Oxfam Coldplay Tour Blog 2010

The Time to Hesitate is Through

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

This entry was posted on Friday, June 26th, 2009 at 3:48 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.