Go dark to go green.

I think the picture pretty much says it all. Tonight is Earth Hour. From 8:30 to 9:30 we give our planet a break by turning off the lights. And hopefully everything else we own that draws power. It's an opportunity to take a break from all the technology in our lives, light some candles and maybe just enjoy each others' company. Or look at the stars. Sure, turning off your lights for an hour isn't going to end global warming all on it's own. It's a small gesture. But when you put all those small gestures together, they can have a huge impact. There is something very beautiful about the communal; enjoy it. And maybe while your lights are out and your computer is off and you aren't watching TV, you can spend 60 minutes thinking about what you can do for our planet all the other hours of the year. After all, we only have one.

Update: Toronto's power consumption dropped 15% during Earth Hour. Imagine if we did this more than once a year?

39,560 reasons to invest in the arts...

Theatre Passe Muraille, one of the birthing places for many of Toronto's independent theatre companies, announced yesterday that it finished its fiscal year with a $39,560 surplus. This followed a year when the financially strapped TPM had to call the city of Toronto in for help. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's pretty impressive.

Even cooler than that is TPM's membership in the Creative Trust program, which will match their surplus to create a Working Capital Reserve Fund. They will continue to match surpluses for the next two years in order to grow this fund. Basically, this translates into the continued success and health of Theatre Passe Muraille and more opportunities for all of us theatre artists (and audiences) here in Toronto.

This is proof, too, that investing in the arts can pay off and that theatres are sustainable. Isn't it nice to hear good news amidst all the economic doom and gloom?

As a thank you to their Toronto audiences, TPM is offering all tickets to their current production, them & us, for $15. For more details on this, click here. To read the whole press release, click here. And, in case you needed one more, here is the story on Torontoist, too.

It's nice to know that there are people out there who believe the arts are worth supporting. And that not all of them are necessarily artists.

All the best to Theatre Passe Muraille for another great year!

File a brief. Or something legal. For free!

The TAPA Blog just posted about a clinic offering free legal advice and services to artists in Ontario. Artists' Legal Advice Services, or ALAS, is a collection of lawyers and law students who donate their time to help address the legal needs of Ontario's actors, artists, writers, filmmakers, dancers, musicians, et al. They generally deal with "contracts, defamation, copyright, trademarks & royalties or other payments." For more information, click the link above, or click here.

(starbucks) red

Just passing this along. I think it's important to pay it forward. And while maybe it would be better to just donate the $5 you'll spend on the coffee, here is a really easy way of doing good...and every little bit counts. Never underestimate the impact of your small acts on the world.

(Starbucks) RED
Here's the story:

Every time you purchase a (STARBUCKS)RED EXCLUSIVE beverage at participating US and Canadian locations between now and January 2, 2009, Starbucks will give 5¢ to the Global Fund to help save lives in Africa.

AND

In recognition of World Aids Day, December 1, Starbucks will give 5¢ to the Global Fund to help save lives in Africa for every drink you purchase (excluding the bottled, pre-prepared ones).

I've read some comments on the www. that Starbucks could do more and that 5¢ per drink is a pathetic contribution. Perhaps they could do better. But 5¢ is something, and something is better than nothing. So good for you, Starbucks.

And if anyone does feel Starbucks could do more, take your $5 and donate it instead of participating. Do it your way, do more.