Groove to Improve

OTTAWA –

As an initial foray into the contrasting mix of nightclubbing and relief and development work, Music4Change promises to lift the profile of Oxfam Canada’s aid campaigns and the Make Poverty History movement, recently featured prominently in association with the Live 8 music extravaganza.
A purposeful evening where club hoppers, advocates and neophytes alike can celebrate to alleviate, this unique event is designed to blend hedonism with humanitarianism against the backdrop of world music enthusiastically spun by local National Capital Region DJs. Based largely on the Music4Life events created by Oxfam in Great Britain, which have had a year of successes and are now resident at Notting Hill Arts Club in London, Music4Change organizers are optimistic the phenomenon will translate marvelously this side of the Atlantic.
Oxfam Canada is among twelve organizations worldwide that together form Oxfam International, an alliance working to tackle the root causes of poverty, inequality and social injustice. Founded in 1963 as a non-profit development group, Oxfam Canada has as its focus community programs in food security, health, nutrition and democratic development with a special emphasis on working with women. Assistance is provided in conjunction with people in poor communities, local partner organizations at home and abroad and with members, volunteers and financial supporters to make positive change a permanent reality. In Canada, Oxfam works heavily in the area of development education, public awareness, advocacy and in creating a constituency of support for its various initiatives.
The Make Poverty History campaign is a worldwide effort calling for urgent and meaningful policy change from world bodies and leaders, specifically concerning more and better aid to the poorest nations, trade justice to coincide with human rights and environmental protection, debt cancellation for highly impoverished countries and ending the pandemic of HIV/AIDS. Due to a number of seminal conferences and reviews, 2005 is a year of unprecedented opportunity to achieve the goals of the campaign’s platform and relegate poverty to the history books.
It is to these important ends that Music4Change aims to contribute. In establishing an event fresh in nature, organizers are confident that understanding of significant issues will grow among younger generations and those new to advocacy and activism. The objectives are altruistic, the atmosphere pleasurable and the attitude inviting. Good music for a good cause – come Party Against Poverty!

Music4Change happens at Mercury Lounge in the Byward Market on August 27th, 2005, 7-10pm. For additional information contact: music4change@gmail.com

Update: be part of something huge! check out this blog on music4life in the U.K