Click Image for Source Chris Martin was born in Devon, England, on March 2, 1977, the eldest of five children. Raised in Devon, Martin attended University College London where he studied history. It was here that Martin, who played guitar and piano, met Jon Buckland(guitar), Guy Berryman (bass), and Will Champion (drums) who would later join with him to form the popular rock band known today as Coldplay. Although Coldplay's music was not focused on politics, poverty, or peace, Martin, calling himself at the time a "third-rate Bono," became deeply devoted to several projects of his own. Visiting under-developed countries such as Ghana and Haiti in attempts to earn fairer trading rights for the people, Martin visited rural farmers to "see how their livelihoods had been destroyed by the surplus produce Europe and the US dumped there." Deeply troubled by World Trade Organization mandates that require developing nations to allow cheap, subsidized American and European crops to flood their markets, while their own exports remain hindered by First World trade barriers, Martin quickly set out to inform others about these nations unnoticed conditions. Believing truly that he, with the help of his bandmates and the backing of Coldplay fans worldwide, could gain fairer trading rights for countries such as Ghana and Haiti, Martin, touring with the band, gathered more than 30,000 signatures for Oxfam's fair-trade petition. Attending the WTO meeting in Mexico, Martin presented the petition, signed by almost 4 million people at the time, for fairer trading rights to the head of the organization. Click Image for Source Based on his belief and deep desire to help these nations, Martin spends large sums of his earned money as well as much of his time on missions to these countries as well as for founding organizations that benefit the protection of these countries' rights. However, he doesn't stop there. As seen on the Colplay website, which is scattered with several organizations Martin contributes time and treasure to, he actively promotes, funds, and participates in organizations such as Amnesty International, Stop Hand Gun Violence, Make Poverty History, and Planet Save. Completely unknowing about what his activism might lead to, Martin is truly a person of faith. Just as any politically active celebrity, or even person, Martin puts himself up for criticism as he preaches and strives towards what he believes to be politcally and morally correct. However, Martin disregards this threat of criticism as he believes in equality and justice for all people and trusts in his and his bandmates' ability to make a difference. This strong belief leads Martin's actions as he freely sacrifices months and months of his time to his missions as well as huge sums of his profits from record sales. Sacrifices don't come easy unless a willingness is present from a hope or trust in something or a belief that something good will come from that sacrifice. For Chris Martin, his sacrifices are supported by his belief that he can bring a better sense of peace to under-developed nations. Taking on such a large, often times unnoticed task, takes a great deal of faith. Chris Martin has this necessary faith. Sources: Net Glimse Coldplay Make Trade Fair Star Pulse Steve's Faith Homepage
