Drinking With Clowns at “Occupy Through Art”

We are Drinking with Clowns. Music has always been a big part of our lives. We
grew up listening to socially conscious artists such as Bob Marley, John Lennon, Bob
Dylan, Calle 13 and many different Latin American artists who came out protesting
through their music against the brutalities of the different dictatorships that were
the result of the cold war.

Nowadays our countries are also victims of all the neoliberal policies that have
increased the wealth gap and empowered mega corporations, who drain our
natural resources without repairing the environmental damage, and make virtually
no contribution to our societies. Companies like Barrick Gold, that is currently
destroying valuable glaciers in Chile and Argentina, poisoning the water of rural
populations with the cyanide used in their open pit mines, for the benefit of a few.

However, in the past few years we have seen a growth in awareness. People are
standing up in favor of more fair and equitable societies all around the world.
We have understood that we have a right to receive quality healthcare, quality
education and a safe living environment. We have realized that we the people
together, have the power to generate change. Change towards a new Global Society.
Change towards economic and social equality. Change towards a society that is in
harmony not only with other cultures, but with all life around us.

We all come from different corners of the Americas, and it is here in Reno that we
have come together to share our experiences and create music that represents
different cultures and also exemplifies a new emerging one.

We support Occupy because it represents this awareness. We support Occupy
and all the other protests around the world, like the Indignados in Europe, the
revolutions in the Middle East, the student strikes in Chile and Colombia, and any
other that raises this flag of awareness; because these are the vehicle that will move
us closer to the future we all dream of.

Thank You.