They write: “Whole Thinking Retreats are six-day forums that help leaders of the environmental and social justice fields grapple with these questions together. Through fellowship awards, we bring together leaders whose work relates to land and people to find common ground, common purpose and common courage in tackling the major issues of our day.

Retreats are attended by leaders from a broad range of professions: urban and rural conservationists, environmental justice advocates, community development practitioners, food security advocates, farmers, ranchers, faith-based activists, wilderness and farmland conservationists, business people, biologists, writers, educators, elected officials, and others. We bring them together to ask questions of themselves and each other and through that process to help them see their work and potential in a new light.”

Here is a highlight reel:

Plus some full songs:

McKibben pointed out that Congress is currently listening to the incredibly rich companies who’s business models are benefiting from dumping carbon into the atmosphere. He noted that lobbyists against climate action  recently asserted that human physiology will have to adapt to a new world. Wouldn’t it be easier if they adapted their business models?

The Chamber of Commerce “spent more money on political campaigning than the Republican and Democratic National committees combined. They say that they represent all of American business, but it’s not even close to true. They got 55% of their budget from 16 companies.” 350.org has started a campaign, THE CHAMBER DOESN’T SPEAK FOR ME. Does it even have the capacity to speak for small business?

It’s shocking to realize that even in a difficult economic time for most people in the world, “Exxon made more money last year than any company in the history of money. This is 10 times the size of the IT sector or anything else.”

McKibben calls for bodies, spirit and creativity in building a movement to stand up to these forces, because “since we’re not going to be able to outspend them, we better figure out a different currency to work in.”

Tim writes, ”Here is a brief video clip from my recent appearance at a fundraiser for Community Change, in Boston. I am discussing the recent Newsweek cover story about the recession and “beached white males,” and the way the authors missed the real story. It’s not that white men are the hardest hit in this recession–they aren’t by a long shot–but because of privilege and entitlement, they have had the hardest time coping with the exigencies of an imploding economy…sadly, instead of using the experience to foment solidarity with folks of color, many are missing the larger lessons…”

We created a channel for her to share her philosophy, showcase her portfolio and hear from her clients.

She is the co-director of a non-profit organization, Greener Photography which has hundreds of members across the globe. Thea explains that by archiving photos using frames that are built to last and on printed natural fiber papers, we can reduce our environmental impact.

See what her clients say:

Lindsay and Voss: “Anyone can take formal pictures. But she really made them look like works of art. Back at the reception she had set-up a laptop with a bunch of photos from the beginning of the day all the way through the wedding. It was great to see those. Tons of people were looking and them and they were saying ‘I didn’t even realize she was taken photos of me’.”

Erin and Ryan: “I was looking for someone who was environmentally conscious. She’s very personable, easy-going, and willing to work with you and see what it is you’re interested in getting out of your wedding photos.”

Emily: “We chose a place because the setting was awesome. We wanted artistic shots of the day, this photojournalistic feel. It was pretty awesome to see them.”

Karen and Hugh: ”She’s very non-invasive. It was huge for me not to have somebody in your face all of the time posing for pictures.”

Sara: “She had two photographers with her and I think she did a tremendous job of capturing every moment that I recall really enjoying.”

Jillian and Michael: “I wanted someone to capture the emotion of the day. The pictures were much better than I expected. She’s so easy to work with.”

Amy and Jon: “You can tell she captures the moments that you miss because the wedding goes by so fast. Everybody always says, I wish I had a better photographer because I don’t remember any of my wedding.”

The winner of Feast 3 was Charlotte Huffman of Girls Who Rock, an after school program in need of electric guitars. Many of the guests who voted for this project said they did because they knew the $500 would really accomplish something for this organization.

If you want to go to Feast Mass you’re going to need to keep an eye on their website because it fills up fast. The next Feast Mass will be on Saturday, May 21, 7-10pm. If you want to get on the waiting list write to: feastmass@gmail.com

Director of Photography and Co-Producer: Justin Francese
Director of Communications and Associate Producer: Danielle Connor

When Berklee College of Music, Harvard Business School, and Midem united for the Rethink Music Conference, Ben Spear of Thinkside (thinkside.com) designed an innovative brand to express their vision. The goal of Rethink Music is “to foster creativity and a thriving music industry,” by bringing all of the stakeholders from around the world to the table. Spear’s versatile brand design represents the spark of coalition partners calling for industry innovation to support the next generation of professional musicians.

Thinkside’s brand guidelines and logo help the conference to build buzz. This video goes with Spear to see how it looks in its varied forms from street stencils to posters and subway ads.

April 25-27, Hynes Convention Center, Boston
rethink-music.com “Rethink Music is a solutions-focused conference, bringing together all sides and viewpoints on the subjects of creativity, commerce, and policy to engage in critical dialogue examining the business and rights challenges facing the music industry in the digital era, and to formulate ideas for the creation and distribution of new music and other creative works. The event, presented in association with the Berkman Center for Internet and Society and Harvard Business School, is the result of a research collaboration studying business models and copyright and how they impact the recorded music industry.”

Lyor Cohen, North American Chair and CEO of Recorded Music, Warner Music Group; Amanda Palmer, Artist; Rep. John Conyers, Jr., United States Congressman and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee; Tod Machover, Professor, MIT Media Lab; Joe Kennedy, President and CEO, Pandora

Jeff Conant reads from his new book “A Poetics of Resistance: The Revolutionary Public Relations of the Zapatista Insurgency”

Book reading and discussion hosted by Doyle Canning of smartMeme at the Design Studio for Social Intervention in Boston.

Video by Justin Francese of roughmountain.com
More info of the book: akpress.org/?2010/?items/?apoeticsofresistance
smartMeme: smartmeme.org

“Conant has an ear for story, poetry, and wonder; his new telling of the Zapatista struggle is full of delights.” —Raj Patel, author of Stuffed and Starved

“Conant’s engrossing book distills critical lessons about the Zapatistas’ use of storytelling, spectacle and truly revolutionary marketing. Whether you’re already deeply immersed in Zapatismo or new to this profoundly important social movement, A Poetics of Resistance is essential reading.” —Patrick Reinsborough, cofounder of smartMeme

“Ivan Illich once said: ‘Through arguments you can only come to conclusions. Only stories make sense.’ Near the end of his life, Ivan also said that only a poetic language can express today what we need to say. Considering the current challenges and risks, a fresh, poetic look at the Zapatistas, to clear our vision, is badly needed. This is a useful book for those looking for sense in these dark times.” —Gustavo Esteva, founder of Universidad de la Tierra in Oaxaca, Mexico

The Zapatistas’ famous “Ya basta!”—enough already!—was the first uttering of a new story: a story about unbinding the ties of official history, uncovering buried seeds of popular resistance, and revealing the glimmerings of a truly insurgent modernity. Combining narrative history, literary criticism, ethnography, and media analysis, A Poetics of Resistance provides a refreshing take on Mexico’s Zapatista movement by examining the means, meanings, and mythos behind the Zapatista image.

The first “postmodern revolution” presented itself to the world through a complex web of propaganda in every available medium: the colorful communiqués of Subcomandante Marcos, the ski masks, uniforms, dolls, murals, songs, and weapons both symbolic and real. By proliferating a profound and resonant set of myths, symbols, and grand historical gestures calculated to reflect their ideologies, organizing methodologies, and cultural values, the Zapatistas helped set into motion a global uprising, and the awareness that behind this uprising is a renewed vision of history. Jeff Conant’s engaging and innovative examination of the Zapatistas’ communication strategies will be an important tool for movements everywhere engaged in creating a world where many worlds fit; in demolishing History in order to construct histories; and in unseating not only the powerful, but Power itself.

Jeff Conant is a writer and activist in the San Francisco Bay Area and the author of A Community Guide to Environmental Health.