Music to change the world: -- Swedish green activist sings about "Changing the Climate"

Music to change the world: -- Swedish green activist sings about "Changing the Climate"

by Dan Bloom

KALMAR,SWEDEN(RUSHPRNEWS)10/06/2008 -- Climate change activists are active all over the world now, since this is a global issue. From Canada to Sweden, from India to Germany, green activists are using art, music and performance art to raise public awareness about what the Earth is facing in terms of global warming.

Meet Thomas Eidrup, in his mid-30s now, who has been deeply involved for over 10 years in environmental work for the Swedish city of Kalmar as an environmental co-ordinator.

"We are building and maintaining Kalmar's streets, pedestrian areas market places, parks, beaches and other public places and we strive to do it in a more sustainable manner, and so far we are making good progress," Thomas said in a recent email.

Thomas also has a side job. "I run a business called Inspiranova where I offer both environmental co-ordination, environmental education as well as concerts, performing my own songs combined with environmental talks in between. I always put the stress on the possibilities and the hope but at the same time daring to speak and sing about the difficulties. I believe in showing booth sides of the story, letting people make a lot of the thinking themselves."

"I like being one of many, many voices in this big and at the same time also small world, spreading the words of sustainability. Many small drops form an ocean. An ocean of positive changes," Thomas says.

When Thomas wrote the song "Changing the Climate" and put it on the Internet, he hoped it would serve as inspiration to people from grassroot levels all the way up to the top leaders in nations around the world. "Everyone has a role to play in dealing with the situation of climate change," Thomas said. "I hope my song can also play a small role."

You can listen to, read the lyrics, and download the song for free in the mp3-format at this site:

www.myspace.com/thomaseidrup

How did the song come to him?

He says: "Although working with environmental issues and dealing with the climate crisis with my work in Kalmar, one day I got an inspiration from seeing Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth". The movie touched me, and I think Al Gore really knows how to put the situation into words! That inspired to write the song "Changing the climate". I wanted to be honest about how I feel about the level of the threat, but at the same time I wanted to share a feeling of hope, and that everyone has a role to play."
This lyric is important in the song: "Life on Earth depends on me and you and all of us!"

Thomas says he has received lots of positive feedback about his song and knows that the song has been a source of inspiration to other people in Sweden and overseas. "Still, of course, I hope the song will reach out to a much wider audience around the world someday," he says.
One of the positive comments Thomas got about his climate song went like this: "What a nice song. Feels like sitting in the garden drinking a cup of chocolate!"

Thomas also says that family life grounds him and balances him.

"I live in Kalmar with my wife and two children, ages 5 and 8. It´s great to spend time with the family as well as going outdoors all by myself with my sea kayak on the ever changing surface of the beautiful Baltic Sea," Thomas says.
Thomas Eidrup's voice is one among many in the world today, asking important questions about the fate of the Earth, and in his case, putting this ideas and thoughts -- and inspirations -- to music. Give his songs a listen on his Myspace site and think about it.

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About the author: Dan Bloom is a Rush PR News political and environmental news columnist/reporter and a freelance writer from Boston, who has been based in Asia since 1991. He graduated from Tufts University in 1971 and has worked in media, public relations and education in several countries. He is currently doing research on climate change and global warming as the founder of the Polar Cities Research Institute.

Write him at  danbloom@RushPRnews.com