And Still Counting or How To Make a Video

We're still working on letter-writing this week, especially since Harper figures he'll just give the Copenhagen meeting a pass. Specifically he said he'll only go if everyone else goes, because that's what the cool kids do. Sorry for being catty, but I'm getting frustrated with what appears to be a total lack of concern. And to be fair, he's sending Prentice. But missing it sends a big message to Canadians - that this isn't one of the most important issue of the day for the Conservatives. Not by a long shot....


Last weekend there was a cute op-ed in the TO Star about Jim Prentice, and his spin on the Pembina Institute's report on climate change. The gist of the report is that typically we have a GDP of 2.4%. If we implement the current Canadian emission targets it will create a GDP of 2.2%. With the targets environmentalists are hoping for, it will reduce the GDP to 2.1%. So, really, Canada can be green and prosperous. The jobs being held in the oil industry will transfer to green energy industries. There will certainly be an adjustment period, but nothing we can't cope with for the future of our species.

Students have been working on a video - an adaptation of Will.i.am's "Yes We Can". Below is how we worked the words and vocals along with the arrangement that I painstakingly weeded out by ear. It looks better in the original table, but you can figure it out. Watch the video to see how tricky it is to hear the individual singers!

We came up with the idea for a video letter last Thursday at an EcoSchool brainstorming session. I wrote the words on Friday, which were later altered slightly by a student collaborator. We put a call out for volunteers to be filmed on Mon-Wed. Then we filmed Thurs and Friday. We edited last night, and I went in again for too many hours today. It's a huge project, but very do-able - particularly if you recognize that students are not professionals, and the video will be much looser than the original, AND the multi-layering of the video hides lots of mistakes. I just learned how to edit yesterday, and I'm already addicted. I didn't get permission to use the tune, but apparently it's okay as long as I don't try to make money off of it. You have my permission to steal the words, but a shout-out and link to the blog would be sweet.

It's not a contest, it's a protest!

So use the stuff below to make your own video if you like. Let's see how many videos we can get going! But make sure to get them to Ottawa by December 7th!

Beginning visual – teachers on guitar and a few singers waiting
This is a letter, to the Honourable, Stephen Harper, Prime Minister
G A G BB A G BBBB EE GE E GEE
of Canada
E GEE
Spoken – ind
Before it’s too late
GG G G G
Spoken – ind

This is a cry for a brand new era,
G A G G B B A G BB
That will define the destiny of our nation.
E E EG E GEE G E GE
Spoken – ind
before it’s too late; before it’s too late
GG G A G BB B A G
Spoken – small group 1 (two groups)

Kyoto required we reduce emissions, by 5 point 2 per cent, but we
DDD DE D DD EBB A A A A G G A A
Didn’t commit to it, because it might hurt our economy.
BG GA B G G DG D G G G ABGG
(tricky to fit)
Sung / group 2
before it’s too la-a-ate (“before-it’s” go together fast)
D D D B BAG
Sung –ind

So our emissions increased over 30 per cent
G G GGG AB BA BA G G
Group 2
Kyoto was called job-killing.
(no singing) Group 3
Kyoto was called economy destroying.
(no singing – unless you want to try it!)
Group 4
Our leader said CO2 is essential for life
B #FF E EEE E DDD B B
as if GHGs are good for us.
B B EEE D D B B
Sung / group 5
Before it’s too late, you need an education. – (say fast)
DD D C B B D D CCBB
Sung / group 6

before it’s too late
DBB Sung – ind
before it’s too late
#FEDBB Sung –ind
before it’s too late
#FEDBB Sung-ind
before it’s too late
DDD Sung –ind
before it’s too late
GBBB Sung-ind
before it’s too late
DDD Sung-ind
oh – before it’s too late
GBBB Sung ind
before it’s too late
DDD Sung ind

We need to reduce GHGs 40%
D D D highGG GAB GABB
Sung / Group 7
We need a national plan to reach this target.
D D D GGA B B B B CBCG
Sung / Group 8
We need you to care most about our ear-rth
D D HIGHG G A B G A B-A
Group 9
About our ear-r-rth
ALL HIGH – G A BAG
Sung
So we can repair this world
D D HIGHG AB A G
Group 10
Repair this wor-r-rld
ALL HIGH – AB D BAG
Sung
before it’s too la-ate
HIGHDD A B AG Group 11
Avant qu’il soit trop tard
BB A A G G Group 12 – French imm
before it’s too late
DD D B AB Sung
avant quíl soit trop tard
D D HIGHG B B
Sung
before it’s too late
#FF E B BAG Sung
avant quíl soit trop tard
HIGHDD A B A G
Sung
before it’s too late
BB A A G Sung
avant quíl soit trop tard
DD D B A B Sung
before it’s too late
DD D B AB Sung

We know the battle ahead will be long
(no singing) Group 13
But we have to remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way
(no singing) Group 14 – sign language
Nothing can stand in our way,
(minor singing?)
if we commit to a change, a change to save humanity.
#F G GE E G E E G E #F GEEE Group 15

We want change – Sung – class changtting.- group 27
We want change- Sung
We want change – Sung
We want change Sung

You want us to believe, it’s not true, but if we take that chance,
(no singing?)
we might not survive to find out.
B D C BB A B BAG Group 16 – only 2nd half is sung
Crops will die , and millions will starve.
(no singing) Group 17
Places like the Maldives Islands will be swept into the sea
(no singing or guitar – just keeping beat) Group 18
The economy won’t matter, money won’t help us,
G GGGG G HIGHED DB B A G
Once climate change, crosses the danger threshold.
G DD D BB B GG A-LOWE Sung / group 19

Save our earth Sung
Save our earth Sung
Save our earth Sung
Save our earth
Sung

The hopes of the little girl in India who drinks from a sewer are the
same as the dreams of the boy who
(no singing?)
has polluted water in Nunavut.
A ABA GG G GGG
group 20
But we can see that there is a change happening in this world.
(no singing) group 21
That we can’t be divided by profits and politics.
(no singing) Group 22
But Canada CAN be both gre-en AND prosperous.
D DDD E D G GE G AGG
Sung/group 23

So together we must remember that we’re more than KCI students,
that we’re more, than just, Canadians.
(no singing)
Group 24

We’re all citizens of one ear-rth.
B B HIGHGG #F F EB
Sung / group 25

Before it’s. too. Late.

Group 26
before it’s
too
late
before it’s Random improvised singing and humming throughout these 8 bars
too
late
before it’s
too
late
before it’s
too
late
before it’s
too
late
before it’s
too
late
before it’s
too
late
before it’s
too
late
All individually spoken with it sung in the background.
before it’s too late
Spoken by teachers’little kids
before it’s too late
Teachers join their kids

If you're still reading, I have to admit, I wish I knew how to edit before I started filming. I would have filmed more complete sequences because it's hard to piece them together. And I would have done many many more takes to get them closer to perfect. But all in all, it's going quite swimmingly! We'll be done for sure by next Wednesday, which is our After Hours arts night, and the world premiere of our video (so it has to be done). Then I'll have students hand deliver it to Peter Braid's constituency office.