Today’s world is in dire need of creative solutions to the challenges of sustainable community development, trauma, health and well being stemming from a host of factors such as poverty, disease, economic uncertainty and war. Music for too long has been overlooked as a resource to effectively address these and other social and economic issues.
Since the earliest days of human existence, music has been engrained into our very being. All humans are born with an innate sensitivity to tone and rhythm. Music has been and is still being used as a vital force of self-expression, communication, empowerment and healing in a wide range of activities: social, political, educational, religious, and as a release from the daily tensions of life.
Current research shows that music, as well as other forms of cultural expression, is an effective resource in the healing process of individuals and groups who have been emotionally and physically afflicted. Music is an extremely cost-effective and powerful language that all cultures relate to naturally. Music is also a direct and potent tool in two major areas: sustainable urban and rural community building and the healing process of individuals and communities.
The International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) is a not-for profit organization (NGO) that has Special Consultative status with the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). In 2001, ICCC began addressing the MDG challenges by bringing together Music, Culture, Technology and Healthcare in a unique dialogue as a part of the United Nations’ International Year on Dialogue Among Civilizations. This creative holistic approach to solutions has continued and deepened through an ongoing series of high-level dialogues. These conferences have been highly successful, leading to a number of recommendations that would showcase projects that demonstrate the benefits of using music to achieve the MDG goals.
In 2005, the “Promoting an Enabling Environment: Integrating Music, Technology, Culture and Healthcare” Conference moved the dialogue forward with emphasis on the integration of technologies with local needs to promote solutions to issues that will enhance the quality of life today and for future generations. The dialogue identified a broad range of cutting edge possibilities including research and community projects featuring the cost-effective use of music as a natural resource.
In 2007, the “Music as a Natural Resource” initiative was established to bring the potential of music as a tool for improving the quality of life to the attention of decision makers and in support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by ICCC. Within the framework of UN-HABITAT and with other UN partners, three High Level Working Sessions were held in October 2008, November 2009, and February 2010. These working sessions gathered a non-traditional group of decision makers and experts from government, international organizations, local authorities, the private sector including the music industry, academia, and health organizations to explore the use of music to enhance community health, well being and the quality of life. One of many recommendations coming from these working sessions was to develop a series of publications that highlight the use of music as a natural resource.
This next publication of the Music as a Natural Resource Initiative is a further response to working sessions’ recommendation. Its purpose is to help promote development of sustainable initiatives on the national, regional and local levels that utilize the vast potential of music to attain the MDGs.
