Activators

Vieux Farka Touré

Vieux Farka Touré – The son of Malian music legend Ali Farka Touré, Vieux’s self titled debut album came out in 2007 on World Village, produced by Modiba’s Eric Herman. In an example of how artists can redefine the way music reaches a global audience as well and reinvent music as an agent for social change by […]

Warren Haynes, musician, change-maker

Warren Haynes is the lead singer and guitarist for Gov’t Mule, and widely known as one of the most revered guitarists alive today, having played with Dickey Betts, the Allman Brothers Band, The Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, and countless others. His new solo album “Man In Motion” (2011) includes an anthem for troubled […]

Vusi Mahlasela

Click on the image for the interview with Vusi Mahlasela. “The Voice” of the South African anti-apartheid movement talks about music and social change his inspiration to join the freedom movement, and the need for artists singing for unity today. Visit his website here: http://vusimahlasela.com/ where you can see more videos, check tour dates, and find our […]

Amadou and Mariam

Click on the image to view the interview! The globo-pop duo whose songs have sold millions sat down with Stephan to discuss the roots of social change in Malian music, the new border-breaking music and activist revolution they consider themselves to be a part of, and the need for artists everywhere to raise their voices […]

Global Youth Anti-Corruption Network

This Global Youth Anti-Corruption Network aims to connect such youth groups from around the world to exchange experiences, learn from each other, and assess what works well and what doesn’t in their anti-corruption projects. The network aims to create a safe haven for innovative governance reform approaches involving youth.

Hip Hop Caucus

The Hip Hop Caucus Education Fund (HHCEF) is a national, non-profit organization, which utilizes the power of hip-hop and the hip hop generation to organize young people in urban communities to be active in elections, policymaking, and service projects. The Hip Hop Caucus movement has grown from the first Hip Hop Caucus in September 2004 with 900 attendees to currently being represented by nearly 700,000 young people around the country.

Earth Celebrations

Earth Celebrations creative programs address and effect change on issues such as: climate change, river species and habitat restoration, and the preservation of community gardens, parks, and a healthy urban environment in New York City, while highlighting ecological sustainability. Earth Celebrations environmental and arts programs include: theatrical pageants, exhibitions, performances, art & ecology/puppet & costume workshops, internships, artist residencies, and partnerships with schools, community centers, parks, and gardens.

UNDP Human Development Report

The Human Development Report is an independent publication commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). From the beginning, the Report has been a pioneer of methodological innovation and development thinking. Often provocative, the Report was launched in 1990 with the goal of putting people at the center of development, going beyond income to assess […]

Freedom Music Day

“Music is a human right, guaranteed by the provision for freedom of expression in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet in many countries–from Iran to China and Cameroon to Malaysia–the freedom to make music is curtailed by political and cultural forces. Join Austin Dacey, founder of The Impossible Music Sessions, to learn how musicians are joining together across cultures to fight censorship and repression with ingenuity and technology.

Freemuse – Freedom of Musical Expression

FREEMUSE – THE WORLD FORUM ON MUSIC AND CENSORSHIP is an independent international organisation which advocates freedom of expression for musicians and composers worldwide. FREEMUSE was born of the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship held in Copenhagen in November 1998. FREEMUSE objectives are to: Document violations and discuss their effects on music life; […]

Free Egypt

“Free Egypt” featuring: Muse – “Resistance,” Egyptian Lover – “Egypt, Egypt,” Rozalla – “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good)” Stephan Said – “Aheb Eisht Al Hurriyeh (I Love The Life Of Freedom)” for anywhere where someone stands up for freedom….

Strive Till I Rise

STRIVE works to empower and educate the youth about voting practices, responsible consumerism, safe sex, how to positively exercise their individual influence and how economic trends can affect their college and career opportunities.We serve as a multi-media platform that exists to expose and empower the youth.

Truth x Vision

Truth x Vision is a hip-hop non-profit organization that creates socially conscious media to generate awareness and funding for its economic development initiatives overseas.

Stephan Said- Song of Healing

Gabrielle Giffords, Salman Taseer, Sarah Palin, Jason Loughner, victims of Haiti’s shantytownquake, Katrina’s 9th Ward, Detroit’s neighborlesshoods, Pakistan’s forgotten floodplane villages, THIS SONG’S FOR YOU!
Heal. Share. Change Our World!

Mideast Tunes

Mideast Tunes is dedicated to providing a platform for emerging musicians in the Middle East. Their aim is to encourage, inspire and expose talented young artists across the region.

Music for Relief

Music for Relief is artists, music industry professionals, and fans working together to create positive change. Their mission is to support disaster relief and reduce global warming.

Music Unites

Music Unites is dedicated to bringing music education to underprivileged children in underfunded inner city school systems. Their goal is to connect people through the universality of music by providing communities with opportunities for a rich musical experience.

World Up

World Up is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about international politics, and issues that affect the global community through Hip-Hop and socially progressive culture. http://www.worldup.org/blog/?p=1909

Luminaries

Luminaries are a 7 piece conscious hip hop band from Venice, CA that are here to shine the light, and serve the world through their music. They bring an amazing live show filled with messages of peace, love, and unity that inspire audiences to dance and feel empowered!

Before the Music Dies

This documentary explores the reason why so few companies currently control the music played on the radio and for sale at retail stores, and whether corporations really have the power to silence musical innovation.

Sudan 365

Sudan 365 is a global campaign calling for a peaceful future for Sudan. In this video, musicians around the world unite for a global beat for Peace in Sudan.

Buddies Without Borders

Pakistan flood awareness music videos

Justice Through Music

Justice Through Music Project (“JTM”) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that uses famous musicians and bands to organize, educate and activate young people about the importance of civil rights, human rights and voting.

Air Traffic Control “Dear New Orleans”

“Dear New Orleans” A benefit album dedicated to the city of music, five years after the leeves broke.

Emmanuel Jal

In the war-torn region of Southern Sudan, Emmanuel Jal was born into the life of a child solider. Through unbelievable struggles, Emmanuel managed to survive and emerge as a world-famous recording artist with a hit record under his belt. Called an artist “with the potential of a young Bob Marley” by Peter Gabriel, he has performed at Live 8 and Nelson Mandela’s 90th b-day concert. His music can be heard in major motion pictures, TV, and he’s been featured in major outlets like TIME, USA Today, NPR, CNN, MTV, & the BBC. Emmanual is also a spokesperson for Amnesty International and Oxfam, and created the charitable foundation, Gua Africa.

World Peace Prayer Society

The World Peace Prayer Society encourages people of all faiths and nationalities to come together in the universal prayer, “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” Around the world on World Peace Day people will be be planting Peace Poles, rededicating their Peace Poles, conducting World Peace Prayer Ceremonies, participating in Community Service projects, and observing the International Day of Peace in service and Prayer for Peace

Oxfam America

Think hunger is too big to tackle? Think again. This fall, YOU can join the movement by taking action with Oxfam in the fight against hunger and poverty. Host or attend an event by November 18—the Thursday before Thanksgiving—and become part of a community of people who are making a difference.

Women of Hope

Composer, singer and producer MORLEY from New York City breathes sensuality into activism with her worldly lyrical stance. Her warm and soulful voice is often compared to India Arie, Annie Lennox, Roberta Flack and Joni Mitchell. Her music shares their political and social relevance with a vocal sound that is all her own.

WE

WE is a Consciousness, a Campaign, and a Collaboration of people, organizations and social change movements from around the world. WE promotes making a shift from “I” to “WE” in our individual actions and attitudes and in our societal priorities and policies.

Something to Believe – Blitz the Ambassador

“Something to Believe”, is a short film, and the final music video from Blitz the Ambassasdor’s 2009 release, Stereotype. Directed by Terence Nance, the film addresses the detachment we all battle when faced with the overwhelming issues of this world. See more at: http://www.myspace.com/blitztheambassador

“8 goals for Africa”

United Nations, New York, 14 May 2010 – Eight of Africa’s best known musical talents are lending their voices in support of a UN campaign in South Africa to encourage commitment to the achievement of the eight MDGs. One for each MDG, the artists came from across the continent to record 8 goals for Africa last April in Cape Town. The song and music video are part of the awareness campaign developed by the UN System in South Africa, including the UN Information Centre in Pretoria, to advocate for the attainment of the MDGs and to remind leaders to remain focused on them.

“Little Boxes” Pete Seeger

Little boxes on the hillside
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes, little boxes
Little boxes all the same

stop the clash of civilizations – DJ Spooky

This video, made with agit-pop.com with music by DJ Spooky, helped launch Avaaz.org campaign against the so-called Clash of Civilizations–starting with a call for real Middle East peace talks now.

“the bell”

This is the Official video for The Bell, by Stephan Said, aka Stephan Smith, directed by Kurt St. Thomas. The song features folk legend Pete Seeger and Dean Ween of Ween on lead guitar. The video includes footage of Stephan singing the song before approximately 200,000 people at the first major antiwar demonstration, at the Washington Monument, in Washington, DC, on April 2002, as well as rare Super 8 footage of the Sept. 11 World Trade Center Bombing, and antiwar protests worldwide. The Bell mp3 and video were released on Sept. 11, 2002, and broke into the mainstream press as the “first major song opposing the Iraq War” (NY Times) and called “the antiwar anthem for our generation.” The song and video broke ground as the first major online music video for social change, going viral worldwide through student groups and international peace and human rights organizations, just before You Tube started.

difrent promo video

difrent: promo video discussing launching difrent, a global broadcast platform and movement for music for social change, featuring musician and international organizer Stephan Said, Stephan’s band, civil rights activist and musician Pete Seeger, President of Gold Village Entertainment Danny Goldberg, Grammy wining producer Hal Willner, and President of Globalvision Danny Schechter.

the ballad of abner louima

This video of Stephan’s first protest hit, the original recording of which featured Patti Smith and Oliver Ray accompanying him, was directed by Produced by Danny Schechter and Globalvision in conjunction with The Center For Constitutional Rights as a public awareness initiative. It features a rare shot of Stephan peering out from the back of a paddy wagon following his arrest for non-violent civil disobedience, footage of Louima in the hospital and other police brutality incidents, Stephan singing at the Club Rendezvous in Flatbush NY where the incident took place, and before the largest Haitian congregation in New York City.

All Together Now

Video directed by Robert Christensen. Migrant farm working and hobo-era young Stephan Said, aka Smith, is recorded live at his then temporary lodgings at the 7th St. squat on the Lower East Side of NYC in 1997, shortly before his first protest “hit,” “The Ballad of Abner Louima” with Patti Smith made the airwaves. Stephan’s using his invention, “the slaide” (pronounced ‘sly-eed’) which is a picking-hand slide that generates the wave modulation heard on the guitar, acoustically.