Oxfam

Carteret Islands sunk by climate change

AndyBrace — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:22:25 +0100

For most people in the UK, climate change feels like something that will happen at some undefined point in the future - to our children and grandchildren's generation. For the people of the Carteret Islands in Papua New Guinea, it's a bit more serious than "one of those summers". As the sea level rises, their drinking water and crops have been poisoned by salt. The 1000 Islanders are packing up and their home abandoned to the waves.

More big meetings, more disappointing climate mumblings

AndyBrace — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:31:12 +0100

Whoever it was that said '24 hours is a long time in politics' certainly wasn't kidding. While I'm still feeling worn out by the political frenzy that surrounded last week's G20 summit, even by Saturday the world had moved on.

The $1.1 trillion verdict's out. But what does it mean for poor countries?

AndyBrace — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:17:22 +0100

So the G20 verdict's out. Obama and the rest of the visitors have jetted off.

Earth Hour 2009: The giant switch off

AndyBrace — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:13:04 +0000

I'll be completely honest, when I first heard about Earth Hour, I wasn't won over. The idea of encouraging individuals to switch off at a collective time during the day seemed like a completely implausible campaign action. It's not that I'm pessimistic, but just think, one house on one street in one of the many hundreds of towns, in our small country going lights down?

G20 rally – things to do if you're going, and things to do if you're not

AndyBrace — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:08:40 +0000

Just a few days to go until this Saturday's G20 rally, and with the pre-demonstration-buzz growing by the day, we thought we'd pull together a quick update on what's planned for the day, and what you can do to help even if you can't make it. Working with others from the Put People First coalition (the group of organisations who've helped pull things together for the rally), we're looking for budding citizen journalists to send SMS and photo updates live from the rally.

One mum's wish this Mother's Day

AndyBrace — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:19:14 +0000

African leaders ask Brown to put people first at the G20 Summit

AndyBrace — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:36:39 +0000

The buzz around the G20 has well and truly begun. Well kind of. Unfortunately, it's not yet getting quite as much press coverage as the football results. But here in our office, people are talking about our hopes for the upcoming summit.

G20 Voice - calling bloggers from around the world...

AndyBrace — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:56:29 +0000

I often find myself shouting at the TV as the latest politician comes on to tow the party line. I read the newspaper and think to myself that they just don't get it; they're not saying what I want to hear.

Waste not....

AndyBrace — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:08:24 +0000

When I'm in the supermarket I never really think, as I put the latest 3 for 2 offers into my basket, that my spur of the moment decisions have big implications for the planet. Rubbish, some people shout. And that's exactly the point, there's just too much waste.

From bananas to brilliance: Fairtrade has come along way

AndyBrace — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:23:27 +0000

As Fairtrade Fortnight begins today I couldn't help but think about how far the movement has come over the years. Only a few years ago you'd head into your local shop, not even sure if they'd have any fairtrade stuff stocked. If they did, often there wasn't a range, maybe one brand of Fairtrade coffee and we liked it or went without. For Fairtrade pioneers it wasn't that easy.

The Italian job

AndyBrace — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:42:31 +0000

Following her trip to Germany Dorothy Ngoma now writes about her experiences in Italy.

Weather is more than just a talking point

AndyBrace — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:11:42 +0000

As the snow steadily falls this week it's more difficult than usual to ignore the weather. News bulletins and websites are deluged with the latest stories about the impact it's having across the UK.

Cash needed to avert climate disasters

AndyBrace — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:49:42 +0000

Last year the EU, one of the worst polluters, acknowledged that rich nations would have to cut emissions first and fastest and help poorer nations to adapt to the changing environment - that's a start

Sleepwalking away from world news

AndyBrace — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:47:46 +0000

At Oxfam, we understand that some people love watching John Sergeant not be able to dance. We also understand that TV stations need, to an extent, to chase ratings and entice viewers to watch their shows. However, we're worried that coverage of the world outside of Britain is dwindling.

2009, it's time to act

AndyBrace — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:06:51 +0000

The UN climate change conference in Copenhagen this December is, "the most important meeting mankind has ever had." That's the simple and striking message from our campaigns director, Thomas Schultz-Jagow, in the video message above.

Question: How do you make the world a better place?

AndyBrace — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:16:56 +0000

Imagine that you've got the undivided attention of big business, big leaders and big thinkers. Imagine that they're sat on your sofa listening intently to what's on your mind. What would you ask them?

What's gonna be BIG in 2009

AndyBrace — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:18:49 +0000

The festive season is over and 2009 has properly begun. While some New Year's resolutions have already been quietly dropped, we know that we'll all need plenty of resolve to take on the big challenges that are ahead

Message to UN climate talks: Delay kills

AndyBrace — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:59:29 +0000

Oxfam's Theo Ratcliff reports from Poland, where we're waiting for the outcome of crucial climate change talks.

Big names call for big international climate deal

AndyBrace — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:45:20 +0000

David Attenborough, Scarlett Johansson, Angelique Kidjo, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

While the EU fumbles, ice sculptures call for climate action

AndyBrace — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:38:12 +0000

We're into the all-important last three days of United Nations climate talks.

It's at this point that government ministers - the people with the power to make decisions about whether their country signs on to a global agreement to tackle climate change - have started to arrive in Poland.

In video: a week of climate campaigning in Poland

AndyBrace — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:21:22 +0000

We're halfway through crucial climate change negotiations in Poznan, Poland, and at this point we thought we'd pause and take a moment to look at what's happened in the last seven days.

Let's recap.

Ever needed to evacuate your home 25 times?

AndyBrace — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:07:37 +0000

Some people in Bangladesh have. Floods have always been a normal part of life.

Oxfam takes on E.ON in email tussle

AndyBrace — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:39:57 +0000

While the number of people who've taken our E.ON action has been steadily rising for the past few weeks (we've now well past 4,000 sign ups), things took a turn for the unexpected the other day.

People, planning and action: what we're calling for in Poland

AndyBrace — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:25:53 +0000

Climate campaigner Charlie Powell explains the outcomes Oxfam wants to see from UN climate negotiations.

After months of preparation, United Nations climate change talks officially got underway yesterday. And while it's likely that many of us started the week scoffing the first chocolate from this year's Advent calendar, there was little time for Christmas-tree-shaped treats for the Oxfam team over in Poland.

This 1 December marks the 21st anniversary of World AIDS day

AndyBrace — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:00:18 +0000

There are many great success stories that we want to tell you about this World AIDS day. However, as is often the case, first there is a big "BUT". This particular "BUT" is the fact that only one in three of the 33 million people living with HIV are receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. The simple reason for this crazy situation is cost. Poor people just can't afford the expensive treatments that could potentially save around 6,000 people a day.

Countdown to crucial climate talks begins

AndyBrace — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:59:19 +0000

With the launch of our latest online action, Oxfam's countdown to United Nation's climate talks officially got underway today.

In less than a fortnight's time, government advisors, scientists, big business, and climate campaigners (and possibly Barack Obama) will all gather for two weeks of negotiations.

Campaigners delighted that the Bill's been increased

AndyBrace — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:10:54 +0000

We're rather belated in reporting this on our blog, but for the last week or so we've been meaning to write about two big climate change announcements.

On the back of the recent Cabinet re-shuffle, the UK Government three weeks ago created a new department - the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Sailing away against new coal

AndyBrace — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:15:30 +0000

Earlier this week, Oxfam's Martin Kirk joined other representatives from the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition - including Greenpeace, Christian Aid, Tearfund and even the Women's Institute - aboard Greenpeace's iconic Rainbow Warrior.

The coal debate: why Kingsnorth power station is an issue for Oxfam

AndyBrace — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:07:55 +0000

Here in Britain we have a long-standing relationship with coal.

Over centuries, billions of tonnes of it have been mined from our landscape. For some it's simply the 'black gold' that powered the Industrial Revolution. While to others it's an industry that entire towns have been built on the back of.

14,000 squares, 2,000 letters, and 10 million lives

AndyBrace — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:48:49 +0100

Weekly 'good living' guide: transport

AndyBrace — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:40:02 +0100

It's Friday, and it's another (belated) installment of our Good Living Guide. Where do the days disappear to?

This week we're taking a look at transport in our day-to-day lives, and exploring a few alternative options for getting around.

Weekly 'good living' guide: Fashion

AndyBrace — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:24:55 +0100

Two weeks ago we posted the first instalment of our Weekly Good Living guide - which, if you happened to miss the last one, was the first in a series of five blogs where we're discussing how lifestyle changes can have a big benefit for poor people.

The amount of responses we received to the first post was, quite frankly, brilliant. We've been extremely chuffed to see many of you are considering poor farmers and taking cutting your carbon emissions seriously.