Breaking the Siege: A Live Discussion on Art and Activism for Thousand Madleens to Gaza

Poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence. It forms the quality of the light within which we predicate our hopes and dreams toward survival and change, first made into language, then into idea, then into more tangible action.Audre LordeThis bonus episode was recorded live at MF Coffee in Summerhall, Edinburgh in a room full to the brim of beautiful souls gathered to raise funds and awareness for Thousand Madleens to Gaza. The Thousand Madleens are an organisation who sail in a show of civilian resistance and they will be joining forces with other flotillas this spring to carry aid and a message of solidarity and hope to the people of Palestine.Scott Cassidy was in conversation with Palestinian poet Salsabil El-awaisi, traditional musician Jonathan Foster, and activist Ruaidhri (Ru) Mackay (Munros for Gaza / Thousand Madleens). Together, they explore how culture acts as a counter-narrative to dehumanisation, boots-on-the-ground activism, burnout and the direct action required to break a physical and psychological siege.Art as NecessityWe begin with the creative process of “bearing witness.” Salsabil shares her experience of standing before an audience for the first time to share poems about her roots, explaining how heartbreak and frustration are transformed into a beauty that stands in stark contrast to the barbarity being live streamed from her homeland. We discuss the movement to put “names over numbers,” challenging a mainstream media narrative that often reduces human lives to mere statistics.* Culture as Survival: Salsabil reflects on how storytelling—through music, poetry, or food—is how a history lives on when a system attempts to erase it.* Music as Solidarity: Jonathan explores the resonance between Scottish traditional music - and music as a whole - and the current struggle for Palestinian liberation. He talks of music as a tool for telling stories and shares the incredible tale of Callum’s Road, captured in song and showing what can be achieved when the power-that-be won’t listen.* Tangible Action: Ru discusses the “Munros for Gaza” campaign—raising the Palestinian flag across Scotland’s 282 highest peaks—and the “Thousand Madleens” flotilla mission to physically break the siege of gaza in a show of legal and essential civilian resistance.Key Questions Answered* How does poetry act as a counter-narrative to mainstream media dehumanisation? Salsabil discusses the vital importance of capturing individual stories to resist the reduction of people to statistics.* What is the link between Scottish traditional music and political resistance? Jonathan explains how the ceilidh (gathering) and traditional tunes are rooted in a history of displacement and community-led action.* Is non-violent direct action effective for breaking a blockade? Ru explains the necessity of moving beyond placards toward high-stakes, peaceful intervention like the Freedom Flotilla.Get involved/Contact:Instagram -The Thouseand Madleens to Gaza: @thousandmadleen.ukRuaidhri MacKay: @amsg2urudySalsabil El-awaisa: @seinteriorMF Coffee Shop (in Summerhall): @mfcoffeeshopThe Creative Resistance Podcast: @thecreativeresistancepodcastScott Cassidy: @scottcassidywrites This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecreativeresistancepodcast.substack.com