Platforming Responsibility and
Inclusivity Statement
Earth Frequency Festival
Platforming Responsibility and Inclusivity Statement
Co-authored with Subhi Awad from the Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine organisation, and Juman Al-Ramahi.
Dear Earth Frequency Community,
Following our initial lineup announcement on May 20th, we have received some questions and feedback about our lineup selection and our general curation and platforming policies. The majority of the feedback was centred on one of our headlining acts Infected Mushroom who are of Israeli origin but now reside in the USA, but also regarding our approach to selections with regards to current political situations and conflicts.
There is a lot to say on these topics and we offer this response with love and compassion in our hearts and with a deep desire to always listen to the full diversity of viewpoints within our community, to always make reasonable and appropriate decisions, and to keep listening and learning every step of the way.
Background Context and EFF Core Values
Firstly, we want to make it absolutely clear that there has been a lot of care and consideration in the process of curating our lineup this year. In the context of these concerns which were becoming especially poignant in the months leading up to our 2025 lineup announcement, Earth Frequency Festival was already in the process of establishing a platforming responsibility and inclusivity policy as we see this is an important step in our evolution as an organisation.
This policy extends not just to current global political situations, but to human rights and inclusivity more generally, and what we expect from all participants in the festival. Even as a small festival taking place once a year, we take our responsibilities seriously. As we head in towards our third decade of operations, it is important to formalise our policies and processes in this way and link them back to our core values.
From the very beginning, Earth Frequency Festival has always been focused on creating an inclusive space that is welcoming of everyone regardless of age, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation and ability. The original rave values of Peace Love Unity and Respect may sound dated or simplistic at times, but they continue to resonate and ring true over time. And so it follows that the fundamental principle that everyone should be able to come along and feel safe means we all have a responsibility to uphold these values and not act in ways which make others feel unsafe or unwelcome.
We recognise that this stance, although representing a neutral or apolitical position because we wish to include everyone and create a refuge and sanctuary from a world that is often shaped by intolerance and inequality, also is implicitly political because it recognises the struggle of all marginalised individuals and communities.
EFF Commitment to Inclusivity and Platform Responsibility
And so we are proud to share with our Commitment to Inclusivity and Platform Responsibility, which was developed in the weeks and months leading up to our 2025 first lineup announcement.
At Earth Frequency Festival, our community is everything. We strive to build a culture rooted in creativity, connection, diversity and celebration, and that culture only thrives when everyone feels safe, welcomed, and valued.
As organisers, we understand that the people we platform - whether on stage, behind the scenes, or in collaborative roles - reflect who we are and what we stand for. Platforming is not a neutral act; it signals alignment, even tacitly.
Therefore we want to be clear about our position:
We will not engage with individuals or entities who publicly express views, share content or embody actions which promote hate, discrimination, bigotry, or violence. This includes racism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, xenophobia, and support for acts of war or political violence. Conversely, we will not boycott artists because of their nationality or the actions of their government.
Our stance is not about silencing dissent or navigating identity politics - it’s about protecting the sanctity of a space we’ve all helped build. A space where difference is honoured, where every person can dance and connect without fear, and where mutual respect isn’t optional, it’s foundational.
We acknowledge the complexities of the world we live in and recognise that people are shaped by a diversity of experiences. But when it comes to public behaviour - especially in an era where harm can travel instantly and virally - we believe in setting a clear line.
Earth Frequency will continue to:
Vet our bookings and collaborations with care.
Address concerns transparently and fairly.
Prioritise restorative dialogue where appropriate.
Respond appropriately and professionally to any concerns raised about a situation where there is conflict between our core inclusivity principles and the actions or messaging from one of our collaborators or participants.
Our primary mission and fundamental wish is to create a welcoming space where anyone can feel safe and accepted, and to promote love and unity through art and culture in its many diverse forms. This policy has been developed to preserve and to strengthen the wonderful space that has been created over 20 years by many different people.
With love and respect,
The Earth Frequency Festival Team
2025 curation processes and decisions
With that in mind, we also wish to provide some insight into the lineup curation processes this year especially in regards to Infected Mushroom. The origin story of the Infected Mushroom booking dates from their last appearance in Brisbane in 2024, where the artists played a sold out show and expressed their interest to come back to Australia for the 20th anniversary of Earth Frequency Festival. The feedback was very positive from their 2024 tour, so the idea was developed for the 2025 festival appearance over several months, even through a postponement of the festival from May to October.
Between July 2024 and June 2025 the war in Gaza has continued to worsen and become completely disproportionate to the original trigger point moment, and so during this time, the EFF team has been placed in a difficult position and has applied additional care to the curation processes for this year’s festival..
Our platforming responsibility and inclusivity policy was already being established at this time as part of our 20th anniversary organisational review. It is a simple set of principles to help us as an organisation make difficult decisions in situations which sometimes seem unwinnable.
And our position is simply this:
There is no place within Earth Frequency Festival and especially no place on our stages for any individual or organisation that actively condones or promotes acts of violence, hate, or discrimination.
Earth Frequency Festival will not exclude or de-platform any individual because of their nationality or because of the actions of their government. The expectations are placed on the individuals, their views, and how they manage their public profile.
Ultimately, Earth Frequency stands for peace and unity, and there is an inherent risk of falling into the same spirals of division when we support the viewpoints of one side over another. This is a fine line to navigate, but what is clear for us is the line of acceptability around what any of our participants promote through their channels and platforms and how that reflects on us as a festival and community.
So as the evolving situation in Gaza continued to worsen and the timeline for our bookings and announcement came closer, the following action steps were taken:
Reviewing the social media and other platforms of all booked acts to ensure there were no statements or messages that could be seen as harmful or offensive especially regarding the situation in Gaza.
Sharing the platforming responsibility and inclusivity policy for some of the relevant bookings before the lineup announcement to make our policy position clear.
Discussing the concerns with the Infected Mushroom tour manager in advance, to which we received the reply that Infected Mushroom do not condone or promote violence of any sort and do not use their platform for making political statements.
Given the clearly stated position and lack of any public statements which could be seen as promoting war and violence, the decision was made to proceed with the booking.
We understand the sentiment held by some that in a time of such darkness, the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement is the only appropriate response, and we acknowledge the impact this movement has in shaping political change at a global political level. However at this point in time, in our position, we predict that taking this stance over a very small number of individual music artist bookings will only have symbolic impact and at the same time will cause further division within our community as a result of cancelling a booking a prominent artist who to the best of our knowledge has not publicly condoned or promoted the terrible violence occurring in Gaza.
Further consultation
Given the gravity of this topic, it’s particularly poignant timing, and feedback from the community ranging from questioning the booking decision from an ethical point of view, to positive support for the booking, the EFF team has sought further guidance and discussion with a relevant cultural authority with the aim of listening and learning more, guiding our decision on this matter and further improving our organisational processes.
We are very grateful to have had consultation with Subhi Awad from the Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine organisation, and Juman Al-Ramahi, one our 2025 music artists in the past few days. The situation has been discussed in detail with sensitivity to a range of perspectives, but grounded in awareness and acknowledgement of the terrible plight of the Palestinian people right now in this dark chapter of history.
After this discussion, some suggestions were put forward which we view as completely reasonable as a way to navigate through this culturally and politically sensitive issue.
1 - Publicly acknowledge the situation in Gaza for what it is.
The Earth Frequency team recognises that, as affirmed by leading human rights organisations, the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and the International Court of Justice, the situation in Gaza constitutes war crimes and genocide. This devastating violence must also be understood in the broader context of decades of occupation, apartheid and systemic human rights violations. This acknowledgement is not about identity or nationality, it is an act of truth-telling to reaffirm our values of collective care.
2 - Invite all festival participants to sign on to our ethical commitment as a sign of support for those whose voice is being silenced.
(This ethical commitment has kindly been provided by Subhi Awad representing the Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine who has provided this to assist us in making a strong statement and ethical position which is meaningful for the Palestinian community.)
Earth Frequency Ethical Commitment
Earth Frequency is a space for connection, creativity, and collective care. We believe in safety, equality, and fairness for all people. We recognise our responsibility to support positive change and stand for shared values.
We ask all artists and participants to understand and acknowledge our ethical commitment:
We recognise the Sovereign First Nations Community, whose history should be remembered and heard, and whose voices must be respected, elevated and considered in all respects when we walk on Country, care for Country and one another. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.
We stand for fairness, inclusion, and equality, and we oppose all forms of racism and oppression — including antisemitism, Islamophobia, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other forms of hate.
We support Earth Frequency’s ethical stance of not aligning with serious human rights abuses — including the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Artists have always helped shape a better world and many artists have chosen to take a peaceful, principled stand through economic and cultural boycotts. This is an ethical and moral stance that contributes to a more just and compassionate society for everyone.
This simple invitation to join us will be sent to all currently booked artists, and included in all future engagement offers to show compassion and support to the situation happening right now in Gaza, as well as acknowledging EFF’s ethical position and expectations of its participants.
Beyond this, we will always continue to strive for improvement, acknowledge any blind spots we may have and welcome any feedback from our beautifully diverse community.
Ethical Commitment Appendix: Supporting Rationale and Sources
This appendix outlines the foundational principles, legal context, and supporting evidence for Earth Frequency’s Ethical Commitment. It is intended for those seeking a deeper understanding of our stance and the reasons behind it.
Introduction: The Legal and Moral Duty to Avoid Complicity
International rulings from the United Nations, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the International Criminal Court (ICC) affirm that individuals and institutions have legal and moral obligations not to be complicit in crimes against humanity, including genocide. Continuing to engage with or benefit from systems or entities perpetrating such crimes constitutes complicity.
1. On Opposing All Forms of Racism and Oppression
Principle: All people are entitled to live free from discrimination and oppression.
Moral Obligation: A truly inclusive community requires active opposition to all forms of bigotry. Silence can be interpreted as complicity.
Legal and Ethical Basis:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Article 1 affirms that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Article 2 prohibits discrimination of any kind [1].
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD): Obligates states to eliminate racial discrimination and promote mutual understanding [2].
Condemnation of Specific Forms of Hate:
Antisemitism and Islamophobia: The UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council have repeatedly condemned both forms of religious hatred [3].
Sexism, Homophobia, Transphobia, Ableism, Xenophobia: All are widely recognized as serious forms of discrimination condemned under international law and human rights frameworks.
2. On Not Aligning with Grave Human Rights Violations, Including the Genocide in Palestine
Principle: Festivals and cultural institutions have a moral duty to avoid legitimizing or enabling states or entities engaged in serious violations of international law.
Moral Obligation: To maintain the festival’s commitment to “safety, equality, and fairness for all people,” it is essential to disassociate from actions that fundamentally undermine these values on a mass scale.
Legal and Ethical Basis:
ICJ Provisional Measures (2024): The ICJ found it plausible that Israel is committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and ordered provisional measures to prevent further harm [4].
Apartheid Findings: Major human rights organizations — including Amnesty International [5], Human Rights Watch [6], and B’Tselem [7] — have concluded that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid. Apartheid is recognized under international law as a crime against humanity.
War Crimes and Grave Breaches: UN agencies and legal experts have documented acts such as collective punishment, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and attacks on civilians, all of which violate the Geneva Conventions and other pillars of humanitarian law [8].
3. On Supporting Economic and Cultural Boycotts as a Peaceful, Principled Stand
Principle: Non-violent boycotts are a legitimate and historically powerful tool for achieving justice, especially when initiated by those directly affected.
Moral Obligation: When oppressed people call for solidarity through boycott, and peaceful appeals are ignored, individuals and institutions have a moral responsibility to honor that call and refrain from complicity.
Historical and Legal Precedent:
Anti-Apartheid Movement (South Africa): Global economic and cultural boycotts were instrumental in ending apartheid, showing the power of international solidarity [9].
Palestinian Civil Society Call (BDS): The BDS movement — led by Palestinian civil society — calls for boycotts of institutions complicit in Israel’s occupation and apartheid. It does not target individuals based on identity [10].
Freedom of Expression: While some jurisdictions attempt to penalize boycott advocacy, human rights bodies, including the European Court of Human Rights, have affirmed it as protected free expression [11].
References
[1] United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
[2] United Nations, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965). https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial
[3] UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/76/254 (2022) and related Human Rights Council statements. https://press.un.org/en/2022/ga12406.doc.htm https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches (for related HRC statements)
[4] International Court of Justice (ICJ), Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (South Africa v. Israel) – Provisional Measures, 26 January & 24 May 2024. https://www.icj-cij.org/case/192
[5] Amnesty International, Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity (2022). https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2022/02/israels-system-of-apartheid/
[6] Human Rights Watch, A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution (2021). https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution
[7] B’Tselem, This is Apartheid: A Regime of Jewish Supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea (2021). https://www.btselem.org/publications/202101_this_is_apartheid
[8] UN OCHA and OHCHR reports on Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (Ongoing). https://www.ochaopt.org https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/state-of-palestine
[9] United Nations, History of the Anti-Apartheid Movement. https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/anti-racism/resources/history-of-anti-apartheid-movement.html
[10] Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), Cultural Boycott Guidelines. https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi/cultural-boycott-guidelines
[11] European Court of Human Rights, Baldassi and Others v. France (2020). https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-203327