2012 Oxfam tour Blog (oxfamontour.org/coldplay)

[Tash]

Life on the road
Posted by Rachel Edwards on 27 April 2012



I’m sat in my room after a day on the open road, from Seattle to San Jose. I thought I’d share with you what it’s like to be on the road and a glimpse of the journey from Seattle to San Jose.

We set off from Seattle at 3am after the huge trucks rolled out and everyone jumped on their bus. I spent a few hours sat with the other roadies as we discussed what we were going to do with our days off tomorrow. Being as their caterers we usually discuss food. Yum.

At 4am I crawled into my bunk for a cosy night sleep, being rocked to sleep by the twists of the road. I woke up at about 10am, grabbed a coffee from our machine and got comfortable on the seat next to the driver. Perfect position to watch the world go by. “We’re in California” said my driver, in his strong American accent, “yay, I’m from South Carolina”. He attempts to do an English accent and asks for a ‘spot of tea’. Amusing every time!

California is beautiful! Full of the brightest green hills and crystal blue lakes. We had 4 hours left until we got to San Jose, so I hit the sofa with some tortillas and salsa and watched the TV show Friends.

We got to San Jose at 5pm, I dumped my bags in the hotel and went out on the search for some food. The San Pedro Markets were awesome. I grabbed some Thai, it was this or fish and chips, very hard decision! After my food I set out on a walk to capture San Jose in pictures, so you guys can feel the warmth that this Spanish-influenced city gave to me.

Enjoy my trip photos, from Seattle to San Jose, they are all yours.

Rachel x

[Tash]

The making of a Coldplay gig
Posted by Rachel Edwards on 29 April 2012

A working day starts at 6am for some. The caters, riggers and lighting crew get to the venue first to set up the kitchens, dining room, stage, tv screens and put up all the lighting. The crew grab a coffee or tea and get into their climbing gear to clamber up to dizzying heights to create a set, and hang their lights and lasers from. It’s like auditions for Spiderman with 5 or 6 people in the air at one time, scurrying up and down free hanging ladders.

As the stage hands continue the caterers and dressing room people are busy backstage creating lounge areas, warm up rooms for the bands, dressing rooms and crew rooms, complete with sofas, refreshment stands and desks, for the people like me and the VIP people to create a little office from.

At 9am, myself, VIP and ‘the wristband boys’ (the lovely fellas who created the neon flashing wristbands for the Coldplay gig), arrive at the venue. The wristband people start activating the 16,000 wristbands on the concourse whilst I prepare the Oxfam stall and the VIP girls set up their stall and tickets.

We all break for lunch around 3pm before sound check. By this point the stage is ready and everyone is set for the show, now we wait the bands. As the bands arrive, sound check starts and the familiar Coldplay songs start as the band warms up. At 6pm and the venue is now buzzing as the show is about to start and people start flooding in the doors.

By 7pm the first band comes on and the action begins, with camera crew, lighting, wristband boys on laptops and backliners (guitarists and drummers) restringing and tuning the band’s instruments, the crew are a hype of activity.

By 11.30 pm the show is finished, all the crew take a well earned rest for 10 minutes and then start the ‘load out’: Pulling all the stage down, repacking all the instruments and loading everything back on buses to drive to the next town. By 3am all the crew are back on their buses and enjoying a ‘load out’ snack before they climb into their bunks.

Farewell venue, until the next morning, when we wake at the next venue and it begins again. Touring is awesome!

[Tash]

Stay connected with Oxfam on Tour
Posted by Rosie Cowling on 01 May 2012

There are so many ways to keep in touch and up-to-date with Oxfam on Tour with Coldplay.

Pinterest



You can keep up-to-date with Rachel’s on-the-road adventures by checking out our pins on pinterest.com/oxfamontour.

Instagram

We’re on Instagram. Search for oxfamontour on your iPhone, or view pictures online – on web.stagram/n/oxfamontour.

Here are some of the best photos so far:

[Show as slideshow]





Bob’s best

Bob Ferguson, who is in charge of artist liaison and music relations at Oxfam America, is travelling with the tour while it’s on the West Coast. He kindly sent us some of his best photos from Seattle and Portland:

[Show as slideshow]





Coldplay’s wall of fans keeps on GROWing

Getting your face on the GROW wall of fans is easy! Just tweet #lovefoodhateinjustice to show your support for a better world food system and your face will become part of the huge mural of fans who think food injustice is rotten.

Find your face

Have you been at any of the US or Canada shows and had your picture taken by a volunteer? You can find all the photos so far on your local Oxfam’s Facebook page. Find your or your friends’ faces and add a funny caption; we’ll tweet the best ones.

Oxfam Canada: www.facebook.com/oxfamcanada

Oxfam America: www.facebook.com/oxfamamerica

[Tash]

Coldplay in Los Angeles
Posted by Rachel Edwards on 02 May 2012

Two weeks into the tour and I’m at Hollywood Bowl. If you had said to me three months ago when I was sat in my cold flat in North London that I would be on tour with Coldplay and we would be in Hollywood, where I can see the white Hollywood letters perched upon the hillside from my window, I would not have believed you. What an amazing way to finish up the first leg of the tour by ending in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl.

Hollywood Bowl is a beautiful venue. An open air amphitheatre set within the lush green Hollywood hills. A little gem (well not really that little with 17,000 people present) set away from the chaotic wonders of Hollywood Boulevard. As I pulled in to start work for the day we passed the art deco Hollywood Bowl sign. I’m sure I had stepped back into the 50’s, I just needed a rara skirt and a milkshake.

Inside the Bowl is filled with retro posters from previous gigs. Coldplay were playing on the same stage as the Beatles, Nat King Cole and Elton John. I was so excited to see the Coldplay boys play this arena like so many famous people before them.

The atmosphere was a mixture of chilled out diners sat in the front stands having an evening dinner and wine, mixed with an electric buzz from the front rows and centre stalls. There was a festival vibe to this venue, with its outdoor bars and roasted food stands adding a camp fire smell to the mix.

Coldplay came on with a bang! Fireworks lit up the hillside stadium and confetti fluttered into the amphitheatre. The boys played out the ‘Hurts like Heaven’ intro and the crowd started jumping to the beat. Everyone’s arms were in the air and the wristbands were flashing to the rhythm. Everyone started screaming as Chris started to sing, ecstatic with the rush of the music and how good it feels to be part of a concert you have waited so long to see. I love it every time. But for some reason this gig tonight was special, I was memorised watching the crowd moving together with neon lights rushing through the open LA night. Hollywood Bowl had something special tonight! Congratulations Coldplay! The gig was amazing!

[Tash]

Chris Martin meets our volunteers
Posted by Rosie Cowling on 08 May 2012



There are obvious perks to being an Oxfam volunteer at a Coldplay gig. There’s getting to talk to people about something you feel passionate about, there’s the not-to-be-missed opportunity to prance about dressed up like fruit and veg, and of course there’s getting to see your favourite band for free.

But occasionally, just occasionally, you might even meet a rock star.

Before the gig at Hollywood Bowl on Friday, Chris Martin took a walk in the Hollywood sunshine to come and meet our LA volunteers. He thanked them for volunteering and ask them how the GROW campaign was going. They told him which songs they wanted to hear the band play.

Check out those grins!

[Tash]

A low down of the adventures of Oxfam on tour in Canada and America
Posted by Rachel Edwards on 09 May 2012

I’m sat back in my London flat after a three week whirl wind tour of Canada and the USA. There are so many things I could write a blog about. But I thought you guys should have pictures and I could fill you in, in a top 5 things kind of way. The top 5 things I have done, eaten, heard, worn and learnt. For more insights you’ll just have to read the other blogs and follow the @oxfamontour twitter account.

Okay so to start:

Top 5 things I did:

Met Chris Martin in LA

Went to the Butterfly Palace in Seattle

Went thrift shopping in Hollywood, I still can’t decide who wins, American vintage or Oxfam shops….I think it depends if my American friends or Oxfam boss are reading this.

Visited the biggest mall in the world in Edmonton, complete with a theme park, ice skating rink, cinema, restaurants, the list goes on.

Met volunteers who make wearing a banana suit cool!

Top 5 things I ate:

Piersy pie (cottage pie made by our Coldplay caterers)

Sticky cinnamon bun in Vancouver

Bubblegum doughnut from Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland

Official American burger from Johnny Rockets

Coldplay cookies (a soft cookie made by our very own Oxfam volunteer and huge Coldplay fan Heidi, stay tuned for the recipe).

Top 5 quotes:

“Have you met Princess Kate? Do you guys get to hang out?” Oxfam Volunteer, Calgary.

“When I started coming to the US, people didn’t know who Oxfam were. Now you guys are everywhere”, Coldplay security.

“I’ve been donating for years to various causes. But when volunteering with Oxfam I feel like Im taking a more active role and can actually see the results and help raise awareness rather than just money”. Dianne, Oxfam volunteer LA.

“Hey girls do you want to sign up to join Oxfam and I’ll dress as a corn for you?”

“You have an accent, where you from” (I was thinking, you have an accent)

5 most worn items:

My worn converse for the long walks around the venue.

My Oxfam t-shirt

Neon wristbands, for the gig

My blue hoody, for nights in the car parks waiting for the buses to load out and leave the venues

My trusty blue jeans, for running around the venues and jumping on my tour case to close it

5 most important things I learnt:

Chips are not a thing you have with a burger they are food you get in a bag (the English call them crisps)

Bigger is better, when talking about the size of a doughnut

Pop tarts aren’t a breakfast food! More for a sugar burst before you hit the gym. No wonder I wasn’t allowed them as a kid

People across the pond in Canada and America are amazing at talking, especially to strangers about changing the food system!

I must not speak in my North English accent and English slang when briefing volunteers, to ensure they don’t look at me in a confused way when I tell them to ‘take a pew’ (it means sit down)


So that’s it, my pit stop low down of the first leg of the Coldplay tour. I must say a huge thank you to Coldplay. Over 6500 people joined Oxfam in Canada and America over 11 dates and it’s thanks to Coldplay because they gave us the opportunity to speak to so many people at their gigs. I must also say thank you to all the Coldplay fans for joining us in our fight against hunger and poverty.

I really can’t wait for the European leg to start again so I can experience volunteering in an European way, the gorgeous food of France and Spain and the Italian style. Note to self – I must pack my sunglasses. See you on the continent, Rachel.

[Tash]

Calling all Oxfam and Coldplay Fans, we need your help!
Posted by Rachel Edwards on 11 May 2012

Oxfam are on tour with Coldplay in Nice on the 22nd May and we want you to join us!

Are you ready to do something different at a gig? No we don’t mean crowd surf. We mean talking to people about getting a fairer food system so people don’t go hungry.

Oxfam are looking for volunteers in Nice to help us spread the word about our new campaign GROW at a Coldplay concert.

The food system is broken. We have enough food on this planet to feed our population yet one in seven people go to bed hungry every day. The way we produce, consume and distribute food is wrong and means that people are going hungry needlessly. Oxfam wants to fix this, Coldplay wants to fix this too and have asked us to come on tour with them to create a global movement of Coldplay fans who are speaking out about the food system.

You just need to be willing to talk to Coldplay fans about Oxfam and encourage them to join the GROW campaign movement. We want people to use their voices with Oxfam and Coldplay to call for a fairer food system for everyone. You will work with a team of Oxfam volunteers at the gig and in return for your energy, you will get a free Coldplay ticket for the night, courtesy of Coldplay.

You will need to be free from 3pm on the 22nd May and you will be free to watch the Coldplay performance at 9pm.

All applicants must have a good knowledge of English and be energetic and passionate about Oxfam’s work to find solutions to hunger, poverty and injustice. You will receive training before the gig. To apply to volunteer email Rachel on raedwards@oxfam.org.uk, and provide details of why you are interested in volunteering, if you have experience of campaigning with an NGO and your contact details.

Applications should be in English and must be able speak fluent French to speak to Coldplay fans in Nice. Application deadline is Thursday 17th May.

To read this in French please click here.

[Tash]

Food Revolution Day
Posted by Rosie Cowling on 18 May 2012



Tomorrow (May 19), 800,000 people all over the world will come together to celebrate food, on Food Revolution Day.

Food Revolution Day is UK chef Jamie Oliver’s new campaign to stand up for real food, through better education about what we put on our plates. It’s all about inspiring and empowering people to learn how to cook healthy, affordable and tasty meals for their families, and ditch the unhealthy processed food (for at least a day!) that’s causing a worldwide obesity epidemic.

The revolution will not be processed

We couldn’t agree more! We all could do with learning more about where our food comes from and how it got to our plates. We live in a hectic, non-stop world of fast-food and convenience stores. Sometimes it feels like a lot of hard work to give food some thought.

That’s why we have to make real food fun. Buying and cooking fresh, locally sourced food doesn’t have to be a chore if you know where to find it, and can find inspiration in the method. So, this weekend, families and friends worldwide will get together in the name of food; to cook together in homes, gardens and villages, or attend one of thousands of live events, including outdoor cooking lessons, farmers’ market tours, farm visits and talks.

Get involved

Wherever you are in the world, there are two ways to get involved this weekend. You can either attend an official event near you (find your nearest event here), or host your own dinner party. Find some tips on throwing your own do here. In Brazil for example, we’re encouraging people to attend the official events in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, or buy food from a farmers’ market to host their own dinner at home. If you’re in Brazil and thinking of taking part, you can share you photos on Oxfam Brazil’s Facebook page.

We want to rethink food completely. Where it comes from, why we’re eating it, how it got there and what went into making it. And that’s why we just have to get involved as well. Tonight, some of our GROW campaigners at HQ in Oxford will be holding a potluck dinner party with dishes from Iran, Italy, India and Ireland (alliteration not intentional!), to celebrate the multiculturalism of Oxfam and its staff. Look out for pictures on Twitter @oxfamgb tonight and on this blog next week.

If you’re plotting a Food Revolution this weekend, post your photos to the global GROW page on Facebook or tweet them at us and we’ll share them on the blog.

[jeremyy]

oh there are billions of pictures on their facebook page!
http://www.facebook.com/oxfamontour/photos
and this page got only 156 likes

[Tash]

Nice, the city of energy!
Posted by Rachel Edwards on 23 May 2012



I’m just sat on my tour case back stage in Nice as I write this. The band finished a few hours ago and the crew are packing up around me but I just needed to tell you guys about the volunteers and atmosphere tonight!

In the Europe dates Coldplay have increase the volume in so many ways. They now play stadium gigs which hold up to 60,000 people. Can you imagine what this sounds like when people sing viva la viva all together whilst they wait for Coldplay to start. It makes you smile no matter what mood you are in. Not even at a world cup football game would you get such an amount of people singing together at the same time.

Today I went out to meet the Nice volunteers, the volunteers today were very special as they had responded to an advert I’d put out to recruit campaigners in Nice. This was special for me as it was my first time recruiting people for the tour. At 3pm I went to meet them and I knew instantly we had a winning team as everyone knew the campaign and were excited to talk with Coldplay fans. From 5pm we starting to talk to the people of Nice, before long people started approaching us wanting to sign up with Oxfam. The energy for getting involved with our GROW campaign blew me away! By 9.30pm 500 people in the Coldplay crowd had joined our campaign and the new campaigners were full of energy and excitement. They fed me with their new French energy. I was so excited to see their energy and enthusiasm about campaigning with Oxfam and spending their time before the gig talking to others about the food system and making sure we fix it! The topic is something we have in common no matter what language you speak or country you reside in, everyone knows the food system is injustice and wants to do something about it! To celebrate this I even dressed as a carrot to attract people’s attention with my opening line “photo avec le carrot?” (my French is minimal, I apologise!).

As we packed up I hurried back to the tour case to pack my things as tonight was the night I was going to watch the band from the beginning with the lovely Nice volunteers! I went back stage to drop off the food costumes and as I walked back to watch the band they all appeared and walked on stage, in such a cool manner, they didn’t seem scared that 40,000 people were screaming for them. Even I was nervous, my heart was in my mouth. Then the music started and the fireworks lit up the sky. Wow, this is amazing, I’m in Nice where the sun had warmed the night and everyone was dancing to Coldplay! I was full of French energy the volunteers had given me and I couldn’t help it, I just started to dance! It was lush! Such a great end to an inspiring day of meeting new Oxfam volunteers and seeing them talk so confidently to others, with the people in Nice agreeing that we needed to ensure people didn’t go hungry!

So off to Turin, or by the time you read this we will already be there. I can’t wait to feed off the Oxfam Italia volunteer’s energy tomorrow! Merci beaucoup pour ces soir Nice, Au revoir, Rachel.

[Tash]

Oxfam needs you lovely British people to volunteer at Coldplay!
Posted by Rachel Edwards on 25 May 2012



As I am sure some of you are aware, Oxfam are currently on Coldplay, in our global tour we have been to America, Europe and next we are hitting the UK. Yes boys and girls that means we need you Brits to help. Now I know you will already be in the celebratory mood with the Jubilee and Olympics, so get your British pride out and come and talk about our latest GROW campaign at a Coldplay gig in London, Manchester or Coventry.

The food system is broken. We have enough food on this planet to feed our population yet one in seven people go to bed hungry every day. The way we produce, consume and distribute food is wrong and means that people are going hungry needlessly. Oxfam wants to fix this, Coldplay wants to fix this too and have asked us to come on tour with them to create a global movement of Coldplay fans who are speaking out about the food system.

We need you to use your voice and speak with British fans about Oxfam and Coldplay to call for a fairer food system for everyone. You will work with a team of Oxfam volunteers at the gig and in return for your energy, you will get a free Coldplay ticket for the night, courtesy of Coldplay.

You need to be available from 2.30pm on either 29th May (Coventry), 2nd June (London) or the 10th June (Manchester). You will volunteer from 2.30pm until 9pm. We are looking for energetic, fun loving people who are passionate about Oxfam’s work to find solutions to hunger, poverty and injustice. Places will fill quickly so please email Karen on Kmacrandal@oxfam.org.uk and explain why you want to be involved, any experience you have with an NGO and your contact details. All applicants must speak fluent English.

See you in the UK, Rachel.

[Tash]

Slow Food Day
Posted by Rosie Cowling on 26 May 2012



Today (Saturday), just two days after Oxfam brought the GROW campaign (COLTIVA in Italian) to Coldplay showgoers in Turin, Slow Food Italia is celebrating local food with Slow Food Day.

The Slow Food movement – founded in Italy in 1989 as a response to the growth of fast food culture – is all about uniting the pleasure of food with sustainability and more responsible eating. With over 100,000 supporters in 150 countries, Slow Food aims to reignite people’s interest in where the food they eat comes from and how it affects those who grow it, and encourage the re-emergence of disappearing local food traditions.

In the market squares all over Italy, today is dedicated to defending good, clean and fair food from local producers. 300 Italian piazzas come to life with gazebos, market tours, workshops, taster sessions and a campaign to raise awareness of issues like climate change and food prices. In Turin, there will be tours of the market and food workshops in the Piazza Madama Cristina, and campaign talks on food cooperatives and conserving the environment.

For Turin, the Slow Food Movement is huge. Terra Madre is a massive multi-cultural food festival held in the town annually to celebrate the work of small-scale producers around the world. Like us, Slow Food believes that the future of food is the future of the planet. And what better way to get people talking about this then to throw a huge festival? Every year, thousands of Slow Food supporters from all over the world descend on Turin for Terra Madre, to celebrate the diversity of food from every continent and unite producers of the south with consumers of the north.

In October, the global meeting of Slow Food, Salone del Gusto (or Big Room of Taste, translated roughly) will combine with Terra Madre, in a unified super event, to explore key issues connected with food production and consumption: from the role of young people and small-scale traditional producers for the future of agriculture, to the safeguarding of landscapes; from the fight for GM-free farming to the protection of herders and small-scale fishers, and much more. It’s also a chance to meet the people behind the 1,000 food gardens that Slow Food is establishing with African communities, take part in debates, taste workshops and food courses.

If you’re in Italy, find out where you local Slow Food Day event is.

Read about Terra Madre.

[Tash]

Zurich, the city of light.
Posted by Rachel Edwards on 26 May 2012



As I write this I’m sat on the concrete steps next to the stage in Zurich. Today is our last day on the European continent. The sun has been shining in Zurich and I was really excited to meet the volunteers from Switzerland. These volunteers came from one of our partner organisation’s the Clean Clothes campaign Oxfam works with in Switzerland, so it was great for me to hear about what Oxfam was doing in Switzerland. Oxfam doesn’t have a huge presence in Switzerland but you Swiss people know how to welcome us and joined our campaign with open arms. Amazing!!

Now the campaigning has ended and I’m sat enjoying the show. My body is tingling as the band yells Para-para-paradise. Zurich yes you are!! The crowd is huge and everyone is wearing their wristbands making the arena glow with neon colours, as Chris shouts, “Show me your lights”, everyone screams back and the coloured lights wave in sync with the music as everyone is screaming the words! This is truly amazing! 40,000 people connecting with the band, Chris shouts “I feel like we are all one, we are all together.” They hit the chorus again and 40,000 people shout the words as Chris hands them the mic! What a beautiful end to a day with the people of Zurich! If you were at the gig I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! And for those who didn’t start following us on twitter, @oxfamontour, as I tweet pictures of the gig!

Goodnight, Rachel

[Tash]

“I’m the best ‘Mr Banana’ yet!” – Oxfam Italia volunteers tell us why they love Oxfam and GROW
Posted by Dario and Michele on 29 May 2012


Michele, AKA 'the best "Mr Banana" yet', with adoring fans

This is a guest blog.

We are Dario and Michele, two volunteers at the Coldplay concert in Turin.

Dario: I’ve already volunteered for Oxfam on a number of occasions and know the campaign COLTIVA (Italian for GROW) quite well. I’m also a fan of Coldplay and so I was super excited when Wendy from Oxfam Italia asked me if I wanted to take part at this event.

Michele: I’m a friend of Dario, I live in Turin and I hadn’t heard about the COLTIVA campaign until just a few days ago. When I first read about the campaign I immediately felt really involved; the issues are very interesting and so relevant today.


Dario, who introduced friend Michele to COLTIVA

Dario asked me if I’d like to participate in an event talking about the food system to Coldplay fans in Turin. I tried to learn as much as possible, for myself but also so I could tell everyone as much as possible about the campaign on the night!

Dario: On the journey from Rome to Turin, I studied the campaign and the documents Oxfam had prepared for us in detail. I also practiced a couple of phrases I could use to approach people that evening. I wanted to make sure I could answer all the questions and engage people. My excitement was building.

Michele: I’ve read so much in last few days about COLTIVA, as well as the history of carrots…! I’m a really talkative guy, so while I was apprehensive about getting the information right for people, I wasn’t worried about approaching them.


Dario

Dario: On the night, Michele and I were coupled together. I had the tablet to collect people’s email addresses and Michele was dressed as “Mr. Banana”.

I was very happy to spend time talking about COLTIVA and to spend time with my old friend Michele as well. He was great at getting people’s attention because of his outfit, and in involving them with Oxfam’s campaign. After a short while he was also REALLY confident with the key issues of COLTIVA and, I think, enjoyed the experience very much.

After 4 hours I was exhausted while Michele still seemed full of energy! I hope we did a good job and I have to say people were very interested in food justice issues; I believe these are topics that really involve every one of us. I was so tired after the show and has no voice left but I loved the experience. Oh! And Coldplay concert was great too!


Michele

Michele: I think I was the best “Mr Banana” Oxfam has had during the tour with Coldplay (ever, past and future)! [* Editor's note: Oxfam is completely unbiased towards fruit and veg and thinks that so far they've all been equally brilliant *] I had loads of fun and could have continued for hours.

Thanks to Dario, who reminded me, every now and again, of the key facts related to COLTIVA, so I soon felt more confident and became unstoppable!

The Coldplay fans were really nice and all of them were happy to hear about the campaign and to have a picture taken with Mr. Banana (the best ever). I really hope I can collaborate with Oxfam again and I’m sure I will!

Check out all the photos from the Turin gig on Oxfam Italia’s Facebook page.

If this blog has made you want to volunteer at a show, you can tweet us @oxfamontour or leave a comment below to get in touch with your local Oxfam rep.

Oxfam Italia

[Tash]

Love food hate waste
Posted by Rachel Edwards on 31 May 2012

After my journeys around Europe I’m back in my hometown, London, and I’m hungry for change. After seeing so many local food networks throughout Europe, America and Canada I was desperate to find out more about what London people were doing to fix the food system.

I dumped my bags at home, made a cup of tea and sure enough after a chat with my housemate I realized London was doing something, as my housemate explained. She had been volunteering for a charity called ‘Food Cycle’, a national food recycling charity that aims to reduce the amount of food waste produced by food retailers, and who blames them. In a channel 4 investigation, Sainsbury’s told the news channel that it generated about 44,000 tonnes of food in 2011. Some food retailers give this waste to charities and animal organisations or they deposit it into anaerobic digestion centers, (a method that composts food without oxygen to produce a gas. This gas is used to generate electricity and heat). But if this amount is wasted by one food retailer, imagine who much we generate every year worldwide! That’s where food cycle enter in a golden cape, as the food recycling hero.

Food cycle started in 2008 by Kelvin Cheung, as a solution to food waste. It started as a hub in Imperial College London and has now spread across London and in Bristol. Every week volunteers visit food retailers such as Waitrose and Sainsbury’s and pick up their waste. Coincidently, one Waitrose is in Angel, which is very close to where Coldplay are playing this week. Very exciting!

Food cycle then takes this surplus food to one of their kitchens and creates an inspiring menu for community’s to enjoy in their Café’s. Since 2008 7749kg of food has been recycled into tasty food by this organization. One of their café’s, ‘Pie in the Sky’, is situated in Bromley-by-Bow, very close to the Olympic village in London. Which is very exciting as they are truly flying the food flag for Britain with this concept. I hope the world’s athletes get a chance to try their delights.

On researching food networks, my website browser was full of amazing and appetizing food ideas that London has to offer. Such a foraging courses, pop-up restaurants and vegan cooperative cafes. I don’t think I could possibly visit them all. But if you have a spare afternoon you should defiantly try them out and see how active London is being at fixing the food system.