What is the Interpueblos Festival ?

Since its inception, the Interpueblos Festival has been defined by its commitment to social issues. The goals of the Interpueblos Festival are as follows:

1. Raise public awareness about the issues that directly or indirectly affect us, with a priority given to the impact of armed conflict on civilian populations.

2. Create spaces to meet and to discuss to origins of [armed] conflicts, with a special focus on active conflicts taking place in the middle east.

3. Spread values such as solidarity, cooperation, respect for human rights, gender equality, social justice and the fight against social exclusion. In this case, the priority is on Iraqi and on Palestinian refugees and on the defence of their rights.

4. Promotion of the international Human Rights Movement and of the respect for the United Nations Charter.

5. Intercultural rapprochement in order to achieve a fuller and deeper knowledge of the cultures of the Middle East – including distinct forms of artistic expression – within a framework seeking to create an Alliance of Civilizations.

The Interpueblos Festival, launched in 1999, was born out of the “Asosiación Cultura, Paz y Solidaridad Haydée Santamaría.” After two editions and following a few years of forced hiatus, the Interpueblos Festival reemerged in 2005. This time its goal was not only to maintain but to expand the content and quality of the program, so that collective complaints – the bringing to the light of which is the basis for the existence of the Festival – can be presented to the citizenry in a more direct and effective way.

In the previous years, the name of the Festival has changed several times. Former names include, “1st Interpueblos Festival: For Peace” and “Interpueblos Festival: Against Globalization and War”. Beginning in 2006, the Interpueblos Festival began to focus on a single conflict, so that our efforts would be united on one territory and not draw attention in a manner that was superficial. We understand that this would not help us, nor raise awareness, but simply transform Interpueblos into another commercial Festival. Staying clear of themes already taken up by other festivals, we have elected to focus on the Middle East. This is because we believe that all of the conditions which make our work necessary come together in the region.

There we can carry out the work of denouncing the injustice of some while standing in solidarity with others, particurly with refugees from Iraq and from Palestine.

In 2009, the Interpueblos Festival – holding to its policy of being a useful and effective instrument – will move to Lebanon, bringing both support and active solidarity to the Palestinian refugees. That the Festival is being relocated internationally makes clear its earnest calling as an instrument of dialogue which can be used to solve conflicts and to promote a cultural exchange between the different Mediterranean communities: between the Europe and the Arab World.

For 10 days, the south of Lebanon will be transformed into a broad and colorful patchwork of contributors and volunteers, of refugees and activists. Together, they will engage in a number activities designed to open a path home for the refugees – who were guaranteed the right of return by United Nations Security Council Resolution 194 (1948) – after 61 years in exile.

The fact that we have focused on this conflict from among the wide range of injustices that exist in the world today does not mean that the others do not concern us. Because it is volunteer-run, the Interpueblos Festival is simply not able to adress all of the conflicts that we would prefer to talk about in an adequate manner. These include conflicts in such places as the Congo, Bolivia, Colombia, Kurdistan, etc... Hopefully with your support, in the coming year we will be able to open more spaces for reflexion, for cooperative action and for solidarity. Contact us and let us work together!!

This 6th edition of the Festival will include a number of worthy innovations such as the intensified collaboration by the municipalities of south Madrid as well as by municipalities from other regions of Spain. We are pleased to welcome the local governments of Alcorcon and of Vic, the latter of which will host an emblematic event, marking the beginning of our collaboration on social issues.

Of course, we have not forgotten their assistance and give our renewed thanks to the city councils of Leganés, of Fuenlabrada, and of Parla for their collaboration with our association for another year, as well as to the UNRWA Spanish Committee.

The Interpueblos Festival is the project of all of those who wish to become active, who wish to and join together with a united will. The Interpueblos Festival is the project of those who want to change things and who have decided to walk along the limitless path of solidarity. Will you join us?