R.E.M. helped raise funds for environmental , feminist and human rights causes , and were involved in campaigns to encourage voter registration . During the '' Green '' tour , Stipe spoke on stage to the audiences about a variety of socio-political issues . Through the late 1980s and 1990s , the band ( particularly Stipe ) increasingly used its media coverage on national television to mention a variety of causes it felt were important . One example is during the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards , Stipe wore a half-dozen white shirts emblazoned with slogans including " rainforest " , " love knows no colors " , and " handgun control now "
1991 MTV Video Music Awards
1991 MTV Video Music Awards
R.E.M.