Editing Massive Attack (section)

==Activism and politics==

=== Anti-war advocacy ===
Robert Del Naja was critical of the policies of the [[Premiership of Tony Blair|UK government under Tony Blair]]. He was strongly opposed to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 war against Iraq]], and with fellow musician [[Damon Albarn]] personally paid for full-page advertisements against the war in the ''[[NME]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/7876770/Massive-Attack-the-beat-goes-on.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/7876770/Massive-Attack-the-beat-goes-on.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Massive Attack: the beat goes on|date=8 July 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=17 September 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Massive Attack have worked with [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]] and [[Stop the War Coalition]], while also having helped fund a legal challenge to military intervention in international courts.<ref>{{cite news |date= 31 January 2003 |title= Starting a massive offensive |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/music/starting-a-massive-offensive-1-544656 |work= The Scotsman |access-date= 14 June 2019}}</ref>

=== Human rights ===
In 2008, Massive Attack curated the annual [[Meltdown (festival)|Meltdown festival]] on London's [[South Bank]]. During the two weeks of live performance, cinema and art, they worked with human rights lawyer [[Clive Stafford Smith]] and his organisation [[Reprieve (organisation)|Reprieve]] which uses the law to enforce the [[Human rights|human]] [[Prisoners' rights|rights of prisoners]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reprieve.org.uk/press/2008_07_07memoriesofmeltdown/|title=Reprieve—Memories of Meltdown|access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref>

In 2010, the video shot by [[Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin]] for the song "[[Saturday Come Slow]]", featuring Albarn, drew attention to the use of music in [[torture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reprieve.org.uk/blog/2010_03_18massive_attack_speaks_out_music_torture/|title=Reprieve—Massive Attack speak out against music torture|access-date=15 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224060143/http://www.reprieve.org.uk/blog/2010_03_18massive_attack_speaks_out_music_torture/|archive-date=24 December 2012}}</ref>

Massive Attack donated all proceeds from their 2010 EP ''Atlas Air'' to [[War Child (charity)|War Child]], a charity the band previously supported when they contributed to ''[[The Help Album]].''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/231110_massiveattack.shtml|title=BBC&nbsp;– 6Music News&nbsp;– Massive Attack for War Child|publisher=BBC|access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref>

=== British politics ===
In 2007, Del Naja, musicians Albarn and [[Brian Eno]], and United Visual Artists contributed to a [[Greenpeace]] demonstration against the renewal of the [[Trident nuclear programme]] that was held on board the [[MV Arctic Sunrise|Arctic Sunrise]] on the [[River Thames]].<ref>{{cite web|title=River Thames to host protest against Trident renewal|url=http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/press-releases/river-thames-to-host-protest|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028055102/http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/press-releases/river-thames-to-host-protest|archive-date=28 October 2012|access-date=15 September 2012|publisher=Greenpeace UK}}</ref>

On 14 November 2012, on the eve of the [[2012 Bristol mayoral election|Bristol Mayor election]], the band caused some surprise by endorsing independent millionaire and former [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] [[George Ferguson (politician)|George Ferguson]], citing the need for a mayor who would help facilitate creative projects to the city, and wasn't simply following a party political agenda.<ref name="24-7">{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Christopher|date=14 November 2012|title=Bristol mayor: Massive Attack give vocal backing for Ferguson|newspaper=Bristol 24–7|url=http://www.bristol247.com/2012/11/14/bristol-mayor-massive-attack-give-vocal-backing-for-ferguson-25128/|url-status=dead|access-date=8 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522204522/http://www.bristol247.com/2012/11/14/bristol-mayor-massive-attack-give-vocal-backing-for-ferguson-25128/|archive-date=22 May 2013}}</ref> Previously, Del Naja had openly criticised Ferguson for being a member of the [[Society of Merchant Venturers]],<ref name="post01">{{cite news|date=9 October 2012|title=Massive Attack star criticises Bristol Mayor candidate George Ferguson|newspaper=This Is Bristol|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Massive-Attack-star-criticises-Bristol-Mayor/story-17054830-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|access-date=8 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602024432/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Massive-Attack-star-criticises-Bristol-Mayor/story-17054830-detail/story.html#axzz2Shn0uOq5|archive-date=2 June 2013}}</ref> an organisation dating back to the 16th century which had many connections with the [[Bristol slave trade]].<ref name="Nash">{{cite web|last=Nash|first=Andrew|title=The Society of Merchant Venturers|url=http://www.flocs.com/websites/bristolslavery/people/merchantventurers.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613131401/http://www.flocs.com/websites/bristolslavery/people/merchantventurers.htm|archive-date=13 June 2014|access-date=22 March 2015|work=Bristol Slavery|publisher=Andrew Nash}}</ref> Del Naja endorsed Ferguson again in the 2016 election.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In September 2018, Massive Attack criticised the [[Mayor of Bristol]] for cancelling the [[Bristol Arena|Bristol Arena project]] in the Temple Meads area of Bristol. The Mayor had announced a private sector company, YTL would build a privately funded arena in Filton, a northern suburb of Bristol and the band announced they would not play there. Despite this, when a pop up arena was temporarily erected on the Filton site, Massive Attack played two gigs in March 2019.

In November 2019, along with other public figures, Massive Attack signed a letter supporting [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]] describing him as "a beacon of hope in the struggle against emergent far-right nationalism, xenophobia and racism in much of the democratic world" and endorsed him in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 UK general election]].<ref name="nme">{{cite news|last=Neale|first=Matthew|date=16 November 2019|title=Exclusive: New letter supporting Jeremy Corbyn signed by Roger Waters, Robert Del Naja and more|work=[[NME]]|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/new-letter-supporting-jeremy-corbyn-2568734|access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>

In June 2024, Massive Attack endorsed and donated money to [[Carla Denyer]], the co-leader of [[Green Party of England and Wales|the Green Party]], as MP for [[Bristol Central]]. They said "General Election 2024 is an opportunity for #Bristol to consolidate its green reputation by electing an MP who is resolutely focused on #ClimateAction and unambiguous on the matter of genocide in #Gaza. @carla_denyer is that candidate."<ref>{{cite tweet |user=MassiveAttackUK |number=1797585324136423903 |title=General Election 2024 is an opportunity for #Bristol to consolidate its green reputation | accessdate=5 June 2024}}</ref>

=== International politics ===
Del Naja and [[Thom Yorke]] of [[Radiohead]] threw an unofficial party at the occupied [[UBS]] building in the city of London in December 2011, in support for the international [[Occupy movement]].<ref>{{cite web |date=8 February 2012 |title=Dazed Digital |url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/12575/1/occupy-2012 |access-date=15 September 2012 |publisher=Occupy 2012}}</ref>

During a concert in [[Istanbul]] in 2014, Massive Attack named those who died in [[Gezi Park protests|anti-government protests]] at [[Gezi Park]] on the outdoor screen at their back with the following sentences: "Their killers are still out there" and "We won't forget [[Soma mine disaster|Soma]]".<ref>{{cite web|date=6 August 2014|title=Massive Attack Soma ve Gezi'yi unutmadı&nbsp;– Hayat Haberleri&nbsp;– Radikal|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/hayat/massive_attack_soma_ve_geziyi_unutmadi-1196119|access-date=26 August 2020|work=Radikal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Massive Attack'ten Soma ve Gezi mesajı|url=http://www.gercekgundem.com/kultur-sanat/49167/massive-attackten-soma-ve-gezi-mesaji|access-date=17 September 2014|work=Gerçek Gündem}}</ref>

In June 2024, Massive Attack cancelled a concert at the [[Black Sea Arena]] in [[Tbilisi]], originally scheduled for 28 July, in response to the [[Government of Georgia (country)|Georgian government]]'s repression of the [[2023–2024 Georgian protests|nationwide civil protests]] against law proposals that could have restricted [[freedom of press]] and [[LGBT rights in Georgia (country)|LGBT rights]] in the country; in an official statement, the band explained their decision by writing quote, "At this moment, performing at the state-owned Black Sea Arena could be seen as an endorsement of their violent crackdown against peaceful protests and civil society".<ref>{{cite news |last=Boffey |first=Daniel |date=12 June 2024 |title=Massive Attack pull out of gig in Georgia in solidarity with protesters |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/jun/12/massive-attack-pull-out-of-gig-in-georgia-in-solidarity-with-protesters |access-date=12 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==== Israeli–Palestinian conflict ====
In late July 2014, Del Naja and Marshall visited the [[Bourj el-Barajneh]] [[refugee camp]] in Lebanon to meet with Palestinian volunteers at an educational centre. The band's profit from the show in Byblos was donated to the centre.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 July 2014 |title=Massive Attack visit Palestinian refugees in Lebanon: 'All of them have a right to a life of dignity and beauty' – People&nbsp;— News |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/massive-attack-visit-palestinian-refugees-in-lebanon-all-of-them-have-a-right-to-a-life-of-dignity-and-beauty-9635645.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/massive-attack-visit-palestinian-refugees-in-lebanon-all-of-them-have-a-right-to-a-life-of-dignity-and-beauty-9635645.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |access-date=17 September 2014 |work=The Independent}}</ref> In 2017, Massive Attack performed three shows in support of Hoping, an organisation that helps raise money and supports projects for Palestinian youth in refugee camps in the [[Gaza Strip]] and the [[West Bank]], [[Lebanon]] and [[Syria]].{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Massive Attack have previously played three shows in [[Israel]], but have boycotted it since 1999 "as a form of non-violent pressure on Israel to end its brutal [[occupation of Palestine]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Duran|first=Anagricel|date= 12 January 2024|title=Massive Attack speak out on their boycott of gigs in Israel since 1999|newspaper=NME|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/massive-attack-speak-out-on-their-boycott-of-gigs-in-israel-since-1999-3570102|access-date=7 February 2024}}</ref> They have described their decision as "not an action of aggression towards the Israeli people", but "towards the [Israeli] [[Israeli government|government]] and its policies", arguing that "the Palestinians [in [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] and the [[West Bank]]] have no access to the same fundamental benefits that the Israelis do."<ref name="NS">{{cite news|last=Parry|first=William|date=3 September 2010|title=The silent treatment|newspaper=New Statesman|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/music/2010/09/israel-interview-boycott-naja|access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref> In May 2020, Massive Attack co-signed an open letter urging Israel to end the [[blockade of the Gaza Strip]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Hundreds of artists urge Israel to end Gaza blockade |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/5/16/hundreds-of-artists-urge-israel-to-end-gaza-blockade |publisher=Al Jazeera|date=16 May 2020}}</ref>

In May 2024, the group publicly expressed their support to the music acts who had decided to boycott [[The Great Escape Festival]] in [[Brighton and Hove]], in protest against the event's sponsor [[Barclays]] and its investments in companies supplying arms that were reportedly used by Israeli military forces in their [[Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)|invasion of the Gaza Strip]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Skinner |first=Tom |date=14 May 2024 |title=Over 100 acts have now dropped out of The Great Escape 2024 in Gaza boycott, with support from Massive Attack |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/over-100-acts-have-now-dropped-out-of-the-great-escape-2024-in-gaza-boycott-with-support-from-massive-attack-3756090 |access-date=24 May 2024 |website=[[NME]] }}</ref>

After the band [[Kneecap (band)|Kneecap]] were criticized for displaying pro-Palestinian messages at [[Coachella]] in April 2025, Massive Attack published a statement supporting the group saying, "Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. [[Gaza genocide|Genocide]] is the story."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pilley |first1=Max |title=Massive Attack: "Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/massive-attack-kneecap-are-not-the-story-gaza-is-the-story-genocide-is-the-story-3859728 |website=NME |access-date=2 May 2025 |date=30 April 2025}}</ref>

=== Decarbonisation project ===
On 28 November 2019, Robert Del Naja announced that Massive Attack partnered with a research centre based at the [[University of Manchester]] to explore the [[Environmental impact of the music industry|music industry's climate impact]]. He wrote in a column in ''The Guardian'': "the commissioning of the renowned [[Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research]] to map the full carbon footprint of typical tour cycles, and to look specifically at the three key areas where [[Greenhouse gas emissions|CO2 emissions]] in our sector are generated." This will include information about band travel and production, audience transport and venue. "The resulting roadmap to [[decarbonisation]] will be shared with other touring acts, promoters and festival/venue owners to assist swift and significant emissions reductions."<ref>{{cite web |date=28 November 2019 |title=We've toured the world for years. To help save the planet we'll have to change &#124; Massive Attack |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/28/tour-world-massive-attack-band-climate |access-date=26 August 2020 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>

=== Environmentalism ===
In 2010, Massive Attack donated the income from a Lincoln car commercial to the clean up campaign after the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Massive Attack Donate Proceeds of Lincoln Car Commercial To Clean-Up Efforts in the Gulf of Mexico|url=http://saveourgulf.org/updates/massive-attack-donate-proceeds-lincoln-car-commercial-clean-ef|access-date=15 September 2012|publisher=Save Our Gulf|archive-date=1 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801101433/http://saveourgulf.org/updates/massive-attack-donate-proceeds-lincoln-car-commercial-clean-ef|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since October 2018, Massive Attack have also been supporting the [[climate activist]]s of the [[Extinction Rebellion]] group, also known as XR, which conducted protests in London in October 2018 then April 2019. On 21 April, Massive Attack played a DJ set for the Extinction Rebellion protesters<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS0bntN2FCM| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/DS0bntN2FCM| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=Massive Attack – Marble Arch – Extinction Rebellion| date=21 April 2019|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> in the heart of London in Marble Arch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/read/massive-attack-extinction-rebellion-protest-news|title=Massive Attack played a DJ set for the Extinction Rebellion protest in London|website=Mixmag}}</ref> In July and October 2019, the group protested in 60 other cities worldwide,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publicpressure.org/60-cities-extinction-rebellion-movement-goes-global/|title=60 cities: Extinction Rebellion movement goes global|date=10 October 2019|website=Public Pressure}}</ref> Robert Del Naja providing a portable radio network using speakers in backpacks with receivers and transmitters for the campaigners in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BG4zLu0yJQ| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/7BG4zLu0yJQ| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=Massive Attack Visited XR Sites &#124; Extinction Rebellion| date=14 October 2019|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2021 the band published a report they had commissioned from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. The report examined the impact of live music on the environment and gave a set of recommendations for meeting the [[Paris agreement]] targets. Del Naja criticised the UK government for not doing more to meet the targets.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vinter |first1=Robyn |title=Massive Attack call for government plan to cut live music's carbon emissions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/06/massive-attack-call-for-government-plan-to-cut-live-musics-carbon-emissions |website=The Guardian |date=5 September 2021 |access-date=17 December 2022}}</ref> Massive Attack became the first band globally to commit their touring companies to the UN "Race to Zero" – Paris 1.5 compatible emissions reductions schedule.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/massive-attack-unveil-plan-to-reduce-carbon-emissions-across-music-industry/ |title=Massive Attack Unveil Plan to Reduce Carbon Emissions Across Music Industry |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=6 September 2021 |website=Pitchfork |access-date=6 March 2023 }}</ref>

The band played a Bristol show named "Act 1.5" on 24 August 2024 with the goal of being a "large-scale climate action accelerator", blazing a "trail for new standards of decarbonisation of live music." There were 25 different measures to minimise carbon, including giving extra benefits to local attendees and those travelling by train, powering the venue by renewable energy only, serving only plant-based foods and minimising waste through compostable plates and cutlery.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=The band that doesn't want you to drive to their concerts |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240717-the-band-that-doesnt-want-you-to-travel-for-their-tour |access-date=21 July 2024 |publisher=BBC }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Massive Attack's upcoming ACT 1.5 decarbonisation show "may be their last" in Bristol |url=https://mixmag.net/read/massive-attack-act-1-5-decarbonisation-show-bristol-clifton-downs-climate-action-news |access-date=21 July 2024 |website=Mixmag}}</ref>

=== Other ===
In 2005, Massive Attack performed at a charity concert in [[Bristol]] for [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Tsunami]] relief with Adrian Utley and [[Geoff Barrow]] of [[Portishead (band)|Portishead]]. The two-night event featured Massive Attack, Portishead, [[Robert Plant]], [[the Coral]] and Albarn. Massive Attack performed an intimate "un-plugged" set, and invited Fraser to reprise her lead vocals on "Teardrop". The group collaborated with Portishead's [[Beth Gibbons]] on the song "[[Glory Box]]" to end their set.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2005/02/18/tsunami_views_feature.shtml |last=Sutcliffe |first=Andrew |date=18 February 2005 |title=Tsunami gig: Reviewed |publisher=BBC News |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref>

In March 2018, following the [[Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal]], Massive Attack suspended their Facebook page, stating: "In light of Facebook’s continued disregard for your privacy, their lack of transparency and disregard for accountability – Massive Attack will be temporarily withdrawing."<ref>{{cite web|date=21 March 2018|title=Massive Attack leave Facebook following Cambridge Analytica scandal|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/massive-attack-leave-facebook-following-cambridge-analytica-scandal-2270845|access-date=17 September 2018|website=NME}}</ref>