'Ode to Earth' seeks funding for two community-building environmental projects, inspired by the music of Ludwig van Beethoven and Victor Jara. And to develop a fun-filled game to ‘keep Earth flying high’ that eases lockdown stress and develops self-sustaining support.

1. THE GREAT GLOBAL SINGnHUM-ALONG. Beethoven was 250 in December. This video fulfilling his vision speaks more clearly, more beautifully, than any faltering words of mine. 'O Joy, wherever thy gentle wings hover, all people will become one.' ODEtoEARTH

Swell the global chorus of ‘Ode to Earth’, record your own version ('only in the bath' singers welcome!), so fulfilling his glorious song of all our longings: 'O Joy, wherever thy gentle wings hover, all people will become one.' (‘Ode to Joy’). Declare our ESSENTIAL INTER-dependence, rejecting current isolationism and fear. Help find more participants: Anyone can join in: Who can't hum - and isn't humming actually the universal sung language? Soloists can sing the words, while we hum the melody. The whole world thrumming like a spinning top. Imagine!

PLEASE SEND CONTACTS FOR POTENTIAL HUMMERS/SINGERS/CHOIRS. AND HELP FUND COMMUNICATION, MUSICIANS, COACHING, TRANSLATION, STUDIO TIME, MAKING VIDEOS, WEB DESIGN, TRAVEL, POSTERS, OTHER MATERIALS AND RECORDING/VIDEO-MAKING EQUIPMENT..

2. THE GREAT KEEP EARTH FLYING HIGH CHALLENGE'. FUNdraising at its finest: Celebrate Earth while relieving lockdown stress AND raising funds. Simplicity itself: (1) With permitted family/friends. (2) Roughly mark balloon/ball as Earth (3) Keep 'Earth' flying high by all and any means, hands, feet and bumps-a-daisy. (4) Aim for the Guinness Book of Records(!) (5) Post best/most enjoyable videos (6) Challenge the people next door. (7) Get your faith community/office/TV channel/football club to join in. (8) Get folk to sponsor you/group per minute. (7) Send us videos to weave into a composite to bring more people on board. This really is fun, relaxing - and simple. See for yourself: KEEP EARTH FLYING HIGH!

3. The songs of Víctor Jara reveal a deep compassion for Earth and impoverished peoples. They are extremely beautiful, often humorous. Víctor’s obscene death by Russian roulette during Chile’s 1973 military coup could not quench his vision or stifle his voice. His songs still inspire countless people throughout the world with their passionate beauty and exquisite courage. I'm privileged to be making singing English interpretations of Víctor’s best-loved music. As an example, and in honour of everyone – dust-persons to doctors - caring for us all during COVID-19, here’s his EL HOMBRE ES UN CREADOR - THE WORKER IS NOBODY'S FOOL!

Working with Joan Jara on an event to reclaim the stadium where Víctor had been murdered, she gave me Víctor's guitar to play, sitting in their garden in Santiago. This is the song that flowered in the stillness, I THOUGHT I HEARD SWEET VICTOR....SINGING.

PLEASE HELP FUND GOOD RECORDING AND VIDEO-EDITING EQUIPMENT TO CARRY THIS UNIQUE PROJECT FORWARD.

Concern and care for Earth unleashes astonishing creativity within us. An intriguing example is my own being inspired by 'Blowing in the Wind' to try to make a guitar from scrap-wood.

Fifty years ago, a supposedly silent Trappist monk, I fashioned the Abbot's table leg & toilet seat (retired) into a guitar to sing Bob Dylan. By guess and by God - amazing what you can do. A thousand adventures later, she's still singing. Together, we’re aiming for 150, at least - the music is so beautiful. However, along with the old guitar's strings, my 81 year-old heart is apparently beginning to fray a bit. Despite its gallant free NHS, heart exams and medicines are expensive in Nicaragua, thanks primarily to illegal international sanctions. ‘A little help from my friends' would be most welcome, if possible. Generosity seek no recompense, of course, but please accept in return:

1. Each new song recording. Apparently these are the only truly bilingual versions of Víctor's wonderful songs that exist. As Joan once said, 'I wish history had allowed you and Víctor to meet. You would have been friends'.

2. Each new video of groups joining the great communal chorus to fulfil Beethoven and ourselves in our deepest longings.

3. A signed copy of ‘Song in High Summer’. Encouraged by the Chilean exiles who first taught us Víctor's songs in Scotland, I was on my way to Central America when I joined solidarity people serving as human shields for Salvadoran exiles attacked by death squads – in downtown Los Angeles! 'Song in High Summer' is the account their courage inspired me to write.

4. Our 'Two Relics Duo' - the faithful guitar and me - headed for that mythical 150, singing out the great dream we all share of peace, justice and beauty. See you on the road. Abrazos. Paul.