Musicians to perform in solidarity with Palestine

Navan event to raise awareness of BDS movement

A host of musicians, comedians, poets and artists are coming together for an event to raise awareness about the BDS movement on Saturday 24th October in Loughrans, Trimgate Street, Navan. Duleek comedian Joe Rooney of 'Father Ted' fame will host the night with lots of other like minded performers in solidarity with the people of Palestine. There will be live music onstage in the beer garden and the lounge from 8pm with acts from all over Meath and beyond.

Performers include Brillo, Caroline Reel, Cian Ó Cáinte, Colette Clinton, Davie Furey, Gavin Kealy, IF, Kollective, Luke Murtagh, Tom Gibbons, Mick Kennedy, Michael Brunnock, Nechtan, Noah Farrell, Ollie Clarke, Paddy Smith and Quinn. Renowned artist Annette Smyth will be doing live sketches to be auctioned in aid of Ionad Hind Rajab charity centre which supports displaced children in Khan Younis.

The Meath Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign have had some great fund raising events in the past but the main focus of this free event is raising awareness about what we can do to affect policy changes to help Palestine. Similar to how the international community brought an end to apartheid by its economic boycott of South Africa, the BDS movement - Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions - is about using the peaceful concept of conscious consumer choice. People may not be aware for example that they can ask their pharmacies for alternatives to Teva, an Israeli corporation that benefits from and contributes to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. An example of the power of boycotting is when Axa Insurance dropped its investments in Israeli weapons manufacturers and banks after a BDS led campaign.

Awareness is growing among the Irish public about how we can support Palestine and at the same time benefit Irish owned and operated companies when we use our consumer power. County Meath has a growing number of Apartheid Free Zones (AFZs) where you can find alternatives to Coca Cola for example like in Loughran’s where the gig is happening. The website www.apartheidfree.ie has a map where you can find and support businesses in Meath that have pledged their support of Palestine by becoming an AFZ. The event hopes to be an antidote for anyone who feels powerless in the face of governments and institutions failing to uphold international law by sanctioning Israel. There are so many positive actions we can take on our own, the organisers say.

Artists such as those performing on the night are signing up to the IPSC’s Artists Pledge To Boycott Israel, a fast growing initiative amongst Irish artists who we have seen lately are spearheading the movement to resist censorship and complicity in genocide. The campaign to end of the sale of Israeli war bonds by the Central Bank is another example of the power we have to demand that institutions do not finance genocide. Puma dropped their sponsorship of the Israeli football team after sustained global consumer pressure. sanctioning Israel.

The BDS for Palestine night hopes to build on these actions which have brought about real concrete change in policy at government and grassroots consumer levels. At the event, there will be on screen and printed information with the logos of complicit companies we can avoid.

Meath IPSC will have a stall there with Palestinian solidarity items and locally produced arts and crafts. The Irish tradition of cultural resistance through the power of poetry, art and song will be alive and kicking in Navan on 24th October. Just as the Dunne’s stores workers led a boycott of South African goods in 1984, we can again be at the forefront of a movement for freedom, justice and equality, the campaigners say.