Unless the people of this planet, including our so-called leaders, accept the reality of climate change, weapons of mass destruction, poverty and conflict, we are heading for disaster.
Life is now more dangerous than it has been since the Second World War and the survival of life on the planet is on the edge of annihilation.
The planet is rich and diverse and if we mobilise the art and the music of our civilisation we can unite people of all cultures, politics, and religions to build a more peaceful and co-operative world.
The world is dominated by a bullies who use military strength and superiority, who ignore the rule of law and ignore human rights and life on the planet is at risk as never before.
The bullies are not being challenged as weak political leaders choose flattery or appeasement. The innocent victims of war include so many children in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine and the verdict of history will be that we live in one of the darkest ages of civilisation.
The late Jo Cox MP, who was murdered by a far right extremist whilst attending her constituency surgery in Birstall in West Yorkshire, had worked with some of the poorest people in the world including in Gaza. She said what we all at heart know as citizens of this planet: “We have far more in common than that which divides us”
I have long thought that music and the arts unites people whatever their culture, politics, sport or religion and the dangerous world of today demands that we concentrate on enjoying what we have in common.
Making piano music accessible to all
Pianos for Peace aims to make piano music accessible to everyone as a player or a listener and wants to see pianos available to play across the city and not just every three years during the international competition.
In Leeds I have played the piano at the train station and bus station, in museums and arts centres, hospitals and schools, in shopping centres and arcades, churches and hospitals, hotels and cafes, and places of worship.
I have played the piano in Strasbourg and Brussels when I was an MEP and in several African countries including when I was a UN election observer in Durban in 1984 when Nelson Mandela became president.
Since the launch of the Leeds International Piano Competition in 1963 some of the finest young piano players have come to the city from across the world and Leeds has an international reputation as the piano city.
We encourage all homes to have a piano for a house without a piano is not a real home and appeal to individuals and companies to donate any unused pianos.
This year Leeds is celebrating the 400th anniversary of the granting of its royal charter which is another opportunity to celebrate and enhance the reputation of the city as a centre of Art and Music.
The therapeutic benefits of piano music is well known and those suffering mental illness – depression and dementia – often speak of music aiding relaxation and being a boost to good health.
The Victorian tiled hall cafe attached to the Leeds Art Gallery is a popular meeting place to relax and enjoy coffee, tea, and cakes and often the sound of live piano music.
A non-stop marathon of piano playing on a Saturday last March in the Kirkgate Market in Leeds led to funds being raised for Medical Aid for Palestine.
Twelve volunteer pianists played a mix of classical, jazz, and pub music from 10am to 5pm which was very popular.
Pianos for Peace aims to make people aware of the parts of the world which are ravaged by climate change, war and poverty and helps to raise funds to support the poorest people in the world.
The world is more dangerous than I recall in my lifetime and the need for unity and peace requires urgent action. And those who flatter and appease the bullies are themselves complicit in the threat to world peace.
NUJ Leeds and West Yorkshire branch member Michael McGowan, the former MEP for Leeds, is an amateur pianist who believes that Pianos for Peace can change the world.