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CartMusic Fans Sign Petition Asking Neon Trees to Pull Out of Tobacco Company Sponsored Music Fest
Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:56:35
More than 1,000 music fans have signed an online petition on Change.org asking Provo, Utah-based Neon Trees to pull out of an international music festival sponsored by a tobacco company.
The band actually won an award for anti-tobacco advocacy in 2008, but they are still slated to perform at Indonesia's Java Rockin' Land festival, which takes place July 22nd through 24th. The fest is sponsored by Gudang Garam, one of Indonesia's largest tobacco companies.
Mother Jones magazine is reporting that the band has ignored a campaign by Marita Hefler, a PhD candidate in Public Health at the University of Sydney asking them to cancel their appearance at the concert. Hefler started her petition, located here, on the world's fastest-growing platform for social change. She is demanding that Neon Trees - as well as Good Charlotte, The Cranberries and other bands-- pull out of the festival.
"We thought the social activism of many of the bands, in particular the public stance of Neon Trees against tobacco, meant they would be horrified to learn they were part of a tobacco promotion, and would immediately take steps to remove the association...obviously we were wrong," said Hefler.
Maroon 5, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson and many other bands have declined offers to play music events sponsored by tobacco companies in the past.
Well, we can appreciate the sentiments of the petition and the petitioners. But playing this fest does not make Neon Trees bad people. We'll keep you posted as to whether or not the band carries on with their performance.
Did you sign the petition? Will you? Or do you think the Neon Trees should do whatever they want in this case?
—Frank TJ Mackey
07.12.11
