Music acts from across the industry, including Thom Yorke, David Byrne, Brian Eno, U2’s Adam Clayton and Spice Girls’ Mel B have signed a letter identifying themselves as “climate hypocrites,” in an open letter penned by environmental activists Extinction Rebellion. This letter was done to address numerous claims made by climate change deniers, and some members of the media.
“Dear journalists who have called us hypocrites, you’re right. We live high carbon lives and the industries that we are part of have huge carbon footprints,” the letter begins. “Like you — and everyone else — we are stuck in this fossil-fuel economy and without systemic change, our lifestyles will keep on causing climate and ecological harm,”
The letter also addresses the recent call to action and #ClimateStrike organized by teenaged activist Greta Thunberg, who recently gave a scathing speech to the UN regarding the ongoing climate crisis. According to Nasa, over 97 percent of climate scientists believe that the planet is undergoing some form of climate change.
The letter notes:
“Climate change is happening faster and more furiously than was predicted; millions of people are suffering, leaving their homes and arriving on our borders as refugees. Alongside these people who are already paying the price for our fossil fueled economy, there are millions of children — called to action by Greta Thunberg — who are begging us, the people with power and influence, to stand up and fight for their already devastated future. We cannot ignore their call. Even if by answering them we put ourselves in your firing line.”
Yorke has been politically outspoken, decrying the recent Brexit policies that have taken place under the recent Uk parliament. The Radiohead frontman has also supported several initiatives to help promote the environment, including the release of song called “Hands Off The Antarctic,” to protect the southern ocean.
As the former Talking Heads frontman, Byrne has been in the press recently due to his recent album American Utopia making its Broadway debut. Influential ambient and electronic music producer Eno, on the other hand recently collaborated with dub legend Lee “Scratch” Perry for “Here Come the Warm Dreads.”
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
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