Dunedin Show Raises Funds and Awareness for Palestine Relief

A benefit show aimed at supporting Palestine will take place in Dunedin on October 7, 2023, featuring a lineup of poets, musicians, and comedians. Organised by local comedian Harriet Moir and co-producer Caitlin Owen, the event titled **Voices for Palestine** seeks to raise funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA).

Moir expressed her motivation for the event, stating, “I just felt like it was time to do something again.” With the ongoing crisis in Gaza, she highlighted the feeling of helplessness many experience. “Doing nothing wasn’t an option,” she added, underscoring the urgency of raising awareness and taking action through entertainment.

This is not the first fundraiser Moir has organised for Palestine. “I cannot stand by and watch the genocide of a population unfold in real time without feeling anything or being compelled into action,” she explained. The show aims to draw attention to the plight of Palestinians while supporting Dunedin’s own Palestinian community, which has been active in raising awareness and urging local residents to engage with their governments regarding the conflict.

Owen echoed Moir’s sentiments, acknowledging the emotional toll on the Palestinian community in Ōtepoti Dunedin. “Despite all the pain and the grief, they’ve been working tirelessly to raise awareness, to march, to rally,” she noted. Owen believes that it is important for the wider community to show solidarity, stating, “I feel like they shouldn’t have to be carrying all of that on their own.”

The event will not only provide a platform for performers but also offer multiple ways for attendees to contribute, whether by purchasing tickets, participating in a raffle, or making direct donations. Initially set with a fundraising goal of $5,000, the organisers have increased their target to $7,000 following a generous donation of $2,000.

Reflecting on the ongoing situation in Gaza, Moir expressed her disbelief at the lack of effective international action. “It’s just beyond me,” she remarked. She voiced concerns about the potential desensitisation of the public to the daily horrors portrayed in the media. “If this was happening in a Western country, the reaction of the global community would be so different, and that’s abhorrent to me,” she argued.

The show also comes at a time when obstacles to supporting Gaza have emerged, with platforms like PayPal and Givealittle shutting down accounts that aided families in need. Moir noted that directing all funds raised to UNRWA mitigates the risk of third-party interference in their efforts.

As the evening progresses, the event will culminate in a collective performance, allowing attendees to raise their voices in support of Palestine. Moir, who has experience in organising community choirs, plans to lead a song to close the show. “We’re going to end the night with a song that everyone will sing together,” she shared with enthusiasm.

The Voices for Palestine benefit show presents an opportunity for the Dunedin community to unite, raise awareness, and contribute to a pressing humanitarian crisis.