support Christian Aid at T in the Park

Actor Billy Boyd and Dawn Zhu, the drummer from El Presidente, are supporting Christian Aid’s The Beat Goes On campaign, at T in the Park this year.

T in the Park will be one of the UK’s biggest festivals this year and will call on the 75,000 festival goers to back one of the biggest campaigns since MAKE POVERTY HISTORY (MPH).

Christian Aid is encouraging hundreds of thousands of people all over Britain to break the world record for drumming in venues from London to Glasgow, Manchester to Cornwall. This will be a protest at the support the UK government gives to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The IMF and World Bank force poor countries to open up their markets which means they often can’t compete against countries with more money.

If more than 10,102 people drum simultaneously at midday on Saturday July 8 in the various events around the UK, a new World Record will be set. By the afternoon, T in the Park festival goers will be able to join in.

This campaign moment will be taking place at T in the Park’s Main Stage in the afternoon of Saturday July 8. Billy Boyd will be joined on the main stage by drumming troupes from Africa and Scotland.

The campaign, fronted by actor Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill, The Shipping News, Enduring Love), is a continuation of last year’s MPH campaign and is intended to keep the pressure on politicians to deliver fairer trade laws for the world’s poorest countries.

Billy Boyd, star of Lord of the Rings, Master and Commander and On A Clear Day, said: "I was proud to attend last year’s MAKE POVERTY HISTORY rally in Edinburgh and it’s great to be able to support The Beat Goes On campaign.

"It is essential that people keep the pressure up. If we all keep drumming home the message that the world’s poorest people deserve fairer treatment than they’re getting, our leaders will be forced to listen. This is a great way, and a great time, to make some noise about the inequality in the world."

Geoff Ellis, CEO of festival organisers Big Day Out Ltd said: "T in the Park is, and will continue to be a great supporter of local charities, but this is a great chance to show that the festival is also internationally aware. We were right behind MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY last year, and this association with Christian Aid seemed like a natural extension of that. We look forward to helping the charity with their good work for many years to come."

El Presidente’s Dawn Zhu added: “As a drummer, the whole idea of The Beat Goes On really appealed to me. It’s up to all of us to keep the pressure on and make sure the momentum gathered during the year of MAKE POVERTY HISTORY keeps going. And T in the Park seems like a good place to do that.”

There is also a Beat Goes On film which will be shown on the main screens throughout the weekend and Billy Boyd will also be giving a talk at the Christian Aid tent at around 6pm on the same day. The tent will have a Fairtrade chocolate fountain, screenings of various Christian Aid projects from around the world and a drumming contest where the winner will receive a special VIP festival upgrade for the Sunday.

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