Dedication to Michael from our dear friends

25 JUNE 2009 by Xanadu Murphy, USA

It started out a normal Thursday, but by afternoon it became a day Michael Jackson’s fans would never forget. Some fans had never left MJ, others had recently returned with the announcement of his upcoming shows at the O2, while more of them subsequently rediscovered his music and smooth moves after his untimely death was announced in Los Angeles. Michael the performer, the artist, the humanitarian, the philanthropist and the father of three children was gone forever.

Michael’s death brought his international fans together in a way not possible a few years earlier. The Internet and social networking web sites brought people together to remember and to grieve; new friendships began and old ones rekindled.

The loss of Michael meant no more “hee-hees,” no more Moonwalks and no more fixing French toast for breakfast for his children. The public finally saw his daughter and two sons without their masks. Grieving children who were beautiful, polite, well-spoken and poised in extreme circumstances; normal children.

While I do morn the loss of Michael the public celebrity, performer and humanitarian, the loss I feel most deeply is the loss of a father who loved and protected his children as much as possible. I would gladly give up the music, dancing, Moonwalks, new friends and old, if it would restore Michael the man, the father to his children.

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ART IS ECAPISM by Sarah, UK (@savysarah)

I have always drawn from a young age at the age of 11 it became more important to me. Wanting to make it as real as I can fascinated by how photos can be so real I wanted to try to get my drawing as close as I could.

Art is an escapism I feel able to draw freely and not judge myself only
looking at what I could improve on its always been a fun journey for me.
I love drawing emotion and challenging myself.
Art is an expression rather than a picture. Age 19 I hope to pursue art as a career.

"There is nothing better than escaping into a scene into a emotion and atmosphere definitely a persons feeling then portraying and recreating that in your expression"

Michael Jackson has given me a guidance to making life better for me and people around hes given me music that I love and I enjoy and when im down lightens me and hes given me freinds freinds that show the love like he did true freinds hes still here in spirit and the Jacksons are beautiful like him and give guidence to a better life I wanted to draw these drawings 4 him showing and portraying the emotion and drawing him because of all hes done.

click on photos for larger image

[!] Please respect our contributors and do not reproduce
the photos or words without the explicit consent of the author.

http://twitpic.com/photos/savysarah

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DEDICATION TO MICHAEL by Katy, Romania (@KatyLovesMike)

For Michael J.

White fedora, sparkling glove on
You are the light all over THE place
Your dance, your moves...
All what you've done,
We're thank you for everything.
Your voice is so amazing
We hear it in every day
On radio, TV, mp3, that's the only way
It doesn't matter when you come back
Just be happy, smile and stay in safe
Watch how your soldiers of L.O.V.E.
Are spreading love in every day
We're trying to do our BEST
Sometimes we succeed, other times we're losing faith
But in the end, a voice whispers to us
" It's all for L.O.V.E. " and we continue our mission again.
Time by time, day by day
Time IS ticking fast or slow
It hasn't arrived that special day...not YET...
We hope TO hear that magical voice again
We are waiting for you to COME in a sunny day
Much L.O.V.E. to you, sweet angel MJ.

click on images for larger view

[!] Please respect our contributors and do not reproduce
the photos or words without the explicit consent of the author.

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Hands Across The World

Eight of the most successful music acts in Africa joined in a group called One8. The idea behind the project is to connect people through music. The pan-African super group caught the attention of Billboard International publication who included them on theirs "Best Bet for 2011" list.
Last November, R. Kelly joined the group and so the message behind the group got a wider meaning and gained an important source of energy and creativity.
The first song to come out from this collaboration is "Hands Across The World". Uplifting, with beautiful harmonies and it makes a powerful statement.
Heal The World !

One 8 are:
R. Kelly – USA, 2Face – Nigeria, Alikiba – Tanzania, Amani – Kenya, Fally Ipupa – D.R. Congo, 4X4 – Ghana, JK – Zambia, Movaizhaleine – Gabon, Navio – Uganda

 

 Hey world stand up
Stretch out your hands
One8 represent the dream
Africa
Feel free
One8 let's get them

I'm reaching out to the poor people
The sick and the alone
I'm reaching out to the fortunate who can build their own homes
I'm reaching out to the ones who seems to have lost their way
And I'm calling on all the ones who can show them a brighter day
I believe if you believe then we can achieve anything
So lift your voice and give it everything
Now let you're your heart sing

Chorus:
Africa to America
Everywhere common and spread some love
We got faith and a little hope
I believe that we can heal the globe
It's time to open our eyes and see
That all we need is you and me
Unity's like harmony
So let me see you stretch your hands across the world
Hands across the world...


I'm reaching out to all of the hoods and the streets everywhere
I'm reaching out to all in need to show the world that you care
Can't go no more you've given up and your energy's running low
I'm reaching out to the pastors and the words they give us all
I believe that if you believe then we can achieve anything
So lift your voice and give it everything
Now let you're your heart sing

Chorus:
Africa to America
Everywhere common and spread some love
We got faith and a little hope
I believe that we can heal the globe
It's time to open our eyes and see
That all we need is you and me
Unity's like harmony
So let me see you stretch your hands across the world
Hands across the world...

It's the world main project my desire
The power of love you cannot deny ya
Let's go people it's time to go higher
Let's spread your wings I believe you can fly ya
We can do anything if we believe
Let me see you dance if you got victory
If we come together we can make history
So let me see you reach

[Chorus: X 2]
Africa to America
Everywhere common and spread some love
We got faith and a little hope
I believe that we can heal the globe
It's time to open our eyes and see
All we need is you and me
Unity's like harmony
So let me see you stretch your hands across the world
Hands across the world

Cross the World
One8 project
Feel free

You can destroy buildings but you can't destroy L.O.V.E.

Ai Weiwei's studio before the destruction. photo (c) The Telegraph
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was featured here already as he is a true Soldier of L.O.V.E. fighting for the rights of the unheard voices of the lost children and as a peaceful activist for freedom and democracy in China and around the world.

He uses his phenomenal art to truely make a change and is therefore seriously and constantly under the attack of Chinese authorities, where he almost lost his life being beaten down so hard on the head.

Ai Weiwei never gives up and doesn't even turn his back on China.

On January 11th, 2011 Chinese authorities took another method to bring him down. They completely destroyed his studio building in Shanghai (worth about 1 million US-$). This was probably also a reaction to Ai Weiwei's support of Nobel Peace Price winner Liu Xiaobo.

The New York Times writes about the incident:

BEIJING — The studio would have stood at the heart of an embryonic arts cluster on the outskirts of Shanghai, a draw for luminaries from around the world.

It took two years to build, and one day to tear down. (...)

“Everything is gone,” he said. “It’s all black now. They finished the job at 9 o’clock last night.” (...)


Ai Weiwei standing in the rubble of his studio in Shanghai. photo (c) Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Ai has come to see his escalating conflict with government officials over the Communist Party’s authoritarian rule as performance art. (...)

Full article here.

Meanwhile Ai Weiwei's fantastic work of Art "Sunflower Seeds" is still shown in Tate Modern in London.


This outstanding piece of Art shows hundreds of millions of Sunflower Seeds that seem to be identical but are apparently unique and handmade porcelaine in China.

As we all know about Michael Jackson's love for Sunflowers, the Sunflower Seeds represent the "seeds of love" and a basis for love to grow...


Ai Weiwei's "Sunflower Seeds" in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern.
Watch the video about "Sunflower Seeds" here:


Let's show human rights activist Ai Weiwei and China our love and support!!! I guess you all saw what happened when the Michael Jackson bronze statue was unveiled in China recently...

Follow Ai Weiwei on Twitter: @aiww

Kids Take Action to Save Sharks

Every second, 3 sharks die at human hands. Many are "finned" so that their fins can be used for shark fin soup. Sharks are becoming extinct and it is affecting all ocean life.

Executive Producer/Director Gary Rose and fledgling group KISS (Kids Involved in Saving Sharks) have teamed up to create a PSA campaign aimed at halting the slaughter of sharks and preserving the ocean's ecosystem.







MJ Fam, please help those kids and spread their message to help the endangered species of sharks that are essential to our eco system!

Why?

Sharks have been around for nearly 400 million years: that makes them older than dinosaurs! There are about 375 different types of shark in the world.

The sea monster myth

Sharks rarely attack people. In fact, the chance of being attacked by a shark is less than the chance of being struck by lightning. The real dangers for people in the ocean are drowning, exposure and being struck by a boat. So no, sharks are not the sea monsters we hear about in stories.

Threat to survival

While sharks are not a threat to people, people are a very real threat to sharks. Each year, over 100 million sharks are killed, most of them for their fins. In fact, there are now 20 types of sharks that are in danger of disappearing because of overfishing.

One of the reasons the shark population is decreasing rapidly is that it takes a long time for sharks to become adults. When a young shark is caught they do not have the chance to grow up and produce baby sharks (pups).

When it comes to reproducing, sharks are more similar to mammals such as whales, dolphins and humans than to other fish. While most fish reach maturity in only a few years and produce thousands or millions of eggs per year, sharks take many years to reach maturity, with some species not reproducing until they are over 15 years old. So when sharks are overfished it may take them many years to recover and in some cases they may never recover.

Why care?

Sharks are crucial parts to the ocean ecosystem. They are at the top of the ocean food chain. They control populations in a beneficial way by eliminating diseased and genetically defective animals. Sharks are an important part of the Earth’s biodiversity.

YOU can help endangered sharks!

1. Educate yourself and others about their importance to our world.

2. Send letters to politicians and other influential people. Let others know how you feel about endangered sharks and how crucial they are to the environment.

3. Sign a petition or start a petition against shark finning and send it to representatives of China.

4. Avoid purchasing products made from sharks.

5. Organise a fundraising activity at your school or in your community and donate to a shark conservation program or organisation.

Together we can make a difference! Tell us how you’ve helped the sharks and inspire other to do the same.

(credits: Save the sharks! on www.ecokids.ca/blog/)

For more information on sharks, please check out and support these websites:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/theglobalsharkinitiative

http://www.stopsharkfinning.net/

http://www.facebook.com/#!/StopSharkFinning

http://www.sharksavers.org

http://www.sharkwater.com

http://www.sharks.org

http://www.sharkalliance.org

MAKE THAT CHANGE!!!

What a relief to know that we are one...

We wish you all a very happy new year with many blessings!

I hope we as the MJ Fam will continue to stay together in unity and keep Michael's message alive. We are the ones to "make that change"...

Together we can Heal The World and continue to fulfill Michael's dream!


This song by R. Kelly is dedicated to you all... The lyrics reminded me of the MJ Fam right away.

"Relief" appeared as a bonus track on the "Best Buy" version of R. Kelly's recent "Love Letter" album...



R. Kelly - Relief Lyrics

The storm is over, and i'm so glad the sun is shining
We fast and pray and it feels good to know that he answers
Confusion everywhere, without a clue on how to make things better
A toast to the man upstairs, 'cause he puts the pieces back together

Now lets step to a new tune,
cause everything is o.k.
You're alright, and I'm alright
Well, let's celebrate

What a relief to know that, we are one
What a relief to know that, the war is over
What a relief to know that, there is an angel in the sky
What a relief to know that, love is still alive

Although we struggle, know that help is on the way (yeah)
The power of love, we can not underestimate (no)
Seems like you're gonna break, and there is no escape, you still got to have faith, yeah
And know that love, is gonna step up to the plate (yeah)

Now lets step to a brand new tune,
'cause everything is o.k.
You're alright, and I'm alright
Oh, so let's celebrate

What a relief to know that, we are one
What a relief to know that, the war is over
What a relief to know that, there is an angel in the sky
What a relief to know that, love is still alive

Listen,
See I'm just trying to bring relief for those that need it
Somebody help somebody, now go and repeat it
Understand that struggle has no colors
See, we all got our stormy weather,
Thats all the more reason why we should join hands and pull it together

Steppin' gives us a way out through the back door
So take a deep breath and grap somebody and hit the floor

What a relief to know that, we are one
What a relief to know that, the war is over
What a relief to know that, there is an angel in the sky
What a relief to know that, love is still alive

What a relief to know that, we are one
What a relief to know that, the war is over
What a relief to know that, there is an angel in the sky
What a relief to know that, love is still alive

Remembering 9/11, 2001 - What More Can I Give

Today we would like to remember all victims of September 11, 2001 and send prayers to their families and loved ones. And all the victims that had to lose their lives as a reaction to this incident.

Let's hope and pray the world will constantly overcome religious and other differences and we begin to understand living in tolerance of our fellow humans around the world.

“What More Can I Give” (“Todo Para Ti” in Spanish) is a song written by Michael Jackson and recorded by a supergroup of singers following the September 11 attacks in 2001. The inspiration for the song had initially come to Michael after a meeting with the President of South Africa Nelson Mandela in the late 1990s.

Michael rewrote “What More Can I Give” as reaction to the incidents of that day in 2001 and recorded that new version with fellow superstar artists shortly afterward. ”What More Can I Give” was scheduled for release as a charity single, in the hope that $50 million would be raised to aid the survivors and the families of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Due to the severe problems with Sony Music at the time Michael's dream did not come true. The song was released digitally in 2003 and all proceeds from the sale of the song went to children’s charities.

Let's remember all the lost ones today and forever. Help spreading tolerance and love and ask yourself "What More Can I Give?"





Rest in peace Michael and Luther Vandross. We miss you very much!!!

Happy Mandela Day!

Today Mr. Nelson Mandela turns 92. 

The It´s-all-for-LOVE-webteam wishes Mr.Mandela a happy Birthday  with his beloved family around him and happy and healthy years to come. It is said Mandela's greatest pleasure, his most private moment, is watching the sun set with the music of Haendel or Tchaikovsky playing. We wish you many, many sunsets with the music you love. 

To the world Nelson Mandela is much more than the former president of South-Africa.

He became father of the whole nation.

Presidents retire - fathers go on caring.

Researching  the internet for the 5 most famous people in the world you will find different nominations but Nelson Mandela is always one of them. He is one of the most respected people in the world and for countless reasons  a huge hero all of us can learn many lessons from. Mr. Mandela has honorary degrees from more than 50 international universities. He has seen almost everything in his nine decades, from being tortured to becoming president of the country he loves. He retired in 1999 but continued to  help people.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on the 18 July 1918. As student hewas suspended from college for joining in a protest boycott. At the height of the Second World War a group of 60 young Africans, members of the African National Congress, banded together.  Among them was Nelson Mandela. Their intent was transforming the ANC into a mass movement.

Mandela soon impressed by his disciplined work and consistent effort and in 1950 he was elected to the NEC at national conference.

For the second half of the 'fifties, he was one of the accused in the Treason Trial. With Duma Nokwe, he conducted the defence. 

When the ANC was banned after the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, he went 1961 underground to lead a campaign for a new national convention. 

Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the ANC, was formed that year. In 1962 Mandela left the country for military training in Algeria and to arrange training for other MK members. 

On his return he was arrested for leaving the country illegally and for incitement to strike. He conducted his own defence. He was convicted and jailed for five years in November 1962. While serving his sentence, he was charged, in the Rivonia trial, with sabotage and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Nelson Mandela's statement from the dock
at the opening of the defence case in the Rivonia Trial
Pretoria Supreme Court, 20 April 1964 ends with these words:

"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

click here to read the complete statement 

In prison, where he spent 27 years as a political prisoner before becoming the country's first black president, Mr. Mandela never compromised his political principles and was always a source of strength for the other prisoners.

Sharing the dream of the "Adventure Of  Humanity" (1999)

Happy Mandela Day!

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Mandela day is a call to action to make the world a better place, one small step at a time.

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What will you be doing this year, this month,..this day to make a difference?

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Make every day a Mandela day!

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Follow these Mandela day related links, if so inclined:

o http://www.46664.com/Home.aspx

o http://en.mandeladay.com/Home.aspx 

o http://www.facebook.com/OfficialMandelaDay?ref=mf 

o http://twitter.com/mandeladay 

o http://twitter.com/46664_official 

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Jacksons - Next Generation: Anthony Jackson

Anthony Jackson is a young American actor, singer and songwriter. He's currently working on his first studio album "Anton Classic" to be released this year.

His first single is called "Come To My City" and is out now!


To listen and order from amazon.com click here. For itunes click here.

Also check out this video:
Come to My City - Anthony Jackson & Dancer Brian Woolridge

Anthony's grandfather is Joseph's younger brother. His parents are Tony and Debra Jackson. When Anthony was 7 years old his father Tony passed away. At that time Michael became signifigantly involved in Anthony's life. He is close to family, especially from the next generation.

See Anthony's heartfelt speech at the "Forever Michael" event on June 26, 2010:


Michael and Anthony:


Keep supporting the Jacksons legacy and show some L.O.V.E. for Anthony!

Check him out and stay tuned for the album here:
Homepage: http://www.atonclassic.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/atonclassicofficial
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ATONCLASSIC
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/atonclassicrise

L.O.V.E. in daylight - MJ Memorial place Munich June 26, 2010

A few impressions from the MJ memorial place on June 26, 2010... I have never seen so much love shown for a person anywhere. Truely magical. Enjoy!

More than anything I hope Michael can see all the love people show for him worldwide!
Click on pictures to enlarge.













Translation: Dear Michael, I am very sad that you are dead. Without you the world is boring and more sad. Here you live on through your music and above I know that you are now singing in the choir of angels... You are the only King of Pop! I LOVE YOU!!! Isadora

See the amazing pics of June 25, 2010 -> Click here.

Outpouring L.O.V.E. MJ Memorial place Munich June 25, 2010

A few impressions from the MJ memorial place on June 25, 2010. Words fail me...
Click on pictures to enlarge.
Early morning...




Fan gathering at night...






All pictures courtesy of user Apfelfee from mjackson.net forum. Used by permission. Thank you so much!

See pics of the place in daylight of June 26 -> Click here.

Getting in on action for June, 25th

Dear members of the #MJFam and #SoldiersOfLove, 

plans for the “It´s all for L.O.V.E” blog on June 25 are coming up.

Karen Faye said: “We should honor his life and what he gave the world in June...and try not to feel sorry for our personal loss.”

Supporting this intent, our  All-for-LOVE-webteam wants to publish very personal statements from Michael´s beautiful international family of fans to honor Michael on this day. We know that you  all will go on loving him. It hurts that he is no longer physically with us – but we all feel his spirit every now and than very strong and we a very grateful for this. He brought us together on the internet to share our grief and he keeps us together to comfort each other and to bring LOVE back into the world to make a change.

If you want to take an active part of our plan for this blog it would be nice to send us a note with some personal words. You may of course take your favorite quote or some of Michael´s lyrics. Your message will get more personal, when it is handwritten and than scaned into a jpg-file. 

Add your twitter-name, please and –if you can agree to this-  your country right below  your statement. For the security of your privacy and data: We will delete your mail and address all at once and just save your attachments  or mail content you want us to publish on this blog.

Send your statements to: 
itsallforloveblog@gmail.com

               

Thanks for joining us and all your support. We really do appreciate this very much. As single persons  we are nothing but weak– but our community and LOVE makes us strong and allows us to make a change. Remember: “We all are ONE.”

Thank you. 

Love, peace and joy to your hearts.

Where there is love, I'll be there....

Walking to Emmaus by Fritz von Uhde
On the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

"What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&version=NIV

Poet's Notion - Tribute to Michael Jackson

This beautiful and heartfelt tribute to Michael was written and sung by lovely MJ Fam member Carina Lanes. Michael Jackson is one of her biggest role-models.

The song "Poet's Notion" was written right after his passing when she went to Los Angeles to pay her last respects to him in July 2009. "He left us something that we can continue and with this in mind I want keep doing what I do."

Enjoy!


A Poet's Notion

It was june
and the night was quiet
i will always remember
I smelled the rain
when the news
almost made me surrender
I looked up
for the sign of a lie
praying for a wonder
I'm caught alive
in a blaze
craving for a blunder

It's a poet's notion
to fall away too soon
I fall away with you
I'll make it a better place
like you told me to
even if I fall away too

Is it too late?
am I overcome
by a rational fate?
How can turn back time
or buy eternity?
cos you're the one we need

It's a poet's notion
to fall away too soon
We fall away with you
We'll make it a better place
like you told us to
even if we fall away too
even if we fall away too
Credits:
written by Carina Lanes MySpace
arranged and produced by Muca MySpace

Random experience at the MJ memorial, Munich

This afternoon in between two appointments I managed to pass by the MJ memorial, which is a rare experience on weekdays for me.

When I came nobody was there and I lit up some candles. Then a group (around six) of older ladies came by (all way beyond 60, more beyond 70!) and they were soooo full of AWEs and talking about Michael and the memorial, showing each other those pictures attached, pointing at them like: "Look at him on this, when he was a kid. Oh, on this he was older. Oh, that is a nice one." etc.

So lovely! Then they asked me, if I was taking care of the memorial and I responded that I'm just lighting up a few candles this time and the place is something many people contribute to every day...

One of them said: "There is so much vandalism around these days, so it's even more amazing it's still there and so beautiful!"

I told them they have been hater-attacks but we wouldn't let them destroy the love and the more beautiful it is, less people are trying to destroy... "Aaaah, yes, right. Thank you."

Then they were all taking pictures of the memorial and group pictures in front of it.

It made me smile for the rest of the day...


Everytime I see people there that are a bit outside of Michael's regular "core target / fan group" (I know he reached so many different people but still I haven't met those ladies on the concerts!) it makes me even more proud and happy because I feel Michael's legacy is being restored amongst the "regular people".

I feel that bit by bit... "the truth unfurls"! All of those articles / media attacks / madness / accusations, etc. are somehow fading in history and the L.O.V.E. more and more comes shining through!

For further generations Michael will be remembered for what he was and on a side note it will be said that he was facing a lot of opposition for it.

We all, as the global MJ fam, contribute to this process everyday and more than anything I thank all of you for it and I am proud and happy to do my part.

Let L.O.V.E. rule!


---
Addition:

Watch this beautiful video from MJ Memorial in Munich. May 14, 2010 (three days before this post)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7-3Q_x4Q5M

MJ Art - Michael Travel Into Light

click to enlarge
created from and inspired by
"HIStory - Live in Munich, 1997"
(recorded July 4 & 6th 1997, Munich, Olympic Stadium)

Did you ever stop to notice?

Photo credit: Ólafur Eggertsson (icelandic farmer). Click to enlarge.

An Icelandic volcano, dormant for 200 years, has erupted, ripping a 1km-long fissure in a field of ice. The last volcanic eruption in the Eyjafjallajoekull area occurred in 1821.

This news remained a bit unnoticed at first because Iceland is "an island far away in the North"... So why should WE care?

Now, 2 days later the entire flight traffic in Northern Europe is stopped because the volcano ashes all over the continent are extremly dangerous for flight engines.

NOW, we do care! But what do we care about? We ask: Will I get returns for my ticket? How do I get to the place I wanted to travel? Who pays me for it?

Well, you will get returns because the flights got cancelled by MAJOR FORCE!

Ok, now start thinking. MAJOR FORCE? What is it? WHO is it?

We all know that air travel is a part of a major problem we have with global warming. But we "need to fly" around the world all the time. Because we're all so busy...

Now this MAJOR FORCE fights back and leaves us grounded without exceptions. Not for presidents, not for CEOs, no one.

Did you ever stop to notice?

What happens? Nothing. The earth doesn't stop because you can't fly. Because you don't have to.

I see this incident as a kind of "Earth Hour" forced by Planet Earth. She leaves us grounded with time to think... Think about our very own relationship we have with her. Think about the "importance" of our being. Think about our modern mobile life.

If we're not doing it by ourselves, she's doing it for us. Reminding us of our equality, belittling our constant rush.

We have got to slow down. We have got to listen.

Another interesting fact. Volcano eruptions are cooling down our global climate because the ashes absorb a bit of the sunlight. It's global and measurable.

Did you ever stop to notice?

I have been to Iceland and wanted to return this year because in my eyes it is the most beautiful country in the world that is so full of nature and contrast that it keeps leaving you speechless by the beauty of God's creation. This is the country where you can see the evolution of our planet like it was everywhere millions of years ago.

I remember the Icelandic people being very aware of that and living with the forces of nature totally different from us. They know from their daily experience that MAJOR FORCES rule their lives more than their own urgencies. After being strongly affected by the consequences of the financial crisis they have returned to their roots. MAJOR FORCE.

So I had to smile about Hjördis Gudmundsdóttir, the head of Iceland's flight authority ISAVIA when asked about duration of the eruption (hello?): „Maybe the weather gods can tell us? We don't know if it will stop tomorrow or after a year or what. Nobody can answer that question."

It lasted more than two years the last time it erupted...

Take your time, slow down. Join "Earth Year", feel the MAJOR FORCE.


Did you ever stop to notice? This crying earth, these weeping shores?