Once again this year, the Danish cultural scene gathered to debate and experience art at Kulturmøde Mors.
Photo: Per Bille, Kulturmonitor.dk

The thanks should go to the hundreds of Danish artists who have been out distancing themselves from Israel's actions in Gaza and demanding an immediate ceasefire.  

"[...] Anyone can read and familiarise themselves with what I previously wrote about 10 years ago in relation to Israel's way of treating its fellow human beings. You shouldn't hear indignation on my part that the cultural community is shouting loudly," says Jakob Engel-Schmidt and continues:

"The fact that the Israeli government uses hunger as a weapon is something you can feel sick to your stomach about. Because I do. So thank you to all of you who speak up and speak out. We are listening. Even more than you realise," he says, according to the media Kulturmonitor, which was present.

The music industry speaks out in an op-ed

The Minister of Culture's backing of the artists' voice can be seen as an endorsement of the activist movements.

In July, over 1000 people in the music industry called out Danish politicians in an op-ed published in Information. The sender was the movement Music Industry For Ceasefire, and their message is clear: there must be immediate political action to stop the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

"We see a population in Gaza that is broken by the thousands, locked up in the largest open prison camp with no escape routes," writes Music Industry For Truce in the article and continues: 

"We demand that the Danish government and parliament take their responsibility seriously and immediately stop arms deliveries, financial and diplomatic support to the Israeli occupation. We demand that the Danish government works for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the blockade of Gaza and support for international humanitarian aid." 

Among the over 1000 signatories are musicians Annisette, Billie and Naja Rosa Koppel.

The movement is one of many in Europe where filmmakers, writers and journalists are coming together to call for a ceasefire.

You can read the full article here.  

Are you part of the music industry and want to take action?

You can join Musikbranchen For Våbenhvile on Sunday 24 August in Copenhagen to demonstrate for political action for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Find more information on the movement's Instagram here.