Singer Edwin of I Mother Earth Tells Crowd About Children "Drinking Parasite and Bacteria-Riddled Water"

By Karen Bliss 10/25/16 | www.samaritanmag.com

The World Vision table at I Mother Earth, Our Lady Peace and the Standstills show, at Massey Hall, Toronto, Oct. 24 — photo credit: Karen Bliss.
Singer Edwin, who has rejoined his original rock band I Mother Earth to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their double-platinum album Scenery & Fish, told a sold-out hometown crowd at Toronto’s Massey Hall last night (Oct. 24) where his focus lies in terms of philanthropy — clean water. 

The national tour, which ends Nov. 5 and includes compatriots Our Lady Peace and openers the Standstills on the bill, has World Vision in tow.

“We’re trying to raise money to bring clean water to an area called Nkayi in Zimbabwe,” Edwin said onstage. “Thousands of children die every week because they’re drinking parasite and bacteria-riddled, basically poisonous water. We just want to help them have clean water, give the kids a chance to grow up and take part in a life that we have.

“We, in Canada, here are truly blessed.  If you can find it in your heart, you get a free t-shirt for sponsoring a child, for less than the price of parking, you can save some lives. So please consider it. The merch table, beside it is the World Vision table, if you could be so kind to find it in your heart to spread some good karma. It always comes back to you. God bless you.”

For the last 60 years, World Vision has assisted hundreds of children and their communities. “Our work is community based and our impact is sustainable,” it says on the web site. “We address the root causes of malnutrition, productive employment, equitable rights, access to education and management of water.”

IME and OLP’s opening act, a duo from Oshawa, Ontario called the Standstills, includes guitarist Jonny Fox, whose brother Mike is senior manager, artist relationships, at World Vision Artist Collective. 

According to the press release about the Standstills’ official partnership for this tour, “During the tour, they’ll be focusing on the needs of people living in Nkayi, Zimbabwe – helping to bring access to clean water, better sanitation, and improved living conditions to children and families in the region.

“The Nkayi community is located just over 600 kilometers from Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. The area has suffered from recurring drought, as rainfall amounts are low and unevenly distributed. They are fortunate to have lush, open grassland nearby, but sandy soil makes it difficult to grow food, which in turn has contributed to chronic food shortages. Housing conditions are generally poor, and fewer than 20 percent of households have latrines. You can learn more about the work that World Vision is doing in Nkayi here.”

World Vision’s artist collective is a partnership with “a range of artists who use their influence and platform to tell the stories of those whose voices might never be heard.” In exchange, the artist can receive financial remuneration but many choose to waive it.

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* Samaritanmag.com is an online magazine covering the good deeds of individuals, charities and businesses.