Daily Bruin
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Many people tend to harbor the notion that crises in far-off regions
thousands of miles away stand beyond their reach of influence. The
members of the on-campus organization Mighty Mic tend to think
differently.
Mighty Mic at UCLA works to tackle human
rights topics through the combination of entertainment and education in
one event, an annual spring benefit concert. Featuring headliners Shiny
Toy Guns and UCLA student band The Ten Thousand, this year’s concert concerns the drought and famine crisis in Somalia.
“We are so privileged here at UCLA and in
California in general; we have access to food, water and other resources
that are so scarce in Somalia,” said Karen Leon, a fourth-year
political science and international development studies student and
co-director of the concert. “Before even thinking about an education or
other issues, people our own age in Somalia have to deal with trying to
feed themselves and their families for the day.”
Although the lack of nourishment has brought overwhelming hardship
to many people in Somalia, fourth-year English student and co-director
of the concert, Kelly Rosenfeld, said the nation’s damage is a result of
more than the famine or drought alone.
“All of the natural causes of the famine have been completely
exacerbated by the political instability in the region. There’s been
conflict between a transitional government and rebel groups fighting
over control of different parts of the country,” Rosenfeld said.
Mighty Mic annually prioritizes the protection of human rights such
as those in the Somalia situation; this year will mark the sixth
concert. Last year’s concert focused on sex trafficking in Southeast
Asia.
“We live in an increasingly globalized community. We’re citizens not
just of our school or our city or even our country; we’re citizens of
the world now,” Rosenfeld said. “We should be ensuring that everyone has
the basic human rights they deserve.”
All proceeds from this year’s event will go toward UNICEF and Africa Rescue Committee, a non-governmental organization in Somalia that will work with the communities of those affected. UNICEF will help to provide resources and set up sustainable solutions for those suffering from the crisis.
A speaker from each organization will help educate concert attendees
with informative presentations in between the musical acts.
Dylan Robin, a third-year psychology student and member of The Ten
Thousand, said he also believes the turmoil in Somalia deserves more
attention from the student body and the greater community.
“Somalia is experiencing the worst famine the world has witnessed in
a really long time. It’s shocking how much difficulty there’s been to
get the aid they need,” Robin said. “Not enough people know; the demands
are super urgent. (The Ten Thousand) is happy to help in any capacity
that we can.”
Last November, The Ten Thousand won Battle of the Bands, an event
organized by Mighty Mic that determined who would open for the spring
benefit concert. Robin said it’s an honor for the band to share the
stage with a group that is as well-established and has had as much
success in the industry as Shiny Toy Guns has.
According to Robin, The Ten Thousand’s style roughly emulates that
of Shiny Toy Guns. The student band will play new songs consisting of
dark and electronic material.
Leon said that, between the hard-rocking musical entertainment and
humanitarian speakers, the issues in Somalia are bound to be lifted up
into the horizons of UCLA awareness.
“A lot of people think a concert on campus thousands of miles away
can’t really do anything,” Robin said. “But I think that through the
event and hopefully through the eventual proceeds some change will
happen. Every little bit counts.”