Wednesday 8 August 2012

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights




MDNA Tour #28: Moscow

Ever so proud of this woman.

I know there are many side to every story, and I mean no disrespect to the Church or the Government, but I think that these three girls – Masha, Katya, Nadya... I think that they have done something courageous. I pray for their freedom. I know that everyone in this auditorium, if you are here as my fan, feels they have the right to be free.

Madonna, August 7, Olympiysky Stadium.




DEAR MADONNA! We love you and you just might be changing Russia’s history right now. Thank you and a thousand prayers in return!

Pussy Riot via Twitter, August 8

Punk Prayer

So here's the thing:

Pussy Riot is a Russian punk band and had something to say. Their message came through Punk Prayer, a manifesto of discontentment towards their country's Government. In the true spirit of punk, they chose Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour to perform their music, recorded a video and released it on Youtube, on February 21.

On March, three members of the band (Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29) were arrested for hooliganism and have been in jail ever since. Their trial is currently being held, and the deeply politicised Russian judicial system is causing global controversy.

Amnesty International stepped in, to raise awareness and garner international support to release the detained members of Pussy Riot. So have an increasing number of artists, adding their voices to protest against this international scandal, from Faith No More to Franz Ferdinand, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sting. And now, Madonna.




These are strange, dangerous times...

Drop Dead Gorgeous Candy

August 6: at the Hard Candy Fitness opening in Moscow