“Leaders meet today to discuss the food crisis at an emergency meeting in Rome. They all can and should use this meeting to make their pledges and find this money without reservation, prevarication or equivocation. Aid agencies from all over the world are on the ground working with local leaders and helping as many people as possible. Far more can and will be done if the money is found and found fast.
“Beyond the immediate need, action must also be taken to fix the food system. We must see the long-term investment in agriculture to ensure the poorest can feed themselves. Rich countries said they would do this two years ago and shamefully have failed to do so. Too many African leaders have also failed to prioritise agriculture. We all feel the inexorable price rises in our supermarkets. Action on food prices globally can be taken. We know what must be done. We know it is affordable and essential. We have lacked the political will. And that is a failure of leadership.”
Tutu Agyare, founder and managing partner, Nubuke Investments
Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate, author, speaker and business consultant
Yann Arthus-Bertrand, photographer, journalist and environmentalist
Renate Bähr, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung
Paul Bendix, Oxfam Germany
Chris Bain, CAFOD
Kevin Cahill, Comic Relief
Simon Cowell, music executive, television producer, entrepreneur
Richard Curtis, film maker and campaigner
Jamie Drummond, ONE
Peter Eigen, founder of Transparency International and member of the Africa Progress Panel
Justin Forsyth, Save the Children UK
Stephen Fry, actor, author and comedian
Benno Fürmann, actor
Rea Garvey, musician
Bob Geldof, campaigner, musician and member of the Africa Progress Panel
Antony Gormley, sculptor
Guillaume Grosso, ONE France
Tiken Jah Fakoly, musician
Jonathan Ive, designer
Eddie Izzard, comedian
Tobias Kahler, ONE Germany
John Kennedy, Band Aid Trust
Luc Lampriere, Oxfam France
Patrice Leconte, film director
Annie Lennox, musician and campaigner
Richard Miller, ActionAid
Michael Mittermeier, comedian
Jana Pallaske, actress
Minh-Khai Phan-Thi, actress and moderator
Kristen Scott Thomas, actress
Barbara Stocking, Oxfam UK