Animal Collective, Local Natives, and Miguel are Trying to Save the Planet

When artists left cities and headed to remote landscapes around the 1960s, largely to bring attention to the increased commoditization of art and degradation of the planet, the artistic movement known as earthworks was born. It intrinsically linked natural landscapes with site-specific art installations and sculptures that used natural elements like rock and dirt.

Earthworks is also a new show on VICELAND in partnership with Live Nation, and merges the worlds of music and environmental activism. The first episode of Earthworks premieres on VICELAND on June 12.

The show follows three different artists as they travel to ecologically sensitive parts of the world, bringing immediate attention to the threats to life on this planet, and support the good work of local organizations. It continues in the tradition of land art forbearers by beautifully linking art with natural surroundings, and melds the two worlds of expression and activism.

The first episode follows Animal Collective on their journey to Manaus, deep in the heart of Brazil's rainforest. While making field recordings, the band discovers hard truths about how industrialization is fueling habitat loss for both tribal communities and animals.

LEARN MORE: Avoided Deforestation Partners is setting off an alarm on the importance of conservation, and are encouraging people to learn about their initiatives to be part of the solution. And the Federal University of Amazonas and Institute for Research in Amazonia are great local resources for more information.

In the second episode, VICE trails singer-songwriter Miguel and his family as he traces his Latino heritage back to his father's hometown of Zamora, Mexico. During his time there he gets a taste of the culture after meeting his distant relatives for the first time, and later he explores a monarch butterfly sanctuary. The butterflies act as pollinators which are important for sustaining food sources for both people and wildlife. But they're at serious risk of extinction as their migration patterns have been thrown wildly off. Unchecked human activity has disrupted the natural habitat putting a dangerous strain on food production and fragile ecosystems.

Learn more: Each fall, the monarch butterfly travels thousands of miles to the mountaintops in central México, but its fate is in peril. Habitat loss at the monarch's winter home in Mexico threatens the survival of this amazing species. You can make a difference by supporting Mexican food industries like Masienda and work of environmental partners like the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center

In the final episode, Local Natives brings it home with a dive into the dehydrated state of the Colorado River. The river is notorious for being one of the most legislated bodies of water in the entire world, and it's going down the drain. We find out that the U.S. is plunging deeper into a water crisis more complex than the bandmates could have ever imagined. No matter where you live, you can help cap the crisis.

LEARN MORE: The necessary change needed on climate will only happen if you take action. Environmental organizations like the Sierra Club and NRDC, have been on the frontlines fighting for a better future and are getting involved is a great way to make big changes in your community.

When it comes to our planet there's always something you can do, whether you're a rockstar or a lazy-ass couch potato.