I’m sat back in my London flat with the Christmas fairy lights brightening my room. I’m back in the UK, after 9 months being on the road and it’s as cold here as when I set out on this adventure in Edmonton. I remember running back to the house in April, at the last minute to pick up my winter coat; surely in L.A it’s going to be warm?! Well actually on arrival to Canada they were three inches in snow and I was pleased to be wrapped up in my coat.
My first memory was walking into what I thought was a huge arena in Edmonton. I was wrong though as this was quite small compared to Stade de France which has a capacity of 80,000 people! All the crew were busy running around in their own worlds creating the stage, rigging the lights and doing a sound check. It was daunting to say the least! Then I found my own little friend (my tour case), we had an instant connection and became best buddies, well at least I relied on my case, as my new home for the months ahead. My tour case was a treasure cave packed full of Oxfam delights with t-shirts, food costumes, badges and stickers. Such delights that went on to feed the minds of Coldplay fans and speak the GROW word throughout the world.
But of course those badges didn’t give themselves out and over the past 9 months I’ve met over 1200 Oxfam volunteers across 16 different countries, all with amazing stories and an overwhelming passion for social justice and Coldplay. Yeah you guys were the ones that kept me going after weeks of gigs where I would walk outside the venue, slightly shrivelled and battered from bus road trips and showering in venues, to find 20 smiling, excited faces, who would ignite me again for a night of campaigning and partying to the band. Thank you guys!
Such energy from our amazing Oxfam campaigners around the world meant that we were able to sign up over 33,000 people at the Coldplay gigs to join the GROW campaign. Were you one of those people who got fruity with our volunteers dressed as fruit? If you miss your photo from the night you can catch it here on the Oxfam on Tour Facebook gallery.
For all those people who signed up you made our campaign a huge success. In the US and UK we had campaigning wins, as Coldplay fans told US government to reform the food aid sent overseas and the UK government to support small scale farmers to lead the way in providing food for our future population. So congratulations everyone! Our voices are being heard throughout the world!
But don’t worry if you fell off the Oxfam on Tour wagon and haven’t been following us since you signed up at the gigs then you can grant us a Christmas wish and do something to change your foodie ways, check out the previous blogs to find out how.
So I guess there is to say is THANK YOU;
THANK YOU to everyone for joining Oxfam in creating change in the food system and ensuring that people don’t go hungry anymore
THANK YOU to all the volunteers who helped me along the way and spoke to so many of Coldplay’s fans
THANK YOU to all the Coldplay crew for your help on the road and putting on food costumes to fight food injustice
THANK YOU to Coldplay for giving Oxfam the opportunity to be on the road with you and for supporting us throughout the world!!
Now stay tuned for Oxfam on Tour’s year in pictures to be released on Christmas Day. Will you be in our year of pictures?
It’s as cold now as when I left – A year on tour
Posted by Rachel Edwards on 18 December 2012 in Coldplay fans, oxfam volunteers, oxfamontour, social change, social justice
I’m sat back in my London flat with the Christmas fairy lights brightening my room. I’m back in the UK, after 9 months being on the road and it’s as cold here as when I set out on this adventure in Edmonton. I remember running back to the house in April, at the last minute to pick up my winter coat; surely in L.A it’s going to be warm?! Well actually on arrival to Canada they were three inches in snow and I was pleased to be wrapped up in my coat.
My first memory was walking into what I thought was a huge arena in Edmonton. I was wrong though as this was quite small compared to Stade de France which has a capacity of 80,000 people! All the crew were busy running around in their own worlds creating the stage, rigging the lights and doing a sound check. It was daunting to say the least! Then I found my own little friend (my tour case), we had an instant connection and became best buddies, well at least I relied on my case, as my new home for the months ahead. My tour case was a treasure cave packed full of Oxfam delights with t-shirts, food costumes, badges and stickers. Such delights that went on to feed the minds of Coldplay fans and speak the GROW word throughout the world.
But of course those badges didn’t give themselves out and over the past 9 months I’ve met over 1200 Oxfam volunteers across 16 different countries, all with amazing stories and an overwhelming passion for social justice and Coldplay. Yeah you guys were the ones that kept me going after weeks of gigs where I would walk outside the venue, slightly shrivelled and battered from bus road trips and showering in venues, to find 20 smiling, excited faces, who would ignite me again for a night of campaigning and partying to the band. Thank you guys!
Such energy from our amazing Oxfam campaigners around the world meant that we were able to sign up over 33,000 people at the Coldplay gigs to join the GROW campaign. Were you one of those people who got fruity with our volunteers dressed as fruit? If you miss your photo from the night you can catch it here on the Oxfam on Tour Facebook gallery.
For all those people who signed up you made our campaign a huge success. In the US and UK we had campaigning wins, as Coldplay fans told US government to reform the food aid sent overseas and the UK government to support small scale farmers to lead the way in providing food for our future population. So congratulations everyone! Our voices are being heard throughout the world!
But don’t worry if you fell off the Oxfam on Tour wagon and haven’t been following us since you signed up at the gigs then you can grant us a Christmas wish and do something to change your foodie ways, check out the previous blogs to find out how.
So I guess there is to say is THANK YOU;
THANK YOU to everyone for joining Oxfam in creating change in the food system and ensuring that people don’t go hungry anymore
THANK YOU to all the volunteers who helped me along the way and spoke to so many of Coldplay’s fans
THANK YOU to all the Coldplay crew for your help on the road and putting on food costumes to fight food injustice
THANK YOU to Coldplay for giving Oxfam the opportunity to be on the road with you and for supporting us throughout the world!!
Now stay tuned for Oxfam on Tour’s year in pictures to be released on Christmas Day. Will you be in our year of pictures?