Today is International Reggae Day, an annual media festival that celebrates Jamaica’s rich cultural legacy, history of quality music and global cultural impact. Marrying the power of music, media and technology, IRD is a dynamic marketing platform for the Best of Jamaica anchored online at www.ireggaeday.com.

IRD 2010 is promoting a RedGoldGreen ILOVEJA campaign and a message of Reggae Bring Back Love and Unity. Jamaicans and people around the world are invited to participate in the ILOVEJA campaign today by wearing their Reggae colours, listen to Reggae, log on to iregaeday.com, drink a Red Stripe; donate to a Jamaican charity and plant a tree.

Four notable music related Jamaican charities are being highlighted as a way the world to support Jamaica as well as encourage charitable donations at home — Alpha Boys School www.alphaboysschool.com; Bob Marley Foundation, www.bobmarleyfoundationja.org; Shaggy Foundation, www.shaggyfoundation.org; Toots Foundation www.tootsandthemaytals.com/foundation

A Reggae Tree Planting ceremony will be held at Emancipation Park in St Andrew at 10 am as a symbolic renewal of the commitment of music and media to higher standards and a better Jamaica. This web event is intended to highlight the IRD global ‘go green’ initiative and focus on music and media as major sectors in Jamaica’s creative industries and vital players in national life.

In keeping with the theme Reggae Bring Back Love and Unity, media discussions will focus on the role, power and responsibility of music and media to effect change. A special IRD forum will be hosted at the University of the West Indies entitled ‘Going Forward to our Roots: Reclaiming the Healing Power of Reggae Music’ at N-1 (Neville Lecture Theatre), Arts & Humanities Block at the Mona Campus @ 6pm.

The IRD virtual media festival is made possible with the upport of the Jamaica Pegasus, Jamaica Tourist Board, Red Stripe, D&F Music, Alternative Music, ADVIDCO, Jampro, Emancipation Park, Forestry Department, GD Films, Reggae Nation Apparel, Zip Zap Couriers and the Higher Intelligence Agency. Participating Jamaican media partners include Jamaica Observer/Chat!, IRIE FM, TVJ, RJR, FAME, HITZ, BESS, KOOL, PBCJ, Newstalk 93, Roots, HYPE, CTV, CVM and HOT 102. Overseas media already confirmed to participate in the virtual Reggae party include radio and Internet radio from Africa to America, Asia to Australia, Europe to Latin America, and of course the Caribbean.

Today, wear reggae colours and plant a tree as the world joins in celebrating the best of Jamaica’s creativity and media serve an extra special menu of programming produced to rekindle your love and passion for Jamaican music and introduce you to the many flavours of global Reggae culture.