The Big Noise petition calls for governments to "Make Trade Fair" and is being delivered by Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General, Supachai Panitchpakdi, in Cancun.

Chris - who comes from Devon - and Jonny also erected a large signing spelling out 'HOPE' on the Cancun resort's stunning beach to indicate their aspirations for the 146 nation conference staged between 10th and 14th September 2003.

Beachlife: Chris and Jonny with the large HOPE sign on Cancun beach

Action cards distributed at Coldplay concerts worldwide have added over 32,000 names to Oxfam's Big Noise.

More than 3 million people have now joined the call to encourage key decision makers to Make Trade Fair and change global trade rules to work for poor countries as well as rich.

Chris Martin said: "Hopefully it will appeal to the conscience, and also the business sense, of some business leaders and trade policy makers.

"Economically, unfair trade will benefit nobody in the long run, as poorer countries will be bled totally dry, and will become unable to produce anything."


Oxfam's Big Noise petition is unique in being comprised of both signatures and voices from all over the world. They range from Zambian Cotton farmers, Indian garment workers, 30,000 Glastonbury Festival goers to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Buena Vista Social Club singer Ibrahim Ferrer.

Devon campaigners joined together as members of the 50 agency strong Trade Justice Movement in the biggest ever constituency lobby of MP's this summer in the run up to the trade summit in Cancun.

Agricultural production is one of the big trade issues under debate. South West Oxfam campaigner Roger James says "European cows now receive $2 per day in subsidies, more than the daily income of 50% of the world population.

Kofi Annan: Pleased to add his voice to the "Big Noise"

"The US government pays subsidies of $6.5 billion a year to its corn industry, ten times the amount of the entire Mexican agricultural budget. Cancun is a defining moment in global poverty reduction and an opportunity to make a level playing field for world trade and stop unfair subsides, tariffs and dumping".

The UN Director General, Kofi Annan added his support to the campaign saying "Even in the rich countries themselves, poor farmers benefit least.

"Most of the subsidies go to the biggest farms and the largest producers. For humanity's sake, these subsidies must be phased out, as fast as possible.

"I congratulate all of you who are working to draw attention to this gross injustice. I am glad to join my voice to your "Big Noise". Please make it louder and louder, until the whole world listens!"

previous farming news