Germany’s Soundwahl music competition hopes to quell intensifying far-right and even neo-Nazi extremism by encouraging Berlin and Brandenburg musicians to compose tracks “promoting tolerance and democratic values while speaking out against racism,” reports Reuters.
The project is especially important given the ground gained by far-right parties last year and the upcoming 2009 state and federal elections. “Xenophobic organization and their members are very active again,” explains Tina Bauer, spokeswoman for Soundwahl. Furthermore, violence attributed to neo-Nazi activity has been growing in the region.
Sixteen submissions will be chosen and assembled into an album to be distributed in schools; the bands will “perform live concerts and run workshops tackling racism and discrimination.”