Fans of the late Joe Strummer wanting to make some sort of tribute are being asked to support Future Forests, one of the Clash singer’s favourite environmental groups. They want fans to ‘donate a tree’ so they can grow a forest in his memory.
In the latter part of his life Strummer paid for enough trees to be planted to offset the carbon dioxide emissions created from the production of his CDs and his tours. "Joe absolutely loved forests and trees and helped get Future Forests started," a spokesman for the group told reporters.
“His inspiration and energy backstage at Glastonbury 1996 was the spark that got Future Forests going. Joe said 'bands must be contributing to global warming by their buses, equipment trucks and the diesel used to power the stages. Can you imagine how much CO2 the pressing and the distribution of a CD creates? What shall we do about it?'."
Strummer’s commitment to the planting of forests encouraged the likes of Pink Floyd, Coldplay, Pulp, David Gray and Mel C to support Future Forests – also funding the planting of trees to set off CO2 omissions caused by their work.
The memorial forest will be planted at Orbost on the shores of Loch Bracadale, on the Isle of Skye.