Coldplay crowdsources for latest Oxfam campaign

MANILA, Philippines – A crowd-sourced music video featuring thousands of Coldplay fans was launched on Tuesday, April 16 as part of a campaign to highlight the injustice of land grabbing.

The video of the Coldplay hit “In my place” was produced jointly with British-based non-profit Oxfam. It shows scenes of people doing familiar ordinary things – like brushing their teeth, eating or sleeping – in abnormal settings such as on train tracks or underwater.  

The concept and film was created by award winning director Mat Whitecross to echo the dislocation and displacement thousands of families experience as a result of land grabs. Oxfam asked people to send in their photos and videos and received nearly seven thousand submissions from 55 countries around the world.

See the video below:

In a statement, Oxfam said land grabs take place all over the world, often to the disadvantage of poor or low-income families.

“Every year governments and private investors buy huge plots of land in some of the poorest countries in the world. Often the people who live on the land, and rely on it to feed their families, do not have a say when is sold and do not receive compensation. Many are evicted violently and those that protest are often subject to intimidation and harassment.”

Oxfam global ambassadors Coldplay say: “Not only are Coldplay fans very good looking but they’re also incredibly creative.  We’re proud that they’ve dedicated their collective talent to this important cause.” 

The popular British band has been a long time supporter of Oxfam and its causes, even inviting the non-profit to tour with the band in 2012 to promote food security.

The film is being released in the week that the World Bank convenes its Annual Spring Meetings.  The World Bank influences how land is bought and sold on a global scale. Oxfam’s GROW campaign has been calling for the World Bank to take action to prevent land grabs.  

The World Bank has recently acknowledged it has a role to play and has committed to do more to tackle the problem. Oxfam hopes the campaign video will inspire thousands of people to hold the Bank to account on these commitments. 

Oxfam’s GROW campaign spokesperson, Hannah Stoddart said, “thousands of Coldplay fans are adding their voices to an ever increasing and powerful global call for action to stop land grabs.  The World Bank can help ensure that land deals do not leave poor communities without a place to live or grow food. They must act now.” – Rappler.com