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“Power Up The Planet” Brings Solar Power to the Poor, and Global Grooves to Your Ears

Original Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com
Author: Jeff Kart
Original Publication Date: November 13, 2009

What do you want out of a CD? Entertainment? Catchy Songs? Energy from the sun?

That last one may not be the first thing you think of when you push play, but “Power Up The Planet” may change your mind.

The compilation CD features 14 tracks of reggae, Latin, electronica and Afrobeat music. And it helps support SolarAid, which helps poor communities use solar power to fight climate change and poverty.

We featured Planetwize, the organization behind the project, a while back. The CD comes out on Nov. 28.

This blogger has been listening to it already thanks to a courtesy copy sent by Daniel Porras, Planetwize’s founder and CEO.

Bands on the disc include Thievery Corporation, Balkan Beat Box, B*Side Players, Brazilian Girls, Zap Mama and Ozomatli.

Every album sold helps SolarAid train people in poor communities to harness the power of the sun, Porras says.

SolarAid already has projects in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya.

They bring solar lanterns, mobile phone and battery chargers to rural and remote communities. As a result, clean, renewable energy sources replace dangerous and expensive kerosene lanterns.

Planetwize, to refresh your memory, is based in San Francisco and was founded in 2008. It features a digital music platform that’s billed as “iTunes meets activism.”

Come Nov. 28, you’ll be able to download “Power Up The Planet” from Planetwize, or give a CD for Christmas, packaged in recycled cardboard and printed with soy-based ink, with a CD tray made from recycled plastic bottles.

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