Name: Otep Shamaya

What is your job?

I consider myself a writer, thinker, singer, provocateur. What I hope to provoke is a lucid madness that frees people from the limited ways we are taught to think and feel.

What social causes are most important to you?

Equality, Marriage Equality, Human Rights, Gay Rights, Women's Rights, Animal Rights, Climate Change, Child Brides, mocking the Religious Right by quoting Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh & Sarah Palin

What charities do you support – and how?

EQCA, HRC, PETA, Carbon Rally. I try to educate and enlighten our audiences to the things that matter to me. They can make up their own minds if they agree or not but I think it's important for everyone to be educated on things that truly matter to them instead of blindly following a politician, an entertainer, or news personality.

Why do you have a passion for this one in particular, is there a personal tie?

They are all important to me. I believe that if we do not use our freedoms we will lose them.

Is there a particular way you would want to encourage readers to be involved?

The first step is information. Take it in, and know that there is hope and there are organizations that care and are trying to do something. They need passionate people who will bring fire to the storm. So, please, get off Facebook and Myspace and volunteer. Use that burning fervor inside you to make something happen!

How would you define social responsibility?

Those that can make a difference should at least TRY to make a difference. Either Fight or Get Out of The Way!

Do you have any tattoos that relate to your social/charitable beliefs?

I have a stone bracelet inked around my right forearm to remind me of the human bondage that still exists in this world.

Related Links:
Otep's MySpace : http://www.myspace.com/otep
EQCA : http://www.eqca.org/
HRC : http://www.hrc.org/
PETA : http://www.peta.org/
Carbon Rally : http://www.carbonrally.com/