September 4th, 2009 / No Comments » / by Pete
*Here;s a note from Bern a couple of days ago.. originally scrawled on a scrap of paper*
I’ve just run out of the pouring rain. My hoodie is soaked and my trousers, rolled up, to avoid soaking up any more puddles. Out of the front lounge window, on the tour bus, I can see a constant flow of people hurrying home. Like a river of people flowing out of the exits of the Stade de Suisse, and splintering off into tributaries. The reverse of what I was taught about river systems in Geography.
A few minutes ago, just behind the stage trucks to my right, popping - fizzing - banging pyrotechnics lit up the sky to compete with the lightning, spotlights and camera flashes, and bring another triumphant Coldplay show to a close. 40′000 more people have seen the spectacular open-air show in an incredible summer for one of the world’s biggest bands. And here we are.. Oxfam is playing it’s part in this event too. *I think* .. this was the 150th show of the VIVA world tour. A lot of people have passed through the gates, sung along, clapped hands, campaigned with Oxfam, in that time.. and a few have got a bit wet too.
The rain took nothing away from the atmosphere tonight. When the band ventured into the stormy weather, lightning flashing over the stadium, thunder multiplying the bass, steam rising from the crowd, they must have almost flooded their guitars. It fell down. Rivulets forming on the side of sound mixing tents, the giant stage, and the little Oxfam tent. I was impressed by the crowd. Just pulling out their raincoats in unison and getting on with singing.
Bern has been a stormy city for the tour. Similar downpours endured by the crew during Production day. But the show wen’t on (of course), and it was a cracker!
Today, Oxfam teamed up with a partner organisation here in Switzerland, called Clean Clothes Campaign, which campaigns for fairer production of clothing, and better working conditions for manufacturers. It relates to the Oxfam Make Trade Fair campaign, which Coldplay have supported strongly in the past. The Clean Clothes Campaign aims to connect us all more to what we buy, to know where it came from, who made it, and to ensure they wern’t exploited along the way.
Most people in the audience pulled out a raincoat when it poured tonight - so it is about knowing more about what got that there. Simple stuff. Something we can all do. Everyone deserves a fair chance. A fair wage for a product they have made. The same rights that people would expect here in Switzerland. As it says in Oxfam International’s Coldplay concert flyer.. a woman in Switzerland can expect to live to 84. A woman born in Swaziland, Southern Africa, can only expect to live until she’s 39. That’s crazy. That’s people’s lives. Not just numbers.
Huge amounts of people can change the world. Make change happen, which makes life fairer for all of us. So we need lot’s of people to shout for the same cause, to change the world…..
Good job we’re here on the Coldplay tour then, eh?
Posted in: General
September 1st, 2009 / 1 Comment » / by Pete
Leapfrogging through the country’s again. It’s an odd feeling. Waking up in a different landscape, country, culture, currency every other morning, but in the same bunk. I open my curtains, soon after the bus rolls to a halt, and look out of the front lounge at the view. First, I usually see a dusty carpark and a lost looking roadie taking directions from an in-the-know bus or truck driver. Those guys seem to have a permanent compass and map in their heads - knowing where everything is and never failing to get us to the next city. Because of course.. the show must go on. It’s great to have them around, to help a lost roadie find their bearings .. ‘toilets over there, catering through there, and the gig in that huge building behind you’..
These stadiums are big. I have said that already, in my previous blog. But last night I was struck again by the volume of people standing on the pitch usually occupied by 22 footballers and a referee at Udinese’s home ground.. and then at the thousands more filling the stands singing every word, like a goal has just been scored when plectrums meet guitars.
That’s a lot of people with an opportunity to take action. It shows the chance that people have, together, to have a collective voice to help overcome poverty. Millions of people are watching Coldplay on this tour. Shouting at the top of their lungs, when four sparklers appear walking in the darkness from stage-right.
Oxfam is here to give a different kind of voice to those lungs. There are actions you can take at every concert. Last night, the 20 volunteers were dotted all around signing people up to the PER TUTTI campaign. Our group did a great job for UCODEP and Oxfam International - led by the incredible Gabriele. I want to thank them all on here, as I did when they wen’t into the show, for all their efforts in the hot Italian sun. If you see an Oxfam volunteer at the show you’re going to, say hello, take an action, and .. maybe, if it’s hot, give them some water!
Today, i’m sitting in a very clean looking ‘crew office’ in the depths of the latest stadium to be visited by the Coldplay tour on it’s mammoth run. In the background, there is all sorts of load-in noise, and radio bleeps. Cases being shuttled into their spots. Amongst them, the Oxfam hamper.. now a lot more road weary after over 100 shows, than it was, way back in LA in early summer 2008.
For some reason, a guy just whistled past me on a scooter. Some people choose golf buggies in these places. I kind of like seeing it on foot.
Munich was a beautiful setting. A perfect late summer night. Howling Bells and Kilians played great sets to ready the stage for those 4 lads with sparklers and all other kinds of lights, video, inflatables and pyrotechnics. It was a great show - just like the two other shows in Germany before. Oxfam Deutschland were there to promote Oxfam shops (which is the best place to pick up a second hand jumper by the way), and raise awareness. Katja, Ulrike, Gesa - you are stars. Thank you for your help.
This blog has a pretty rubbish title today. I will try to do better next time. The stadium tour is turning out to be an incredible ride. Millions of fans still await with tickets and singing voices at the ready. I hope to see lots of you along the way picking up pens and making promises with Oxfam on Health and Education FOR ALL.
Time for tea. See you tomorrow.
Pete
Posted in: General
August 28th, 2009 / 3 Comments » / by Pete
Hello. It’s me. ‘Oxfam’.
Oxfam America’s wonderful tour rep has stepped off the bus. The North American ’shed’ tour has come to an end. Volunteers across the continent have come together two years in a row, having countless conversations, signing up tens of thousands of people, and giving Coldplay fans the chance to take an action to help alleviate poverty. They’ve had a laugh. Smiled until their cheeks hurt. Sung until their throats were sore. Let’s hear it for our volunteers, and their intrepid leader, campaigner, roadie.. Let’s hear it for Soha Yassine! But there is one group of people missing.. you lot! Thank you for smiling back. Signing up. Taking an action. Talking about it to your friends. Saying hello.
But Oxfam’s touring wings are not done flapping just yet.. We’re not quite ready to tuck our wings away and go to roost.
Coldplay have again said “do you want to come along?” .. and of course, we have been happy to accept. They want as many of their fans as possible, to hear about Oxfam, and to get involved and be active.
So, here we are again on the European Stadium tour, which just this morning, rolled into Munich. I joined the tour in Hannover last Monday. It has taken me a few days to get my bearings and to meet 40 more great campaigners in Dusseldorf and Hannover. If you wen’t to any of the shows in Denmark, Norway, or Sweden, and would like to get involved, click the link below.
Make a Big Promise with Oxfam International.
Stadiums are big places. Very big. There will be lots of you. It really is a breathtaking sight, when Coldplay take the stage. Between 20′000 and 68′000 people every night will be there. It’s truly ma-hoo-sive. Mega. Huge. Massive. Magnificent. We will try to see you all, but just in case you miss us, do feel free to sign the pledge above, or go to the relevant link on the right of this page. It would be great to hear from you!
Make some noise. Make a promise. Enjoy yourselves. If you get a moment, come and say hello. Take care Coldplay people. I’ll speak to you tomorrow, to report back on a baking hot fan-packed field in Munchen.
Pete
Posted in: General
August 17th, 2009 / 7 Comments » / by soha.yassine
Hello lovers and friends of the world!
Soha here, coming at you from the departure terminal of Boston’s Logan International airport. Check out this book I just saw walking through the terminal.
The last time I wrote to you all from an airport terminal was in Vancouver at the end of the first leg of the summer tour. I was headed home for a two-week break before resuming the rest of the tour. It feels like a million years ago recalling that moment where I sat with a signed Coldplay banner at my side, the knowledge that Oxfam now had over 100 thousand actions under its belt since the start of the Viva tour, and the rest of the summer ahead of me. Since then, I’ve worked with an additional 300+ volunteers who helped Oxfam America nearly reach our goal of getting 30 thousand people to sign our Climate Change Petition this summer. In that time Team Saratoga Springs was dethroned by Team Raleigh as the highest performing team, achieving 1387 petition sign-ups! Not to forget, since I last talked to you, the North American part of the Viva Tour 2009 wrapped up and Coldplay started the European stadium leg. Well, the N. American bit didn’t so much wrap up as it did come to a screeching halt because of the postponement of the Tampa show, which was supposed to be my last show. This means that I had to clear out the Oxfam road case, and pack and ship the remaining Oxfam America materials in addition to clearing my bunk, packing, and saying too many goodbyes to what had become a crew of dear friends in less than a day’s notice.
Before I could blink, the tour was over and I was back at my old desk at Oxfam America’s Boston headquarters for a week of evaluating, assessing, and debriefing the Coldplay tour with “Team Rock.” Now here I am at the departure terminal of another airport. I hope this doesn’t sound like complaining. World, I have told you before, there is not a single day that goes by that I don’t recall how much good fortune has been showered upon me.
Arriving at my old workstation, I saw this hanging at the desk of Flora Smith, Oxfam America’s Concert Outreach Intern, and the woman I call the glue that held me together on the Coldplay tour.
I couldn’t believe looking at that paper, that it had been my life for the past 14 weeks.
Even harder to believe is how difficult it continues to be to answer the question “So, how was the tour?” It was amazing, obviously, but what else do I say? It was 14 weeks of doing essentially the same things every day in a constantly changing setting with a constantly changing team. It was spectacular. It was exhausting. It was inspiring. It was mundane. It was empowering. It was humbling. It was… I don’t know… amazing!
Perhaps I can answer the question by saying that the tour was a substantial success for Oxfam America and Canada. Thousands of people offered to volunteer with us, though we only had the ability to have 20 volunteers per show. 29, 035 people signed Oxfam America’s petition at 33 shows thanks to the hard work of over 650 volunteers. Over 5,000 people signed Oxfam Canada’s action cards thanks to 120 volunteers in 6 cities! This has helped Oxfam’s global total exceed 115 thousand actions! Many many thanks to the hundreds of volunteers for your commitment to ending global poverty and admirable work ethic that drove Oxfam’s campaigns every step of the way. Awesome work, everyone. Above all, thank you for your friendship, especially to the handfuls of you who I count on having lasting relationships with. You know who you are.
If you didn’t make it to a Coldplay show this summer, or if you want to spread the word about taking action with Oxfam’s climate change campaign, there’s still time to help us reach our goal! Urge the President to consider the effects of climate change on poor and vulnerable communities who are disproportionately affected by climate related disasters and emergencies and help us reach the goal of 30 thousand signed petitions before September 1st by circulating our petition online, or on paper. You can print it out and take to work, school, congregations, farmer’s markets- anywhere!! This fall, we will be delivering these petitions to the President when he attends a special gathering of heads of state at the UN to discuss climate change. If you’ll be heading to a Coldplay show in Europe, do visit the Oxfam booth and say hello to Pete Lusby, Oxfam’s representative on these European legs of the tour.
This blog has given me the ability to narrate to you all the Oxfam’s operations of the Coldplay tour through words and pictures. To say the least, blogging has been a cathartic way of externally processing the all of the awesome experiences I’ve had. However, if you’re interested in hearing about the technical aspects of Oxfam America’s Concert Outreach Program, and bits like my favorite moment on the tour and such, check out my interview by our peeps at Coldplaying.com here.
Its on to Nashville for me to spend some time decompressing and getting back to nature for a while before going back home to LA. I’ll tell you what my crewmate Hoppy told me when I said goodbye to him. “Happy trails, and if you ever see the back of my head at an airport somewhere, be sure to come say hello.” Otherwise, world, I’ll see you at the next Coldplay show I go to wherever that is, whenever that is, and whether its as a fan or an Oxfamer.
xoxo from Boston,
s
Posted in: General
July 29th, 2009 / 12 Comments » / by soha.yassine
Hello world!
I’m coming at you from the lovely lovely Toronto, Canada on the second of two much appreciated days off. This leg has been characterized by many long drives that end with our arriving to our hotel on a day off at 7pm with just enough time to take a good shower, grab dinner, and have a decent night’s sleep on a real bed before waking up the next day and doing it all over again.
This tour has given me the opportunity to become acquainted with many of our neighbor in the north’s major cities and the more time I spend here, the more I love it. I’ve mentioned before how Oxfam Canada’s teams never cease to amaze me, so I’m very much looking forward to working with Team Toronto tomorrow at Rogers Center. Even Team Vancouver, who managed to acquire 1600 Action Cards at their show last month, bragged about how impressed I’d be with them. I don’t doubt that.
I’ve been fortunate to work with so many amazing teams in the US and Canada. However, I’ll be honest with you, world, when I look back on this past summer, it’s all a blur. Being in a new city everyday, heading up Oxfam teams, working long days on absurd amounts of sleep, tracking sign-ups, blogging, constantly misplacing and finding my reading glasses, wondering if I have any clean clothes left, and working with Team Rock to make sure the Oxfam operations continue to function like a well-oiled machine, is a lot to keep track of. My fear of forgetting the people I meet and the things I see is why I take so many pictures. My run as Oxfam roadie will end when the tour heads back to Europe and the baton is passed back to my boy, Pete. So maybe when all is said and done I’ll start a photo sharing account where you can see the thousands of pictures of volunteers, the crew, Coldplay etc. I will say this, however, I never forget my teams. I remember all of you, your favorite Coldplay songs, and how you got involved with Oxfam. Just try me, I won’t disappoint.
Speaking of pictures, lets do a little bit of a recap in pictures of the past few days.
After Houston, we set out for St. Louis where I reunited with “Team Jen” and was able to catch the Incubus concert the day before Coldplay performed at the same venue. Check this out, its a picture of Incubus fans holding up real lighters during a song. I’ve never seen that at a show before!
We made it to East Troy, Wisconsin where the Team and I had to hold on to the Oxfam tent lest it fly away in a sudden thunderstorm.
The storm was intense, but we were able to pull off a really great night. Check out this pic of some of the team members looking like a group of rebel “Justice Defenders.”
This brings us to Saratoga Springs. I’d have to have Chris Martin-like song writing skills to be able to express how awesomely awesome this team was. As if their collective commitment to social justice, or the fact that the team was organized by one skateboard riding/fluorescent hat wearing, Craig, wasn’t enough to impress me, they broke the record for the most sign-ups in a US city. Yes, Indianapolis, you have been de-throned by Team Saratoga Springs, who got an amazing 1350 people to take action with Oxfam at a single show! On top of that, they were the source of what is one by far one of the coolest things I’ve seen on this tour.
The team must also have some collective good karma because Coldplay’s team happened to have extra pit tickets that they just happened to give to the Oxfam volunteers. This almost never happens and it was a great way to reward such a committed bunch. The team created quite the visual spectacle during Viva La Vida by taking off their Oxfam bandanas and waving them in the air. You could see the waving Oxfam bandanas clearly from any point in the amphitheater, and it looked super cool. No pictures of that scene unfortunately; although I don’t think I’ll be needing a picture to remember that amazing moment.
Here’s a picture of Team Saratoga featuring me on Craig’s board.
Much love to all of the Oxfam teams- and don’t worry, Indianapolis, I’d still ask you out for a second date.
xoxo from Toronto,
s
Posted in: General
July 22nd, 2009 / No Comments » / by soha.yassine
Hello world,
I humbly throw myself at your feet in apology for not writing in a very long time. Major props to my boy Pete who is always so good about keeping in touch. Lately I have been plagued by the thought that my entries lack an underlying, unifying theme and for that they are no good. Such is the life of a perfectionist…
The rest of the crew and I have been longing for the days of torrential downpours and thunderstorms that seemed to plague us earlier this summer. The past few shows have been HOT. The crew has gone from having nice summer glows to constantly nursing sunburns. I’ve always liked having the red nose in the summer that suggests that I’d been in the sun, but my face is 4 shades darker than my neck now! Here are some “fun in the sun” pictures:
The Gorge Amphitheater. The stage literally sits at the edge of a cliff. Isn’t it breathtaking? When the VIVA banner dropped during Death and All His Friends, it went flapping in the wind and my crew mates were left having to try to grab on to it and hold it down to no avail.
The volunteer team at The Gorge was awesome. Don’t we look like one big happy OXFAMily in this picture? At this point in the tour, my face still looks like I have a healthy glow. Congrats to Team George for getting 898 new people to take action with Oxfam!
This is Eric. I met him at the San Diego show when I saw that he was wearing an old school red Make Trade Fair shirt and I hooked him up with a new, fluorescent green one. He came to the Irvine show as well where he let me pose like a nerd in HIS Chris Martin ala Viva La Vida jacket. I’ve seen quiet a few of these jackets since joining the tour, but I think Eric’s has been the best thus far. Teams San Diego and Irvine got 972 and 1142 new signups, respectively. Woot woot!
Yesterday’s show in Dallas was the hottest and most difficult show I’ve worked on this tour. A big thank you to Team Dallas for being such amazing sports and for getting 650 hot, sweaty, and irritable fans to take action with us!
Team Houston BROUGHT IT tonight getting 982 new sign ups! Houston always shows Oxfam so much love. We love you too!
A few days ago I told my friends that if their was a medal for BRINGING IT, that our Oxfam teams would take the gold. We are well on our way to exceeding our goal of getting 30K new people to take action with Oxfam America during the summer Viva tour. Here’s how the other teams did:
San Francisco: 450
Sacramento: 898
Carson: 906
The Southern California dates were particularly special for me because So Cal is my home turf! Much love to teams Carson and Irvine! They were represented by my friends in the Los Angeles Oxfam Action Corps. Before I ever worked for Oxfam, I was an Oxfam Action Corps volunteer and it was great to work with everyone once again. Here we are in Carson after canvassing an audience of 30K fans!
Yesterday I sent off a shipment of petition sheets from the past few shows totally nearly 6000! If you want to help Oxfam America meet and exceed our goal of 30K new actions taken on the Viva tour and join the over 20K people who already have, you can sign our petition here!
From Bus 2 en route to St. Louis,
s
Posted in: General
July 11th, 2009 / 3 Comments » / by soha.yassine
Hello world!
…And we’re off! Leg 2 of the Viva La Vida summer tour! I’m coming at you from The Gorge in the beautiful state of Washington. Check out the view from behind the stage. Not too shabby right?
Oxfam America’s goal is to have 30,000 new people take action with us this summer and we are right at the half way point! Do come and visit the Oxfam table and learn about how you can fight hunger, poverty, and injustice in your community! You can also sign our petition urging the President to call for a fair climate treaty to be negotiated this December at the UN Climate Change Conference. If you won’t be at a Coldplay concert this summer, join the over 100 thousand people who have taken action with Oxfam since the begining of the Viva tour and sign our petition here on our newly relaunched site!
Ok, so who caught the band’s cover of Billie Jean last night? I was off doing something uneventful and came to find out about it after the show by our Team Leader, Alexis. Anyone catch it in person on or online? I hope they perform it tonight…
I have a huge shipment of materials to hunt down and sort through, so I think I’ll go tend to that.
I’ll be in touch!
From the Gorge near George, WA,
s
Posted in: General
June 26th, 2009 / 8 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
Coldplay has 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 2010, Coldplay continue this tour with shows across in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. Oxfam groups around the world will again join the tour, blogging as they go.
