THIS ALBUM IS MEANT TO MOVE YOU. As an Earth Day celebration of the fragile beauty of our planet a group of award winning songwriters and musicians have come together to create a benefit CD for the non-profit Peaceful Uprising. This compilation of their songs is meant to inspire listeners to take action in whatever way fits them best to preserve our home.

PEACEFUL UPRISING was organized by Tim DeChristopher, a University of Utah student who was sentenced to two years in federal prison for halting an insider auction of Utah public lands to oil and gas companies, by bidding on and winning several parcels of pristine public land adjacent to national parks without funds to pay for it. At his sentencing, Judge Dee Benson stated that his offense “wasn’t that bad” and that if it weren't for Tim’s “continuing trail of statements” advocating civil disobedience in the defense of the planet he might have avoided prosecution and prison.

STORY BEHIND THE ALBUM: Inspired by Tim's example, and outraged that a federal judge was sending a DeChristopher to prison not for behavior, but for speaking his conscience, a young mother and musician Mary Danzig (Otter Creek) went to jail with 25 others to protest DeChristopher's sentence. Ordered to do community service as part of her sentencing, Danzig chose to do it for the organization Tim founded and began working on a way to use music to further the cause of climate justice.

THE MUSICIANS: The artists on this CD are comprised of several nationally touring groups and a number of local Utah favorites who are passionate about climate justice. The accomplishments of these talented musicians are impressive. The musicians include a Kerrville finalist, four Winfield Festival NewSongs Showcase winners, two Susanne Millsaps Performing Songwriter Showcase winners, a Telluride Brews and Blues winner, and an Indie International Songwriter Competition winner to name only a few of their awards. For the musicians the CD has been a labor of love. They have donated the use of their songs as well as paid for recording costs themselves. They have donated their services at numerous events to promote the cause of climate justice and the CD. Several local faith communities, music organizations and activist groups joined together in February, 2013 to host a remarkable benefit concert where the all the funds necessary were raised to manufacture and produce the CD.