Photo credit: Marie Nirme
Hello All GM-free people everywhere
Stand up to Monsanto!
A benefit concert for organic farmer Steve Marsh
7pm – midnight, Saturday 16th April
Fly By Night, Fremantle, Western Australia
An exciting event is coming up in Freemantle, Western Australia. It’s an April 16, 2011 Benefit Concert. International and Western Australian performers are rallying to support organic farmer Steve Marsh, who has lost his organic certification due to contamination with genetically modified (GM) canola. The performers will play a fundraising concert to support Steve’s cause at The Fly By Night in Fremantle. Performers at the concert include Emily Barker (UK), Dilip and the Davs (Fremantle), Jacob from Dream State Circus (Fremantle), The Majik Trolz (Nannup), Lydian’sTilt (Bridgetown), Dom Coyote (UK) and Tribalive (South Fremantle). See more details on each below.
Please put this in your ‘must do’ diary and invite all your contacts to participate too. Even if you can’t make it, please circulate this A5 Outline (1mb PDF) — it’s great for printing and please post it online anywhere you can too please.
An A3 colour poster is also available for the Steve Marsh benefit. To receive posters to use in your area, please email louise.j.sales (at) gmail.com stating how many you want.
- Emily Barker (UK)
Winner of the Country song of the year and Regional song of the year at the West Australian Music Songwriting Awards (2005) - Dilip and the Davs
Funky Freo dance sounds, with pumping rhythms, well crafted lyrics and memorable melodies. - Dom Coyote (UK)
Dark folk combined with pulsing rhythms, spoken word and haunting melodies - Jacob from Dream State Circus
Hand balancing, juggling, knives, whips. This show is a brilliant balance between comedy and danger — literally!!! - The Majik Trolls
Hillbilly rock from Nannup - Lydian’sTilt
Crossing the borders of genres such as blues, folk, hip-hop, reggae and rock. - Tribalive
Exotic belly dancers from South Freo
Delicious organic food will be available on the night. All proceeds will go towards supporting Steve.
Cost: Tickets $28.50 in advance from flybynight.org or $30 on the door.
For more info visit: www.stevemarshbenefitfund.com.au
Who is Steve Marsh?
Steve Marsh is an organic farmer from Kojonup who lost his organic certification on 70 per cent of his land, when genetically modified (GM) canola blew in over the fence from his neighbour’s paddock. Under the current law the only way that Steve can recoup his losses is to sue his GM growing neighbour, who is being supported by GM giant Monsanto. Already Steve’s legal fees amount to tens of thousands of dollars and he accepts he could lose his family farm in this legal battle.
What’s wrong with GM crops?
GM canola was introduced in Western Australia last year despite serious concerns remaining about its environmental and human health impacts. When GM canola was fed to rats it resulted in increased liver sizes of up to 15 per cent – yet our regulators tell us it is safe to eat! The introduction of GM canola will also increase herbicide use and threaten the ability of conventional and organic farmers to grow non-GM crops.
Please join with us in standing up against the gene giant Monsanto and helping ensure justice for small family farmers!
A fantastic array of International and Western Australian performers are rallying to support Steve by playing at the gig, and big names such as Michael Franti, the Cat Empire and Dave Mann have donated merchandise for us to auction on the night.
We want clean air, water, and food. That’s why we are supporting
organic farmers in this way. — Front man/trumpeter Harry Angus from the Cat Empire
