Gilberto Gil and the Green Power of Music

A legend, both in terms of his music and his environmental activism. Gilberto Gil, who turned 80 last month, began campaigning for environmental causes back in the 1970s. And that commitment has gone from strength to strength over the years. The Brazilian musician has done much to save the planet’s most precious treasures, showing his deep commitment to the protection of the environment. The 2013 documentary, Viramundo, for example, chronicled his world tour and concluded in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the world’s most important green lung. Forests also provided the inspiration for his single Refloresta (“Reforest”), which was released last year. It actively promotes the campaign of the same name launched by the Instituto Terra, which was founded by two famous Brazilian environmentalists, the photographer Sebastião Salgado and his author/film producer wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado, in 1998. The song is a genuine declaration of love for the planet and contains an impassioned plea to save the world’s forests and “the milhões de espécies, plantas e animais” (“millions of species, plants and animals”) that inhabit them. The Amazon also appeared in the accompanying video, which was the subject of a campaign on Tik-Tok to incentivize reforestation. Genuine commitment Nor is Gil one of those celebrities who merely pays lip service to worthy causes. He has suffered for his views. In the 1960s, when he was still in his 20s, he and his musical partner, Gaetano Veloso, who would also go on to acquire iconic status, were arrested by Brazil’s military regime and thrown in prison. They were only released a few months later, on the condition that they left the country. They and their wives moved to England, where Gil, alongside another young artist, David Bowie, performed at one of the first editions of the Glastonbury Festival. Gil returned to Brazil in 1972. In 1990 he set up the environmental organization Onda Azul ("Blue Wave"), which was dedicated to the protection of Brazilian waters. Such was his standing that when Lula was elected president of Brazil in 2003, he invited Gil to become his Minister of Culture. Gil accepted the invitation and served in the role for five years. A green stage at the Umbria Jazz Festival On the evening of Saturday July 9, Gilberto Gil took the stage of the Umbria Jazz Festival with his band and another great Brazilian artist, Marisa Monte, in the picturesque Italian city of Perugia. Gil is a giant both in terms of music and environmental activism, and it’s a privilege for Enel Green Power to be able to work with him in promoting causes like sustainability and renewable energy, which are key issues both in our world and his.

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Gilberto Gil and the Green Power of Music

Gilberto Gil and the Green Power of Music

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