Una lettera aperta da BDS Italia
fonte: StopAgrexcoItalia
Firmate la petizione internazionale che chiede ai Red Hot Chili Peppers di annullare il concerto in Israele!
Cari Flea, Anthony, Chad e Josh,
Dopo aver appreso del vostro concerto previsto a Tel Aviv, ci siamo sentit@ in dovere di aggiungere le nostre voci al coro internazionale di appelli ad annullare quel concerto. Essendo una band con una coscienza, non possiamo vedervi suonare in una bolla privilegiata, circondata da milioni di palestinesi costretti a vivere sotto l’oppressione, l’apartheid e l’occupazione israeliana.
I testi della vostra musica sono in netto contrasto alle politiche di Israele, che impongono una brutale occupazione per cacciare le persone dalla loro terra nativa [1], leggi razziste che smembrano le famiglie [2] e una violenta repressione per sopprimere la resistenza nonviolenta[3].
Come siete ormai sicuramente a conoscenza, dopo aver ricevuto lettere analoghe alla nostra provenienti dagli Stati Uniti, Francia, Israele, India, Libano, Sud Africa, così come collettivi internazionali “Don’t Play Apartheid Israel” e “Artists Against Apartheid,” [4] un movimento globale lanciato e guidato dalla società civile palestinese invita gli artisti a rifiutare di esibirsi in Israele nell’ambito della campagna per il boicottaggio, disinvestimento e sanzioni (BDS) contro Israele [5], una risposta nonviolenta per porre fine alle politiche israeliane che rispecchiano quelle del Sudafrica dell’Apartheid. Sono la ragione per cui Tel Aviv è considerata la Sun City dei nostri tempi.
Il vostro concerto a Milano a luglio cade pochi giorni prima dell’ottavo anniversario della storica decisione della Corte internazionale di giustizia che dichiarò il Muro di Apartheid e gli insediamenti israeliani in violazione del diritto internazionale. [6] L’inazione ha permesso a Israele di proseguire le sue violazioni dei diritti umani, e continuerà a farlo fintanto che gode di impunità e il suo auto-proclamato status di un normale, civile, Stato democratico non viene contestato.
Piaccia o no, il vostro concerto sarà parte degli sforzi per promuovere quell’immagine. In realtà, lo è già. Notizie del concerto stanno sul sito web del Ministero del Turismo israeliano, presentato come “l’ennesimo esempio di musica straordinaria a livello internazionale disponibile in Israele”, per occultare le atrocità quotidiane dei crimini israeliani. [7] A proposito, se consultate le mappe fornite da tale ministero, farete fatica a trovare i Territori palestinesi occupati. [8] Solo l’anno scorso, nel corso della kermesse di 10 giorni sponsorizzata dal governo israeliano a Milano, videoclip di concerti a Tel Aviv di star internazionali avevano un posto di rilievo nella installazione multimediale sulla piazza principale della città, illustrando che quando si tratta di Israele, non si può separare la musica dalla politica.
Molti di noi siamo fan di lunga data della vostra musica e vogliamo che continuiate a “suonare per un giorno migliore”, ma ciò non può accadere se scegliete di non rispettare il boicottaggio, ignorando ciò che vi accade intorno e prestando la vostra musica per soffocare il rumore dei bulldozer che demoliscono le case [9], degli spari sui contadini [10] e delle grida dei palestinesi per la libertà, la giustizia e l’uguaglianza.
Può solo accadere se scegliete invece di unirvi a personaggi come l’arcivescovo Desmond Tutu così come i molti artisti, musicisti, registi e scrittori che scelgono di stare a fianco degli oppressi e si rifiutano di consentire che i loro talenti vengano utilizzati per mascherare le violazioni dei diritti umani. [11]
Solo allora “il potere dell’uguaglianza” comincerà a diventare “quello che dovrebbe essere.” Vi chiediamo di cancellare il vostro concerto a Tel Aviv.
Cordiali saluti,
BDS Italia
BDS Italia è un movimento per il boicottaggio, disinvestimento e sanzioni contro Israele, costituito da associazioni e gruppi in tutta Italia che hanno aderito all’appello della società civile palestinese del 2005 e promuovono campagne e iniziative BDS a livello nazionale e locale.
Note:
[1] http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Full%20Report_551.pdf
[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/12/israel-palestinian-spouses-ban
[3] http://www.alhaq.org/publications/publications-index/item/repression-of-non-violent-protest-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-case-study-on-the-village-of-al-nabi-saleh
[4] Don’t Play Apartheid Israel
http://www.facebook.com/notes/red-hot-chili-peppers-defy-injustice-cancel-israel/open-letter-to-red-hot-chili-peppers-please-cancel-your-gig-in-israel/286884711391791
BDS France
http://www.bdsfrance.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=775%3Alettre-ouverte-campagne-bds-france-aux-red-hot-chili-peppers-qui-ont-prevu-de-se-produire-en-israel&catid=9%3Aevenements-bds-france&lang=fr
Lebanon
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/red-hot-chilli-peppers-urged-abandon-israel-gig
Boycott from Within – Israel
http://boycottisrael.info/content/israeli-citizens-red-hot-chili-peppers-please-cancel-your-tel-aviv-gig
Artists Against Apartheid
http://www.usacbi.org/2012/05/artists-against-apartheid-chilli-peppers-please-cancel/
Indian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
http://www.incacbi.in/incacbi-appeal-red-hot-chili-peppers
US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
http://www.change.org/petitions/red-hot-chili-peppers-cancel-your-performance-in-israel
South Africa Artists Against Apartheid
http://www.southafricanartistsagainstapartheid.com/2010/07/red-hot-chili-peppers.html
[5] http://www.bdsmovement.net/
[6] http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?pr=71&code=mwp&p1=3&p2=4&p3=6&ca
[7] http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Articles/Newsletter/Pages/Red-Hot-Chili-Peppers-to-Perform-in-Israel.aspx
[8] http://www.goisrael.de/Tourism_Ger/Tourist%20Information/Discover%20Israel/Documents/MapOfIsrael1.pdf
[9] http://www.icahd.org/
[10] http://farmingunderfire.blogspot.it/
[11] http://zazafl.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/2011-successes-of-the-cultural-boycott-of-apartheid-israel-bds/
English version:
An open letter from BDS Italy
Sign the international petition calling on the Red Hot Chili Peppers to cancel their concert in Israel!
Dear Flea, Anthony, Chad and Josh,
After learning of your planned concert in Tel Aviv, we felt compelled to add our voices to the international chorus of calls to cancel that gig. As a band with a conscience, we can’t see you performing in a privileged bubble, surrounded by millions of Palestinians forced to live under Israeli oppression, apartheid and occupation.
The lyrics of your music stand in stark contrast to the policies of Israel, imposing a brutal occupation to drive people off their native land[1], racist laws that rip families apart[2] and violent repression to quell nonviolent resistance[3].
As you must now be aware, having received similar letters from the US, France, Israel, India, Lebanon, South Africa, as well as international collectives “Don’t Play Apartheid Israel” and “Artists Against Apartheid,” [4] a global movement led by Palestinian civil society is calling on artists to refuse to perform in Israel as part of a campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel[5], a non-violent response to end Israeli policies that bear striking similarities with those under Apartheid South Africa. They are the reason Tel Aviv is considered today’s Sun City.
Your concert in Milan this July falls just days before the 8th anniversary of the historic ruling of the International Court of Justice declaring Israel’s Apartheid Wall and settlement enterprise in violation of international law.[6] Inaction has allowed Israel to continue its human rights violations, and it will continue to do so as long as it enjoys impunity and its self-proclaimed status of a normal, civilized, democratic State goes unchallenged.
Like it or not, your concert will be part of the efforts to promote that image. In fact, it already is. News of your concert is up on the Israeli Ministry of Tourism web site, presented as “yet another example of the world-class music available in Israel,” whitewashing the daily atrocities of Israel’s crimes. [7] By the way, if you consult the maps provided by that very same ministry, you’ll be hard-pressed to find the occupied Palestinian Territories.[8] Just last year, during a 10-day Israeli government sponsored kermesse in Milan, video clips of international stars performing in Tel Aviv featured prominently in the multimedia installation on the city’s main square, illustrating there is no separating music and politics where Israel is concerned.
Many of us are longtime fans of your music and we want you to continue “playing for a better day,” but that can’t happen if you choose to cross the picket line, ignoring what is going on around you and lending your music to drown out the sound of bulldozers demolishing houses [9], shots fired on farmers [10] and the Palestinian cries for freedom, justice and equality.
It can only begin to happen if you instead join figures such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu as well as the many artists, musicians, directors and writers who choose to stand with the oppressed and refuse to allow their talents to be used to mask human rights violations.[11]
Only then can “the power of equality” start to become “what it ought to be.” Please cancel your concert in Tel Aviv.
Sincerely,
BDS Italia
BDS Italia is a movement supporting boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel, comprised of associations and groups throughout Italy who endorse the 2005 call from Palestinian civil society and promote BDS campaigns and initiatives locally and nationally.
Notes:
[1] http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Full%20Report_551.pdf
[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/12/israel-palestinian-spouses-ban
[3] http://www.alhaq.org/publications/publications-index/item/repression-of-non-violent-protest-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-case-study-on-the-village-of-al-nabi-saleh
[4] Don’t Play Apartheid Israel
http://www.facebook.com/notes/red-hot-chili-peppers-defy-injustice-cancel-israel/open-letter-to-red-hot-chili-peppers-please-cancel-your-gig-in-israel/286884711391791
BDS France
http://www.bdsfrance.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=775%3Alettre-ouverte-campagne-bds-france-aux-red-hot-chili-peppers-qui-ont-prevu-de-se-produire-en-israel&catid=9%3Aevenements-bds-france&lang=fr
Lebanon
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/red-hot-chilli-peppers-urged-abandon-israel-gig
Boycott from Within – Israel
http://boycottisrael.info/content/israeli-citizens-red-hot-chili-peppers-please-cancel-your-tel-aviv-gig
Artists Against Apartheid
http://www.usacbi.org/2012/05/artists-against-apartheid-chilli-peppers-please-cancel/
Indian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
http://www.incacbi.in/incacbi-appeal-red-hot-chili-peppers
US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
http://www.change.org/petitions/red-hot-chili-peppers-cancel-your-performance-in-israel
South Africa Artists Against Apartheid
http://www.southafricanartistsagainstapartheid.com/2010/07/red-hot-chili-peppers.html
[5] http://www.bdsmovement.net/
[6] http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?pr=71&code=mwp&p1=3&p2=4&p3=6&ca
[7] http://www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Articles/Newsletter/Pages/Red-Hot-Chili-Peppers-to-Perform-in-Israel.aspx
[8] http://www.goisrael.de/Tourism_Ger/Tourist%20Information/Discover%20Israel/Documents/MapOfIsrael1.pdf
[9] http://www.icahd.org/
[10] http://farmingunderfire.blogspot.it/
[11] http://zazafl.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/2011-successes-of-the-cultural-boycott-of-apartheid-israel-bds/