Benefit tonight for Malik Rahim!

Hey kids!

            I am singing tonight August 28, 2010 for a benefit to send some $$ down to Malik Rahim. He is a community activist in New Orleans and a former Black Panther. Currently Malik Rahim is Director of the Meg Perry Center for Environmental Peace and Justice, and he set out on his trusty bicycle for a 1,600 mile sojourn to Washington D.C., stopping at state capitals, universities and community centers along the way to espouse the dramatic, immediate need for the restoration of Louisiana’s fragile wetlands.

           

            Joining me tonight are some beautiful ladies from the Pittsburgh art and music scene. We have Christiane D, a world renowned poet and producer, Olivia Kissel, of Zafira Dance Company who is celebrated the world over for her incredible movement and choreography. And Crystal of the Typewriter Girls shall also read poetry and provide some socially conscious light hearted comedy sketches showcasing her favorite Monkey Monksmith McGee.

The Bloomfield Bridge Tavern

4412 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224

 Saturday August 28, 2010             

Showtime begins at 8 pm

Cost: $10 though no one turned away for lack of funds. 100% of the door shall be sent to Malik Rahim through the non profit agency Common Ground Relief Fund.

Ages: 21 and over

 It should be noted that Malik had to cease his ride during the heat wave last week but plans to return biking where he left off in Mobile, AL. Malik is 62 years old and we would like him to see 63. We still support his endeavor and cause in any way we can, and in Pittsburgh, that means art and music, though a donation of a decent road worth bicycle for Malik would be appreciated. Vince Eirene has offered to drive it down to him personally if such a donation were forthcoming.

For more info check his site: http://www.bikeforthegulf.org and see information from his official release below.

            Mr. Rahim’s goal is to build awareness for the dire need for wetlands restoration with the hope that his efforts will culminate in an Environmental Summit in late 2010 or early 2011. The estimated cost of the restoration of Louisiana’s wetlands in $6 billion.          

             “This must happen NOW!,” said Rahim, 62. Mr. Rahim, a long-time housing and environmental activist, who gained attention as a community organizer in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. “Now more than ever, our wetlands need to be rebuilt. People need to know that Louisiana’s already unbelievable rate of wetlands loss of a football–sized piece of land every 37 minutes has increased exponentially by the spewing BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. We need help!

            “The horror of Katrina was made possible by number of forces,” Mr. Rahim said, “including the devastation of Louisiana’s wetlands by oil companies. Now this problem has been exacerbated exponentially by the hemorrhaging oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico,” he said.

            A novice cyclist but veteran activist, Mr. Rahim hopes to average 35 miles per day. He will began his journey in Houma, Louisiana at the BP Preservation Headquarters and proceed to the offices of Common Ground Relief, 1800 Deslonde Street, in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward.  On Wednesday, July 14, a press conference and rally will be held at Common Ground Relief offices at 3 p.m., at which time the group will bid Mr. Rahim well and see him off on his journey. He will head east along the Gulf Coast visiting those coastal cities hardest hit by the BP Oil Spill, including Biloxi, Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama, and on to Tallahassee, Florida.  His trip will take him past the Sewanee River Basin the Okefenokee Swamp up past the National Seashores through Savannah, Charleston, the Cape Hatteras Seashore up past the Chesapeake Bay to Richmond and then to Washington DC.  Mr. Rahim’s ride will take him past some of the most pristine and endangered wetlands areas in the country.

           

            He will maintain a daily blog at bikeforthegulf.org and will update his Facebook group “Bike for the Gulf”) and Twitter (twitter.com/bikeforthegulf ) entries daily.

Mr. Rahim intends to arrive in Washington DC on 9/22.  He plans to meet with the Progressive Caucus, and the Bike4Peace ride led by former Georgia Congressmember Cynthia McKinney. He invites all interested parties to join him on his ride, particularly those with the Green Party and other environmental  affiliations. Visit BikefortheGulf.org for more information and updates.

            I would *LOVE* to see you tonight, but if you can't make it, please visit the website and donate a couple bucks. If you have a good road bike you'd like to donate, or if you would like to ride with him yourself, again visit the website and make yourself known. Or ask me about how to get him a bike, Vicnent has agreed to drive it to him if we can locate a good one.

            One love my friends,

            Phat Man Dee

PS I almost forgot! I put new video online of me singing with world class pianist Kenny Peagler in New York City at the Gershwin Hotel from earlier this year, let me know what you think, share it around!