Artist Waves’ Ocean Artist of the Year: Jack Johnson

Making a difference atop stages and waves everywhere, Johnson continues to embody World Oceans Day

We’ve gotta get right down to the sea

Welcome to World Oceans Day 2018, where in addition to explaining how you can partake, we pay tribute to an artist who not only writes, sings and surfs the ocean, he embodies what it means to care for your environment. Every year, World Oceans Day provides a unique opportunity to conserve our world’s shared ocean. To bring you into the swell, the ocean not only generates much of the oxygen we breathe, but it also helps regulate the climate, clean the water we drink, helps feed, and equally as important — provides a serenity and inspiration to anybody and everybody.

Looking at the planet as a whole, it’s fair to say there’s only one ocean for all of us. It’s up us to help ensure that it is respected in order to receive all its beauty and power in return. Enter Jack Johnson — a guitar in one hand, a waving WOD flag in the other.

Better Together:

Via WorldOceansDay.org you are encouraged to think about what the ocean means to you and what it has to offer for the present and for future generations. Here, you can discover the wealth of diverse and how our daily actions affect the oceans’ inhabitant and our relation to them. You are encouraged to change your perspective and take action in doing your part to conserve. It’s as simple as making small modifications to your everyday habits that will make a difference.

When you affiliate the concept of oceans and music, one of the first names to pop to mind is immediately Jack Johnson. A Hawaiian native, Johnson, also a renowned surfer, has consistently been a pioneer in taking care of our environment. His music is synonymous with activism in this space to the point where they each feed off each other. Much like our connection to the ocean, Johnson’s efforts here and his music our interconnected. The way the beach is kissed by the sea.

This year in honor of World Oceans Day, Johnson will be joining the Planet or Plastic? National Geographic team for a special Facebook Livestream. The focus is on preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean. As part of a weekend of celebrations in honor of the ocean, you can join the March for our Ocean in Washington D.C. on Saturday, June 9th or find one of the many simultaneous marches and events across the country and wear blue for the ocean. Join hundreds of ocean advocates, scientists, and families and march in support of a healthy blue planet based on equity, justice, and clean water for all. Learn more and register at MarchForTheOcean.org.

Daybreaks:

In 2008, 100% of Johnson’s tour profits were used to establish the Johnson Ohana Foundation, a non-profit charity founded by Kim and Jack Johnson to support environmental, art, and music education. Since then, Johnson’s tours have collaborated with over 400 community groups worldwide focusing on plastic free initiatives, sustainable local food systems, and other hands-on environmental projects. The Johnson Ohana Foundation provides direct and matching donations to support these partners and has donated over $4 million.

The Johnson Ohana Foundation continues to build relationships with grantees offering music and arts education for youth, primarily in Hawaii and California. Music Education grants are given to support school or community-based music programs and acquisition of musical instruments, and Arts Education grants support a variety of visual and performing arts programs. Jack, and his wife Kim, also founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation to support environmental education in Hawaii’s schools and communities, as well as the Johnson Ohana Foundation to support environmental, art and music education worldwide. The total of these album and tour profit donations, along with Johnson’s personal charitable activities, have resulted in over $30 million donated to charity since 2001.

In conjunction with the 2008 tour, the All At Once movement was created. All At Once is a social action network and global community based on the belief that an individual action, multiplied by millions, creates global change. This connects people with local non-profits, online and at Jack Johnson concerts, engaging individuals to make positive change using their actions, voices, and choices.

Big Sur:

Together, and through Johnson’s leadership here are just a few highlights from their incredible efforts:

· $100,000 was raised last month for KŌKUA FOR KAUA’I — all proceeds went to the Kaua‘i Relief & Recovery Fund at Hawai‘i Community Foundation as well as local organizations committed to flood relief

· This past March, Jack Johnson & Friends put on — a Benefit for the Community of Santa Barbara, and raised over $500,000 to support Thomas Fire and Flood recovery. Funds were directed to United Way Thomas Fire & Flood Fund

· As a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Environment, Johnson joined people around the globe to Beat Plastic Pollution on World Environment Day

In 2017:

· Over $1.5 million was directed to 256 All At Once Non-Profit Partners

· Over 56,000 reusable pint cups were sold or given to fans to reduce single-use plastic waste

· Over 26,000 single-use plastic bottles were eliminated by providing free filtered drinking water at the All At Once Water Stations at every show

· 161 local farms were supported by the Farm to Stage catering program

· Over 4,527,200 pounds of carbon were offset through support of US Clean Energy Initiatives

· All At Once community supported over 20 non-profits in South America working in local communities to clean watersheds, reduce waste, and support sustainable local food

Other previous highlights include:

· In 2004, Johnson became the 50th member of 1% For The Planet. Johnson’s 2005 release of In Between Dreams became the first album to carry the 1% label and his 2005 world tour promoted the 1% For The Planet mission and brand and helped to launch the organization.

· Since 2005, Jack and his touring crew have implemented a plastic free backstage and since 2007 all shows have offered fans free water through water-refill stations

· Johnson’s 2008 tour and record, Sleep Through the Static, set a new precedent in the music industry by taking an eco-friendly approach to all aspects of production and touring.

· Johnson’s 2010–2011 To The Sea tour partnered with over 220 non-profit partners to educate fans at every concert about plastic free initiatives, sustainable local food projects, and other environmental issues

· Johnson’s 2013–2014 From Here To Now To You tour continued to build momentum for All At Once and strengthen partnerships with non-profits around the world. The Johnson Ohana Foundation provided direct and matching donations to support All At Once Non-Profit Partners and continues to fund many of these organizations through an annual grantmaking program.

· In 2014, Jack successfully helped launch a Reusable Pint Program at the Santa Barbara Bowl, which has since inspired venues across the country to follow suit, including the Les Schwab Amphitheatre in Bend, OR, and all venues owned by Live Nation.

The Horizon (has been defeated):

Upcoming in 2018:

· A focus on alternative transportation — bike, carpool, or use public transportation is encouraged for all Jack Johnson shows. Non-Profit Partners will be hosting bike valets at the concerts in Dallas, Tuscaloosa, and Nashville! Visit the Village Green and connect with local All At Once Non-Profit Partners and Capture Your Commitment at the All At Once Photo Wall. Buy a carbon offset sticker, reusable bag, pint cup or bottle at the show. Refill your pint cup and water bottle at the All At Once Water Stations, and reduce your waste by recycling and composting.

Fragments Adrift to Never Fade Constellations:

As a lead in to this year’s World Oceans Day efforts, “Fragments” off of Johnson’s latest record, All the Light Above it Too — was inspired by pollution in the ocean, and that the “Smog of the Sea” documentary. The album cover — was shot on a beach of the windward side of the Hawaiian Islands where North Pacific Gyre carries a lot of plastic onto the beach. All of the plastic used was found on the beach within a 90-meter radius, and found within one hour.

Most importantly World Oceans Day encourages you to celebrate by stating — “whether you live inland or on the coast, we are all connected to the ocean. Take the time to think about how the ocean affects you, and how you affect the ocean, and then organize or participate in activities that celebrate our ocean.”

As our crowned Ocean Artist of the Year says:

After all this time
After all of these seasons
After your own decision to go to the water for a reason
It’s only the ocean and you

Catch Jackson at Sea.Hear.Now festival, Mountain Jam, All The Light Above it Too World Tour and visit JackJohnson.com/Greening help make a difference.