Sing about it and do something about it

[Forostar]

This is such an interesting story (in my humble opinion) that I wanted to open a little topic about it.

A few of you may remember the Australian band Midnight Oil, especially famous for their major hit "Beds Are Burning".

This band was often very critical about human rights (aboriginals!) and they became well known for their commitment to environmentalist (check out this very to-the-point video of the song "Pictures"!) and left-wing causes, and was particularly critical of United States military and foreign policies during the 1980s.

Midnight Oil had a history of making political statements through their music and performances. Besides making music, singer Peter Garrett also had political ambitions.

In 1984 he ran for a seat in the Australian Senate under the Nuclear Disarmament Party banner, and narrowly lost after a recount. More on Garrett’s Australian politics.

At the closing ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the group performed before Prime Minister John Howard and a television audience of hundreds of millions, wearing black tracksuits bearing the word "sorry." This referred to the Howard Government's refusal to apologise to Aboriginal Australians for the former policy of removing of Aboriginal children from their families.

In 2000 Garrett was awarded the Australian Humanitarian Foundation Award in the Environment category and in 2001 he received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of New South Wales.

He left Midnight Oil in 2002 to concentrate on his environmental and social activism, effectively spelling the end for the group. He has since ruled out any future musical projects, stating that his musical career was always exclusively bound to Midnight Oil. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2003.

Following the Asian Tsunami of Boxing Day 2004, Garrett and the other members of Midnight Oil reformed for two gigs as a part of the fund raising event WaveAid.

On November 29, 2007, Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd named Garrett Minister for Environment, Heritage and Arts(!), however he was stripped of the Climate change role, which was given to Penny Wong. I'm curious how Garrett will deal with all these responsabilities!

 

[Onhell]

This is awesome! few bands back up their politics/philosophy so it's cool to hear about these guys! Not to mention cool video hehe

 

[Genghis Khan]

I wonder how much Garrett influenced Australia's change of opinion on Kyoto Protocol.  Originally the country did not ratify, but after being hit with zillion hurricanes last year they've changed their tune. 

Also, I'm curious how Garrett got into politics.  Did the party just get him into the cabinet because of his passions, integrity and fame?  (I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing; I'm just wondering).

 

[Forostar]

I wonder how much Garrett influenced Australia's change of opinion on Kyoto Protocol.  Originally the country did not ratify, but after being hit with zillion hurricanes last year they've changed their tune. 

Also, I'm curious how Garrett got into politics.  Did the party just get him into the cabinet because of his passions, integrity and fame?  (I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing; I'm just wondering).

He has a lot of knowledge because of his activism. Before he got this Minister job he was in national politics since 2004. I guess he must have such qualities as well. But up til now it was in opposition. Now he's in the government which might be more difficult.

Check here his Maiden speech in the House of Representatives.  ...Finally, I believe we need to come to a point of genuine and deep accommodation with Indigenous people. One of the most profound personal experiences I have had to date was to travel to the remote western desert on the `Diesel and Dust' tour with Midnight Oil to sit with Pintupi and Walpiri elders and be shown the law of these peoples. It is law as significant as the Ten Commandments, unchanged over centuries—its presence a stark reminder of the act of dispossession, the results of which still reverberate today. If we are `the land of the fair go and the better chance', as Paul Keating observed, then we can and must make amends for that past. I believe this requires sincere acts of real reconciliation that have the backing of the community and the government. So, too, we must redouble our efforts to provide immediate support, opportunity and structures for Indigenous communities to build healthy and engaged lives. I and many other members will be watching with keen interest to see what real outcomes emerge from the government's renewed consideration of Indigenous health issues and fundamental support to redress the undoubted disadvantage and marginalisation of Indigenous Australians. This nation really does need to get its act together on this issue....




Here a 2006 video interview where he discusses concluding Midnight Oil's career with the ARIA Hall of Fame induction and the ALP's policies.

This is his second TV-interview (starting after 1 minute) he ever did, back in 1980. Nice to see the same kind of determination and attitude ("no one tells us what to do!") as Steve Harris!