Thursday, November 16, 2023

Surrealism Against War - Ceasefire Now!

From its very inception surrealism has taken a principled stand against imperialism and war. As a movement it emerged from the embers of Dada, which was itself a reaction to the pointless carnage of the First World War. Its first intervention in the political arena was its denunciation of French participation in the Rif War of 1924. Since then it has always stood on the side of the oppressed, and against the oppressor.

As a movement surrealism supported social struggles around the world, and against the imperialist and militarist forces that were soon to drive the world into a second global war. After that war surrealists took part in the struggles against war in Indochina and elsewhere, and came together to sign a collective statement against the Iraq and Afghan wars in 2001/2. 

Today we see the Middle East in flames. We are told that Israel's murderous and sustained attack on Gaza is simply payback for Hamas's atrocities on 7th October. But we know that the roots of the conflict go much deeper than that. Israeli war crimes are bank-rolled by US capital, in payment for its role as the West's attack dog in the region. 

Gaza has been described by one Jewish Israeli historian as "the biggest prison on earth". Today it is being levelled, and its people are being indiscriminately slaughtered. The goal is ethnic cleansing and territorial conquest, a fact that is plain to see despite all attempts by the western media and politicians to pretend otherwise. We cannot stand idly by while a second Nakba unfolds. We must mobilise to force our government to stop underwriting the killing of innocent civilians, the butchering of children. We must join hands with all of those who are calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and for a just and lasting peace settlement in Israel/Palestine that secures the future of all its inhabitants. 

CEASEFIRE NOW!

FOR A JUST AND LASTING PEACE IN ISRAEL/PALESTINE!

Featured image: 'Caveat Emptor' - assemblage with shell casing, Jay Blackwood 2023.


Surrealism Against War - Ceasefire Now!

From its very inception surrealism has taken a principled stand against imperialism and war. As a movement it emerged from the embers of Dad...