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| Bunny Wailer @ Reggae on the River 2006(on stage photo by Eco) |
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Top right: Bunny Wailer with the Abyssinians at
Humboldt County Reggae on the River 2006.
In the true rasta spirit, two of the worlds oldest
reggae acts unite for the closing set.
(sidestage photo by Eco)
Left: Bunny Wailer still chanting the words
of a rasta man, closing the show with
"Rasta man chant"
" Do you hear the words of the rasta man say,?
Babylon will fall on down, on down, Babylon will
fall on down" |
Pato Banton
Interview ,Trinidad Ca 2005 fundraiser for
Trillium Elementary Charter School.
Eco: Where are you from?
Pato: "My name is Pato Banton, me born and grow a
England." born in London, raised in Birmingham
from the age of 8.
Eco: What is the environment like where you
grew up?
Pato: I grew up in the inner city, surrounded by
concrete. The only nature we ever saw was at a
local park.
Eco: has the environment there changed? if so how?
Pato: Nothing has changed except the buildings are
now bigger.
Eco: Traveling the world what is your biggest
concern for the environment?
Pato: My biggest concern is that man is taking
masses of resources from Mother Earth and giving
it back very little. Many things are changing on the
planet (as we all know) but how much damage will
be done before Our planet really hits back will
depend on us.
Eco : Given the chance to reason with the reggae
massive, what would you suggest they do or know
about the environment?
Pato : My main message to the people who care about
Our mortal home is EDUCATE. Learn about the
natural resources in your local area and try and protect
them from abuse. Recycle when you can, leave the car
when you can, and teach the young people how
important it is to love nature. Also don't forget to try
and support the people who are trying to protect the
environment, they need all the help they can get.
Finally, plant your seeds, all of them!
One Love
Pato Banton
Official web site www.patobanton.com
| While my wife has long been a Pato fan , I
have always appreciated his anti drug
stance, and understanding that it does not
take dreadlocks to have a Rasta One Love
Heart. Pato proved this to me in person by
grabbing the hand of a young boy trying
to take a cookie from the plate of a fund
raising bake sale. After stopping the boy
he took the time to explain to the boy that
he had to pay for the items to raise money,
then he asked the boy if the young boys
around him were his friends, as they lined
up as if to be reprimanded by a school
teacher, Pato proceeded to explain the
situation and give them all a one dollar bill
and sent them to the back of the line. This
example of an elder social role model is truly
walking the talk of a true Rasta Man.
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| Dj Dub Cowboy Calling the "Reggae Jamdown" from the Reggae on the River stage 2006. (photo by Eco) |
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| Artist: Dj Dub Cowboy
Work: Radio show "Friday Jamdown"
KHSU 90.5 FM Humboldt County Ca.
Online @ www.KHSU.org
Fridays 2-4 Pm pacific standard time.
In the spirit of unity and respect we went legit
and enlisted the enthusiastic escort of acting
stage manager Sherry(pictured).
For many years EcoGardening has supported
the Dub Cowboy, and for even longer the Friday
Jamdown as listeners and through underwriting.
Not only does the D.C. perpetuate the
fundamental positiveness of reggae music, but
he also to asks environment questions to the
artists he interviews on air. The influence this
makes to our local agricultural community
is immeasurable.
Keep up the good work, and may Jah guide and
protect you and your family. |
Marcus Garvey Leader of the U.N.I.A. during the most notable efforts ever at Repatriation
for displaced Africans due to the slave trade. |
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| Stephen Marley 4/18/7 Humboldt County. (photo by Eco) a People Production |
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" Mind control .. America is not feeding the people
positivity, so that we can have positive affect. Right?
We are feeding the people rubish, and them have
nowhere to turn. So, Mentally, it overpower them.
You Understand? Them self destruct. America set it
up so me tell you that, you understand? What we
feed them in the media. Everything is part of
everything. But, right now, it shouldn't take such
tragic happenings for realize that, listen man, we
have to feed the people positiity for get positive affects.
.... As me say, when a youth is out in a world and so
much negativity is in the world, where does he turn?
When, all right, if him turn on the radio, what him
going to hear? If him turn on the TV, what him going
to see? Him going to see the same things: lust, greed,
violence. Him not going to see no positivity that
influences him in that sense of, 'yeah, OK' Him not hear
no Bob Marley upon the radio. No. No. Ya know? So,
that's messed up.This is from the doings. If you lay with
dog, you catch flea. You know what I mean? You feed the
people a certain thing and, when the time come, there's
nothing to influence them.... Thinking in a negative way
and him turn on the radio and him hear Bob Marley 'don't
worry, evrything's gona be alright.' Somthing positive,
subliminally, him probably go asleep, then wake back up
and tie him shoe laces and say, 'You know what? I was
thinking wrong.'Everything him see help him become
what him become. Everthing, down to the people around him
probably looked at him different because him so quiet....
Me supposed to help you my brother if I see you down.
Yeah, it's supposed to be in me.... I'm supposed to say,
' Bro, is everything cool? If anything , you know you can
talk to me.' Possitive effect, we're not being fed that, so
these things are a result of those things. We need to see
positive things on the TV. We need to hear positive music
upon the radio. We need to have positivity in the schools,
you know? Like I just was reading the other dayin an
interview with my father, him say,'It's like them set you
up for a demise.' Them teach you for fight war. Them not
really teach you for better yourself. Them not teach you
how to better ourselves in terms of being. Them teach you
how to make money and that. That don't help, cause that
don't help you mentally. Because, if your lost inside, there
is no money. It probably take a brethren and a brother to
talk, and say, 'Yo my bro, you all right?' No money can do
that, you know what I mean? They don't teach you those
things. Them teach you how to get ready for demise...
No. We're supposed to learn how to live, for to get together,
for to exist together. You know what I mean? Them use
religeon to devide we. Them use so many things, man,
with your mind. It's mind control"
Part of a Stephen Marley interview by Thadeus Greenson
of The Times Standard, printed 4/26/7
Official website for Stephen Marley |
Reggae on the River
One of the worlds premier reggae festivals, Held in Humboldt County Ca,USA.
A fundraiser for the Mateel Community Center, also benefiting numerous
community non-profit organizations. Run by the community for the
community Since 1987 . There are very few of the worlds greatest reggae
musicians that have not played Reggae on the River, none of them are alive.
Here is what Stephen Marley Had to Say About Reggae on the River in a
Humboldt County interview , April 2007 . " I grew up on the River, you know
what I mean? Sometimes when we don't even have a record out."
" No it's not just another show. As you say, It's not really so much the name
as the atmosphere, the people and the vibe. That's why it's not just another
show, why it's special. It's just free. The vibe always free spirited, ya know?
Down by the river, visit the people and pitch their tents. That type of free
lifestyle, that, you know what I mean? When you hear my father say
(singing), 'Why can't we roam this open country' it always remind me of
that type of vibe, ya know, just being. You pitch your tent, the river is there.
Ya know, and the greenery, and the scenery. It get no better than that. So
it's not just another concert, but at the same time, it's not the name of it,
really, but the vibe of it."
Canceled 2007
5/18/ 07 Interview with Reggae on the River producer Boots of 2b1 Multimedia.
Eco: What needs to occur for there to be a Reggae on the River 2008?
Boots: A permit and a contract with the land owner.
Eco: Is another site in mind , like Tooby park or Bendbow?
Boots: I have looked at three or four sites in the area.
( These areas are being kept secret due to the sensitivity of
the neighbor community, and permit negotiations.)
Eco: What can the community do to help?
Boots: Write Tom Dimmick, this is a moral issue of wright and wrong.
(Tom Dimmick is one of the land owners of the Reggae on the River site.)
Eco: Will 2b1 Multimedia be producing Reggae on the River 2008?
Boots: We have a five year contract with the Mateel community Center to produce Reggae
on the River, and we seem to be getting along pretty good; Now if the community
can come together and stop the fighting and start the healing, Then the community
can rise above it all to form a new and better Reggae on the River.
Eco: I have worked first hand with the Impact Reports, and went to the last city council
meeting, for the sustainability of Reggae on the River financially and the ecosystem, what
attendance number do you project needing?
Boots: The 12,400 plus performers and guests is adequate, we don't need 4,000 volunteers.
The last few years the attendance numbers have been way over that, however they may
have gotten in, I think a good sustainable number is 14 -15, or 16,000.
Eco: You mentioned sustainability, how much should the environment play in the attendance number of the festival?
Boots: Personally it should play a lot, we don't need to be that wasteful. In the past years
the number has soared to 25 or 27,000 in attendance, the impacts of those numbers coming
down to the permitted level will be felt immediately. I'm proud to say that I helped start
Reggae on the River which was one of the originators of trying to be an ecofriendly festival.
Boots continued on the importance of waste management, describing a new waste transfer
system that could actually make money for the event, As well as many other references to
existing waste management strategies like recycling, composting, biodegradable utensils,
and the use of bio-deisel. Also discussed was the extra time and bureaucracy involved with doing business in Humboldt County. In all boots remained positive about the future of Reggae on the
River, Knowing first hand the strength, passion, and desire for peace and unity among the
Humboldt County Community.
Official website for 2b1 Multimedia . |
Haile Selassie Coronated Emperor of Ethiopia November 2, 1930. In 1948 the Emperor
gave a speech concerning the direction of the rastafarian movement.
" Rastas progress must be moral. It is important that spiritual
advancement keep pace with material advancement. When this
comes to be realized man's journey towards higher and more
lasting values will show more marked progress, while the evil in
him recedes into the ground. Knowing that material and spiritual
progress are essential to man, we must ceaselessly work for equal
attainment of both. Only then shall we be able to acquire that
absolute inner calm so necessary to our well being."
First met Jamaican Rastafarian who went to Ethiopia on a mission for Repatriation
of Africans in 1961. When the Rastas presented gifts to the Emperor he said
"is it from the Rastafari brethren?"
fulfilling in their words
"Biblical equality cometh for all"
This is part of a Speech famously immortalized by the Bob Marley song "War" given
to the United Nations in California, February 28th 1968.
"On the question of racial discrimination, the Addis Abada
conference taught, to those who will learn, this further lesson:"
"that until the philosophy which holds one race superior and
another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and
abandoned; that until there is no longer any first-class and
second-class citizens of any nation; that until the color of a
man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his
eyes; that until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed
to all, without regard to race - until that day, the dreams of
lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international
morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but
never attained. And also, that until the ignoble an unhappy
regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and
South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and
destroyed; until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and
inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding,
tolerance and good-will; until all Africans stand and speak as
free beings, equal in the eyes of all men as they are in heaven -
until that day the African continent will not know peace. We
Africans will fight, if necessary and we know that we shall win,
as we are confident in the victory of good over evil."
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EcoGardening is committed to the non-exploitation and equality of all people businesses,
and ecosystems, as there is but only one planet earth, there is only one race; The Human
Race.
EcoReggae is a celebration honoring the roots of Reggae music , and the tenacious struggle
of the Rastafarian movement for international Respect , One Love, and Unity for all.
I encourage you to explore these Reggae musicians sites, attend concerts, and purchase
their music.
Boyd Smith
EcoGardening Owner |
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