We wish to make the following editorial statement:
The world is beset by war. The ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the tragedy in Israel and Gaza, the conflicts in Africa – wherever you look, it seems that bullets, cluster bombs, and missiles are flying. In every case, this means the horrors of explosives and fragments of metal being visited on human bodies. Gunpowder and shrapnel are the signs of bestiality and not humanity.
We stand for culture. We stand for peace. On that basis, we stand with those artists who have pulled out of SXSW due to the involvement of the US military and arms manufacturers. We reject the militarisation of culture and insist that music festivals and promoters say no to any involvement by the merchants of death. There is no compromise position that gives space to militarism at a music event.
We say – and call on our trade bodies, like the Association of Independent Music, to join us in saying – Music is for peace – not war!
(Crowd image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik)