> Protestfest 2005, what do we communicate:
Protestfest represents connection of different forms of alternative culture and activities of protest movement and organizations. It creates informal space for established organizations, informal groups and individuals. Festival will present colourful palette of gigs, exhibitions, direct actions, happenings, different performances, street theatre, infoshops, discussions and other activities of cultural alternatives and activism.
This year, festival holds the subtitle “Against War and Armament”. Through various forms and levels of protest, we would like to express out disagreement with wars waged by states for their power interests, while they represent them as “defence of civilization”, “defence of values”, or as “defence of culture”. Similarly, we would like to express our disagreement with the politics of armament and militarization of society presented as the “guaranty of safety” against … whom actually? Well, probably against all.
Protest fest happens this year in the time when Brno hosts arms fair IDET – the opportunity for arm industry to present their products and to make contracts. Ministers of Czech government shield this fair. Therefore it is a symbol of connection between repressive state and arms industry capital. But it is presented as international fair of defence and security technology.
We refuse to accept arms trade and declaration of wars as defence of our lives. We refuse to create and support structures, which under the mask of our security disturb and threaten our lives and the space we live in. We don’t oppose arms only – we warn that wars and armament have much more broad context and reach. Militarism is one of the symptoms of deeper problems of the system itself. Thus activities of the week of protests against war and armament have to be understood in the context of their relation to the system which produces such “delicacies” as (besides militarism) are racism, xenophobia, poverty, marginalization of alternatives, police repressions, or destruction of the nature. Different expressions of protest present effort to emancipation, to (re)creation of life space. They are the expression of the interest in co-creation of everyday reality. Therefore we see the protest festival as cultural and political activity, as expression of radical systemic critique.
You are invited – great music and interesting information for free! Bring your own opinion – we won’t impose anything on you. What will be the quality of the space we’ll create and how far will it resonate what we want to say depends primarily on you.
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