So here's the first post in a brand new category for this blog, Music! (the '!' is because Typepad apparently thinks already have a category by that name).
After a kind of forced-exile I've started playing much more music again over the past couple of years, and have always been interested in how music can both reflect larger issues in a community or the world, can be a cohesive force between people, and also a means of action. So blah, blah, blah, expect to see some more pieces on music, musicians, and interesting political/music mutations in the near future.
For now I'm going to plug a project that some friends of mine in Moscow have put together. These guys are in an antifascist hip-hop/punk group called Hoods Up 495, and have been very bravely standing up to the increasing swell of fascist activity on the streets and in the boardrooms of their city. They recently put together an international compilation CD to benefit Alem Assefa, one of their friends who was beaten into a coma by neo-Nazi skinheads on the Moscow metro.
Definitely check out more about the band and the charity, as well as the situation in Russia, in the links above. In the mean time, here's the official text on Alem's story and the CD's release...
Planet Of Friends Compilation
PLANET OF FRIENDS is an international antifascist punk/hardcore compilation, put out to support a guy named Alem Assefa, who was attacked and badly crippled by nazi boneheads in Moscow just because his skin was black. Alem got very serious brain traumas, he spent a very long time in coma and couldn't even talk and move by himself. It's a shame, but that white power crap is extremely huge in Russia today and there are lot of subhumans around, who think that they may take away your right to live, just because of the color of your skin. Nazis here feel absolutely free to cripple and even kill people of "different" race, nationality, sex and antifascist activists in the broad day light, while the authorities don't seem to care even a little about it.
Now Alem is slowly getting better and doctors say he even has chances to get back to normal life. But he needs a very expensive medical treatment, while his family isn't rich at all. All money from this comp will go to support Alem and his family.
The comp was released by Russian DIY label Boycott The Fencewalkers Records, but it would never see the light without huge help and support of our friends from all over the globe. This CD is a result of common work of people from 12 countries.
BANDS - The compilation has 43 songs (more than hour of music - hardcore, thrash, crust, OI!, street-punk, hip-hop etc) from 27 bands :
VITAMIN X, A.N.S., BLACK S.S., COMMON ENEMY, LxExAxRxNx, ENDSTAND, SUCK STUFF, KNOCKAROUNDS, NANAHARA SHUYA, EYES OF HATE, THE 4 SIVITS, CxAxP, RAZOR BOIS, THE ANSWER LIES, MASSACRE, F.C.G.B.Y.N! DYSNEYLAND, JUST WENT BLACK, HOODS UP 495, SUCK STUFF, REBEL SPELL,DEAN DIRG, ALARME, SATANAIZ, ALTERNATE SYSTEM, MIGRA VIOLENTA, THE TANGLED LINES
GOALS - Releasing this compilation, we try not only to collect money for Alem, but also goin' to
- show Alem that he's not alone. There are lots of people around the whole world who are eager to help him since they heard about his tragedy.
- demonstrate that we're not gonna let fascist scum grind us down. Fascism, nationalism, bigotry and ignorance are not just problems of the victims. It is our common problem. Because tomorrow everybody, incuding us, our friends and relatives may become another victim. Fascism and hate knows no race, color, sex etc. We all must stand shoulder to shoulder and show boneheads that they can't do shit to nobody of us. Not on this planet, motherfuckers!!
HOW IT WORKS - All profits from this compliation are being transferred to the charity organisation POMOGI.ORG, who are helping to collect money for Alem and lots of other people who really need help. This is a really great organistion that can be trusted, NO BULLSHIT!
If you'd like to know more about them visit their page:
Here's the section of the site, dedicated to Alem:
http://en.pomogi.org/help/alem/
HOW TO BUY AND SUPPORT - CHECK THE BLOG TO LEARN ABOUT HOW TO BUY THE COMP AND THE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT ALEM!
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