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Day: June 14, 2018

Tatchell released in Moscow

Posted on by Besi

Human rights and LGBT+ campaigner Peter Tatchell has been released following his arrest this morning close to the Kremlin in Moscow during his one man peaceful protest about the treatment of LGBT+ people in Russia.

MR TATCHELL received consular assistance during his detention spending one hour and 40 minutes in police custody, from the moment he was detained near the Kremlin to the moment of his release from the police station.

He is required to appear in court in Moscow on June 26 charged with violating Federal Law 54 and Presidential Decree 202, which prohibit all protests near the Kremlin during the World Cup.

Speaking from Moscow this afternoon, Mr Tatchell said: “I have written a letter to the Chief of Police of Kitay-Gorod police district, requesting that my court appearance is voided on the grounds that I am flying back to the UK on June 18. I have been told I will be free to leave Russia on that date as planned.

“Senior officers were stern but the apprehending officer very helpful, friendly and polite. I presume I was well treated, partly because I am a UK citizen and because a senior British Embassy consular official, Colin Wells, contacted the police. I guess the Russians also did not want to be seen as being heavy-handed during the World Cup.”

Tatchell arrested in Moscow

Posted on by Besi

Human Rights Campaigner arrested while protesting legally.

AS the 2018 World Cup in Moscow prepares to kick off at 3pm this afternoon, LGBT+ and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has been arrested during a one-man protest against Russia’s mistreatment of LGBT+ people.

Mr Tatchell was holding a banner supporting gay men who have been violently targeted in a purge in Chechnya while standing next to the statue of Marshal Zhukov close to the Kremlin.

This is the campaigner’s sixth visit to Russia to show solidarity with the LGBT+ freedom struggle there. He was previously arrested twice during protests in Moscow and suffered brain damage after being attacked by Russian neo-Nazis in 2007.

Speaking from Moscow before the protest, Peter Tatchell said: “I was exercising my lawful right to protest, under the Russian constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to protest in Articles 29 and 31. A one-person protest, which is what I did, requires no permission from the authorities and the police.

“Getting arrested is standard for Russians who protest for LGBT+ rights or against corruption, economic injustice, Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its bombing of civilians in Syria.

“Unlike brave Russian protesters, I have the ‘protection’ of a British passport, which means I have been treated more leniently than they are.  

“My fate was mild compared to what often happens to Russians who dare to challenge the Putin regime. I am awed by their courage.”

President Putin has failed to condemn and act against the homophobic witch-hunts in Chechnya, which have seen scores of LGBT+ people arrested and tortured, with some even being killed, while the singer Zelim Bakaev disappeared in Chechnya in August 2017 and has never been seen since.

Tatchell continued: “Russia’s 2013 anti-gay law against so-called ‘homosexual propaganda’ has been used to suppress peaceful LGBT+ protests, sack LGBT+ teachers and suppress welfare organisations that support LGBT+ teenagers.

“Little action has been taken by the Russian government and police to crack down on far right extremists who target LGBT+ people for violent and humiliating assaults – including the instigators of the current threats to bash and stab LGBT+ football fans at the World Cup.”

Humanists UK’s Chief Executive, Andrew Copson, said: “We are dismayed to hear that our patron Peter Tatchell has been detained while raising awareness of Chechnya’s heinous torture and abuse of LGBT people, ahead of the World Cup. We’re concerned for Peter’s safety and call on the Moscow authorities to release him at once.
“Peter is a great example of a humanist who relentlessly stands up for human rights, risking his health and safety to speak truth to power – including to some of the world’s most powerful human rights-abusing regimes. Russia might want to silence those who shine a spotlight on its human rights abuses, but brave campaigners like Peter will always be here to hold them to account.”

MUSIC REVIEW: Drive back in time

Posted on by Ray A-J

Can the son of Kid Creole, Youngr change his sound in just a couple of months?

Image created by Ray A-J

 

A YOUNG (parden the pun) poppy electronic artist with a flare for the vaguely optimistic – that’s the specs behind the multi-instrumentalist known as Youngr. The son of Kid Creole, and once half of brother duo Picture book, took his place as an independent musician way back in 2016, and has since released a string of broadly streamed tracks in 2018.

His latest track, Lost in translation, seems to show off all of the 29 Year old’s credentials, complete with a slightly ominous but summery sound. But what about his earlier catalogue of tracks?

A barrage of sparkling synths fuels the majority of the song that’s known simply as Drive. Modest and unpretentious drums beat their encouraging and club ready beats, paving the road for Youngr’s gentle vocal calls and encouraging lyrics to ride along. His light words depict a seemingly breezy story of courtship, via a summer’s drive, that eventually propels the track into a feeling of cheer with the repetition of the line “You and me should take a drive some time.”

Drive is only a few months younger than Lost in translation, and yet sounds more charming and hopeful. Youngr recruits skeletal instrumentation, choosing to subtly tiptoe into a state of glee with the understated glow of synth and gentle layers of euphoric vocals, instead of overdosing on complicated tectonic beats and ecstatic shuffling rhythms.

Get a free ticket for opening day at Cinema on the beach

Posted on by Besi

To celebrate the launch of the Luna Beach Cinema outdoor season on Brighton Beach today, organisers are offering complimentary tickets to all opening day events.

Ronan Busfield
Ronan Busfield

DOORS to The Fanzone area open at 2pm for supporters to watch live from Russian, the opening ceremony of the FIFA 2018 World Cup on the big screen at 3pm followed by the host nation Russia taking on Saudi Arabia at 4pm.

After a VIP opening party featuring live performances from Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Ronan Busfield and Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus at 7pm, settle down to watch Steven Spielberg’s seminal masterpiece, Jaws on the highest definition outdoor screen in the country.

Tickets for the opening day are complimentary but there is a limited capacity and all tickets must be booked in advance.

A ticket to this screening of Jaws includes access to the entire days’ programming, including both FIFA World Cup events.

To obtain your complimentary tickets online, click here:

Luna Beach Cinema launches month long residency today on Brighton Beach

Posted on by Besi

Experience the World Cup, Wimbledon and a full programme of feature films on the highest definition outdoor LED screen in the country.

THE LUNA Cinema, the UK’s leading producer of open air screenings, launches its new ‘Luna Beach’ brand on Brighton beach today with the country’s highest definition outdoor screen located in a prime position on Brighton Beach this summer.

Alongside over 40 football matches live from the FIFA World Cup in Russia, Luna Beach Cinema’s big screen will play host to tennis live from Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix and an incredible selection of films from cult classics through to this year’s award winners. There will also be a short film festival, called Brighton Beach Shorts, celebrating local film-making talent.

Over the summer period from June 14 until July 15, beach revellers can grab an ice-cream, pull up a deck chair, crack open an ice-cold drink and enjoy one of over 80 open air showings.

Films taking to the big screen include this year’s award winners, such as Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and musical phenomenon The Greatest Showman, alongside true classics such as Top Gun, Dirty Dancing and the perfect film for a beach cinema… Jaws.

With tickets starting from £3, families, friends and co-workers can head down to the beach after work to enjoy the Great British Summer. Audiences can book premium tickets to include comfy seating and for the ultimate Luna Beach experience you can even book yourself a VIP beach hut, which seats four and comes complete with a fully stocked mini-bar and butler service.

To launch the season and give everyone a taste of what’s to come, the first day’s screenings today Thursday June 14 are free to attend – up to the capacity of 3,500.

The day’s programme includes not only the Opening Ceremony of the FIFA World Cup and the first match where the host nation, Russia, take on Saudi Arabia, but also a screening of Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece Jaws.

To book a complimentary ticket, click here:

George Wood, founder of The Luna Cinema, said: “We’re so excited to be launching Luna Beach Cinema in association with Visit Brighton this year. Over the past decade we’ve seen first-hand how truly incredible the experience of open air cinema can be – that combination of a classic film on a big screen in a jaw-dropping location has become a staple part of people’s summers. This is being taken to a whole new level with Luna Beach – with a giant 10m high-definition LED screen, and all set to the backdrop of the iconic Brighton pier, there will literally be nowhere better to experience this summer’s best cinematic and sporting programme. In a celebration of Brighton and the surrounding area, we are delighted to be launching a short film competition to showcase the next generation of film-making talent.”

All tickets must be booked in advance and capacities are strictly limited.

Food and drink are not be permitted to be brought into the Luna Beach site, but there will be a selection of hot food and a full bar on-site every day.

To book tickets and for more information, click here:

Luna Beach is in partnership with VisitBrighton – the official tourism body for Brighton and Hove.

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