CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Willie Nelson for Nobel Peace Prize: #Willie4Nobel
Willie Nelson's efforts for Farm Aid, his work on alternative fuels, and world peace initiatives deserve a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize. (Full details of Nelson's career and commitment to humanitarian efforts are here.)
Willie Nelson has been helping family farmers for over 25 years and has raised awareness of healthy foods while raising funds for the cause.
Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. Dave Matthews joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2001. Farm Aid has raised more than $37 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture. Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep family farmers on their land.
John Mellencamp is campaigning to get Willie Nelson a Nobel Peace Prize. The interview took place on SIRIUS XM Willie's Place at Farm Aid 25 in Milwaukee, Wisc.
UPDATE:
Willie Nelson's work on sustainable agriculture, alternative fuels, and world peace initiatives deserve a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Willie Nelson has been helping family farmers for over 25 years and has raised awareness of healthy foods while raising funds for the cause.
A Tribute To The Nobel Peace Prize
"NOT TO KNOW" by Matthew Moore
(Willie Nelson @ ~2:00)
Here's the semi un-official YouTube video for the campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize for Willie Nelson. The campaign is based on Willie's work on sustainable agriculture, alternative fuels, and world peace initiatives.
The video was made by Matthew Moore and features previous Nobel winners and poses the question "Not To Know".
Also, Willie Nelson is the founder of the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute. (http://willienelsonpri.com)
The Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute believes in the Promise of Peace on Earth in Our Lifetime as the Birthright of Our Global Human Family. (more below)
Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. Farm Aid has raised more than $37 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture.
Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep family farmers on their land. Farm Aid accomplishes this mission by:
Promoting Food from Family Farms
We know that to keep family farmers on the land we have to increase the number of people buying their good food. From our annual concert event that features family farm food and unites farmers, artists, and concerned citizens, to our inspiring and informative tv, radio, mail and web campaigns (including our HOMEGROWN.org website), we are building a powerful movement for good food from family farms.
Taking Action to Change the System
Farm Aid works with local, regional and national organizations to promote fair farm policies and grassroots organizing campaigns designed to defend and bolster family farm-centered agriculture. We've worked side-by-side with farmers to protest factory farms and inform farmers and eaters about issues like genetically modified food and growth hormones. By strengthening the voices of family farmers, Farm Aid stands up for the most resourceful, heroic Americans—the family farmers who work the land. Farm Aid's Action Center allows concerned citizens to become advocates for farm policy change.
****
Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute
http://willienelsonpri.com
The Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute believes in the Promise of Peace on Earth in Our Lifetime as the Birthright of Our Global Human Family.
* Peace on Earth is possible NOW with Unconditional Love.
* Do unto others as you would have them do unto you is the Golden Rule from the Highest Order.
* Peace on Earth is possible NOW with Unyielding Hope.
* Replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts to create positive results.
* Peace on Earth is possible NOW with Unlimited Compassion.
* Open your heart and make connections to people everywhere and to the world around us.
***
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Nelson#Activism
In 2004, Nelson and his wife Annie became partners with Bob and Kelly King in the building of two Pacific Bio-diesel plants, one in Salem, Oregon, and the other at Carl's Corner, Texas (the Texas plant was founded by Carl Cornelius, a longtime Nelson friend and the namesake for Carl's Corner). In 2005, Nelson and several other business partners formed Willie Nelson Biodiesel[12] ("Bio-Willie"), a company that is marketing bio-diesel bio-fuel to truck stops. The fuel is made from vegetable oil (mainly soybean oil), and can be burned without modification in diesel engines.[13]
Nelson is a co-chair of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) advisory board. He has worked with NORML for years for marijuana legalization and has produced commercials for NORML that have appeared on Pot TV programs. He has also recorded a number of radio commercials for the organization. In 2005, Nelson and his family hosted the first annual "Willie Nelson & NORML Benefit Golf Tournament," which appeared on the cover of High Times magazine.
On January 9, 2005, Nelson headlined an all-star concert at Austin Music Hall to benefit the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Tsunami Relief Austin to Asia raised an estimated $120,000 for UNICEF and two other organizations.
Nelson was a supporter of Kinky Friedman's campaign in the 2006 Texas gubernatorial election. In 2005, he recorded a radio advertisement asking for support to put Friedman on the ballot as an independent candidate. Friedman promised Willie a job in Austin as the head of a new Texas Energy Commission due to Nelson's support of bio-fuels. (Friedman was on the ballot but came in fourth with 12.43 percent, losing to Republican Rick Perry).
Nelson supported Dennis Kucinich's campaign in the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries. He raised money, appeared at events, composed a song ("Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth?"), and contributing a quote for the front cover of Kucinich's book for the campaign.
In January 2008, Nelson filed suit against the Texas Democratic Party. Nelson alleges that the party violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution when it refused to allow co-plaintiff Dennis Kucinich to appear on the primary ballot because he had scratched out part of the loyalty oath on his application.[14]
Nelson is an honorary trustee of the Dayton International Peace Museum.[15]
Nelson is an advocate for horses and their treatment. He has been campaigning for passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503/S. 311) with the Animal Welfare Institute. He is on the Board of Directors and has adopted a number of horses from Habitat for Horses.[16]
Willie has also been working on behalf of the animals as Tennessee and other states try to legalize the slaughter of horses. He supports the federal Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, which would ban horse slaughter in the U.S. and stop the current practice of exporting horses out of the country for slaughter in Mexico and Canada.
In 2008, Nelson signed on to the Animal Legal Defense Fund's campaign to warn consumers about the cruel-and illegal-living conditions for calves raised to produce milk for dairy products. Nelson wrote letters to Land O'Lakes and Challenge Dairy, two of the major corporations that use milk from calves raised at California's Mendes Calf Ranch, which employs an intensive confinement practice that was the subject of a lawsuit brought by the national nonprofit Animal Legal Defense Fund.[17]
In March 2007, Ben & Jerry's released a new flavor, "Willie Nelson’s Country Peach Cobbler Ice Cream", with a portion of Nelson's proceeds donated to Farm Aid.[18] Ben & Jerry's voluntarily recalled 250,000 pints of the new flavor on March 19, 2007, as wheat was incorrectly excluded from the list of ingredients.[19]
Willie Nelson founded the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute in April 2007. Nelson and his daughter Amy Nelson wrote a song called "A Peaceful Solution", which they released into the public domain, and encouraged artists to render their own version of the song, which he would feature on the Institute's web site.[20]
Nelson questions the official story of what happened on September 11. On February 4, 2008, Nelson appeared on Alex Jones's radio show and talked about the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, stating his belief that the Twin Towers and WTC7 were imploded: "I saw one fall and it was just so symmetrical. I said wait a minute, I just saw that last week at the casino in Las Vegas and you see these implosions all the time and the next one fell and I said hell there's another one - and they're trying to tell me that an airplane did it and I can't go along with that."[21]
Nelson released the song "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other", a song promoting the awareness and acceptance of homosexuality, in reference to gay cowboys, as a digital single through the iTunes Music Store on Valentine's Day 2006, shortly after the release of the film Brokeback Mountain. The song was encouraged by Nelson's tour manager and close friend David Anderson, who said "This song obviously has special meaning to me in more ways than one. I want people to know more than anything—gay, straight, whatever—just how cool Willie is and … his way of thinking, his tolerance, everything about him."[22] Regarding the song, Nelson quoted "The song's been in the closet for 20 years. The timing's right for it to come out. I'm just opening the door."
***
Awards & Honors
http://stillisstillmoving.com/willienelson/category/awards/
***
Page established Sept. 29, 2010 and inspired by John Mellencamp's suggestion:
http://youtu.be/615irrT6DjY
***
“I take it not only a day at a time, but a moment at a time, and keep it at that pace. If you can be happy right now, then you’ll always be happy, because it’s always in the now.”~~Willie Nelson
“There are more serious problems in life than
financial ones, and I've had a lot of those. I've been broke before, and
will be again.”
~~ Willie Neslon
“The fight to save family farms isn't just about
farmers. It's about making sure that there is a safe and healthy food
supply for all of us. It's about jobs, from Main Street to Wall Street.
It's about a better America.”
~~Willie Nelson
"The resilience and
perseverance of America's farm families are helping to build a new
system of agriculture.”
~~Willie Nelson
“I been a long time leaving but I'm going to be a long time gone.”
~~Willie Nelson
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”
~~Willie Nelson
“The winds of change are always blowing
And every time I try to stay
The winds of change continue blowing
And they just carry me away.”
~~Willie Nelson
“I got along without you before I met you and I'll get along without you a long time after you're gone.”
~~Willie Nelson
“Hope remains when pride is gone, And it keeps you moving on. . . .”
~~Willie Nelson
"The Night Life Ain't No Good Life but it's My Life"
~~ Willie Nelson
“We create our own unhappiness. The purpose of suffering is to help us understand we are the ones who cause it.”
~~Willie Nelson
"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.”
~~Willie Nelson
"Fly on, fly on. Past the speed of sound. I'd rather see you up, than see you down. Leave me if you need to. I will still remember, angel flying too close to the ground."
~~Willie Nelson
“Most of the stuff I've read about me has been true.”
~~Willie Nelson
General Information
This page is an un-official page and started by a fan of Willie Nelson. This page is not affiliated with Willie Nelson, Farm Aid, or any other formal organization.
We're just trying to get Willie recognized for what we feel he deserves.
Yes, Willie Nelson for Nobel Peace Prize!
Let's all make it happen in 2020. Willie's hard work for Farm Aid and his work on alternative fuels, and world peace initiatives. As well as, work for wild horses, the children, hemp industry and family farmers.
#Willie4Nobel
Labels: #willie4Nobel, willie nelson
by thrasher@PermaLink: 10/24/2019 08:14:00 AM
17 comments
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17 Comments:
Thanks Thrasher!
I always liked him, and I know he's done good work, but I never liked the fact that Willie has licensed his songs for use in Fast Food commercials. That seems, at best, a little contradictory.
That, and the evidence he's good friends with the boss of one of the most unscrupulous factory farms in existance...just seems a little odd, that's all. To be on good terms with such a person is one thing, for the sake of furthering your cause - but to be good friends is quite another. You could say Willie's personal friendships are none of our business, but as potential money donors to Farm Aid...that makes it our business.
I think Farm Aid does really excellent work, but Willie himself doesn't always inspire much confidence in it. It's for that reason I choose to support other farming/animal based charities rather than farm aid - I like to know where the charities I support stand, and sometimes Farm Aid just doesn't seem able to give that reassurance.
Peter, The fact that Willie's songs have been used in Fast Food Commercials doesn't mean that it was done with his approval. Some artists, which I believe is the case with Willie, don't always own the rights to their own songs. Just as Michael Jackson owned the Beatles catalog and Paul McCartney owned Buddy Holly's. back when Willie had his run-in with the IRS, Willie sold the copyrights to his catalog to an investor to help pay off his tax debt. As for his friendship with the 'Factory Farm' guy, I personally think that speaks volumes for his charactor as a human being and as a man. It obviously hasn't swayed Willies stance in his beliefs nor has it lessened his efforts to continue with such a noble cause as Farm Aid. Maybe it would enhance Willies Outlaw image if he were to 'beat the guy up'? Just because Willie chooses rather to be friendly with a person who has different political views doesn't mean he's selling out to the other side. Instead, willie being Willie is exactly why he is the perfect spokesman for the cause. He's a lover of mankind, including farmers, and his lifestyle has won the trust of millions who have already contributed over the past 25 yrs so it doesn't appear that your argument holds any water
Peter, ya know, the more I think about your post, the more contradictions I see crawling all over it. You say "I always liked him and you know he's done good work", but skip down a paragraph and you say that "Farm Aid does excellent work but Willie doesn't always inspire much confidence in it". After I offered evidence explaining the use of his songs in those commercials, maybe you could reveal who his good friend is? After all, for you to tarnish Willie's name and charactor in print without offering any evidence is almost as unscrupulous as being the boss of a factory farm. Then, in the same paragraph where you state that "Farm Aid does really excellent work", you go on to state "I like to know where the charities I support stand, and sometimes Farm Aid just doesn't seem able to give that reassurance" Well, Peter,what other 'Farm Based' charity could you possibly choose to support? To my knowledge, Farm Aid is IT! If reassurance is what you are after, just ask the thousands of Family Farmers that have been assisted. There isn't a more 'transparent' charity in existance. All the documents are available for you to scrutinize if you have any doubts to its legitimacy. As for Willie, who would you think could better serve or represent the cause? Neither Willie nor the rest of the board takes any pay for the work that they do. It's exclusively on a volunteer basis. Enough said, but if your gonna come on here and spew nonsense, expect to be called out and answer for your mess.
Keep your calm Big chief
Bigchief - firstly, I had no intention of causing any offence, so I am sorry if I have. If you reread my post you will struggle I think to find anything disrespectful about Willie other than "it's a little odd". If indeed Willie's songs have been used without his approval then yes, I do think that qualifies as a little odd (and pretty sneaky, as is to be expected with these corporations!). Judging by your double post on the matter, I would say you have thought about my message a little too much and read things into it that are simply not there. If Willie has no control over the use of his songs then I certainly regret making the assumption I did, and I'm not afraid to say that. Everything else that I wrote I stand by, especially as much of it is pretty complimentary! You seem to take offence at me saying nice things about Willie as well, I meant them sincerely and certainly will not retract them. I don't see what the contradiction is, to be honest.
I am not interested in any kind of discussion of what makes a worthwhile charity - I mentioned my (generally-favourable) view of farm aid in context, not as any kind of slight. It does do excellent work. My personal views on farming; if all people do is buy factory farmed meats most of the time, and family farm food as and when it's available, then nothing is going to improve much at all, and will almost certainly continue to get worse. As factory farms produce 99% of meat, it seems likely that is what is going to happen. That's my relatively educated opinion on the matter, and you can draw whatever conclusions from that you like. One way or another, we have to cut out all factory farmed meat if any real difference is going to be made to the farms that matter. I don't think that's a unachievable aim in the long term.
So, As the post above me says, please do calm down, no offence was meant and I'm sorry if it was caused. I have been polite to you, and would be appreciative if you could return the favor in future.
In the early nineties, the fast food chain Taco Bell made a donation to Farm Aid to show their "support for the American farmer". Surely by coincidence, Taco Bell took the opportunity of the check presentation to premiere their new commercial, featuring none other than Willie Nelson (not just his music, but Willie personally). So maybe that is the way things work in the corporate world, but I'm not sure I like it.
Thanks guys for keeping this on the level.
We would just say, that when you look at the big picture on Willie, he's an impressive guy with impeccable credentials:
Founder, Willie Nelson is the founder of the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute
Founder, Willie Nelson Biodiesel Fuel
Co-chair of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) advisory board
Chair, Tsunami Relief Austin to Asia
Honorary trustee of the Dayton International Peace Museum
Member, Board of Directors, Habitat for Horses
And much more can be found in our nominating petition @
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nobel-Peace-Prize-for-Willie-Nelson-for-Farm-Aid/108774115853831?sk=info
Willie Nelson is the official spokesperson for a chain restaurant/steakhouse called the Texas Roadhouse, which he promotes through TV etc.
And who do you think supplies most of the meat for the Texas Roadhouse? According to wikipedia and various other sources on the net (I stress, I CANNOT verify this personally - maybe someone can confirm or even disprove), their food is sourced from Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods, the two biggest factory farms in the world...Anyone who has ever studied factory farming at any level will doubtless be very familiar with these two, they're as notorious as you can get. To say they have a significant investment in destroying the planet is an understatement.
As Thrasher wisely points out Willie has a very commendable history in other areas too, which is important, but I don't see any reason why we shouldn't seek explanation for his numerous apparent connections to factory farms - we are (quite correctly) being told to fight them after all? Perhaps Willie should start following his own advice.
I made the mistake of eating at a Texas Roadhouse once and Willie's pictures are prominent throughout the restaurant. The food was a disaster and if it is sourced from Smithfield then that explains it. Sad. Between this revelation and Neil's partnering with Tyson last summer, it seems hypocrisy is running wild among the Farm Aid founders.
At least, with Neil, his pairing with Tyson was for a charitable gesture. It was, in my opinion, completely ill-advised and probably incredibly naive, but his heart was surely in the right place. But if indeed it's true that Willie does choose to advertise for these various factory farm-style food places, including ones in which he is apparently part owner and spokesperson, then that strikes me as being a whole lot more disturbing. Not least because it is hypocritical. Don't get me wrong, being slightly hypocritical is to be expected, for anyone. You do what you can, knowing full well you could probably do a bit more. Hypocrisy is a sign that you are at least doing something right (just ask any vegetarian who wears leather shoes, for example). But this goes way beyond that. You go to farm aid and donate your money, then one of Willie's restaurants and buy a meal, and you've basically wasted a significant portion of your farm aid donation. It's one of those situations where you really can't have it both ways and expect huge changes to be made. There's probably a reason in there somewhere as to why farm aid hasn't really been able to make much progress in the last 20+ years.
Peter, I'm sorry if you took offence to my response to your post. In my zealous attempt to point out the discrepancies in your comments,my intent wasn't meant to attack you personally. My feelings, although I maybe somewhat naive, were founded on what I do know about Willie and his charitable contributions based upon his credentials such as those listed by Thrasher. My oversight of any hypocrisy on Willies behalf or Neil's for that matter is probably due to my not seeing the forest for the trees. While I do recall the Neil/Tyson controversy a while back, this is the first I've heard of Willie's partnership with Smithfield, Tyson, or any other involvement with the 'enemy'. These are some pretty strong accusations that if they can be proven to be true could cast a long, dark shadow upon the entire Farm Aid Organization regardless of how noble their efforts appear to be. Why hasn't the 'Board' been called out on the matter?
... Is that 'calm' enough for ya? Also, I do think that those who wish to participate in these discussions should identify themselves by name or title other than 'Anon'. It's way to difficult to discern which 'Anon' is which when attempting to give responses to their comments. just sayin ...
@Peter - OK, you've made your point here.
Now. What *exactly* are doing to make a difference?
Because if your contribution to the good food movement is to criticize, than you're part of the problem and not helping with a solution.
It's easy to criticize. Anybody can be called a hypocrite. Willie. Neil. Thrasher.
So how about you? Are you a hypocrite?
Also, a lot of accusations here without all of the facts at hand. Before posting here, do your homework. Some of these accusations are ancient history. Times change, people learn, and they move on.
Lastly, it is grossly unfair to Willie, his family and friends, to take an example of what might be a mistake or something beyond his control and somehow make that negate a lifelong career of HUGE accomplishments.
Do not diminish what Willie has done for all of mankind because of your slanted judgements.
He's a better man.
peace
Firstly, thank you bigchief! No offence taken, of course. Thanks for the nice note. We both care about the topic, which is what matters. Have a nice weekend.
@Thrasher, I can truthfully say I have been making significant changes to my entire life in order to benefit family farms and factory farm animals. At the very least, I try my best to eat no factory farmed animal foods at all. I write about the subject, and am engaged in numerous other pursuits to help do my bit for the situation. And yes, I am still a hypocrite in some ways, agreed. I have no wish to go into it in more detail than that. I think it highly (and uncharacteristically) disingenuous of you to take this attitude, and hope you understand by now I am firmly on the side of the farmers. If you wish to alienate me (and others) on this issue then I cannot stop you, but I think you would be making a mistake. From past experience you seem to enjoy alienating people (rarely do you come across as friendly) and I for one would prefer it if that wasn't the case. I enjoy coming to your site. I would love to contribute here, respectfully, without having to worry about you getting worked up. I know a lot of others feel the same. I thought the days of needless censorship and insults on here had been relegated to the past.
I assure you, when it comes to this current issue, i have done my homework, so to speak, and my intentions are pure, so please have the good taste not to patronize me. If you genuinely care about the farmers, then I think you should let people speak and debate. Otherwise, no good is ever going to come to the farms. You have an ideal platform to let this happen, an excellent website with good natured contributors on a relevant topic. Maybe even you may learn something. Obviously I cannot force you. I send this message with all due respect and hope it is taken as such.
This is a subject that interests me. I think basically Willie Nelson's approach to Farm Aid was well intentioned but muddled in execution. He's a musician making a stand for something, not a strategist or an activist involved in the more practical day-to-day realities.
Certainly allowing the Tyson corporation (and others) into the mix early on was the equivalent of giving the foxes license to enter the henhouse, but it's true that Farm Aid have since succeeded in doing some real good in inspiring people.
I spoke with the staff at Farm Aid several years ago about my own concerns about Tyson's early influence and got the distinct impression that they weren't overly thrilled by it either, and was also told the standard line that they couldn't be held responsible for the friendships of their founding members. Which struck me as being "fair enough", as well as a bit of a cop out at the same time.
The bottom line is that Neil and Willie saw Tyson as a farming organisation run by their nice friends who were doing good deeds: there was no malicious intent involved from their point of view. But, with hindsight, I think its perhaps sensible to pull back a bit and realise it's a corporation with a track record (and a criminal record) of controlling people, using charity or favors as a smokescreen, a very effective form of informal bribery to advance their own cause.
Nowadays, things have changed somewhat: it's the vegan movement that is driving things from the ground up, with Tyson themselves buying shares in vegan companies, acknowledging a consistently growing market. This is a movement I myself buy into, even though I am not fully vegan.
The power of mass-market advertising is now less than it once was, and a small group of committed individuals are quite capable of influencing the world in a way that was less achievable in the past.
As for Farm Aid, I still think they have a part to play, perhaps more so now than in the past. And its probably a lot more of an effective organisation now that the foxes have been ousted from the henhouse.
Scotsman.
Sorry but No peace prize... Willy is super great... But there is 16year old girl called Greta (Sun Green) who cut though the BS like a knife. With Million dollars she could continue to rally the troops and fight for the highest prize of all our Plant our home our Heaven on Earth. So battle is not Farm aid it's moved on along time ago it's EARTH AID.
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