Rebirth of a Nation was commissioned in 2004 by the Lincoln Center Festival; Spoleto Festival USA; Weiner Festwochen (Vienna Festival); and the Festival d'Automne a Paris. It was the artist's first large-scale multimedia performance piece, and has been performed in venues around the world, from the Sydney Festival to the Herod Atticus Amphitheater, more than fifty times. The DVD version of Rebirth of a Nation was released by Anchor Bay Films/Starz Media in 2008.

DJ Spooky's multimedia performance piece Terra Nova: Sinfonia Antarctica was commissioned by BAM for the 2009 Next Wave Festival; The Hopkins Center/Dartmouth College; UCSB Arts & Lectures; Melbourne International Arts Festival; and the Festival dei 2 Mondi in Spoleto, Italy.  Terra Nova: Sinfornia Antarctica is a portrait of a rapidly transforming continent. It features video projections accompanying a score composed by DJ Spooky and performed by a piano quartet.

In 2011, Miller released a graphic design project exploring the impact of climate change on Antarctica, through the prism of digital media and contemporary music compositions that explored the idea of "acoustic portraits" of Antarctica. Entitled "The Book of Ice" (Thames and Hudson/Mark Batty Publisher), it includes an introduction by quantum physicist Brian Greene, best-selling author The Elegant Universe. The Book of Ice is a multi-media installation, a music composition for string quartet, and a book. It has been included in the 2011 Gwangju Biennial, curated by Korean architect Seung H-Sang and Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei.

Rock the Earth welcomes Paul to our Advisory Board.  We know that given Paul’s experience and passions for both music and the environment, that he’ll quickly become a huge asset to the organization!

 
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Volunteer Jam

Volunteer Jam provides an outlet to thank non-staff volunteers and supporters who have rocked it big time during the past month, and who have gone above and beyond in generous support of the Rock the Earth cause. We want to sincerely thank each of you for giving so generously of your time, and applaud you for your contributions:  Lisa Shara, Abigail Blust, Austin Becker, Colin Robinson, Danielle Duni, Diana Tam, Ellen Rohan, Eric Weiner, Kevin O'Donohue, Lee Frankel-Goldwater , Mackenzie Broeren, Macy Nedelka, Morgan Gantz, Robbie Skorge, Shannon Dale, Sophie Francyk, Stacie Mittelman, Sara Walsh and Susan Honig.

 
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What Rocks Your Earth: Dave Carroll (Trampled by Turtles)

For the last 10 years, Dave Carroll has played banjo in Trampled by Turtles (TxT). Hailing from Duluth, Minnesota (though rarely home these days), Dave considers himself an outdoor enthusiast. With influences as diverse as Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, and the Rolling Stones, Trampled By Turtles has become a favorite at festivals and in concert clubs across the country.

While some might describe their music as "bluegrass," given the diversity of their influences and musical output, Trampled by Turtles prefers to describe themselves as "a rock band with bluegrass instrumentation."  Their fifth release, Palomino, maintained a Top 10 position on the Billboard bluegrass charts for 52 straight weeks. Their latest album, Stars and Satellites, was released last year and debuted at number 32 on the Billboard 200 Chart, and number 11 on the Alternative Chart.

Whenever he's not touring with the band, Dave likes to play outside.

What environmental issue(s) do you consider to be the most critical at this time?

Any issues dealing with the environment are critical. But for me, clean water is a very important issue. I live on the largest freshwater lake in the world and I would hope to keep it clean for many generations to come.

What has inspired you to combine environmental activism with music?

If we have a voice that people will listen to, and if we have a growing fan base, why not use it to occasionally enlighten people about environmental topics that concern us? Sounds good to me.

Where is your favorite place in nature to go to find solace or inspiration? 

My absolute favorite place in the world is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I try to get there every year. It takes some hard work to get way out there, and it pays off. In my book it is the most peaceful place on earth.

 
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