Dear internet friends,

I just recorded some notes on the piano that want to share alongside some thoughts.
Although I still don’t consider myself an activist, I want to use this platform to raise awareness to issues that move me.

I know there is a lot going on, there are crises in all parts of the world and there is still a pandemic that affects us mentally, socially and economically
in a way we didn’t expect. I don’t want you to feel bad, guilty or helpless and if you’re just using this platform as an escapism-tool, I don’t mind.

In the last weeks the conflict in Burma/Myanmar, the ongoing (since 1982) persecution of Rohingya people and the coup by the military in February struck me - and the fact, that there is few reporting about this.
My cousin worked a lot in this region and studied the culture, especially music and rituals. She always spoke in awe of the richness of culture and I was amazed by her stories and studies.
I recently read this new book named „first they erased our names“ by Habiburahman - the first time, a Rohingya speaks up to expose the persecution facing his people.
Reading his story sent chills down my spine every time I picked up the book.

‘I am three years old and will have to grow up with the hostility of others. I am already an outlaw in my own country, an outlaw in the world. I am three years old, and I don’t yet know that I am stateless.’
The story is about the suffering, torture, helplessness, and death of 1.3 million Rohingya in the name of Ethnic Cleansing.

One Review was on point here:
„If this was a work of fiction I would be praising the author for his vivid imagination and for weaving a compelling but utterly horrific story, sadly this is Habiburahman’s life story and that makes it even more appalling.
It is impossible to imagine living with constant fear and brutal oppression, it is also hard to comprehend that this isn’t ancient history but is about recent decades, the here and now.
The atrocities, depravation and deep humiliation are all recounted in a gentle manner without anger or bitterness something which speaks volumes about the author’s character.“

It would take too long to go in depth of the conflict here, but imagine being persecuted for 40 years, being stateless, being a minority in a your own country where 135 other ethnic groups are accepted, fleeing from one refugee camp to the next one.
I don’t know if you know this, but most Rohingya people live in a camp in Bangladesh (Kutupalong) - 640.000 people.
In a camp.
Some days ago there was a fire, killing 15 people, destroying 10.000 accommodations.
I just imagined the cruel story of the book ending in a fire in a camp.

Again - I know there is a lot going on, but I don’t want to consume those news, stories or books and not do anything.
So what to do?
Something that is often discussed, mostly in a controversy way, is - donating!

So should you donate?

Yes.

Why?

Because it matters.

When other countries face their own economic problems, the first things they cut will be help funds and donations.
that is a huge issue - since everything in this world is connected and correlated.

so many non-governmental organisations (NGO's) and other help foundations only rely on donations - nothing else.

there are people helping other people because they have the skillset, the empathy, the education for doing that. but - as sad as it sounds - money is important!

if you don't feel like going to Syria, Yemen or a refugee camp in Greece (or lack the skills), donating is of fundamental importance to help.

When you buy the song on bandcamp I will donate everything to the Rohingya Refugee Help Fund (German Red Cross) - and I will match your amount of donation.
If you don’t want to buy the song on bandcamp because you don’t feel like listening to minimal, slow, stress-relieving piano music - I still encourage you to donate.
You can either send some money to my PayPal (and I will still match your amount of donation) or directly to any preferred organization.