Eco-communities as a social vision

Eco-communities as a social vision
Egalitarian and ecological communities, like the pictured East Wind (www.eastwind.org), are very close to our vision of an ecological society

28 December, 2010

Brimful Of Asha by CORNERSHOP, album: When I Was Born For The 7th Time (1997)

There's dancing
Behind movie scenes
Behind the movie scenes
Sadi Rani
She's the one that keeps the dream alive
from the morning
past the evening
to the end of the light
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45

And dancing
Behind movie scenes
Behind those movie screens
Asha Bhosle
She's the one that keeps the dream alive
from the morning
past the evening
to the end of the light
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45

And singing
illuminate the main streets
And the cinema aisles
We don't care bout no
Government warnings,
'bout their promotion of the simple life
And the dams they're building

Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45

Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Mine's on the 45

Mohamed Rafi -45
Lata Mangeshkar -45
Solid state radio -45
Fer-guh-son mono -45
Bancs publics -45
Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan Boogie, the Heavy
Hitters and the Chichi music
All India Radio-45
Two in ones -45
Argo Records -45
Trojan Records -45

Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45

Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Mine's on the 45

seven seven thousand piece
Orchestra set
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Mine's on the RPM!!

Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45

Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Mine's on the 45


a happy hour song taht has nothing to do with political, social or ecological awareness. It calls us to have a good time singing and watching movies promoting escapism from our great concerns. Yes, but some verses seems to act reversely ans keep us in mind of some serious issues that destroy societies, environment and lives far from us. Lets make the thing clearer by reading the following lyrics analysis, taken from HERE:

To understand the song, one must understand the Indian movie industry. Ever since cinema was introduced to India, most commercial movies have been heavy, sweet, musical productions. The song-and-dance interludes are not incidentals, but staples, and often are what make or break a movie. An American friend of mine was under the impression that singing was a necessary skill for Indian actors and actresses! Actually, the singing is almost always done by background singers. The background singers, of course, are not required to possess charisma or looks, and in fact in early times, care was taken to not expose them in the media, to preserve the romantic association with their voices in the minds of the moviegoing public.

Why is all this so important? Right from the beginning, movies took over the hearts and lives of common Indians in a manner that nothing has done before or since. The happiness, the tragedy, the passionate and tender love, and the conflict are all designed to speak to the melodrama-loving Indian heart. As Hindi grew more popular, Hindi movies took over the whole country. The heart of the Hindi film industry in Bombay, whimsically nicknamed Bollywood, eventually became a force larger than the one it was named after. The songs are no exception, and over the last sixty years or so filmi music, as it is called, has become by far the most popular kind in India.

Two female background singers perhaps distinguish themselves from the rest in sheer prolificness and popularity: Asha Bhonsle and Lata Mangeshkar. The two, as it happens, are sisters, and recently there has been much focus on their professional and sibling rivalry. At any rate, their singing formed the emotional soundtrack of India, as it were, for many years.

And now lets go to the part of the verses of the song that concen us:
The movies and songs are an escape: they are what allow people to forget important concerns, at least for a while. The reference to dams might need a bit of explanation. In India, these often are unnecessarily huge and costly projects that are designed that way with the aim of being points of prestige, and besides, for lining the pockets of politicians and contractors. They displace thousands of people and impact the environment in massive ways. The project currently approved on the Narmada is one present-day example. So these are issues that people should be worried about.

But this escapism is not presented as being bad. The spirit of the song is that movie fantasy is a lovely and comfortable thing.
you can hear this song in youtube

23 November, 2010

"Ark of Suffering" by Tourniquet, album: Stop the Bleeding (1990)


You think it's alright to destroy God's creation
They don't have a voice so who cares how we're treating them here
If you read His word you should know that he blessed them
I know your defense is to say "God said dominate them"

Do you think dominate means to kill just for sport
Wear the fur from their backs
Train them for circus acts
Take our pets to be gassed once their "cute" age is passed

Don't you see in their eyes how they trust us
But man in his sin turns that trust into horrible pain
When God says to man give account of your life's work
We must be prepared to reply "Your creation I loved"

Locked behind steel cage
Forced to take drugs we've made
Cut them up just to show
What we already know

Before they die...
Who will hear them cry


We read in wikipedia about this song:

"Ark of Suffering" is a song, widely known for its stance on animal abuse and the music video which contained graphic material on the subject.

"Ark of Suffering" is about man's responsibility for taking care of animals. The song takes a Biblical point of view on the subject, implying how God has given man the right to dominate the creatures in the world, but has to answer for his wrongings for God. The lyrics point out several examples of animal abuse such as canned hunts, raising them to only to be made for fur and leather coats, circus training, taking animals as pets and abandoning them once they are no longer young, laboratory tests, locking in cages in meat houses, and cutting them for educational purposes.

According to the liner notes of the album, Ted Kirkpatrick felt strongly about the subject, and has written: "How could I convey my anger and sadness over the horrific world of animal abuse? writing "Ark of Suffering" was a very cathartic experience for me. I know it has opened many people's eyes to a part of our world that very few people get to see, much less want to see."
You can hear and see it in youtube

03 November, 2010

"Save the Planet" by White Skull, Album: I won't burn alone (1995)


Look at the sky now can your richness buy it all ?
There's no price you can state or politicians to pay
No million dollars spent
And I raise my head and
Look for happiness but

I can't start I can't stop
I can't go I can't walk
War is all around.

You see you're living in wellness and freedom now
But you think at once it will change
All around leaving you astray
And you raise your head and
Look for happiness but

I can't start I can't stop
I can't go I can't walk
War is all around.

"planet earth is calling all of us
Have you ever heard her pray ?
We will be living through ruins
We won't survive ".

You think it's all dirty and nothing means
So you cry something and try to find a new reality
I know I know your fears
You got you got your tears
But i've got an illusion 'cause i wanna
Reach the sky and
Get real high.

Time slowly pass by and it's all the same
The rich get rich the poor get poor and that's the way
I know iknow your fears
You got you got your tears
But i've got an illusion 'cause i wanna
Reach that blue sky
And get real high
Whatcha feel today


First it appeared in their demo "Save the planet" in 1994. Its about the awareness that we must not feel safe in our today wealth, because it is based on nature's exploitation, and quickly we'll face poverty and devastation.

You can hear this song in youtube

25 September, 2010

"Verlorenes Paradies" by Vicky Leandros, from the same titled album (1982)


Sagt mir, wo ist das Paradies.
Sagt, wer die Welt zerstoeren ließ.
Sagt mir, warum der Fisch im Fluß
und auch die Blume sterben muß.
Wer bringt den Wald in Gefahr?
Wer baut Mauern und Straßen,
wo ein Maerchenland war?

Sagt wer zerstört ein altes Haus,
wer schüttet Gift auf Felder aus,
sagt mir wer hat die letzte Spur,
den Baum, den Strauch, das Stück Natur
in unserer Stadt betoniert?
Sagt mir, waren das nicht wir?

Verlor'nes Paradies -
wie schoen und wie bunt und wie friedlich
koennt' diese Welt sein.
Doch wir steh'n vor dem Ende.
Seht das endlich mal ein.
Verlor'nes Paradies -
wir schau'n einfach zu
wie man uns aus dem Himmel vertreibt.
Ob die Erde auch morgen
fuer uns liebenswert bleibt,
liegt an uns ganz allein.

Ich sing' fuer Dich.Ich sing' fuer mich.
Ich sing' fuer jeden, der hier wohnt.
Wir brauchen wieder einen Traum,
fuer den es sich zu traeumen lohnt.
Ich sing' fuer Dich.Ich sing' fuer Euch,
fuer alle Menschen auf der Welt.
Ich sing' fuer alles, was wir lieben
und fuer das, was uns gefaellt,
ein kleines Lied, ein kleines Lied
fuer das verlor'ne Paradies,
fuer uns're Wälder, uns're Wiesen,
uns' re Felder, uns're See'n,
Singt alle mit, singt alle mit
und singt so laut wie ihr nur könnt,
damit die Wunder dieser Erde
nie im Leben mehr vergeh'n.

Verlor'nes Paradies -
Wir schaun einfach zu
wie man uns aus dem Himmel vertreibt,
Ob die Erde auch morgen
fuer uns liebenswert bleibt,
liegt an uns ganz allein.


Translation- from google

Tell me where is paradise.
Tell me, who could destroy the world.
Tell me why the fish in the river
and must die, the flower.
Who brings the forest in danger?
Those who build walls and roads,
fairyland where one was?

Says who destroyed an old house
who pours poison on fields
tell me who has the last trace,
the tree, the bush, the piece of nature
concreted in our city?
Tell me, do not we?

Forlorn Paradise -
as beautiful and as colorful and as peacefully
Could be this world.
But we stand before the end.
Behold the last one times.
Forlorn Paradise -
we simply schau'n
as we are selling out of the sky.
Whether the earth tomorrow
for us is lovely,
is up to us alone.

I sing for Dich. Ich sing for me.
I sing for everyone who lives here.
We need to see a dream
for which it pays to dream itself.
I sing for Dich.Ich sing for you,
for all people around the world.
I sing for all that we love
and for what we like and
a little song, a little song
for the lost one paradise
for shortness of forests, meadows shortness,
We 're Fields, shortness of lakes,
Sing with all singing, all with
and sings as loud as you can,
to the wonders of this earth
never in my life vergeh'n more.

Forlorn Paradise -
We simply gaze
as we are selling out of the sky,
Whether the earth tomorrow
for us is lovely,
is up to us alone.


A song about what we are going to lose when we abuse environment. Vicky Leandros is a Greek SInger who made successfull carrier abroad between 60s and 80s with two successful participations in EUROVISION song contest with one win.

You can hear this song in youtube

10 September, 2010

Civilización by Los Piojos, album: Civilizacion (2007)


Hay algo que está sonando
seguro que ya lo oías
la tierra está vibrando
con distinta melodía.

Ni dioses locos de furia
ni demonios vengativos
ni naves extraterrestres
ni algún cometa perdido.

La historia es mucho más clara
y tiene también sentido
la tierra se está quitando
de encima al peor enemigo.

Vienen los cuatros jinetes
cabalgando vienen digo
agua, tierra, fuego y aire
vienen de tu propio ombligo.

Oh oh oh oh,
cosas de la civilización.

Que todo ya está montado
que millones de despidos
el camino es complicado
quizá como nunca ha sido.

Anoche soñé con Manu
y esta melodía cantaba
alguien encendía un asado
alguien de lejos llegaba.

Y si viene un río gris
que separe al mundo en dos
quisiera quedar del mismo lado
nena que vos. (bis)

Un nuevo desierto,
un nuevo granizo,
saben quien lo hizo
anda por acá.

Dios perdona
al hombre a veces
la naturaleza nunca,
anda por acá.

No te olvides del mamut
que no termino el vermouth
No te olvides del mamut
que no termino el vermouth por alla
Y si viene un rio gris..



translation

One thing is ringing
sure you heard it already
the earth is vibrating
with a different melody.

Neither gods mad fury
or vengeful demons
or alien craft
a comet or lost.

History is much clearer
and also makes sense
the earth is being removed
off to the worst enemy.

Come the four horsemen
I come riding
water, earth, fire and air
come from your own navel.

Oh oh oh oh
things of civilization.

Everything is already mounted
that millions of layoffs
the road is difficult
perhaps as never has been.

Last night I dreamed Manu
and singing this tune
someone lit a barbecue
someone from far away arrived.

And if there comes a gray river
that separates the world into two
I would like to be on the same side
baby than you. (Bis)

A new wilderness
A new hail,
know who did it
walking around here.

God forgives
man sometimes
nature ever
walking around here.

Do not forget the mammoth
not finish the vermouth


Thanks to our friend Teresα from Argentina, another song about the impacts of civilization to nature. But nature fights back and all todays disasters are not god's revenge or of some metaphysical cause....

You can hear this song in youtube

24 August, 2010

“Guerrero Del Arco Iris” by Rata Blanca, album: Guerrero Del Arco Iris (1992)


Sufriendo nuestra inconsciencia
Tal vez pueda morir
La tierra hoy se desangra
Que harás sin su existir...

Ayúdame, tu ser también
Es de este mundo
Tus hijos no podrán vivir
Entre el dolor...

Peleemos contra los tontos
Que harán nuestro final
La vida la da esta tierra
No hay otro lugar.

Ayúdame, tu ser también
Es de este mundo
Tus hijos no podrán vivir
Entre el dolor...

Guerrero sólo tu puedes
Ganar con la verdad
Luchemos por los que vienen
Por ver felicidad.

Ayúdame, tu ser también
Es de este mundo
Tus hijos no podrán vivir
Entre el dolor...




Translation in English:

Rainbow warrior

Suffering our unconsciousness
Maybe I can die
The land today is bleeding
Will you do without your exist ...

Help me, your being too
It is of this world
Your children can not live
Between the pain ...

Fight with the fools
That will make our final
The earth gives life
Nowhere else.

Help me, your being too
It is of this world
Your children can not live
Between the pain ...

Warrior only you can
Winning with the truth
Fight for those who come
To see happiness.

Help me, your being too
It is of this world
Your children can not live
Between the pain ...


A band from Argentina, thanks to our Argenine friend Teresa who introduced to us. A cry for respect of mother earth and nature.

You can hear this song in youtube

15 August, 2010

"Gasoline" by Sheryl Crow, album: Detours (2008)

Way back in the year of 2017
The sun was growing hotter
And oil was way beyond its peak
When crazy Hector Johnson broke into a refinery
And the black gold started flowing
Just like Boston tea

It was the summer of the riots
And London sat in sweltering heat
And the gangs of Mini Coopers
Took the battle to the streets
But when the creed was handed down
For no more trucks and no more cars
They threw cans of petrol through the windows at Scotland Yard

Gasoline
Will be free, will be free
Gasoline
Will be free, will be free

When the Mounties stormed the palace of the Saudi family
They held them up for ransom
Without disturbing their high tea
But their getaway was shaky
They stalled in the Riyadh streets
Cause you can't make it very far
When your tank is on empty

The final can of gasoline was loaded on a truck
And driven through the streets of Agra to the palace aquaduct
You see, all the majesty of worship that once adorned these fatal halls
Was just a target to the angry
As they blew up the Taj Mahal

Gasoline
Will be free, will be free
Gasoline
will be free, will be free

Gary ran a market way down in Tennessee
Where all the farmers got together and talked about this great country
But when the government turned its back on farming
Man, what I hear
They dragged the pumps out of the ground
With a big vintage John Deere

I've got soldiers on my payroll
Standing guard on my front drive
Snipers on the roof poised at those
Who don't want me alive
Cause they audited my taxes
My family under threat
Cause I've got a message and a megaphone
And I'll scream it to the death

Gasoline
Will be free, will be free
Gasoline
Will be free, will be free

You got the farms in Argentina
Making fuel from sugar cane
You got the bastards in Washington
Afraid of popping the greed vain
Cause the money's in the pipeline
And pipeline's running dry
And we'll be the last to recognize
Where there's shit there's always flies


A humoristic song probably about a nearby future when humanity will be run out of petrol. The song has many strange parts. Read here a discussion about the meaning of the song

You can hear this song in youtube

28 July, 2010

"Polluted" by Grief, Album: Torso (1998)

if there´s life in outer space
take me away from this place
beam me up - i´ll volunteer
it can´t be much worse than here
watching your back all the time
every single minute - crime.
raping, murder, stealing, fraud
church is a scam - so is god.

polluted souls
polluted minds
polluted beings -

we´re called mankind
the earth is fucked
every one´s corrupt
the system and the government SUCK


A quite depressive and pessimistic song about all evils that pollute mankind, including environmental pollution. So much pain and disapointment expressed in few verses, but intensified through their successful doom mucis style.

You can hear this song in youtube

25 June, 2010

Meat Is Murder by The Smiths, Album: Meat Is Murder (1985)

Heifer whines could be human cries
Closer comes the screaming knife
This beautiful creature must die
This beautiful creature must die
A death for no reason
And death for no reason is MURDER

And the flesh you so fancifully fry
Is not succulent, tasty or kind
It's death for no reason
And death for no reason is MURDER

And the calf that you carve with a smile
Is MURDER
And the turkey you festively slice
Is MURDER
Do you know how animals die ?

Kitchen aromas aren't very homely
It's not "comforting", cheery or kind
It's sizzling blood and the unholy stench
Of MURDER

It's not "natural", "normal" or kind
The flesh you so fancifully fry
The meat in your mouth
As you savour the flavour
Of MURDER

NO, NO, NO, IT'S MURDER
NO, NO, NO, IT'S MURDER
Oh ... and who hears when animals cry?


A very famous song against meat eating. It worths dealing with ethics in food, but we think that these ethics must restricted in the wellfare of animals we use for food, to have a happy and free life in the fields and not to live in misery inside an industrialized hell.

Life in our planet is sustained by the loss of other lives, either animals or plants. Any time we eat, we must feel respectful to the form of life being killed but not guilty of murder. And we must take into acount that meat is not human's basic food but only supplementary in a mainly vegetarian diet.

You can hear this song in youtube

01 June, 2010

"The Lonesome Death of Rachel Corrie" by Billy Bragg (2006)

In memory of the innocent victims of the fascist state of Israel who commits genocide in Gaza and to the innocent victims of the pirate murderous military assault on the ship to Gaza shipment of humanitarian help.

An Israeli bulldozer killed poor Rachel Corrie
As she stood in its path in the town of Rafah
She lost her young life in an act of compassion
Trying to protect the poor people of Gaza
Whose homes are destroyed by tank shells and bulldozers
And whose plight is exploited by suicide bombers
Who kill in the name of the people of Gaza
But Rachel Corrie believed in non-violent resistance
Put herself in harm's way as a shield of the people
And paid with her life in a manner most brutal

But you who philosophise disgrace and criticise all fears,
Take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears.

Rachel Corrie had 23 years
She was born in the town of Olympia, Washington
A skinny, messy, list-making chain-smoker
Who volunteered to protect the Palestinian people
Who had become non-persons in the eyes of the media
So that people were suffering and no one was seeing
Or hearing or talking or caring or acting
And the horrible math of the awful equation
That brought Rachel Corrie into this confrontation
Is that the spilt blood of a single American
Is worth more than the blood of a hundred Palestinians

But you who philosophise disgrace and criticise all fears,
Take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears.

The artistic director of a New York theatre
Cancelled a play based on Rachel's writings
But she wasn't a bomber or a killer or fighter
But one who acted in the spirit of the Freedom Riders
Is there no place for a voice in America
That doesn't conform to the Fox News agenda?
Who believes in non-violence instead of brute force
Who is willing to confront the might of an army
Whose passionate beliefs were matched by her bravery
The question she asked rings out round the world
If America is truly the beacon of freedom
Then how can it stand by while they bring down the curtain
And turn Rachel Corrie into a non-person?

Oh, but you who philosophise disgrace and criticise all fears,
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now's the time for your tears.


Rachel Corrie went to Gaza to draw attention to the plight of the Palestinians, whose voice is seldom heard in her country, the US. That she herself should be silenced -- first by an Israeli bulldozer, next by a New York theatre cancelling a play created from her words -- is a testimony to the power of her message. This song was written on a plane on March 20 and recorded at Big Sky Recordings, Ann Arbor, Michigan on March 22. The tune is borrowed from Bob Dylan.

You can hear this song in youtube and you can download it for free HERE, where is the site the lyrics and other information were obtained.