Love Pumajaw Hate Racism

Love Music Hate Racism is an initiative dating back to 2002, launched as a counter-response to a perceived rise in levels of racism and the undeniably growing popularity of the British National Party. Using music as the platform to "celebrate diversity", the movement has organised over 400 separate events (from large festivals to local gigs and club nights) designed to urge people to vote against BNP candidates in elections.

Meantime, Perthshire electronic act Pumajaw are in the middle of writing their sixth album (due out next year) and running their own label (Bedevil). However, on 9 November the duo (Pinkie Maclure and John Wills) release a download single called Featherdown Quilt. 25% of the proceeds will be donated to the aforementioned cause. Here, Wills explains why:

"Pinkie and I hate racism and bigotry of any kind and wanted to help in any small way to stop the rise of the BNP and the effect they have on society. The major parties have made themselves very alike and many people might think that voting has become almost irrelevant to their lives. Also the expenses scandal has, understandably, turned many people away from politics. Voter apathy has given the far right the chance to creep into government through the back door. Scotland Secretary Jim Murphy said after the recent European elections, 'The BNP vote in Scotland was higher than the ethnic minority proportion of the population in Scotland as shown in the most recent census.'

"After the recent gains they made in Northern England, the BNP are targeting Scotland as their next big push. Shocking but true. The BNP vote in Scotland is on the rise. In ten years their votes have gone from zero to 27,000. As musicians, Love Music Hate Racism seemed the perfect organisation for us to approach. Music has always thrived on multicultural and multiracial collaboration and brings all kinds of people together, eliminating suspicions and barriers between them. It is our way of getting the message across as clearly as possible. There is no place for racism in any community. Cultural diversity is something to be embraced and not feared. Don't be bullied by the bigots!

"The forthcoming by-election in Glasgow in November is of particular concern. After speaking to Ned Mendez, Co-ordinator at LMHR he says our biggest weapon is simply to vote. It takes 15 minutes to walk to your local polling station and vote. The reason the BNP won their seats in England was due to voter apathy. Please use your vote, it really does make a difference."