June 26th, 2009 / 7 Comments » / by soha.yassine
Hey gang,
So, you know that I’ve been referring to a big announcement a lot lately. A few days ago in my entry written from the departure terminal at Vancouver International airport, I alluded to sitting with an important package by my side. Yesterday in the wee hours of the morning, I posted a picture of Chris Martin and Guy Berryman facing a poster of sorts with writing that appears to match the graphics on this page. Well, In the immortal words of one Jim Morrison, “The time to hesitate is through.”
In fact, the “package” I carried was one of our Oxfam banners that had been signed by all four members of Coldplay. They signed it just after I had met with them to announce the good news of reaching the milestone of 100 thousand people who have taken action with Oxfam since the start of the Viva tour last July.
We commemorated the occasion with a few pictures that were sent to me a few days ago with the words “Sent via carrier pigeon” at the bottom of the email.
(Before)
(After)
So, in the spirit of strength in numbers, I’m pleased to announce on behalf of Oxfam and Coldplay that we will be awarding the banner to the 150 thousandth person to take action with Oxfam on the Viva la Vida tour! How cool is that? The banner has been all over the world with Oxfam and Coldplay, and when we reach 150,000 it could be one of yours as well. It’s a cool thing not just because it is signed and doodled on by Coldplay, however. Its a symbol of the important work Oxfam has been able to accomplish through the Oxfam-Coldplay alliance, the power of music to change the world, and a snap-shot in the history of music activism that was initiated with 1985’s Live Aid concert by Bob Geldoff. I can’t count how many Oxfam volunteers, interns, club founders, CHANGE leaders and Action Corps members I’ve met who learned about Oxfam for the first time at a Coldplay concert. And I thought my vintage Live Aid t-shirt was cool.
So, world, do you have your game face on? The Viva tour is far from being over and the goal of reaching 150 thousand people is not by any means unreachable. As long as you continue to show concern about how you can end global hunger, poverty, and injustice by taking action with Oxfam at the local level, we can do this. We will do this. If you won’t be seeing us at a Coldplay show near you, tell your friends who will to visit the Oxfam table. The days of the carrier pigeon are long gone, so use whatever media and social networking you have at your disposal to encourage them. To quote Jim Morrison again, there’s no time “to wallow in the mire.”
If you’re in the United States and want to earn good karma and a better world for your children to inherit, Oxfam America needs you to act now. Very few times in history do we have the opportunity to influence our Congress Members just before they vote on a bill this critical. But now is one of those moments as the House is minutes away from voting on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454) – and we need your immediate support.
Please call your House Representative now through the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for his or her support for this bill. (Keep dialing until you get through! To be connected to your representative, give your zip code or ask for him/her by name.)
This bill puts the US on a pathway to reducing carbon emissions AND ALSO provides funding, resources, and clean technology solutions to help poor communities in the US and abroad survive severe floods, droughts, debilitating storms, crop loss, and disease.
The whole point of Oxfam’s presence on the Coldplay tour is to remind you that you’ve got power. It’s time for justice.
I’m off to call my House Representative, I hope you’ll join me.
See you at the Oxfam table,
s
Posted in: General
June 25th, 2009 / 3 Comments » / by soha.yassine
Lovers and friends,
How’s everyone doing while the Viva tour is on break? For some of my crew mates and I, it’s already beginning to feel like that point in summer break where you admit to yourself that you’re bored with all the time off and want school to start again so you can see all your friends. This is evidenced by the text messages and Facebook posts that immediately began being exchanged that say, “I miss everyone already!” or, “I’m already listening to Howling Bells for me to get myself back to NORMAL.” Ironic, though not unexpected because we are constants for one another on the road when everything else is changing. I feel so lame talking about all this like I’ve been out for three years or something, but I’m new to this whole roadie thing.
So I thought I’d write an update because I miss you, too, world. Since you all have been asking for details surrounding the big news, I figured I’d indulge your curiosity a bit with a hint.
So there you have it. I won’t say much more until later other than I hope you’re up for a challenge, world. Until then, I think I’ll purchase some Snow Patrol tracks with that iTunes gift card from Matt and Marta.
Peace,
s
Posted in: General
June 23rd, 2009 / 1 Comment » / by soha.yassine
Hello all!
Check out this out; it just got sent to me.
Don’t be surprised if you run into Oxfam at your local Howling Bells show! I’m certainly going to miss their good company on the next leg.
Did you know that Glenn, the drummer, doesn’t just dress like a cowboy, he actually IS one? Knows how to tie a lasso and all…
By the way, I asked their bassist, Brenden, if he had a Bells sticker for my the top of my road case. Well, he didn’t at the moment, but he came up with something even better:
Oh yeah and big news is still coming, just stay tuned!
<3,
s
Posted in: General
June 23rd, 2009 / 4 Comments » / by soha.yassine
Hello all!
I wrote this from the Vancouver International Airport with a view of the mountains in front of me, and a supremely important package by my side…
Today is the first day of almost three weeks off while the tour is on hiatus and the band hits some major festivals in Europe. This means my crew pass and 2-way radio are unclipped from my belt-band, and that I’ll be carrying car keys in the place of a hotel key-card in no time. I wish I could say the same for those weary crewmates who do sound or instruments, merchandising or security, for the fellas. I honestly thought that 23 shows into the summer tour I’d be exhausted and ready to go home. Although I have begun noticing the dark and puffy circles around my eyes in recent photos, I think my new touring wings have a long ways until they’re worn to a frazzle.
That’s not to say that I don’t miss my peeps. In the six weeks that I’ve been out, I’ve missed the birth of my second niece, and the 6th birthday of my nephew. I celebrated my 26th at a venue in Calgary, and wished my dad a happy Father’s Day from a venue in Vancouver. The youngest of the Yassines graduated from high school at some point while the ‘Viva’ crew was in the Mid-West. Emails and text messages have had to suffice- some postcards too. So you see folks, the coolness of touring has its trade-offs, eh (That “eh” was for you, Canada)? In the age of email, however, postcard recipients can send a response:
We rolled into Vancouver a few days ago and moved out of Bus 5. It was bittersweet, I admit. Big thanks to our driver John “the rock god” for getting us where we need to go safely.
I can’t count the number of times Switzer, Steph, Piers, Carlos and I were all crammed near the passenger seat in front of the bus to chat with him, and when we weren’t up there how many times we overheard John singing along to AC/DC or something comparable.
Rolling into Vancouver for two back-to-back sold out shows with the knowledge that Oxfam’s total number of new supporters had already reached 98,660 felt as though I was entering the city bearing something of utmost importance. This meant that Vancouver would probably be the city to help the Oxfam reach the 100 thousand point. What better way than to leave this leg of the tour knowing we had already reached a major milestone? And Vancouver’s teams did not disappoint! By the end of night one, we’d reached 100,039 actions taken with Oxfam a pledge for Health and Education For All in England, a call to Make Trade Fair in Australia, a petition to Stop Harming and Start Helping in the USA, and so on. 100 thousand voices- enough to fill an arena- against hunger, poverty, and injustice. By the end of night two, 101,669!
One year, two Oxfam “roadies,” half a dozen or so Oxfams, 123 shows, thousands of volunteers, millions of fans. I know I’ve said in the past that the goal is not about the numbers, but those figures are impressive eh?
(Oxfam roadies Pete and Soha)
By the way, some cool news is coming. Stay tuned…
xoxo from home,
s
Posted in: General
June 19th, 2009 / 1 Comment » / by soha.yassine
Check out this awesome picture montage from my pal Logan from the Hershey show.
If you are so fortunate as to live in the Hershey/Philly area and want to get involved with Oxfam and these lovely people,
check out the Philadelphia Oxfam Action Corps .
Just in from a 14 hour bus ride to Vancouver,
s
Ps. The Oxfam Action Corps are in 13 cities across the US. Check out www.oxfamamerica.org/actioncorps to learn how you can get involved in your community!
Posted in: General
June 19th, 2009 / 6 Comments » / by soha.yassine
Hi world!
When I received the tour travel itinerary early in May, I became aware of the fact that I’d be with the tour in Calgary on June 17th, which happens to be the day that I’d be turning what I call “the adult side of 25.”
I’m sooooo not the person to broadcast my birthday, especially not to an entire blog readership! How many of you do you think are out there? Sometimes I feel like it could be 5 people, other days it feels like it could be 5 million people… who knows? The point is that I’m resisting the impulse to delete this entire entry and ignore the fact that yesterday was my birthday for the sake of honesty.
For me this blog is about Oxfam’s work on the Coldplay tour, and about the awesome volunteers that I get to meet who exhibit incredible commitment to “thinking globally and acting locally.” But its also a view of the Viva tour through the lens of a California girl who spent a substantive amount of time in college studying Buddhism and took a chance and moved to Boston to work for Oxfam. Perhaps my sudden emphasis in honesty in blog writing comes from judgement impaired by a late night of cake eating, dancing in the rain to Joss Stone’s cover of “Fell in Love With a Boy,” and skateboarding through an arena full of paper butterflies on Switzer’s board.
(Switzer shows off the Oxfam sticker his board)
Regardless, I wanted to share with you all how amazing it is to think back on where I was on my 25th birthday, and to think that a year ago I had not the slightest indication that I’d be celebrating my next one on tour for my dream organization, with my favorite band.
Yesterday was cool for so many reasons. Team Calgary set the goal of having each member get 70 concert goers to take action with Oxfam-they ended up getting about 85 per person! When all was said and done after the show, team leaders Lara and Reny and I sat around talking about how the best volunteers are those who are most motivated, and the most motivated volunteers are those who truley believe they are making an impact. How does an organizer communicate their impact to volunteers was the question….They also told me that the Edminton team was sure to wow me; I don’t doubt that!
I was also able to assert my title as “proper roadie” as Howling Bells’ “stage right guitar technician.” Basically this means that they let me hand Brenden his “cherry” bass in exchange for “vanilla” during the show. Mundane, yes, but the 13-year-old within who dreamed of being a rock star was ecstatic. After my two swap-outs had been completed, Juanita wished me a happy birthday from the stage and dedicated the song Treasure Hunt to me. Its an beautiful song with the lyrics: “I am the watchtower/ I am the light that emanates/ I am the key that fits/ I am the world that radiates.”
(Mark, the Bells’ instrument technician with the set list with my cues to swap guitars. You can’t see, but it says “Soha’s Happy Birthday set list.”)
Marta was the really the force behind the amazing birthday. I had quietly informed her it was on Wednesday and told her that I wouldn’t be telling anyone else. She told everyone it was my birthday, hence the on-stage b-day wish from Howling Bells, the hugs and warm wishes from crew mates all day, and my very festive bunk.
She was responsible for the coolest momento a person could have from a tour (cooler than the one I got in New Orleans that I’ll tell you about some other time)- a birthday card signed by the entire crew, and a few of my buddies from Howling Bells and Snow Patrol.
Once the show was over, cake eating, rain dancing, and arena skateboarding ensued.
(Before)
(Piers and cake)
(After)
Much love to my girl Marty who started off just a fun person to hang out with, and evolved into a dear friend and confidant. And to Matt the video guy as well for a gift from him and Marta that ensures I retrieve new music ethically and for being an all around cool “bloke.”
Not a bad way to turn 26. Where will I be next year?
xoxo from Edmonton,
s
ps. here’s something from my girl Z. classic…
Posted in: General
June 16th, 2009 / 7 Comments » / by soha.yassine
Hello world! I’m writing this as I look over the view in my room of a very quaint Calgary, Alberta in Canada.
We crossed the border into Canada on a 16-hour bus ride a few days ago after a string of amazing shows in San Antonio, Des Moines, and Omaha. The ride was the much-needed opportunity for my bus-mates and I to lounge in our pajamas all day and watch television. It also marked the end of the first leg of the US portion of the tour. I bet you’re wondering how Oxfam America did in terms of sign-ups…
Well, I work very hard to resist the impulse to follow our sign-up numbers because they are never a measure of success for me. Team sizes, weather, and venue type/capacity almost always factor into the total number of sign-ups. Also, the goal of Oxfam’s being on tour with Coldplay is to use the access to millions of people all over the world that the tour provides us in order to have conversations with people about how they can fight poverty at the local, national, and global level. Each sign-up represents more than just a name on a sheet, it represents a dialogue about change, and that’s what matters most to me. But, if you must know…
Buffalo- 970
Detroit- 618
Cincinnati- 518
Indianapolis- 1299, thereby snatching the record-holding title from Team West Palm Beach!
Nashville- 845
New Orleans- 415
San Antonio- 741
Des Moines- 853
Omaha- 710
14,637 total for Oxfam America! Nothing makes me happier than when I walk into Coldplay’s production office to mail a box of 4, 5, or 6 thousand sign-ups to our Oxfam America’s data entry firm. Its like walking in with a trophy that is the fruit of months of planning and the labor of hundreds of volunteers. Our goal is to get 30,000 people to take action with us during both of the United States legs of this summer’s Viva La Vida Tour. If you’d like to be part of the 30,000 strong voices against hunger, poverty, and social injustice, simply text VIVA to 30644.
Since we’re on the topic of sign-ups, you may be pleased to know that Team Winnipeg blew my mind yesterday with the most sign-ups that I’ve ever seen at a single concert in my many months of concert outreach.
Team Winnipeg was built by Megan, a recent high school graduate from Vincent Masey Collegiate, who got involved Oxfam because she likes its broad approach and sustainable development model.
(Center: Megan with Shanleigh, Alexia, Angela, and myself.)
She started an Oxfam club at University of Manitoba, Winnipeg because she’ll be attending college there in the fall in the new human rights and global studies department. And she was an amazing leader, emphasizing that every conversation in one step closer to ending poverty! She set a very ambitious goal for the team of 1,300 new Canadians to call on their leaders to consider how climate change and the global financial crisis disproportionately affect women.
As the evening wrapped up, we began counting the action cards volunteers had brought back.
When all was said and done, we had covered the surface of the table with bundles of 50 action cards totaling 1,398! That’s 1,398 conversations right there…
Much thanks to Megan and Team Winnipeg for showing me that a little ambition goes a long way!
Inspired anew from Calgary,
s
p.s. Here’s a pic of yesterday’s Mexican cell phone wave; it was a-maz-ing! Usually Chris repeats it 3 times with the audience, but after asking the audience to do it once, it just kept circling around the arena through the entire song. I was sitting by Marta at her camera and we’d enthusiastically nodded at each other every time the wave repeated.
Posted in: General
June 14th, 2009 / No Comments » / by soha.yassine
Hello all! Here’s one from yesterday that I had to abandon mid-way after opting to pass out in my bunk…
I’m sitting in the our crew room writing to you all as my roadie pals bask in the glorie of the Pens’ winning the Stanley Cup; remember when we were in Pittsburgh and the audience chanted, “Go Pens!” until Chris had to stop and ask what they were saying?
Tonight, like most nights in arenas, the crew room where we check our email and such is a locker room with drapes covering the perimeter of the walls. Matt the video guy and the man behind the “magic balls” has spent a significant amount of time explaining what the English refer to as a “geezer.” I’m settled on “the English equivalent of dude,” but he’s proceeded to explain the meaning of geezer is “the type of bloke to say ’sorted me ol mucker’ to someone.” No comment…
This week started with two days off in New Orleans. It was a much-needed chance to unwind after 3 straight shows. Being a fan of casual biking, I decided I would rent a bike and use it as my mode of transportation for the New Orleans sight-seeing.
A couple of my bus-mates, Marta and Piers, were excited by the idea and joined along and we had a lovely day of riding along the Mississippi, through the French Quarter, and, well, on Bourbon Street as well. Nothing made me happier than to hand the valet at our fancy hotel the key to my bike lock and say, “Take care of her for me.”
Besides being able to reconnect with the city I fell in love with on a trip with my girl Z, it was a chance to visit the Oxfam New Orleans Regional Office. There I met Field Representative, Ilana Scherl, who talked to me about the human face of climate-related disasters in the Gulf Coast. She told me about how disasters like Hurricane Katrina exacerbate pre-existing conditions of poverty and how they are increasing in severity and frequency due to climate change.
She explained how disasters- from evacuations, to the property loss and excruciating process of reoccupying evacuated areas- are harder for the poor communities than any other.
When I toured the 9th Ward, the poorest area of New Orleans, I saw evidence of reoccupied homes as well as homes in various stages of reconstruction, often with FEMA trailers parked right along side them.
But mostly, I saw empty lot after empty lot. I learned then that only 15% of people evacuated from the 9th Ward have been able to return, and that 1000 of the 1836 deaths in New Orleans occurred in the 9th Ward. The most moving thing I saw were the homes with holes in their roofs. They were punched out by people escaping the rising water in their attics.
When I toured the area surrounding the Louisiana Super Dome with Nancy, the Administrative Assistant at Oxfam’s local office, I couldn’t help but think about the choice between community and chaos the people of New Orleans had. I was moved by the stories of people who went from home to home on row boats during the floods to help remove people from their roofs. These were people who chose to come together as a community rather than succumb to crisis and chaos- much of which was happening at places like the Super Dome.
As a global village, we are faced with the same choice with regards to climate change. We could come together as a global community and address the urgent problems at hand, or succumb to crisis and chaos. We can all do our parts; Oxfam works with community partners at the local level, governments adopt national plans that address climate change issues in their nations, the UN has funding mechanisms for those programs, and people like the Oxfam volunteers at the past 19 Coldplay shows since the beginning of the summer are doing their part.
To learn more about how you can do your part, check out www.oxfamamerica.org/climate.
xoxo from Bus 5 en route to Winnipeg, Canada,
s
Posted in: General
June 11th, 2009 / 2 Comments » / by soha.yassine
Dear Lovers and Friends,
My glasses have been found! Last night, my already tired eyes struggled to articulate the flood of thoughts, reflections, and realizations about my trip in NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) without my glasses to no avail.
Thankfully, they’ve been found and my eyes have become of use once again! Stay tuned for my post about NOLA as I work through my draft of it.
In other news, I recently moved out of Bus 2 to make room for new lampies (lighting technicians) and I’m proud to say that I’ve been designated Bus Mom of Bus 5 today! This means that I’m in charge of managing our grocery list and making sure it lands in the hands of the powers that be. Today I was pleased to find that Jim got his Frosted Mini Wheats and that Switzer got his Doritos. I anticipate fulfilling this obligation with exceptional success…
xoxo from Bus 5 (en route to Des Moines),
s
p.s.how cool is this pic I took earlier tonight?
Posted in: General
June 8th, 2009 / 4 Comments » / by soha.yassine
Hello all!
Today is the last of two days off in New Orleans. I’ve been here before, but this city and its people never cease to amaze me with their vibrance. Check out the picture below; it is part of a tape graffiti mural just outside the famous French Quarter.
Saturday night’s show in the Sommet Center in Nashville was a bit of a shift for the tour as it was the start of the arena portion of this leg. I love arenas because their enclosed nature causes the audience’s cheers to reverberate and capture the amazing energy of Coldplay fans that much more. I told my pal, Glenn, from Howling Bells that they sounded exceptionally good and he laughed and shared that he thought they sounded awful given they didn’t have a sound check. The trade off to the energy of arena shows is that the crew has to wake up in what feels like the belly of a concrete beast and spend the day working in a dark arena without seeing the light of day. Thanks to my pals and Oxfam volunteers Hannah, Jessie, Jonathan, and Nate for taking me out after the show so I could get some fresh air and experience Nashville. And Nashville is a great city indeed- still quite sad that I didn’t buy those pink cowboy boots though…
In fact, meet Hannah. She’s a returning Coldplay volunteer and a great example of the cool people I get to spend my evenings with. Sorry in advance for the bad lighting!
Anyone wondering what’s with the umbrella?
From New Orleans,
s
Posted in: America, General
Coldplay have invited Oxfam on their mammoth Viva La Vida World Tour. Throughout 2008 the band played huge shows across 3 continents and 18 countries. Oxfam volunteers were there every step of the way, talking to 100,000s of people about how they can take action to overcome poverty. Now in 2009, Coldplay continue this tour with shows across 20 countries. Oxfam groups around the world, will again join the tour, blogging as they go..
