The Peace Not War Festival is four nights of live music, film, photography, and art - to celebrate the anniversary of the biggest simultaneous human action ever when, on Feb 15th 2003, over ten million people in 150 cities world-wide held peaceful protests to demonstrate their desire for peace, not war. The Festival is the biggest anti-war arts event ever in the UK, the biggest Feb 15th celebration in the world, and will be broadcast (webcast) globally by Indymedia.

• Who's taking part? (For full line up, visit  http://www.peace-not-war.org )

Over 70 bands and musicians are performing over four consecutive nights, grouped by music genre:

- Thursday 12th February: ROCK & PUNK with:
Alabama 3, Eve & Penny (Crass), Lovegods, Goldblade

- Friday 13th February: HIP-HOP with:
Blade, Taskforce, Skinnyman, Phi-Life-Cypher, Jehst, Navigator, Vadim

- Saturday 14th February (Valentine's Day) DANCE with:
MC Tali, Free*land, Howie B, Stereo MC Rob

- Sunday 15th February: ACOUSTIC, WORLD & JAZZ with:
Faithless (acoustic), Seize the Day, Slovo


• Support for the Peace Not War Music Project

In addition to the artists who are playing live at the festival, Peace Not War is also supported by other musicians such as Ms Dynamite, Public Enemy, Damon Albarn, Ani DiFranco, Billy Bragg, Massive Attack, Michael Franti, Nitin Sawhney, Roots Manuva, Asian Dub Foundation, Giles Peterson, Jurassic 5, The Libertines, Coldcut and Lamb, many of whom are donating tracks to Peace Not War CDs.

The CD, which is being sold in 20 countries by both music stores and peace groups, is also supported by political comedian, Mark Thomas (investigative journalist and presenter of the Mark Thomas Comedy product), who will be speaking at the event; as is Bruce Kent (author and former President of the International Peace Bureau and War on Want). Others who have pledged their support are DJ John Peel; alternative health guru and Observer columnist Barefoot Doctor; authors John Pilger and Noam Chomsky; and politicians Ken Livingstone, Tony Benn and George Galloway. A free CD sample of was also given away on the covers of The Big Issue and New Internationalist magazines, with corresponding feature articles in these and other publications such as Red Pepper and Time Out. *All articles can be obtained via the press pack (email:  festival@peace-not-war.org)

• Isn't the war over?

Although the war in Iraq is officially over, more people have died since the conflict 'ended' than under the US attack. So far 10,000 civilians have been killed, more than 20,000 are injured, and 600 coalition soldiers have died. Iraq is left suffering a political and public health crisis, with many of its civilians left without access to basic medicines and clean drinking water, and radioactive schrapnel is scattered everywhere.

The justification for this war, as stated by Tony Blair, was that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction which posed a threat to our country. However, when asked about the accuracy of this intelligence, Chief UN weapons inspector David Kay said: "Turns out we were all wrong, and that is deeply disturbing." David Kay resigned last week saying there are no weapons of mass destruction to be found, yet George Bush is continuing his 'war on terror'.

While last February 15th was a massive political statement, the war went ahead because the politicians weren't listening. It's increasingly clear that the "war machine" will continue killing until the people bypass the politicians and turn off the machine themselves. The next global protest day is on 20th March 2004, and local actions are planned for another international demonstration. The Peace Not War Festival and the new CDs are intended to reawaken the energy of last February 15th, motivate and fund a wordwide peace movement which would challenge our goverments' war plans.

• Proceeds to peace groups

The Peace Not War festival aims to raise funds for the production of four new Peace Not War CDs, which will be donated to peace organisations to sell and use the proceeds to promote peace using non-violent, direct action. All profits will be kept by the charities, and over £50,000 has been raised so far by peace groups using the CD resource. However, further funds are needed to produce the new series of CDs, which already has an awesome track list developing, with release scheduled for June 2004.

The four new Peace Not War CDs will be sold exclusively by peace groups, so that music industry profit margins are avoided and peace groups keep it all. The Peace Not War Festival will fund the production of the new CDs, which will be a permanent fundraising resource, and some straight donations too. Thousands of CDs, worth £10 each, are being donated to peace groups who apply online, with preference given to underfunded grassroots organisations, under the condition that only nonviolent methods of resistance are used. "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" (Ghandi)

The below list is not exhaustive, as groups are still applying for donations online: Active Resistance to the Roots of War, Campaign Against Arms Trade, Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Globalise Resistance
(national + local), Grassroots Opposition to War, Iraqi Children's Fund, Movement for the Abolition of War, Network for Peace, Stop the War Coalition national + local), Trident Ploughshares, Voices in the Wilderness, Wombles, Women in Black.

• Visual art

What makes this Festival so uniquely special is its multi-media components. Raya VJs (who provide the visuals for Nitin Sawhney, the Big Chill etc) will be projecting their images of peace and protest on over 25 screens, with live and interactive video-mixing.There will be an exhibition of anti-war art paintings, sculptures and photo/electronic prints, which will stimulate punters on their way between the two music stages.

• Film room

Short creative and documentary films about war and the peace movement shown in a chilled space provided by the Magic Loungeabout. Local school kids from Hackney will make a special contribution to the exhibition.

• Webcast

The festival will be broadcast globally by live audio stream on the Internet from Indymedia, the international network of DIY reporters publishing uncensored news online.
Visit  http://www.peace-not-war.org and  http://www.indymedia.org.uk

• About Ocean

The 2100-capacity venue, Hackney Ocean, http:??www.ocean.org.uk , is the only venue in London designed for a multi-media extravaganza, and is wheelchair-accessible everywhere. 270 Mare St, Hackney, London E8.

Tickets £15 per night from CLUB TICKETS 0871 711 3033; or TicketMaster, WayAhead, TicketWeb, Ocean.

• About the Peace Not War CD

The Peace Not War CD is being sold by a full spectrum of peace groups around the world, at demonstrations, meetings, concerts and online. Donations of free CDs will be made to selected groups who have applied online, while others can buy CDs for £2 (to cover production costs) and sell them for £10. The whole production is not-for-profit, and intended to maximise the proceeds to peace groups.

The CD has grown from a DIY production in an East London living room, to an internationally selling double-album through the support of so many musicians, managers and record companies, who each supported the cause. The whole CD can be heard online at the Pace Not War website (www.peace-not-war.org )

As well as tracks from established, named artists, the CD also provides a showcase for up and coming talent from all sectors of society and musical genres. Over 300 bands have posted their anti-war CDs to Peace Not War, who are publishing them all on an internet JukeBox: more songs, art and movies are always wanted.

• About the organisers

The festival is being brought to London by the producers of the Peace Not War CD with the
Festival of Flight crew. The Peace Not War CD is as grassroots as it gets: produced and funded by activists Kelly and Mudge without support from any organisation. This independence means a broad spectrum of peace groups can be fairly funded; and radical lyrical content cannot be censored. Kat and Doug's experience with the Festival of Flight has enabled the Peace Not War Festival to become a massive multimedia event.

Peace Not War Music Project
PO Box 44212
London, E3 4WB
Email:  festival@peace-not-war.org
Website: www.peace-not-war.org 020 7515 4702 - office phone/fax
078 1075 0505 - Mudge mobile
077 8999 1591 - Kelly mobile
079 3256 9874 - Kat mobile
079 7658 9927 - Doug mobile

• Interviews & photos

Most of the artists who have contributed tracks to the CD or are appearing at the festival are available for comment/and or interview, as are the festival organisers. We have an archive of band photos or can provide exclusives via photographer Ian Hunter (www.ianhunterphoto.com). Contact us for more information.

QUOTE US!

PEACE NOT WAR "Many peace activists believe that Bush, Blair and their buddies are planning to invade another oil-rich country in 2005, and that they will fabricate a justification for doing so. We have enough time to prevent the next invasion, if we get the word out now and mobilise the people who've shown they care. A lot of our awareness and enthusiasm to do something political came from music: music can get you off your arse in a way speeches can't. British people are in a unique position of influence because the US military is totally dependent on the bases and other resources they use here. If the 2 million people who went to Hyde Park did some noviolent direct action at the US bases, they could probably stop the bombers taking off." (Mudge, producer)

KEN LIVINGSTONE "On February 15th last year I was overwhelmed with pride when, as Mayor of London, I officially welcomed 2 million people to the biggest political demonstration in 2000 years of British history. As I looked across the sea of protesters in Hyde Park I could feel the electricity in the air, with everyone gathered with the same vision. It was like a microcosm of Britain: all classes, all ages, all races, all religions and all regions of Britain were represented at Hyde Park, and everyone was proud to be marching together."

ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION "British policy in Iraq started with drawing lines in the sand back in 1908, and has always been about intervention and the control of oil supply. The vast majority of people oppose it, and that opposition is growing. The aggression by the US and UK is not finished with the occupation of Iraq and the peace movement must be ready to intervene when the warmongers pick their next target."

ALABAMA 3 "There's no doubt that Saddam Hussein is an evil man who had to be taken out, but they made such a big deal out of it. The US and UK have been biggin' up the "axis of evil" story, and now they're talking about bombing Syria based on some tenuous bit of evidence. It's all the same racist warmongery-posturing bollocks. The peace movement has to carry on until there is no more war."

PENNY RIMBAUD (CRASS) "People must realise that the real battle has only just begun. The attack on Iraq indicated their intention: Full Spectrum Dominance. We've been shown the introduction, a pattern, and been informed that the War On Terror will last a lifetime. There is no time for people to become complacent and withdraw - this is just the beginning."

JOHN PILGER "The Peace Not War CD is vital to the grass roots opposition to war, conquest and occupation. I believe we have no choice now: our resistance to their murderous plans must be unrelenting."

BILLY BRAGG "Music has a role to play in spreading the word of peace. I think it is a case of using music to articulate something that you don't find articulated in the mainstream media. The most important thing it does is create a community of dissent: you realise you are not the only person who feels completely opposed to the war."

BAREFOOT DOCTOR "A small minority actually take the impulse to do something practical with inner -peace in terms of amplifying and spreading the word - and to this group of courageous people, namely, the Festival of Flight and Peace Not War crew we owe gratitude and support - anyone who helps the possibility of peace along a bit deserves that, especially when they wrap it up in such an potentially entertaining, nourishing and fun way - for after all, isn't that why we want peace - so we can carry on having fun here on the planet?"