Gig for Grá - Fumbally Café, Dublin

Someday, someday I'll end up in the Fumbally just to relax, chill out a bit, have something to eat... Someday.

Saturday wasn't that day. I was there for Mothers Against Genocides "Gig for Grá", a night to show solidarity with Palestine, Congo and Sudan, with traditional music, song, dance, poetry and food as we celebrate their cultures. And, as it happens, some funds were raised to share with various organisations working in the regions.

We are all well aware of what is going on in Palestine. The constant murder of innocent children, women and men by the Israeli Armed Forces is sickening, with ceasefires being broken without any repercussions.

Sudan doesn't get as much coverage as Palestine in the media, and you might not be aware of the humanitarian situation in Sudan. Ongoing fighting between warlords means shortages of food and water, limited electricity and communications, and a healthcare system that is simply just struggling due to shortages of medicines and supplies.

Congo... That phone in your hands, that laptop on your desk, the tablet you use at night in bed, your electric vehicle, your scooter... All these devices use Cobalt in their battery technology. Why is this an issue? Well, if you're okay with modern day slavery and using children to extract the cobalt from the ground in terrible conditions, then it's not an issue. On the other hand...

We are so quick to replace our technology without thinking. I'm a firm believer in reusing, recycling and upgrading my own tech. My phone is coming up on 4 years old. My macbook is 8 years old and is made up of parts from 3 different macbooks! My cameras were bought used and are 5 and 14 years old.

My point is, we are far to quick to replace our technology, rather than repair it. Anyway...

That only scratches the surface of issues that Palestine, Sudan and Congo are facing. We have to keep these issues in the public eye, and gigs like this are a fun way of raising awareness on serious issues.

Right so, on to the photos.