Green recycling message resonates with musical youth

by frog

“Pick Up your bottles and put them in the recycling bin. We like to keep it real Green round here.”

That’s the message from Che Fu, for this Thursday’s Pick it Up concert at the Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre in Auckland’s Manukau City.

talented line-up

Che – recently awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit award for services to music – performs along with Nesian Mystik, Scribe, J.Williams, Smashproof, Savage, Deceptikonz, and Sweet and Irie. There’s also a dance crew battle between Sweet and Sour and Dziah, that will be judged by the audience.

sugarcoating the message

Putting on a $10 concert for under 18s during school holidays, where they can hear the cream of Aotearoa urban music is a great way to spread the Green message.

Che, husband and father of four, has worked with the Dawn Raid music label and the Glass Packaging Forum to develop a nationwide, public education programme to highlight recycling.

The appeal of music and dance reinforces the recycling message for young people, who then influence their families and peers.

“We can learn much from our youth. I believe that one family member, one vote, one voice no matter how young can make a difference. I believe many of our young people value and respect Aotearoa and the environment. They are our future sound engineers, artists, All Blacks and computer experts. They are our future,” says Che.

Green Party Pacific Issues Spokesperson Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua pays tribute to Che’s environmental awareness work with young New Zealanders.

 “Che Fu has been so inspirational and consistent on his recycling message and it’s great that it is aimed at our young people.

 “Thanks to Dawn Raid too. It’s a great opportunity to showcase their stable of artists and a fantastic message of respect for the planet.

 “This concert is another way for Pasifika communities to feel like they’re contributing to the environmental cause, rather than just being [climate change]victims.”

 Thursday’s Pick It Up gig, the second concert in the series, begins at 6pm.

Pasifika Greens

Also happening this Thursday in Auckland is the second meeting of the Pasifika Greens movement. The 7pm to 8.30pm meeting is at Reverend Mua’s Tagata Pasifika Resources and Development Trust, first floor, Samoa House, 283 Karangahape Rd. The group, who identify as Tagata Pasifika – People of the Pacific (regardless of ethnicity), are committed to Green Party principles and supporting our Pacific neighbours in their fight against climate change.

back in the day – urban Pacific history

As well as being the spiritual leader of Pasifika Greens, Reverend Mua is also an historian and a performing artist. He led a guided tour: Ponsonby – The Pasifika Years recently as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival, referencing the rich Polynesian cultural history of Ponsonby in the 1970s and 1980s. He also performed a poetry and music set with Tigilau Ness that opened the festival.