
In May, 2001, inspired from experiences at the Quebec City Summit of the Americas, and the violence facing social justice activists internationally, Chris Brown mobilized and galvanized many of his colleagues and friends in the music and social activist community to create GASCD.
All the participants support the purpose of GASCD; being to highlight the social and environmental impact of corporate globalization.
The GASCD album was established to raise money and to distribute all profits to groups working in matters of social and environmental justice. The album saw release in 13 countries, and created a new paradigm of fundraising - given directly to groups to sell on the frontlines of events for immediate profit. Recipients to date have included The Quebec Legal Collective, Corpwatch, The Nation, Free Speech TV and Radio Gap.
All of the artists, social activists, and record companies donated their works for free. You can see a list of all participants below, and read Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein's liner notes.
Chris Brown continues applying his musical work to social and environmental justice, including his series of compilations for the Waterkeeper begun in 2007.
"You want this!"
-- Johnson Cummings, Mirror Online
"...a host of compelling, less-famous artists, with few dull moments. Among the highlights: Rheostatics' jagged, Neil Young-style lament "Bad Time to Be Poor"; thundering hard rock from Bionic, "A Political Song for Danko Jones to Sing"; and Bill Frisell's breathtaking, eight-minute version of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" Add radical spoken-word tracks from Nikki Giovanni and Gil Scott-Heron, and you've got a soundtrack suitable for solitary reflection or collective action."
-- Jon Young, Mother Jones
"There've been a higher amount than usual of activist CDs this year (as opposed to charity CDs for the usual cuddly causes), perhaps thanks to our delightful invasion of a sovereign country not too far away from Turkey, and GASCD is perhaps the best example of the format yet ... there's plenty here for the discerning americana listener despite the range of styles ultimately contained within. With a forword by Naomi Klein and a recommendation from Gore Vidal, it's like John Pilger with a sugar coating and even avoids feeling like the hard work that a lot of activism is."
-- Mark Whitfield, Americana UK
"The contextualization makes this more relevant than any browbeating, post-Sept. 11 tribute record; this one is made by artists with perpetual peripheral vision."
-- Michael Barclay, Eye Weekly
"Whatever your politics, there's little to find fault with musically."
-- Alan Downes, LOGO-Magazine.com
(most artists are linked to their web sites)