Lebanon’s musicians are a model for action — they deserve support now

Again and again, music communities in Lebanon have embraced mutual aid and spoken out through activism and in their art. That’s been true from experimental music labels to the Beirut Synthesizer Center initiative. They’re getting results. It’s time for the international music scene and press to do more.

Director of Oyoun, Berlin cultural space, among illegal flotilla abductions

Louna Sbou, the director of Berlin cultural space Oyoun, is one of hundreds of civilians whom Israel illegally detained in international waters yesterday. It’s yet another moment highlighting the ongoing genocide. Here is my appeal to all my friends and colleagues across culture and creative technology in Germany: will you do something?

Peter Kirn - October 2, 2025

No more music; Gaza is starving

We’ve followed musicians in Palestine for years. Now the situation is an emergency. Palestinians are facing forced starvation. There’s not much to add beyond this message from Ahmed Muin of Gaza Birds Singing: the music stops. Let food in now. Ahmed’s silence is a call to end our own.

Peter Kirn - July 19, 2025