Hey everyone! Matt from The Whomping Willows here. The following blog pertains to a brand new chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance called GRAWP (Guitar-wielding Ragamuffins Against Worldwide Poverty). I’ve started this chapter along with fellow wizard rocker Justin Finch-Fletchley, and our first initiative is a nationwide fundraiser for disaster relief efforts in Haiti. We’ve worked this fundraiser into the structure of our upcoming fall tour, which starts in Boston on October 24 and runs through November 26. We’re hoping to raise over $1,000 for the cause, and we’re also hoping to raise awareness for a humanitarian crisis that has been largely ignored by the media. If you’d like to help out, the first step is to read this (rather lengthy) blog. Thank you so much, and we hope to see you on the road this fall!

The Harry Potter universe is a mirror to our society in many ways. The children and teens of the wizarding world are subjected to years of magical training, just as the young people of our world must meet certain academic requirements before entering the workforce. Grown-up wizards face grown-up problems: seeing to their children’s health and well-being, putting food on the table, and advancing their own careers. Even the most talented wizards have to make a living somehow, whether it’s a mundane administrative job at the Ministry or an exciting, comparatively glamorous position as instructor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.

We learn early on that wealth wields power in the wizarding world. The Malfoys’ family fortune allows them to enjoy a large home and a number of luxuries not available to all wizards. Additionally, their money has apparent influence on the government; in the lead-up to Harry’s trial before his fifth year at Hogwarts, it is implied that Mr. Malfoy may have paid Cornelius Fudge not to clear Harry’s name (OotP). Like the corporate lobbyists and special interests prevalent in real-world America, wizards with wealth can expect their voices to be heard by the ruling class.

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If you’ve already registered to vote at a Wizard Rock concert this summer or somewhere else but at this point have not been mailed a card confirming that you’re registered, there is a good chance that for whatever reason your registration never happened. So IF YOU HAVEN’T RECIEVED A CARD in the mail confirming your registration then either call your Secretary of State’s office on Monday morning or to be extra safe, REGISTER ONLINE by going to http://thehpalliance.org/wrockthevote, scroll down just a little, and then click on the icon in the left hand column that says “Wizard Register To Vote Right Here”…if this means that you accidentally registered twice, that’s okay - the system will catch it. But it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Remember, this Monday October 6 voter registration ends in 25 states. If you think you’ve registered but haven’t received the card confirming that in the mail, register again online. If you haven’t registered then by all means register right now online!!!

My recent post deals with racism. The US is a country that is so afraid of racism that it pretends that racism doesn’t exist. Stephen Colbert parodies this by asking African American guests if they’re black. When they tell him they are, he says, “Really? ‘Cause I’m so color blind I don’t see race. I never would have known. The fact is, I don’t even know if I’m black.”

Colbert is skewering us (particularly “Papa” Bill O’Reilly) for pretending that we are a color blind nation. But most of us in the US and from other countries know that all someone needs is a pair of Extendable Ears to listen in on the racist things that families say behind closed doors. So out of curiosity, who else relates to growing up in a family with relatives that bless their hearts, despite their goodness and loving natures, expose their racism behind closed doors? Feel free to be anonymous in answering this question!

The following blog post is, I think of great importance. While it’s long, I ask you to take some time to read it. I think you’ll like it!
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According to our fellow Darfur activists: yes. The United States is still the most powerful country in the world, and the next president of this country did not face one question on genocide, global poverty, and AIDS.

This was supposed to be THE debate that focused on foreign policy. It’s more than understandable that due to the current financial crisis, there was a great deal of time devoted to the economy, however, here’s what’s not okay: genocide, poverty, and AIDS are issues that are affecting BILLIONS of people. Well over half the planet are living in life and death situations that should not exist at all were it not for the greed, manipulation, and messed priorities of other people.

So. I think that’s something that should be addressed in one of the next debates. The HPA’s partner groups think so too. If you, my fellow members of the real world Dumbledore’s Army agree, join us in signing this petition.

People deserve better.

I’d like the HPA to address the issue of global warming. Talk about the need for a Dumbledore’s Army to wake the world up! It seems that each day that we don’t see a green revolution global warming grows more powerful.

Our warmest wishes to all Muslims and Jews as the world celebrates Ramadan and the Jewish New Year.

After this post our web designer Acacia let me know that a person’s Patronus is not necessarily an animal reflection of their personality (that would be an animgus).

According to Acacia and her husband Jason, a patronus is about an animal that serves as your protector. Harry identified his father as his protector, so his Patronus was a stag. What do you think of this take on the Patronus? If you agree with it, this takes us back to the question: what would your Patronus be?

So the US and Canada are getting ready for elections. Did the Wizarding World have elections? Was Rufus Scrimgeur elected or appointed? And if appointed, by whom?

Someone asked me this recently and I’m having a really hard time settling on one!

While in the Golden Compass series a person’s daemon keeps changing until they reach adulthood, a person’s Patronus can change too. However, for now, do you know what yours would be?