Jamaica Celebrates The Second Annual Worldwide Event Of 100 Thousand Poets And Musicians Striving For Global Change, September 29, 2012

September 29, 2012 marks the second annual 100 Thousand Poets and Musicians for Change, an event that brings poets, artists and musicians together to call for environmental, social, and political transformation. The global celebration in various countries will involve concerts, readings, workshops, flash mobs and demonstrations that focus on specific areas of concern, within the framework of peace and sustainability, such as racial oppression, ecocide, gender inequality, and censorship.

jamRAC – Jamaica Radical Art Collective is collaborating with Poetry Society of Jamaica, Manifesto JA, The Order of The Drum Circle, Drums for Peace, CY Evolution and Independent Voices to present Jamaica Street Dub Vibe on September 29th.  This year’s theme is Tell The Children The Truth inspired by the song Winepress from Bob Marley’s Survival album. An excerpt of the song poignantly states ‘I am talking about my freedom and liberty.’

As our nation celebrates 50 years of independence from colonial rule, Jamaica Street Dub Vibe is an exploration of truth telling through art. Our children are our future and our legacy yet they are the most vulnerable of our population. Statistics from the Office of the Children’s Registry recorded that over 7,000 children were sexually abused in the last four years. This is just one of the numerous atrocities that is perpetuated on our children that Street Dub Vibe will address on September 29th.

The day consists of spontaneous public art expressions island-wide which serve to stimulate dialogue to action on ending child abuse, child neglect and re-cultivating the rights of children in Jamaica. Some of our country’s leading emerging, mid career and established artists will facilitate performances, workshops, and community open mics nationwide.

Leading up to the 29th, the month of September is jam packed with events in support of the 100 Thousand Poets and Musicians for Change movement. Venues in Kingston such as Bolivar Gallery (Jamaica Street Dub Vibe official launch venue on September 15), Jamnesia and Poetry Society, are gearing up to host artists such as the father of dub poetry Oku Onoura, photographer Sabriya Simon, fire starter mc Kabaka Pyramid, veteran dub poet Cherry Natural, eclectic jewelry designer Sista Konscious, young artistic cognoscenti Omaro Mazlyn and The Order of The Drum Circle, emerging reggae prodigies Exzhzemption Band, civil rights activist Umoja-Olu and international dub poet d’bi.young along with many more. These venues will also be collecting donations on behalf of the children of Jamaica (see Event Listings and Donations Guide below for more info). We encourage those who donate to also submit a Poem inspired by the theme Tell The Children The Truth, along with their donation.

Ocho Rios and Montego Bay will also be participating in the celebrations with their own Street Dub Vibe events. The Rastafari Indigenous Village is a working village and eco-cultural visitor centre in the hills of Montego Bay, which promotes the philosophy, movement and lifestyle concept of Rastafari. Independent Voyces and Drums for Peace in Ocho Rios host a literary fair annually for emerging Caribbean writers and speakers. With Street Dub Vibe events in Kinston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, Jamaica will make its mark on the global stage for social transformation.

Michael Rothenberg, Co-Founder of 100 Thousand Poets for Change said, “It’s amazing to see how many people have joined in around the world to speak out for causes they believe in, and to see so much heart and creativity expressed in their diverse approaches to this event. “Peace and sustainability is a major concern worldwide and is the guiding principle for this global event.”

As global leaders in culture, athletics, academics, politics and the post-colonial independence movement, Jamaicans must take a unified stance in the struggle towards the liberation of our children peacefully and sustainably. If you would like more information or to get involved please contact us and join us in September for this global action!

Immediately following September 29th, all documentation on the 100TPC.org website will be preserved by Stanford University in California, which recognized 100 Thousand Poets for Change in 2011 as an historical event, the largest poetry reading in history. They will continue to archive the complete contents of the website, 100TPC.org, as part of their digital archiving program LOCKSS.