Like many people I have watched with  a heavy heart  what has recently unfolded in Gaza over the last few weeks. I have grown astounded at the media’s coverage,  at commentators’  ignorance of the facts and  at the world’s governments turning a blind eye to the deaths,  the endless bombardment of homes indiscriminate bombing of hospitals, UN shelters and schools, the  attacks on civilians with women and children bearing the brunt of Israeli’s immense and indifferent weaponry. It has horrified and angered me. Being a father I ask myself ‘how would I feel if my innocent child was killed, wiped off this earth by some shell fired from miles away”- how, how could you ever find peace and solace?

I also feel powerless and a sense of guilt as I read the reports on Twitter or Facebook. A voyeur to people’s slaughter. Terrible. So I thought it may be useful to try and raise funds for the survivors in Gaza and to raise awareness and not let it fade from the news ticker replaced by another story .As Martin Niemoller prophesied in World War Two

‘First they came for the  Socialists and I did not speak out- because I am not a socialist…. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out- because I am not a Jew. Then they came for me- and there was no one left to speak for me’

(First they came)

We could be next. 

It is time we stood up and spoke out. Thus, myself and Julian Gardner, musician, activist and manager at Ebbw Vale Institute formulated a plan and  on August 20th  2014 7.30pm Ebbw Vale Institute poets musicians  activists and speakers will gather to show support for the people of Gaza. All acts have volunteered their time free of charge- Martyn Joseph, Sophie McKeand,  James Kennedy, Nicholas Whitehead, The Hounds of Justice, Bleedin Noses, Chris King, Jamie Bevan, Terry Victor,  Bob Rogers, Dean Emson, Julie Pritchard, Dawn Wood, Betty  Hunter (PSC) Haya al Farrah will raise their voices  for the cause of peace, equality and justice.

Tickets are £5 concessions £3.50

The slaughter in Gaza of over 1800 Palestinians, including 400 children, by the fourth mightiest army in the world has stunned people of conscience all over the world. Prisoners in their own land, the Palestinians have seen their homes, schools and hospitals destroyed as well as the electricity power plant, leaving them without water, food, sewage and medicines.

While world leaders do nothing, caring people are protesting everywhere at Israel's blatant violations of international and humanitarian laws.  This fundraising concert in Ebbw Vale will help surviving children in Gaza cope with the injuries and trauma they are suffering  but it will also show them that they are not forgotten.  

 Betty Hunter

 Honorary President

 Palestine Solidarity Campaign

The military occupation and appropriation of Palestinian land cannot, in my view, be seen as anything but an expression of total disregard for the elementary justice that the Palestinians are entitled to. The world’s injustice and abhorrent cruelty to the Jewish people cannot be eliminated by, or compensated with, committing another injustice. 

This is the lesson I learned from great Jewish thinkers such as Maimonides and Spinoza. Therefore, I believe it is the responsibility of Israelis to find ways to build a better future together with the Palestinians – either together, or side by side. But definitely not back to back. 

Daniel Barenboim

Israeli Composer

“You cannot continue to victimize someone else just because you yourself were a victim once—there has to be a limit” 

Edward Said

Palestinian writer