---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003 14:44:24 -0800
From: radtimes <resist@best.com>
Subject: Amnesty International, Yoko Ono & John Lennon's song
http://www.amnestyusa.org/imagine/world_stage/yoko_ono.html
Amnesty International launched a public education and media campaign
inspired by John Lennon's classic song of hope, "Imagine."
In granting the rights to "Imagine," Yoko Ono said "...that Amnesty
International has embodied the spirit of her husband's anthem for more than
40 years. ...The Imagine campaign is such a beautiful campaign. I'm just
enthralled by it. I've found that most children, even when they're five or
six, they know the lyrics of "Imagine." It's an amazing world. By bringing
this "Imagine" campaign all over the world, and by asking children of
different countries to sing the song, it's a way of getting children to come
together. And I think it's beautiful."
http://stream.realimpact.org/rihurl.ram?file=realimpact/amnesty/video/amnes_
yoko-ono.rm
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http://www.amnestyusa.org/imagine/world_stage/yoko_ono.html
Amnesty Imagine And Human Rights Interview With Yoko Ono
On the eve of the our Imagine Campaign rollout, we sat down to talk with
Yoko Ono about the "Imagine" song, her thoughts on the world and working for
peace. Here are some of the highlights.
Q: So why was "Imagine" written?
YOKO: John wrote it, with a very deep love for the human race and a concern
for its future.
Q: Do you think it's more relevant today than it was at the time it was
written?
YOKO: Well, it's getting relevant, isn't it? But it was always relevant and
I hope that one day we don't have to sing it anymore. It's a song that is
really concerned about the betterment of the world and I think it's
effective.
Q: Do you think that things have maybe escalated to a worse place than at
the time when it was written?
YOKO: I wouldn't say it that it's in a worse place. I think this is the big
confrontation. And we really have to see that and confront it and do
something to make it better.
Q: Do you think there is anything we can do on a personal level?
YOKO: Yes. I think what we do really effects the world. I know that most of
us think we can't do anything, it's up to the politicians or something like
that. But it really isn't true. Politicians are reflection of us in a
way^Åbut we have to always know that each one of us plays a part in changing
the world.
Q: How does one do that?
YOKO: Every drop in the ocean counts. I'd like to tell you a very simple
thing that we can do. Every day, do something that makes your heart dance.
And if your heart is so depressed that you can't dance, then do something
that will make other people's heart dance^Åit could be as simple as giving a
phone call. If you kept doing that for three months, you'll see an
incredible change in your life. Your life totally changes. And if your life
changes, well, in the same manner, we can change the world, too.
Q: So one person at a time?
YOKO: Yes. One person at a time. But together.
Q: And what was going on with John when he wrote it?
YOKO: He was really thinking in terms of a concern for the future of the
human race. And a planet. And he had this love this deep, strong love --
for the human race and its future.
Q: What do you think this song means to the current generation?
YOKO: Along with what Ghandi preached and Martin Luther King, Imagine is a
very powerful statement that will live inside the children, and it will help
them.
Q: What world do you imagine?
YOKO: I imagine a world where everybody will live in peace together.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about the meaning and purpose of this "Imagine"
campaign?
YOKO: The "Imagine" campaign is such a beautiful campaign. I'm just
enthralled by it. I've found that most children, even when they're five or
six, they know the lyrics of "Imagine." It's an amazing world. By bringing
this "Imagine" campaign all over the world, and by asking children of
different countries to sing the song, it's a way of getting children to come
together. And I think it's beautiful.
I thought it was important to say yes to this "Imagine" campaign because of
Amnesty International. I always respected their activities and the high
ideas. What they were doing was always very effective, wise, and with very
good intentions and good power.
Q: You've agreed to have "Imagine" be re-recorded by children around the
world. Why do you think it's meaningful to hear children sing this song now?
YOKO: Through singing the song, "Imagine", children will learn about human
rights,^Åthe importance of world peace^Å(and) that we are all together in
this. And we are all dreamers creating the next world, the next beautiful
world for ourselves and for our children.
Q: Do you feel an urgency to get out the message now?
YOKO: Well, the world situation is pretty tense, as we know, as we all know^Å
There are many things that are happening that leads us to believe that it
can go into an incredible negative situation, as well. So we have to really
hurry up. For that, we have to really know that we are together in this. You
see, the most interesting thing is, even when we are arguing with each
other, our hearts are beating in unison. We should know that we are all part
of the whole, we are all together. And everything that we do effects each
other.
Q: If you could imagine one thing for this campaign, what would it be?
YOKO: If there is one thing that I wish for this campaign, is to come
together knowing the power of the people and what we can do together.
Q: A final thought?
YOKO: Imagine a more safer and peaceful world. Imagine all of us living life
in peace.
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