I had a bit of an emotional rollercoaster yesterday: Months of buildup culminated in the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest. This year, though Sweden was considered the front runner, the field of contestants was more even than it has been for a while. Nevertheless, come Saturday afternoon, I had a suspicion Austria was going to occupy the top spot at the end of the day.

They indeed did, with a song and performance, by the 24 year old Austrian-Filipino JJ. A mix of ballad, opera, and clubhouse, and quite spectacular. 

However, it was a nail biter finish, hence the emotional roller coaster.

Moments before, with a strong vote from the public, Estonia had come within one point from the then front runner, Israel, which, we would soon find out, had won the public vote, in noticeable discrepancy with the jury vote.

It’s established fact that diasporas affect the Eurovision voting system. The last two years, with the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in full swing, the Israeli diaspora seems to have significantly stepped up their game. The Israeli submission this year was a well executed, above average, song called “New Day Will Rise”. The also 24 year old had attended the music festival that was attacked by Hamas on October 7 2023, and, in a world suffering less from hidden agendas, back door deals, and corruption, her song could be interpreted as a kind of olive branch, with hope of a better future for all. 

As it stands, with Israel more and more blatantly pursuing Palestinian ethnic cleansing, it’s hard not to think of Yuval Raphael’s song as a looking forward, by Israelis, to a future where, from the river to the sea, Palestinian lands will be freed of Palestinians.

Russia was banned from Eurovision for invading Ukraine. Whether appropriate or not is debatable. But, banning Russia, and not banning Israel, is hypocrisy.

Thankfully, finally, several European broadcasters this year questioned whether Israel should not also be banned. And though this has stirred a little bit of a debate, too little has yet come of this.

Looking at the broader picture, the BDS movement, Boycott Divest Sanction, struggles to gain ground, but we have more recently seen, globally, stronger political support in pushing back against the Israeli politics of apartheid. And around the world, not just in the greater Middle East, where, historically, people’s support for Palestine has been strong, we have, in the last few years, seen public marches and protests in support of the Palestinian cause.

The April 5 March on Washington is one such example, but there are many others, including the recent walk for families in Gaza, in Edinburgh.

So it feels appropriate that, come August, we’re hosting an online event where we’ll discuss walking as political resistance. 

Walking has long served as a potent form of political expression, transforming the simple act of moving through public spaces into a declaration of dissent, solidarity, and hope. From the revolutionary fervor of May 1968 (incidentally the first year Eurovision was broadcast in color) in Paris, 57 years ago this month, to the contemporary global marches advocating for workers’ rights and protesting state abuses, walking remains an enduring symbol of collective resistance against systemic injustices.

In May 1968, France witnessed a seismic upheaval. Students and workers, always a potent combination, took to the streets, challenging the status quo, encapsulating a desire to reclaim everyday life from capitalist alienation. An important group of thinkers, the Situationist International, emphasised the concept of psychogeography, the study of the effects of the geographical environment on emotions and behavior, highlighting walking as a means to subvert the capitalist cityscape and rediscover authentic experiences.

It’s been close to 60 years since May ‘68, and walking continues to be a potent form of political expression, especially in contexts of grief and solidarity. Our upcoming event, Politics of Walking: Grief, Solidarity, and Resistance, will highlight this tradition through discussions on current examples with organizers and participants. This online gathering underscores how walking can serve as a communal act of mourning and a statement of resistance against systemic injustices.

Moreover, walking as protest fosters a deep sense of community among participants. Shared footsteps become a rhythm of solidarity, each step reinforcing the collective resolve to seek justice and remembrance. As they march, thousands of individuals form one collective body; the sadness and despair once experienced in private are now shared, and through this sharing, empowered. They walk in unison, their voices merging into a single, resonant call for justice and change.

So, join us on August 26, when we host Politics of Walking: Grief, Solidarity, and Resistance, with speakers from around the world. We’re currently actively looking for speakers from outside of Europe. Give us a shout if you are interested, or know someone who is.

For a minute, back to Eurovision. For 2026, five Austrian cities have already expressed their interest to host next year’s Eurovision. We can’t foretell the future, but Russia is again unlikely to participate. 

Perhaps the popular pushback against Israel’s genocide will, by then, have reached levels strong enough to also bar Israel from participating. 

A few well timed walks could just end up making the difference.

Keep walking.

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