Quick, when was the last time you visited Baghdad, traveled to Fulsom Federal Prison or spent the day in Hiroshima with a Bomb survivor? If you happen to be musician Michael Franti, the driving force behind Spearhead, your answer would be: “2004, 2005 and this September.”
Fortunately, for the rest of us who haven’t stepped across the Green Line into Gaza lately, (Yes, he’s been there too), Franti recently released “Yell Fire” a musical travelogue of his observations in the Middle East and “I Know I’m Not Alone,” an independently produced documentary film. What could be better this holiday season then spreading a little Frantian good cheer?
“I have to be a participant in the world,” explains the towering dreadlocked songwriter over a vegan lunch when in Seattle this past October to play a sold out Paramount show. “I can’t just be an observer.”
This explains why, when asked by a friend where he would most want to be in the world right at that moment, Franti chose Baghdad. And also why four months later, armed with his acoustic guitar and handheld camera, he spiraled into the Baghdad airport to see what his Iraqi driver would call “the real shit.” He returned home with 200 hours of film footage that eventually became the 90-minute “I Know I’m Not Alone.”
“What struck me most about the Iraqis,” recalls Franti, whose almond eyes grab you and refuse to let go,... “is how hard they try to be happy. They’ll grab any chance to celebrate. I quickly learned they didn’t want to hear protest songs, only upbeat, positive tunes. It makes sense. What was I doing telling them about the casualty of war?”
Franti also performed in front of US GI’s.
“That gig changed my life more than any other experience.” The deep connections he made with soldiers surprised him.
“Remember,” says Franti, “These kids went over there thinking they were going to fight Osama bin Laden. Now that they’ve learned firsthand that this war was a lie, they’re forbidden to come home.”
Franti’s stories captivate the listener for the same reasons his shows transform a group of strangers into a community of people holding hands, extending peace signs and jumping up and down in unison. The man exudes joy.
Always barefoot—he considers shoes the ultimate example of developing world exploitation—and dwarfing his guitar, Franti gallops around the stage, and beams at his band members and his audience with equal radiance.
LISTEN TO THE WORDS
Michael Franti and Spearhead’s “Yell Fire” joins “Imagine,” “Exodus” and “Fear of a Black Planet” in the pantheon of political albums that inspire listeners to laugh, cry, dance and act.
“Political music is only as good as the amount you want to listen to it,” Franti explains. “It has to be great music first.”
Watching the crowd frolic and groove for well over two hours at his Seattle show, there was no doubt that Franti has nailed the political beat. His song, “Hello, Bonjour,” a typically vibrant mix of reggae, rock and global modern rhythms, would cajole a DMZ sentry to smirk.
“Sure that’s a great dance tune, but listen to the words,” says Franti, as he quietly recites a verse.
“You say you’re a Christian ‘cause God made you, you say you’re a Muslim ‘cause God made you, you say you’re a Hindu and the next man a Jew then we all kill each other ‘cause God told us to, NAH. Hello, hello. Bonjour, bonjour …”
“It’s one of the most political songs on the album,” he remarks ‘loudy,’ (a favorite adjective Franti picked up from the Black Scorpions, a Baghdad heavy metal band he jammed with underground [literally!] in Iraq.) “I like my bass loudy, loudy, louder!” he sings on the “Yell Fire” track, “Everybody Ona Move.”
Still, one has to wonder how Franti, after witnessing such human-inflicted pain, remains so hopeful about peace on earth?
“Look,” he says smiling. “I truly believe in the power people possess to give and receive love. I see evidence everywhere I go.” — Crai S. Bower
Salmon Safe
While noshing on that fresh Chinook salmon you just retrieved from your neighborhood market, consider how that fish arrived on your table. Did it come from a clean, cool river, which is essential for the spawning and reproduction of salmon? Or, was it soiled with runoff from poorly managed farms that exposed it to dangerous chemicals?
In late October, the Washington State Department of Health warned consumers about eating salmon from Puget Sound, due to high levels of mercury and PCB’s.
Stewardship Partners (www.stewardshippartners.org) addressed these wildlife concerns in June 2004 when, as part of their effort to promote incentive-based approaches to conservation, they launched a Salmon-Safe certification and eco-label program for Western Washington. A Seattle based non-profit organization, Stewardship Partners helps private landowners restore and preserve the natural landscapes of Washington so our salmon can thrive. “The health of native salmon is indicative of our environmental quality of life in the Pacific Northwest. Their decline has become a great concern,” says Larry Nussbaum, Program Director of Stewardship Partners. “Salmon-Safe is a truly regional eco-label that allows consumers to support the efforts of local farms in protecting water quality and habitat for fish and wildlife.”
More than 25 Puget Sound producers have earned the Salmon-Safe label, which you can find on dozens of products in area food stores as well as local farmers’ markets and farm stands. Andrew Stout, owner of Full Circle Farm in Carnation says, “the Salmon-Safe label is a great addition to our organic certification because it shows our commitment to restoring local salmon streams, an important issue to our customers and community.” Full Circle Farm is one of the first farms in the state to be certified under the program.
Through extensive and rigorous guidelines, Salmon-Safe farms are required to: Prevent erosion into streams, use natural weed and pest control methods, plant trees near streams to keep them shaded and utilize efficient irrigation practices. So, next time you are in the mood for a dose of Omega-3s, make sure you are practicing safe salmon. — Sierra Smith
Tis the Season, It’s Party Time
No need to be a party pooper, learn tips to minimize calories
It’s that wonderful time when party invitations pour in. What does that mean? Flowing rivers of mulled hard cider, eggnog and champagne. How could that affect the waistline? The popular holiday bulge may appear. Research indicates that on average we gain approximately five pounds over the holidays. Alcohol may be a star culprit. However, knowledge is power. Educating yourself means you can minimize damage while maximizing enjoyment.
A history of drinking
As with all things in life, moderation is essential. Alcohol is not evil. Its use as a celebratory beverage is very traditional. Mead, a fermented honey wine, is believed to be the oldest alcoholic beverage. Cave paintings in South Africa depict drinking mead as part of ancient culture dating back at least 25,000 years. Most native cultures use alcoholic beverages for pleasure and to elevate spirits. Some studies and cultures associate moderate alcohol consumption with health and longevity. Although the alcohol consumed historically is different from most alcohol today, this tradition continues with our current celebrations.
Know the numbers
Alcohol is predominately fermented carbohydrates. However, unlike carbohydrates in food that contain four calories per gram, there are seven calories per gram of alcohol! Alcohol calories are basically empty, providing few nutrients. For example, one serving of eggnog contains 343 calories, 17 percent of the day’s calories for a 2,000 calorie diet. A hot toddy is about 200 calories, and that’s without the whipped cream. Baileys, Kahlua, Amaretto and Schnapps are particularly dangerous averaging 100 calories an ounce. Five, 2-ounce drinks can mean 1,000 calories, more calories than a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and medium French fries.
In addition, alcohol stimulates the appetite, often causing people to eat more than planned. This is why aperitifs are served before a meal. A 2002 Danish study published in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders found that men told they could eat as much as they wanted ate more when meals were served with alcohol. The tendency to save our calories for a party by not eating enough during the day can set us up for being frazzled and cranky by the time we arrive. It can also set us up for overindulgence, subsequent guilt and a hangover. What is a party goer to do?
Non tipsy tips
Start hours before the party begins. The day of the party drink plenty of fluids. Even when you are not thirsty take a few sips. Alcohol can cause dehydration and fatigue.
Keep your blood sugar steady. Eat regularly throughout the day, especially an hour before the party. Saving up calories does not promote success because alcohol does not satisfy hunger. Alcohol alone lowers our blood sugar level signaling our brain that we are hungry, so have an appetizer with the first drink. This helps avoid the 2 a.m. drive-thru.
Choose alcohol calories sensibly. Ask for low calorie mixers. A gin and tonic made with 1/2 cup regular tonic has 93 calories, but when made with diet tonic has only 53 calories. Compare this to a glass of wine at 125 calories. Or spread out your wine into one or two spritzers. Another option: substitute an alcohol soft drink combination for a shot of spirits with a low-calorie mixer, or choose light beer at 95 calories per bottle over regular beer, 151 calories. Alternating alcoholic drinks with low calorie, non-alcoholic drinks or water will help with hydration as well as reduce calories. Refilling your glass only when it is empty can help keep track of how much you are drinking.
Choose high quality alcohol. It may not produce the same hangover fatigue caused by low quality alcohol. Choosing organic or other consciously crafted alcohol can reduce the strain on the liver and help metabolize more efficiently. Therefore, even if the calories are roughly the same, it may contribute less to weight gain.
Be kind to yourself and realistic. Deprivation is not the goal. These few weeks are a snapshot in time. Relax and enjoy the festive spirit of the holidays in a knowledgeable way. — Jennifer Adler M.S., C.N. provides nutrition counseling at her private practice Realize Health, www.realizehealth.com. She drinks good quality alcohol, loves eggnog and has never been seen in a drive thru at 2 a.m.