Love Song to Jane: Honoring Jane Goodall on Earth Day

Dana Lyons, Guest Speaker (Website)

Jane Spalding. Worship Leader
Dana Lyons, Special Music

Environmental activist and musician Dana Lyons shares songs and stories about Jane Goodall, and others working across the globe to protect our beautiful planet Earth.  Dana was honored to be friends with Jane for 25 years.

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Dana Lyons was born to be an environmental activist and musician.  He grew up near the Hudson River where at age 4 his mother shared Pete Seeger’s music with him and told him about Pete’s efforts to clean up the Hudson.   At age 7 he began to play the piano, at 13 he organized his first band, and at age 14 he organized local efforts to protect the Ozone Layer.  Pete Seeger was one of his heroes who modeled how to organize environmental campaigns.  

Dana attended Swarthmore College and then armed with a guitar he wrote music and took it on environmental tours around the globe.  Sometimes accused of preaching to the choir, Dana says the first rule of organizing is that the choir needs to know the music.  In order to win in your struggle your supporters (the choir) need to be up to speed on this issue.  Then “the choir” teaches their circle of friends. Then you are likely to win.  With that formula he cites numerous successes in addressing climate change. We’ll hear about some of those successes this morning. 

Right now, he is a singing cheerleader for preserving our democracy.  He was a lead performer at the No Kings March in Everett and is totally committed to saving free speech and our democracy.  Along the way he met Jane Goodall and for 25 years enjoyed singing at her presentations and being part of her orbit.  Last year he had the honor of being invited to speak at her memorial service at the National Cathedral in the other Washington.