Willie Nelson

Sheryl Crow, Viggo Mortensen and Ginger Kathrens Speak Out to
Save The American Mustang in Kleinert’s New Film. Filmmaker calls to
protect legendary American wild horses in the West.

Washington, DC (March 10, 2010)—International award-winning filmmaker, James Kleinert, screens his latest star-studded film, Disappointment Valley … A Modern Day Western, featuring Sheryl Crow, Viggo Mortensen and Darryl Hannah, on Wednesday, March 24 in Washington DC. Kleinert’s documentary examines the politics behind the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) controversial policies on public lands while questioning the fate of America’s wild horses and burros.

The screening begins at 6:00pm at Busboys and Poets, 14th and V, Washington, DC. The film will be followed by a Q&A with Kleinert and Emmy-Award Winning filmmaker and wild horse advocate, Ginger Kathrens, who also appears in the film. The screening will be followed by the “March for Mustangs” rally on March 25th in Lafayette Park from 1:00pm- 3:00pm to stop the destruction of America’s wild horse and burro herds. Actress Wendie Malick will join speakers Kathrens, Kleinert and more for a 1:30pm press conference.

“Wild horses are living things who have a right to coexist in what is a vast landscape, which is the American west.”- Viggo Mortensen, Actor/Advocate

Disappointment Valley centers around dramatic footage of heart-wrenching wild horse roundups and interviews with Jim Baca, (former Director of the Bureau of Land Management), Michael Blake, (Writer, Dances With Wolves), Sheryl Crow, Viggo Mortensen, Daryl Hannah, Congressmen Raul M. Grijalva, American Indian Actor and advocate Raoul Trijullo, energy consultant Randy Udall, scientific experts, animal rights and environmental activists. Probing deeply into the issue, the documentary examines the effects of the 2004 legislation that cleared the way for the removal and slaughter of America’s wild horses.

“The BLM is not just trying to destroy wild horse herds, they’re really challenging the system of democracy in the US and this is a very, very dangerous path they’ve gone down” –Ginger Kathrens, filmmaker of the popular PBS Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies programs and Director of The Cloud Foundation.

Disappointment Valley documents the struggle of the legendary mustangs who have long symbolized freedom, individualism and the wild spirit in America. However, greed and corruption take center stage, exposing deceit within the BLM.  The film delves into the current impacts on western public lands by oil, gas, mining and corporate cattle grazing.

“I hope this film will not only educate viewers about the disturbing, massive removals of our wild horses but inspire change to protect these precious animals in the West,” explains Kleinert. A former World Cup competitor in freestyle skiing aerials, and a top action, environmental and Native American filmmaker, Kleinert’s short film Wild Horse Spirit was pivotal in the 2007 Emmy award-winning PBS series Natural Hero’s.

“As remarkable as a distant sight of wild horses can be, it remains the tip of a glorious iceberg. The actual lives of wild horses reveal to humanity the privilege of having a life on the planet earth and how vital it is to respect the privilege.”- Michael Blake, Author Dances with Wolves and Twelve the King.

James Kleinert works closely with the Spirit Riders Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit. The Spirit Riders Foundation produces multimedia state of the art audio-visual programming to educate, enlighten, entertain and to create positive understanding, hope and action among people and cultures. These materials are designed to foster harmony and understanding by empowering the human spirit, mind and body.

Reservations for the screening are recommended but not required, please contact: Elizabeth Slagsvol at BSlagsvol@mac.com or Makendra Silverman, Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org, 719-351-8187
Venue capacity: 80 people

Disappointment Valley Trailer & Information

James Kleinert, filmmaker Moving Cloud Productions

PSA by Moving Cloud Productions on mustangs in danger

Spirit Riders Foundation

American Herds – “What’s Left?”

March for Mustangs- March 25th, DC Rally:

News Story on Calico, rising death toll & skewed numbers from George Knapp (KLAS- Las Vegas)

BLM Daily Reports from Calico Roundup/Fallon Holding

Humane Observer blog

“A Cruel Waste” – explanatory youtube video

Rebuttal to Salazar’s plan in LA Times

The Cloud Foundation position paper on Salazar plan—Oct. 2009

Good Morning America at Calico

New York Times “Horses Die in Roundup”

After campaigning for Obama, Sheryl Crow at odds over his administration’s wild-horse plan (Associated Press)

Mestengo. Mustang. Misfit. America’s Disappearing Wild Horses- A History

Frequently Asked Questions on Wild Horses

Stampede to Oblivion: An Investigate Report from Las Vegas Now

Photos, video and interviews available from:
The Cloud Foundation
news@thecloudfoundation.org
719-633-3842

Media Contacts:
Makendra Silverman
Makendra@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 719-351-8187

Anne Novak
Anne@TheCloudFoundation.org
Tel: 415-531-8454

Patty Ann Smith and Craig Smith collaborated to give us a great video for “Lend A Hand To The Farmers.” I find it a real pleasure to feature artists who make it a point to deliver an honest point of view on real situations.

Just plain wrong information can come from anywhere. Even someone who teaches at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas and is a senior scholar at the Levy Economics Institute may say something silly like:

“To put things crudely, there are two ways to get the increase in total spending that we call “economic growth.” One way is for government to spend. The other is for banks to lend. Leaving aside short-term adjustments like increased net exports or financial innovation, that’s basically all there is. Governments and banks are the two entities with the power to create something from nothing. If total spending power is to grow, one or the other of these two great financial motors–public deficits or private loans–has to be in action.”
- JAMES K. GALBRAITH

It seems to me that this just does not make sense.

There is only one way to get an increase in total spending that is sustainable, that is you must increase net production of “stuff”, such as agricultural “stuff”, food.

• Neither public or private debt can increase wealth.
• Wealth can only be harvested, mined or manufactured.

I cannot believe that governments and banks can create something from nothing. I do not believe in free lunches, in my experience someone always pays.

I do believe we will be hearing and reading more and more things that do not make sense. It will become even more important to take care of the essential elements of our lives.

If we are not paying our farmers, and the evidence is that we are not judging from their massive rate of bankruptcy and foreclosure, then we destroy our oldest proven financial motor.

Patty Ann Smith and Craig Smith know this much and have lent their talents to spreading the message.

Why don’t you help “Lend A Hand To The Farmers,” too?

* * * * Artist’s Statement * * * * *

Craig and I lived in rural upstate New York for several years. It is our home state,  and we have many wonderful memories of our local farmers as friends and neighbors and also from county fairs and 4H events.

We gained the richness of their lives and work. It was a happy time then. However, unfortunately, those times have changed.

A nation that does not have an abundance of small family farmers ~ is an impoverished nation in body, mind, and spirit.

And, that is where we’re at right now.

Today, for every family farmer who is being torn apart by financial devastation, it tears apart the farmer, his family, and eventually the country.

Like a hurricane or tornado, this is each farmer’s devastating private storm.

Here are a few lines from Dougie MacLeans song Solid Ground that warm my heart and say something pretty profound:

Where is the honest fool
The open soul the simple smile
Who’ll be warm and true
for the passing stranger
who may rest a while
My fathers may have said these things
and now I  know
Yes didn’t they know
The joy a shared friendship brings
And now I know
yes didn’t they know
Now we stand on solid ground
we stand on solid ground
on solid ground
It ís the land that is our wisdom
It ís the land that shines us true
It ís the land that feeds our children
It ís the land
you cannot own the land
the land owns you
It ís the land
you cannot own the land
the land owns you

Many family farmers are teachers of the natural world, and we need them more than ever, now.

I find it unacceptable that the family farmers that have been feeding us all along are becoming some of the homeless and hungry among us.

For Willie Nelson and all his Good Works!

Willie, what a pleasure it is to be even a small part of being able to help save the family farmers of this land.

We know that the health of our country is at stake in more ways than one, and that we need to continue to support what ís right and in harmony with the Universal Truths.

Peace to All
Patty and Craig Smith

Cureworks sends us the first video made from Lend A Hand To The Farmers. It seems fitting to me that it directly calls for the decriminalization of Cannabis Hemp Marijuana.

Around the world, for example in Canada, China and Eastern Europe, farmers contribute to the economic well being of their countries by cultivating Cannabis Hemp Marijuana for Raw Materials supporting multiple product groups.

A healthy economy grows from Raw Materials Producers and their ability to pay for the goods and services they require to stay productive.

When Family Farms are first driven into debt then bankruptcy and foreclosure by government policy that only further enriches bankers the entire economy loses it driving force.

Boutique Farms producing Raw Materials for Artisan Consumer Goods may be

the last example of working Family Farms in the United States

and

are insufficient to feed, cloth and shelter everyone

as they once were.

Rising oil prices and deepening economic turmoil will soon make everyone wish Family Farms could do it again.

A single known agricultural crop possesses the versatility and value to once again make Family Farms economic engines in today’s world.

A single known agricultural crop was criminalized exactly because of its versatility and value and the threat it poses to vested interests and obscene profits in Fiber, Timber, Petro-Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals.

Cureworks and I agree with Willie Nelson and Marty Dread, allowing Family Farms to cultivate Cannabis Hemp Marijuana helps us all.

By Willie Nelson and Marty Dread

Lend a hand to the farmers on this land.
Put the power of production back in their hands
Lend a hand to the farmers in this time
The very future of the nation is on the line

Think of all these families
Being forced off their land
The small farmer is a chess piece
Being pushed by corporate hands

Lend a hand to the farmers on this land.
Lend a hand, lend a hand
Put the power of production back in their hands
Lend a hand to the farmers in this time, lend a hand, lend a hand
The very future of the nation is on the line

Can’t you see that
To have a healthy nation
Good food is what we need
But without the cultivators
Whose gonna plant the seeds

Lend a hand to the farmers on this land.
Lend a hand to the farmers on this land
Let’s put the power of production back in their hands
Put the power of production back in their hands.

Can’t you see
A bunch of rusted tractors
Thousands of idle hands
A nation raised on junk food
Millions of acres of wasted land

Lend a hand to the farmers on this land.
Lend a hand, lend a hand
Put the power of production back in their hands

Lend a hand to the farmers in this time
The very future of the nation is on the line

Lend a hand to the farmers
Let’s lend a hand to the farmers
Put the power of production back in their hands

Let’s lend a hand, let’s lend a hand to the farmers

{RAPPED}

At one time we had more than 8 million small family farmers on the land in this country.
Now we’re down to less than 2 million
Losing 300-500 every week.

The backbone of this country is the farmer
We’re losing our farmers
We’re losing the bottom rung on the economic ladder
If we don’t help our farmers we will go hungry

Lend a hand to the farmers and you are lending a hand to yourself.

Lend a hand to the farmers.
Put the power of production back into their hands

Lend a hand to the farmers
The future of the nation is on the line

Lend a hand to the farmers.

* * * * USA Hemp Museum Statement * * * * *

One of the many things the great Willie Nelson is known for is his campaign to restore hemp to the world. This song, LEND A HAND TO THE FARMERS is a powerful plea for salvation from the dynamic artists Willie Nelson and Marty Dread posted on the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute site.

Hemp can help us save our family farm system, key to saving ourselves.

This trillion dollar plus cash crop can finance what needs to be done to restore the foundation of our economy, the farmer. As Richard M. Davis, founder of the USA Hemp Museum, says, know your grower. Otherwise we have the toxic chemicals added for profit, like what’s happening NOW!!!

Ending hemp prohibition so farmers can have a quick cash crop to solve their economic problems can help heal our whole economy with jobs, business and investment opportunities.

Since the federal government owns about 1/3 of the land, much of America can be leased at a reasonable rate to jump start this vital energy in our economic system.

DO IT NOW by Executive Order.

Please support Farm Aid and ending hemp prohibition so that we can save ourselves.

For more ideas visit the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute founded by Willie Nelson, Jay Greathouse and Liz O’Garvey. The work being done there is extraordinarily healing. For more on hemp visit the USA Hemp Museum.

LEND A HAND TO THE FARMERS

This Button

can help secure your food supply and
reestablish the economic foundation of the United States.

Willie Nelson and  Marty Dread offer Lend A Hand To The Farmers for open collaboration to help spread the word of the need to help our primary raw materials producers,

The Farmers.

Make your own video using Lend A Hand To The Farmers as a soundtrack. Upload your video to YouTube or some other online video hosting service then contact us here or use the form below.

- or -

Record your own version of Lend A Hand To The Farmers and contact us here or use the form below. We will tell you where to send a mp3 file when you contact us here or use the form below.

- then -

If you prepare a statement to the same standards as our Press Release Submission Guidelines then we will publish it. We will tell you where to send it when you contact us here or use the form below.

Your video or recorded version of Lend A Hand To The Farmers will then be featured on its own unique web page along with your statement and an introduction by a staff writer. A link to that page will be added to this page linked to this button:

You may already be familiar with the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute “A Peaceful Solution” project. This project will be handled in much the same way.

The Story of Lend A Hand To The Farmers was the topic of an earlier post.

Now You can become the topic of a related post
on this blog.

Make a video or record your version of Lend A Hand To The Farmers and become part of the movement to secure your food supply and reestablish the economic foundation of the United States.

Here are the participating artists:

• Cureworks (+ transcription of lyrics)
• Patty Ann Smith
  

The License

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This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon Lend A Hand To The Farmers even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit  Marty Dread and Willie Nelson and license their new creations under the identical terms. This license is often compared to open source software licenses. All new works based on yours will carry the same license, so any derivatives will also allow commercial use.

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License Conditions

Attribution
by
Marty Dread and Willie Nelson let others copy, distribute, display, and perform this copyrighted work Lend A Hand To The Farmers — and derivative works based upon it — but only if they give credit to Marty Dread and Willie Nelson.

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Marty Dread and Willie Nelson allows others to distribute derivative works of Lend A Hand To The Farmers only under a license identical to the license that governs Lend A Hand To The Farmers.

a special thank you to Monique Claus for creating the button

Bells of Natures Church- vocals and music by Patty Ann Smith, lyrics by Chris Highland from the poem Bells of Natures Church, photography by Chris Highland with additional photos and Guitar by Craig Smith.

As an example of the destructiveness of war upon nature, consider the use of Depleted Uranium (DU) munitions. Normal functioning of the kidney, brain, liver, heart, and numerous other systems can be affected by uranium exposure, because in addition to being weakly radioactive, uranium is a toxic metal.

It is weakly radioactive and remains so because of its long half-life (4.468 billion years for uranium-238). The aerosol produced during impact and combustion of depleted uranium munitions can potentially contaminate wide areas around the impact sites or can be inhaled by civilians and military personnel.

During a three week period of conflict in 2003 in Iraq, 1,000 to 2,000 tonnes of DU munitions were used, mostly in cities.

Multiple studies using cultured cells and laboratory rodents suggest the possibility of leukemogenic, genetic, reproductive, and neurological effects from chronic exposure. A 2005 epidemiology review concluded:

“In aggregate the human epidemiological evidence is consistent with increased risk of birth defects in offspring of persons exposed to DU.”

Y.K.J. Yeung Sik Yuen in accordance with Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights resolution 2001/36 argues that the use of DU in weapons, along with the other weapons listed by the Sub-Commission, may breach one or more of the following treaties:

• the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
• the Charter of the United Nations,
• the Genocide Convention,
• the United Nations Convention Against Torture,
• the Geneva Conventions including Protocol I,
• the Convention on Conventional Weapons of 1980,
• and the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The unnatural acts of our governments must stop. Only the united power of people standing together can stop them.

Chris Highland is an author, nature photographer, teacher and interfaith chaplain. Patty Ann Smith is a singer-songwriter, environmentalist, animal behaviorist-”cat whisperer”, and an advocate for human and animal rights.

* * * * Artists’ Statement * * * * *

From Patty Ann Smith: Peace and Nature are dear to my heart. We need to understand the laws of nature, its cycles, and rhythms and how important movement and change is in our lives.

When we don’t understand these basic things, man is out of sync with the natural world that supports us.

Drawing from ancient cultures around the world, we can all learn how to connect more with nature and the parts of ourselves that we have been separated from.

These lost or forgotten connections are important to both our physical and spiritual well-being.

The animals and nature are key to teaching us this.

From Chris Highland:

John Muir once said, “… that near a waterfall all the air is music.”

Living near flowing waters my entire life in the Northwest and Northern California, I’ve found the grounding of peace in the simple sanctuaries of Nature. I had to leave the church to find the congregation, wander away from the choir to hear the chorus, walk away from the preachers to listen to the real teachers, of a greater, wilder gospel, a breathing scripture–earthy, free, open, inclusive, liberating.

“The Bells of Nature’s Church” was written after a walk into a deep, verdant forest in the mountain cathedrals. There was a ringing in the wind and an electricity in the river. Beyond the artificial ring-tones and incessant chatter a natural bell was sounding, a call from different, more primal cells.

These call us to remember our interconnection, a relation that offers what no religion or politics can–but the owl, the hawk, the wolf, the coyote, the salmon, the beetle know, because they always hear the music, and live in it.

Peace is local, practical, individual, communal. And peace is global, universal, limitless.

My writing, teaching, social work, poetry and songwriting brings me back each step of the way to the moment, to ask the hard and honest questions: What is really going on? Who is suffering here? What can I do? How can we act together, beyond differences?

Listening to prisoners and homeless folks, spending time among women and men with physical and mental challenges, with others who feel left out, cast out, castaway to the edges of our communities and our minds, has taught me to be awake for the bells, the call to attention and active response. Whether as a chaplain, a teacher, a social worker or a writer, a friend, father or husband, the bell calls me back to my own humanity, and my part in the great waterfall of Nature.

The collaboration with Patty Ann, including her ringing voice on “Amazing Beauty,” continues to remind me of what someone once said of the word P.E.A.C.E.: People Embracing All Creatures of the Earth.

Working for justice, compassionate healing, educational cooperation or artistic celebration, we are each and all nearer the waterfall than we realize.

Thanks to Patty, Craig, Willie Nelson and everyone at Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute!