Another happy winner! We have yet another satisfied competition winner this week. Abi Richardson won tickets to Razorlight’s Cardiff gig and sent us this message: “Just wanted to say THANKS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH for the tickets!!!!!! I had a wicked time. Loved cardiff. Loved the concert. Loved Razorlight.” If you’re feeling slightly green with envy, and fancy your chances as a winner next time, why not enter our Scissor Sisters competition now. posted at 3:03 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Win LOADS of signed Embrace stuff! Fresh from our amazing tour with Embrace, we thought we'd spoil you with an Embrace-themed competition. The lads have very kindly donated loads of signed goodies (see pic) which we've put together into two packs to be won by two lucky Generation Why readers. Here's what you could win: Come Back To What You Know PROMO 12" Looking As You Are 7" A Glorious Day CD Nature's Law CD World At Your Feet CD ALL SIGNED Plus: Signed photo Signed Embrace football shirt And a limited edition Secret Tour Embrace t-shirt And that's not all! Signed Delays CD (different in each pack) Signed Four Day Hombre CD Phew, that's a heck of a lot of stuff. All you have to do is e-mail us at generationwhy@oxfam.org.uk with a sentence about why you think you should win all these goodies. And put 'Embrace competition' as the subject header. The competition will close on Monday 20 November, when we'll pick the winners based on their wit, originality, or whoever we think deserves it the most... Remember, our decision is final! MORE BLOGS FROM THE EMBRACE TOUR 30 October Win loads of Embrace stuff 30 October End of tour blog 25 October Great tour pics 23 October Oxfam and Embrace - the end is near 17 October Embrace and Oxfam continue their tour of the UK 3 October Rocking out in London 29 September Oxfam and Embrace head to London 28 September More Photos from Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff 27 September On the road in Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff posted at 10:26 AM | Permalink 4 comments

Embrace and Oxfam: end of tour blog Oxfam has been touring the country with Embrace, helping to raise awareness for our health care and education for all campaign. Now it's time for campaigner and organiser Damien to wave goodbye to the Embrace crew... "It's all over! I've managed to make my way back home and am attempting to re-adjust to normality whilst having an excessive amount of sleep to catch up on. What can I say but WOW. I've spent the last five weeks travelling around the country - I've met 1,000s of great people and loads of campaigners, raised awareness for a GREAT campaign, hooked up with old friends, lived on a bus with 13 total strangers, been to over 20 venues, and generally had an entire month of fun and excitement. While I'm here, I just thought I'd write a quick review of my favourite bits of the tour... Most embarrassing moment Now this is difficult because there are so many! Me, Danny and Richard went out in Manchester after one of the gigs and I lost my Access All Areas laminate pass whilst busting out some typically spectacular moves on the dancefloor. The next day the tour manager replaced it with an A4 version which is known as the Laminate of Shame; it's A4 to make sure you don't ever lose it again, and people can laugh at you at the same time. This got even worse when the crew, being the lovely bunch that they are, stole the A4 one! So, in the hope that they wouldn't be able to send anyone to the printers, I didn't tell the tour manager until after 5.00 pm. However, this didn't work, and within 30 minutes the biggest ever Laminate of Shame was attached to my neck despite pleas that it was my birthday and not my fault. Second most embarrassing moment Has to be onstage in front of about 2,000 people (always a good place to embarrass yourself, I've found). After introducing myself I shouted at the top of my voice, "Is everyone looking forward to the Delays?". This would have been fine if the Delays hadn't already been onstage. The crowd laughed while I made a swift recovery with the crew shouting "You're rubbish" from off-stage. Luckily, I managed to tell the audience all about the campaign without bursting into fits of tears or laughter. Best moment Waterfights! There was a huge waterfight in the aftershow party on my birthday which was great. Even a degree in peace studies won't stop you stalking pop-stars with a water pistol from behind chairs. Another best moment was being heckled by a small group while on stage in Birmingham. I managed to turn it around and get the audience to boo them back! Perfect. Best song It will always be Nature's Law for me. Favourite place Brighton. First time I've been and I love the place; really good atmosphere and people. I suspect it might even have less rain than sunny Rochdale (where I'm from). Campaign round-up We managed to get over 8,000 signatures for the petition, which is over 20 per cent of the total audience on the tour! This is an amazing number of people who have shown support for the campaign and have helped to show world leaders that there is a genuine desire for change. We've had some amazing campaigners and I can't thank all of them enough. The combination of effort from the team plus the support that has been shown by the audience has been an inspiration. It seems to me that an awful lot of people want to see global primary education and basic healthcare as soon as possible. Achieving this will give a whole new generation the tools that they require to get themselves out of poverty. And finally I personally have to thank Embrace for inviting Oxfam to tour with them, and thank Oxfam for choosing me to represent them in such an important position. All of the guys from Embrace have been great and have shown a genuine passion for the campaign to get health care and education for everybody around the world. AND a massive THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to sign the petition. Every signature counts." MORE BLOGS FROM THE EMBRACE TOUR 30 October Win loads of Embrace stuff 30 October End of tour blog 25 October Great tour pics 23 October Oxfam and Embrace - the end is near 17 October Embrace and Oxfam continue their tour of the UK 3 October Rocking out in London 29 September Oxfam and Embrace head to London 28 September More Photos from Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff 27 September On the road in Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff posted at 9:58 AM | Permalink 1 comments

Our Keane ticket winner says thanks! Just a quickie: a big thank you to everyone who entered our Keane ticket comp the other week. The winner was Julie Dyer, and it sounds like she had a great night: "Just to let you know we had a fantastic time at the Keane gig last night. Front row! Still recovering today. Thanks again!" If you haven't already, enter our Scissor Sisters ticket competition now. posted at 3:27 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Success! World governments say "yes" to an Arms Trade Treaty This is what we all campaign for... Yesterday at the United Nations, an overwhelming majority of the world's governments took the first step towards a global Arms Trade Treaty. This vote comes three years after the start of the Control Arms campaign and is a real success story: an Arms Trade Treaty will prevent international arms sales that fuel conflict, poverty and serious human rights violations. The vote is the first time that governments have voted on the proposal to develop an Arms Trade Treaty, and support was overwhelming: 139 countries said "yes" and only the US said "no". As Jeremy Hobbs, director of Oxfam International put it: "Since the Control Arms campaign began three years ago, an estimated one million people have been killed by conventional weapons. In response, over a million campaigners from over 170 countries have called for an Arms Trade Treaty. Today governments answered that call." This success shows that campaigning works - there's a long way to go, but all of you who supported the Control Arms campaign can feel very proud today. More on the Oxfam site >> Read about it on the BBC website >> posted at 9:37 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Take action against Starbucks Tell Starbucks to give Ethiopia a fair share of its coffee profits. More than a year ago, the Ethiopian government approached Starbucks global HQ in Seattle and asked the company to recognise Ethiopia’s legal ownership of the names of its coffees. By owning the rights to its fine coffee names, Ethiopia can help its farmers negotiate a better price - potentially increasing income for the country’s coffee industry by an estimated $88 million a year. This would help lift millions of farmers and their families out of poverty, helping them to send their children to school and access healthcare. Despite its commitments to farming communities, Starbucks has not taken the Ethiopian request seriously. It’s time for Starbucks to take a lead and recognise Ethiopia’s right to the legal ownership of its own coffee names. Take action Send an automated fax to the Starbucks CEO >> Spread the word Go to myspace.com/starbucksaction >> And add it to your friends if you're a MySpace member! posted at 3:25 PM | Permalink 1 comments

Great pics from our tour with Embrace Hiya, just thought you might like to see these great pics from the tour with Embrace, which finished on Monday night. Looks like the boys liked our Oxfam tops. Question: did Danny change his jeans or t-shirt for the entire tour? Anyway, we had an awesome time - stay tuned for more pics, and some great competitions. Click on the pics for nice big versions. Credit: Helen Ford. MORE BLOGS FROM THE EMBRACE TOUR 30 October Win loads of Embrace stuff 30 October End of tour blog 25 October Great tour pics 23 October Oxfam and Embrace - the end is near 17 October Embrace and Oxfam continue their tour of the UK 3 October Rocking out in London 29 September Oxfam and Embrace head to London 28 September More Photos from Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff 27 September On the road in Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff posted at 9:59 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Oxfam and Embrace - the end is near! Here's the latest gossip from Damien, who's campaigning for Oxfam on Embrace's current UK tour: "There's now only one gig left on the whole tour. Since the last blog we've been to Manchester, Blackburn, Leicester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Liverpool. The tour goes on and the band and the fans get better - it's just unbelievable. The Manchester Apollo is my nearest and most visited venue so it was a real treat for me to get backstage and experience a gig from the other side. I also had to go onstage in front of the sell-out 3,500 audience and explain what the petition is all about. Despite being one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life it was an instant hit and the number of people signing on the way out went up loads! Oxfam now has a regular spot on stage between the Delays and Embrace and we have to thank the band (and the tour manager) for allowing us on at such a busy and important time. It's helping us to gain exposure for the health and education for all campaign and the work that we do, which is exactly why we are here. The Leicester crowd was amazing - over a third of them signed our petition, thanks in part to our brilliant campaigning team. A big thanks goes out to all our campaigners who have helped us get 5,000 signatures since Folkestone (which now seems a very long time ago!). Newcastle was on the same day as my birthday and the crew treated me to comedy theme music while I was on stage which was... well... not the best present I've ever had. They turned off the monitors on stage so I couldn't hear what was happening, and then the stage manager played the Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em theme tune on the keyboard. After that, and in mid-speech, they turned them back on and treated me to the Bullseye theme-tune whilst turning the spot light on and off whilst in my eyes. Strangely, it must have worked because we got literally hundreds more signatures as people left the venue. Don't forget to keep your eyes on the website because we have been given two amazing competition packages by the band. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the next tour that Oxfam goes on - you could be campaigning with your favourite bands, and helping to change the world while you do it!" MORE BLOGS FROM THE EMBRACE TOUR 30 October Win loads of Embrace stuff 30 October End of tour blog 25 October Great tour pics 23 October Oxfam and Embrace - the end is near 17 October Embrace and Oxfam continue their tour of the UK 3 October Rocking out in London 29 September Oxfam and Embrace head to London 28 September More Photos from Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff 27 September On the road in Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff posted at 4:43 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Could you write a top ten hit? I’m not sure if it’s because people have a very low opinion of the charts, or a high opinion of their own talent, but according to a recent survey by Oxfam, one in three people believe they could write their own chart-topping hit. The survey of more than 2,000 music lovers across the UK found that music, especially live music, is more popular than ever, on both sides of the stage. Approximately 37 per cent of us attend at least one gig a month, and we have over 5 million musicians to choose from! It is no longer a desire to live like the rich and famous that motivates these musicians, with only 4 per cent believing that they will be able to make a full-time living out of music, and only 1 per cent intending to become famous. If you fancy catching some of these potential superstars before they hit the mainstream then remember to get down to your local Oxjam gig. There are over 1,000 events, big and small, happening throughout October and there is music to suit all tastes. You never know, you may just witness the next Chris Martin or Kurt Cobain in the making. Let us know what you think: could you or any of your friends make the top 40? posted at 3:10 PM | Permalink 1 comments

23,542,614 Stand Up Against Poverty Dressed in fetching white boiler suits, Generation Why and loads of willing volunteers travelled to Trafalgar Square yesterday to help celebrate a new Guinness World Record. In 24 hours 23.5 million people from more than 100 countries joined together to Stand Up Against Poverty, setting the record for the largest "single coordinated movement of people". From a gigantic human chain across 64 districts of Bangladesh, to an anti-poverty concert in Zimbabwe, all sorts of people and events were involved. It's pretty amazing what people think of and can achieve when trying to make an impact. To have a look for yourself at the thousands of events that happened worldwide take a look at the main Oxfam site or read Nicholas's article on his own poverty busting antics in Leeds. posted at 10:59 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Embrace and Oxfam continue their tour of the UK Here's the latest from Damien Percy, our star campaigner currently on tour with Emrbace: "It's been a while since the last update and lots has happened in that time. Over 3,000 people from Brighton, Portsmouth, Reading, Derby, Carlisle and Glasgow have given their support for health and education for all by signing the petition - thanks to everyone who's signed their name! The gigs have been getting better and better, and all of the band feel happy that they are putting on some of their best shows ever. And, if you look in the Derby Telegraph (if you happen to be in the area!) you'll see some pictures of me striking very exciting poses in the foyer before the gig :) In Carlisle me, Danny (pictured in his Oxfam t-shirt at the top) and some of Four Day Hombre (the support band) went out and got the funk on in a local club. This has to be one of the best experiences so far and certainly a new one for me. The night after I got to witness the legendary Glasgow audience (and the legendary campaigners, of course). All of the band have been looking forward to the two nights at the Manchester Apollo over the weekend. They're going for the best show ever and have been practising some songs that they haven't been playing on the rest of the tour. The Nu Popes replace Four Day Hombre for this leg of the tour and are expected to put on a great show. All in all it's been a great experience, and we're all so happy that Embrace are showing such support for what we're doing." MORE BLOGS FROM THE EMBRACE TOUR 30 October Win loads of Embrace stuff 30 October End of tour blog 25 October Great tour pics 23 October Oxfam and Embrace - the end is near 17 October Embrace and Oxfam continue their tour of the UK 3 October Rocking out in London 29 September Oxfam and Embrace head to London 28 September More Photos from Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff 27 September On the road in Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff posted at 1:41 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Badly Drawn Boy auctions piano-car for Oxfam Hairy-faced hat-dude Badly Drawn Boy is auctioning the customised car from his latest video Nothing’s Going To Change Your Mind on eBay to raise money for Oxfam. The car (a 1980 Triumph Dolomite) has an in-built piano instead of a dashboard and engine. Unsurprisingly, it's not road-worthy - but it looks flippin' cool, and should raise loads of cash to help Oxfam's work around the world. . Have a look at the piano-car on eBay >> posted at 2:53 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Stand Up Against Poverty - call for volunteers! This TUESDAY 17 October we're holding a MASSIVE Stand Up Against Poverty photo event for World Poverty Day - to demonstrate that the pressure is still on world leaders to make poverty history. AND what's more, we need volunteers to take part in the media stunt - this is your chance to make the newspapers! You will need to be at Trafalgar Square in London from 9.30 am to 11.30 am. It's a great opportunity to show solidarity with events taking place all over the world, from South Africa to India. Interested? Get in touch NOW! Contact Adam Askew at Oxfam if you would like to volunteer your time aaskew@oxfam.org.uk or call 01865 473496. posted at 9:30 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Scissor Sisters get spooky for Oxjam Purveyors of all things glitzy, shiny and disco-y - Scissor Sisters - are putting on an exclusive hallowe'en-themed gig for Oxjam, in London on 31 October. Gig-goers are promised all manner of ghoulish fancy dress shenanigans - £1 from every ticket sold goes to Oxjam, tickets go on sale this Friday 13 October. There will even be a Scissor Sisters party pack to help you put on your own event... More about the gig on the Oxjam website >> posted at 2:16 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Is this the angriest face in the UK? Congratulations to Mark Chatham from Glasgow who has won our summer competition to find the angriest face in the UK (the competition was to show how angry people are about world poverty). Mark was snapped at T in the Park Festival and is the winner of 52 top CDs from Universal Music, the lucky blighter. You can see his angry face above left, and his normal face above right. Aw, he looks like such a sweet boy, doesn't he? See the best pix from the competition >> posted at 5:30 PM | Permalink 1 comments

Only teenagers can save the planet! As if you didn't know it already, it's been confirmed by one the cleverest chaps around - James Martin (who predicted the internet-world years ago) has now said that only teenagers can save the planet from poverty, war and climate change. And he's given us a name - the 'transition generation' (hey, it's not as catchy as 'generation why', but it works for us). "Things are going to get more and more turbulent as we go along, and the dangers will get more severe," he says in The Guardian. "The job of the transition generation is to get humanity through the canyon with as little mayhem as possible into what we hope will be smoother waters beyond." See? Teenagers RULE. Read all about it in The Guardian >> posted at 12:20 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Embrace and Oxfam rock out in London Here's the latest from our man on the Embrace tour bus, Damien: "Wow! That's all I can say about the Hammersmith gig on Friday night. Everyone had an amazing time and the crowd went nuts during the encore. There was a really good vibe in the air before the gig but by the end the atmosphere was electric. It was the smallest campaign team (see pic) so far but the biggest gig. Hats off to the team who managed to get over 400 people to sign the petition and voice their support to make health care and education available for all. We were also given 20 tickets for the after-show party to hand out over the course of the night! So remember signing the petition could open doors for you :) Me and the team (plus about 300 other guests) got to boogie on down with Danny McNamara on the decks and some of the band on the dancefloor. It has to have been the best night on tour so far. Sadly the Oxford gig was cancelled because bassist Steve was suffering from food poisoning. He's well on the mend though and Embrace should be putting on another amazing show tonight at the Lease Cliffe Hall in Folkestone. The band and crew stood outside earlier and we managed to get a glimpse of the dolphin that, for reasons known only to itself, lives off the coast of Folkestone. Keep your eyes on the site because we're trying to get our hands on a pack of goodies including signed football shirts and albums to be given away in a competition." MORE BLOGS FROM THE EMBRACE TOUR 30 October Win loads of Embrace stuff 30 October End of tour blog 25 October Great tour pics 23 October Oxfam and Embrace - the end is near 17 October Embrace and Oxfam continue their tour of the UK 3 October Rocking out in London 29 September Oxfam and Embrace head to London 28 September More Photos from Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff 27 September On the road in Cambridge, Norwich and Cardiff posted at 9:40 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Make Trade Fair question time in London Hello there, just a quick blog. We've been sent through details of an event about Make Trade Fair in London, next Tuesday 10 October. It could be perfect if you want to find out a bit more about the campaign, and listen to what expert speakers - including representatives of farmers in Ghana and Barbados - have to say. If you're interested, click the image above for the full flyer and details on how to book your space. posted at 3:13 PM | Permalink 0 comments

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