Blogs

PRESS RELEASE A New Mediterranean Perspective Cooperating on Sustainability to Prevent War  March 29, 2022 Rome, March 29, 2022. In light of current war in Ukraine, the Center for Higher Education and Science Diplomacy on Sustainability planned in the Ponza Island opens new hopes for Mediterranean youth and women cooperating to prevent conflicts in our region. This is […]

As week two of the workshops for the new protest musical What About Us commence,  I felt it was time for a quick recap on our amazing first week. We moved into our new home the Institute of Music and Song in Balbriggan last Monday 5th July. We’ll be here for four weeks!   We began the […]

Terror, fear, violence, hatred, mental torture, horrific physical injury, and death. A small number of words to describe the extreme misery the people of Israel and Palestine are suffering. That’s what happens when two countries go to war – innocent people suffer. And it’s so unnecessary, jaw dropping outrageous actually observing political leaderships seeking advantage. […]

On May 10, 2021, in the middle of the last wave of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a Twitter Thread tried to draw a balanced unbiased analysis predicting through Magical Glasses its possible scenarios and future outcomes, in light of its geopolitical context and perspective:  Let’s try to assess whether and to what extent it met the reality test: […]

The right to free speech is a notion that people in the United States hold dear to their hearts and one which is enshrined in their over two hundred year old constitution. However, recent times in the political map of the country have made their citizens stand up and question whether free speech can fit […]

Shoshi Israeli Choreographer, dancer, and all round fixer, Shoshi Israeli, knows all about breaking down borders. A passionate member of the What About Us team, Shoshi brings all her contacts and local knowledge to bear in doing everything she can to facilitate young Israeli and Palestinian musicians coming together.   Born in Jerusalem in 1961, when […]

“A magical night, very touching”, the words of Shoshi Israeli one of the What About Us Founders and a driving force behind the creative team. Shoshi was the organizer of a thank you night for the Israeli and Palestinian musicians who are collaborating on the development of the musical.  The get together and jamming session […]

The New Year always bring hope and optimism, that the coming year will be better than the last. Yet as I put pen to paper the COVID-19 challenges of 2020 seem to be multiplying everywhere. More lockdowns, hospitals stretched to their limits and too many people dying. And yet hope feels close and comes in […]

From Peace to War: what is going on in Ethiopia? On November 4th, 2020 while the world was waiting for the results of the race to the White House, the lives of thousands of Ethiopians were about to dramatically change. On that day, the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who won the Nobel Peace Prize […]

‘This is the year, this is the fight, this is where were going to find the light, this is the time this is the way, this is when we’ll stop being afraid.’ These are the lyrics in the chorus of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus’s new song that they released mid November. After facing a difficult […]

For a long time, people of the Catholic faith have been looking towards the Vatican and the incumbent Pontiff any time they have needed peace of mind and solace, and especially at the times of heartbreak and emotional loss. For many people, seeking spiritual help can relieve what is on their mind and give them […]

A new face for the music industry It is not often that the music industry can chart the progress of a young prodigy from the stages of his singing outside his school building with his classmates to the point that he is performing on live television shows on the other side of the continent from […]

Not every migrant who makes it over the treacherous waters of the Mediterranean Sea in the search for a better life for him and his family, actually finds peace for those close to him and those whom he treasures. In such a situation, the migrant can apply for asylum in the country where he and […]

Syrian refugees try the hard balancing act of trying to survive amidst the civil war stricken country and worrying about Covid-19.

Migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea in search of an improved way of life for themselves and their loved ones now are fighting the reception of the local population which is sometimes welcoming and sometimes not very and without mention the feared coronavirus.

Given the long standing emnity between Greece and Turkey, which goes as far back in history as theold, now defunct Ottoman empire, it is no surprise that the tensions between the former master and subject have been spilling over in the waters of the Eastern Mediteranean Sea in the recent weeks and months. This time […]

What About Us is a live stage musical currently being developed by international musicians from countries who may have been affected by war and terror such as Israel, Palestine and Ireland.  The Musical which will launch in 2022 addresses many of this generation’s societal issues such as war, climate change and refugee migration. This week was […]

Experiences of Direct Provision during the Covid-19 pandemic, found 55% felt of respondents unsafe during the pandemic.

The relative lack of investment means less quality individuals with expertise can be appointed to assist with peacemaking operations.

How the world generally, particularly the largest countries have prioritized militarism and wilfully not invested in peace.

Musicians from Israel, Palestine, Ireland, Spain, Australia, Turkey, India, England & Egypt broadcasted a grand musical concert live on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

It was a region in the north-west of Syria which is largely held by rebel forces which confirmed its very first case of Covid-19 last month, raising fears that there could be a tragic outbreak of the disease in the crowded camps which are holding the displaced men women and children of Syria.

The fundraising concert will be recorded by the musicians and then broadcast as a live concert on Facebook and other social media channels on Saturday 15th August at 20.00 UK/Ireland, 21.00 Spain, 22.00 Israel and Palestine.

David Broza, the internationally acclaimed Israeli singer & songwriter, peace activist, and founder of the One Million Guitars not-for-profit musical education initiative is the first major artist to support the What About Us musical.

“Music has no religion. Music has no politics. Make music not war. We already have over 200 pieces of music written, and a number of those would be a worthy inclusion on any album release”. -Aaron Wilkinson

Despite the corona crisis the Israeli, Palestinian and Irish singers are now working together online in the creation of the What About Us musical, and all displaying amazing talent.

Syria is a country at war, and it will probably prove to be one of the costliest wars in terms of loss of life, horrific injures (physical and emotional), the huge amount of ordinary people forced from their homes and having to live in overcrowded and inhumane refugee camps, the destruction of property and historical […]

We have been working on bringing the business and creative time together for a couple of months now. To take on a challenge this big we need a whole lot of people, talented people, that can become a dynamic and professional team.  The night before the workshop Finola, Dee and myself welcomed our overseas guests, […]

Legal incompetence or diplomatic genius? This dilemma arises analysing in detail Section Five (devoted to Jerusalem) of the Deal of the century officially launched by US President Donald Trump on January 28, 2020 under the name of “Peace to Prosperity”. A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People”. Are the contradictions in the […]

Wow, this is going to be tough. And it’s becoming a full-time job. We are now on DRAFT 5 of the musical story, part of which is exploring both the Israeli/Palestinian and Northern Ireland conflicts in parallel. It is not easy developing what we hope is a top class and entertaining experience with a complex […]