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Definitive drumming answers
On Saturday 8 July, thousands of people drummed for trade justice. But did we break the world record? Find out the answer and what you can do next.
The previous record for a simultaneous percussion performance was set in 2002 in Hong Kong when 10,102 people drummed together for 6 minutes. Throughout July and August enough people drummed for trade justice to break this record. We know that at least 12,627 people drummed and signed petitions at festivals and events in the summer, and more are being added all the time.
The closest we got to the simultaneous record was when more than 8,000 people drummed at noon on 8 July for five minutes. This doesn't quite make us official world record breakers.
The closest we got to the simultaneous record was when more than 8,000 people drummed at noon on 8 July for five minutes. This doesn't quite make us official world record breakers.
But
It does mean that we have been loud enough for the UK Treasury and Department for International Development (DFID) to hear. Thanks to the efforts of Christian Aid campaigners drumming to get our Stop Paying for Poverty message out there, Christian Aid has had meetings with Treasury and DFID staff to discuss exactly why we are calling for the government to cut funding to the World Bank and IMF until they reform. Our report, Challenging conditions: A new strategy for reform at the World Bank and IMF gives more detail about what exactly we are calling for.
How does the government know we drummed?
At least 18 MPs attended drumming events on 8 July. Many more were invited and have been contacted with details of what we are calling for - that the government cut funding to the IMF and World Bank until they stop pushing poor countries into opening their markets.
We had coverage in a vast array of regional press, radio and TV, which is very significant in influencing local MPs.
Now, we really need to drum home the message on Thursday 14 September.
Days before Gordon Brown and Hilary Benn fly off to crucial IMF and World Bank meetings in Singapore, we need thousands of campaigners to gather in London to show the depth of support for our trade justice message.
We had coverage in a vast array of regional press, radio and TV, which is very significant in influencing local MPs.
Now, we really need to drum home the message on Thursday 14 September.
Days before Gordon Brown and Hilary Benn fly off to crucial IMF and World Bank meetings in Singapore, we need thousands of campaigners to gather in London to show the depth of support for our trade justice message.
How come it took so long to tell us?
News came in from more than 160 events of every shape and size all over the UK and Ireland. It's taken a while to gather petitions from each of those events - and only those petitions officially count for the world record. We didn't want to announce an incorrect total while were still waiting for more petitions to come in. In fact, news of 8 July drumming events still reaches the Campaigns team from time to time - so we'll announce the final, definitive total on 14 September.
What should I do next?
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