Climate awareness is very much in the news this week with talks ongoing in Paris, and a Wellfleet resident is showing how music can play a role in that effort.
Harriet Korim is a longtime climate activist. She’s also a musician and songwriter, and one of her several guitars has a unique pedigree.
“(The guitar) was produced in collaboration between Live Earth, Al Gore’s big 07/07 global concert, and Gibson Guitars,” Korim said. “Although 25 were supposed to get made, less than 12 actually did get made.”
Before Harriet owned it, the guitar traveled to many different concert venues, picking up autographs from artists and bands like Metallica, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, John Legend and more along the way.
In 2009, MTV in London decided to give away the guitar to promote climate awareness. In order to win, contestants had to submit photos and a description of their individual efforts to improve the environment. Korim cited her own climate awareness efforts in and around Wellfleet, and her entry was chosen as the winner.
“Part of my winning entry was to say that I pledged to keep this guitar working for what it was made for," she said, "which was to raise awareness and funds for climate action.”
Korim has used the unique bluish-colored guitar on a number of her own recordings and concerts. Recently, she decided to auction off the guitar on eBay, and she plans to donate 100% of the profits to climate action organizations and causes.
“You know, it’s a chance for a company, actually, to get a tax-deductible end-of-the-year write-off…but also for an individual to get a fantastic investment, a great guitar, and help save the climate,” said Korim.
The Live Earth Guitar auction was officially opened on December 4th at a Paris concert in support of the global climate justice movement. The auction closes December 14th.
