Concert: Not-In-Our-Name

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Concert: Not-In-Our-Name

WDIE has received notice of an important concert and cultural event taking place on Saturday, September 14. The composers, performers, other cultural workers who are taking part in the concert "Not-In-Our-Name" are doing so to oppose the agenda of the so-called "war against terrorism". They are taking a stand against war, aggression and state terrorism. They are further taking a stand against the criminalisation of dissent and attacks on the right to conscience.

The opposition embodied in the concert under the slogan Not In Our Name does not presuppose any narrow political position. It is a declaration that the way the British government and the Bush administration are acting is Not In Our Name. It relates to people taking a position themselves. It is a principle.

It can also be seen that the concert is not just oppositional but is also proactive. And it is not a concert where the performers are just turning up and performing, but one in which all the cultural workers have participated in setting the content of the event. The aspiration is to produce music and other artistic works which embody the emotions and aspirations consistent with the political renewal of society, and this is in turn consistent with taking the stand "Not In Our Name", of having an enlightened view, of speaking to and on behalf of the audience in this vein.

By organising a Not In Our Name concert, the cultural workers are contributing to defining the alternative, to setting the agenda. It is a concert involving a broad range of people, in which the slogan "Not In Our Name" is key.

The concert will include a number of new compositions, quite a few of which are being specially written for the event, with a large array of musicians performing. In addition there are a number of bands, groups and choirs who are giving their services. Also on the programme is a video and music collaboration and several poets are reading their work. Art and sound installations will also be in evidence. A feature of the cultural event is that there will be manifestations of different national cultures. In the totality of these contributions, the converging point is to be found in inspiring people to deal with the onslaughts that the agenda of the "war against terrorism" is bringing, to find relief and assist in changing the situation.

For these cultural workers, organising and participating in the concert is answering the question of what to do. They are seizing the opportunity to blaze a trail as to how culture can advance without being dismissive about politics, in a non-sectarian way, irrespective of ideology, with a variety of styles of expression.

It is quite evident that a concert such as this, though it has been many months in the making, has not lost its timeliness. In fact, the necessity to involve progressive people in the field of culture in giving expression to their stands in this form, as well as in other ways, has if anything been made more urgent by objective developments. Such has been the support for the project that it is certain not to be a one-off. It is clear that a movement is in the making, and there is room for everyone interested to become involved.

Not In Our Name! Create the Alternative!

Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN

Saturday, September 14, 2002, 7.00 pm

Tickets: £10 (£5 concs)

Box-office: 0870 120 1349

Online sales: http://www.unionchapel.org.uk

Walk-in sales only (no telephone booking): Reckless Records, 79 Upper Street, London N1.

The artists are freely giving their services and any surplus after costs of hall hire, publicity and other expenses will go to the anti-war movement.

Website: http://www.geocities.com/notinournameconcert