A vitally important part of the Glastonbury festival - and one of our favourite haunts - the Left Field caters for those with a social conscience and it aims to inform through debate, performance, laughter and pathos - anything that spurs us to get off our arses and do something positive really.

Being the ethical consciousness of the Festival it's the place where debates are held to tackle some of the unanswerable questions of the day, the place where you get your chance to set the world right!

All the acts play the Left Field for nothing and a whole lot of campaigns are supported - last year saw support for Anti-Slavery (yes - it's still happening, how scary is that?)

Shelter (can you believe the number of children growing up homeless or in sub standard housing here in the UK?), Love Music Hate Racism, Polish workers rights, Youth Music all supported by Glastonbury and the Glastonbury crowd.

The amazing symbol at the entrance to the Left Field symbolises the global struggle for social justice - it was designed by Glastonbury Festival owner Michael Eavis and Cornwall-based artists Graham Jobbins and Kurt Jackson and it stands some 70 feet high. True to the Glastonbury ethos the tower was built by Pro Weld Fabrications in North Devon who employed the redundant apprentices from the Appledore shipyard who were facing a bleak future when it closed in early 2004.

In essence the Left Field aims to reaffirm the spirit of political debate among festival goers, promote the value of trade union membership and collective campaigning, music can make a difference. Whatever else you do at Glastonbury this year do make sure that you visit the Left Field - you'll have an amazing time and we can promise you it will really make you think - yet despite tackling some of the most difficult subjects out there and facing up to some horrible facts Left Field organisers know the power of fun - and there is much fun to be had in this part of the festival. Small changes with people power can add up, who knows it might even spur you on to something positive when the festival frolics have ended!