WOMAD

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  Hello everyone,

  I was concerned to see that as well, especially as I was interested in seeing the Alaev Family (though didn't manage to see them due to a lie-in). To me it sounds more like a sponsorship of the act themselves rather than WOMAD getting anything out of it. Perhaps someone from WOMAD could explain the rationale for accepting this in the promo?

  Posted on 04-Aug-2012 5:57pm by Gurdybloke

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  You're more likely to get a response out of womad if you ask it on the facebook page. x

  Posted on 04-Aug-2012 6:11pm by Yummy Mummy

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  Ah someone has, but they haven't put it all too nicely . . . I'm sure Womad would be much more likely to respond if someone just asked the question. x

  Posted on 04-Aug-2012 6:16pm by Yummy Mummy

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  I think that people have a right to ask questions. Whether it was an advert, a symbol or whatever, it was still in the programme. I don't know for sure whether the Israeli government were paid for the priviledge, I only saw it after I had read about it on this forum and as usual I like to provoke a bit of an intelligent debate when posted my comments.

  Government oppression of it's people and neighbours isn't 'nice', but as Jim rightly pointed out earlier, many countries are guilty of the process. Whether Womad have paid or not I can't see any reason why people shouldn't ask questions. I find it curious that some members of this forum think that people are being 'nasty' when certain questions are asked. FFS, no-one has been rude, no-one is a 'hater', they are just being direct. As Gurdybloke has said Womad should explain the rationale behind the acceptance of the promotion. Some people are just trying to sweep this under the carpet by not discussing it. This is a forum and as its members we should be able to discuss things in an adult manner - even if some of you don't think some of the question are 'nice'.

  The globe is not a fluffy place. I used to go to Womad so that I could support artists from around the world who were given the opportunity to travel to the festival. I also enjoyed Womad because it was a political arena - many campaign groups were given the chance to have their say but sadly since the move the Charlton Park that part of the festival has been sanitised. Sometimes it appears to me that this forum could go the same way if people don't take an active role in topics such as this, so please don't be put off by those who don't agree with what you say.

  Posted on 04-Aug-2012 6:58pm by Purpledawn

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  Yeah PD - I can't imagine Reading Council wanting to have association with the Israeli government. . .

  Posted on 04-Aug-2012 7:05pm by Mr Beef

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  Not wishing to be stir things at all, but maybe next year we could have Syrian Government symbols in the programme, sponsorship from Cluster Bomb/Land mine manufacturers along with Exon, after all they are big employers in the UK I am of course deliberately being extreme, but the point is, I believe valid. Womad is a wonderful concept and festival, it also must make money to survive, but to keep it's beauty it has got to look to ethics also. There must be a way of celebrating music and dance from across the world without siding with governments and organisations whose ethics are questionable.

  Posted on 04-Aug-2012 7:57pm by S.C.

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  I agree wholeheartedly with what you say PD, however you were not asking questions, what you did was make a statement that was unsubstantiated, e.g. "THEY PAID FOR THE ADVERT". There was absolutely no room for discussion in your post, it was an out-and-out statement which you were presenting as fact, leaving room only for people to challenge what you said rather than debate.

  I, for one, do not think you were being nasty, just misleading in what you were saying.
  Personally, I would never post anything in a forum that I wouldn't say face to face. I also give people the benefit of the doubt, whilst a comment may seem to be an attack I generally do not treat it as such as I realise the written word, especially in this media, can often be misunderstood.

  Regarding campaign groups, they are all very well but they don't always get their facts right, or realise the full consequences of their actions. I spent sometime speaking to one member from one such group at this years WOMAD who wanted me to sign a petition to encourage the government to start charging tax on fuel for shipping. The argument was the revenue raised could be used to help children in one particular country they were campaigning for, whilst at the same time helping to prevent global warming. They were living in cloud cuckoo land, all this was going to do was finish off an already greatly depleted British Merchant Navy (as the existing British companies would move their ships to foreign flag to avoid the tax), resulting in more unemployment, no revenue raised for their caused, and absolutely no effect on global warming. They had no argument against the points I raised.

  Posted on 04-Aug-2012 7:58pm by Trebor

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  Fellow Womaders,

  You live in the UK. Your taxes pay for death somewhere in the world everyday. How you come to terms with that is an interesting question for all of us but the aims of WOMAD do not include helping you to do that nor do they include easing your conscience by pretending that bad regimes don't exist.

  Criticise evil actions by all means but if you want to help bring peace to the world you cannot pick sides. Isreali government sponsorship of a decent band is not a bad thing, killing Palestinian women and children is.

  Posted on 05-Aug-2012 8:41am by Lucky Herbert

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  After reading Trebor's post, I was just about to apologise for inadvertently missing out the words 'in my opinion'. However, in view of Lucky Herbert's comment, I think I will leave the last words on the subject to him/her. Mind you, it would still be good to hear from Womad don't you think?

  Posted on 05-Aug-2012 1:17pm by Purpledawn

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  When I mentioned the 'not nice' comments. I wasn't referring to anything on this forum. I was referring to the comments on the facebook page. All I meant was that if someone merely questioned Womad as to why it was there? Was it an advert? Had they been paid or merely sponsored the band? They might be more willing to respond. The way it's been phrased on the facebook page is more like (and I can't be bothered to go back n read it right now as the other half is hassling me for the lap top so I'm not directly quoting) . . . 'First you take money from the evil dirty Shell n now you're sponsoring the murdering Israeli government' . . . or something like that . . . I just think there's a better way to approach people if you actually want a response. xxx

  Posted on 05-Aug-2012 8:14pm by Yummy Mummy

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