TURN HATE 2 LOVE CAMPAGN PORTAL

There is too much hate in the world these days. Hatred propagated by the powers that be and insecure folks whose need to feel as though they are better than someone else and have power over them do cruel, violent, and evil things to others. Add to that, unabated greed, corruption, and the increase of ignorance and hate fueled by political powers and agendas. War and rumors of war all around the world; In Ukraine and Russia, in Yemen, in Palestine and Israel, in Haiti, in the Sudan and more. All bringing us closer to a world war or cataclysm which could destroy humanity. 

In the U.S., homelessness is at an all-time high. Our whole Nation suffers from PTSD. Suicides and depression, already at record levels, are increasing among all demographics. High drug overdoses and abuse riddle our populace despite draconian drug laws and policies. Life expectancy is decreasing. 70% of our nation can’t afford their medical care when they have it. Environmental catastrophes due to global warming are increasing in number, frequency, and magnitude. Racial animus has seen a sharp incline, especially in the United States. Economic disparity, the like of which we’ve not seen since the “Gilded Age” (post-Civil War to the early 1900’s), makes life for most people far harder than past generations and getting worse. Corporations and the military industrial complex control politics and politicians, creating and adding to the breakdown of public trust and the cohesion of our society. All these things were predicted in the late sixties and early seventies by the “Love Generation” as the consequences of not promoting love in all we do and are the direct result of the lack of love in how we deal with each other and the world.

That’s why now is the time for the rebirth of the “Love Generation”, and our “Turn Hate to Love” campaign and movement. A campaign and movement to bring together and focus the energy of that worldwide massive, and bring national and international attention to, and the influence of love back to the people and the culture; to change the current paradigm of hate, to love . 

To accomplish this, we are planning activities and events to bring together this massive and propel this movement for Peace, Love, Health, and Happy-ness. We will raise funds to support organizations and individuals involved with and focused on spreading “Peace, Love, Health, and Happy-ness” in its many forms. Already we have a great new theme song from reggae artist, Vinny Taylor, and other artists are doing their versions. We are also beginning to get commitment from other major artists, internet influencers, and organizations, to do gatherings worldwide as a platform for focusing the attention and consciousness of the world on this people’s movement focused on spreading “Peace, Love, Health, and Happy-ness”.

To start, we are organizing the “Turn Hate 2 Love Tour©”. This tour will be the flagship of the movement. Artists are the purveyors of culture and the social voice and attitudes of the people. The problem today is that that connection has been largely severed by the corporations and powers that be who control the media, hope, dreams, and culture around the world. Our goal is to allow the cultural voices calling for understanding, peace, love, health, and happiness, to come together and combine their voices and energy to change the paradigm of hate, to love. We want to bring forward the participation of artists to use their platforms worldwide to bring the reality of the need for this movement to generations that are waiting and wanting this change.

This was something the late great Harry Belafonte saw as necessary to the struggle but sorely missing in these times. Which is why he started Sankofa. Sankofa is the artist collective founded by the late Harry Belafonte, as a means of bringing artists together to support the movements for social justice.

“The tradition of activism among America’s artistic and cultural leaders goes back to the early days of social justice movements. In 1939, Marion Anderson staged a defiant outdoor concert at the Lincoln Memorial, having been barred from Constitution Hall on account of her race. Paul Robeson, one of America’s most prominent African American actors in the 40’s, spoke openly for equality and encouraged his peers to do the same. “The artist must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery” he said, “I have made my choice.” The 1960’s ushered in a wave of artist-activists, from Joan Baez to Harry Belafonte to Bob Dylan. In the 1970’s there was Marvin Gaye to Bob Marley, whose politically charged work added cultural resonance to the words and actions of Martin Luther King Jr. and other social justice leaders. 

More recently in the 1980’s, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie along with dozens of other artists staged “We Are the World,” conceived by Harry Belafonte, which delivered powerful testament to the power of artists to drive attention, resources, and action towards the world’s injustices. Artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Dixie Chicks, Alicia Keys, Public Enemy and Macklemore have carried this same spirit of progressive change into the present day. Artists and performers are in a unique position to shape our society's cultural and moral destiny - to cast light on pressing issues and to use their creative gifts to inspire action. When they use their platform to speak up on matters of political and social urgency, the impact is profound and lasting.”

From Sankofa website

The “Turn Hate 2 Love Tour©” will feature Rasta reggae artists Vinny Taylor and Vision, who did the theme song, and will host and perform on the tour. As Rastas, Vinny and Vision are committed to the need for this movement for love and are excited to be able to bring the Rasta message of Love to the people. We will bring the tour to colleges, stadiums, major and small venues, online and major media. We already have plans in the works for events in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Washington. We have folks working in Jamaica, England, Germany, Brazil, and several African nations, to bring the tour and campaign to their locations.

Each date will bring prominent artists, and speakers to join Vinny and the other folks on the tour to bring the waiting generations of people to this movement for love.  In addition, we will connect with and present local artists and “Love Generation” advocates and organizations, always pushing the fact that “All You Need Is Love”. We already have commitment from some major artists and our list is growing. Those names, lists of events and sponsors, as well as more details about the campaign, you will be able to find on our home sight, Turnhate-2-love.com, as they are officially confirmed.

Love is the answer. It may seem quaint and naive, but it is true. If we do things with true love in our hearts, there is no limit to how much better we can make our world. This campaign is just the start. Will you join us and make a better world. Turn Hate 2 Love.

Peace, Love, Health, and Happy-ness,

Rev Ashiya Odeye

Reverend Director

Olufunm