Oxfam America http://www.oxfamamerica.org These are the search results for the query, showing results 1 to 8. OXFAMExchange, Fall 2011 http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/oxfamexchange-fall-2011 Africa's last famine? This season the rains have failed throughout much of East Africa—in some areas, triggering the worst drought in 60 years. More than 13 million people are now at risk, 1.8 million Somalis alone have been displaced, and 750,000 people are facing starvation. The chronic cycle of drought and suffering prompts us to ask: What would it take to make this Africa's last famine?

Oxfam's work—whether helping Guatemalan women organize to fight gender violence, funding irrigation projects in Ethiopia, or standing with people in Darfur—is about building the resilience of local communities over the long haul. We cannot prevent shocks, but we can help our sisters and brothers access some of the same resources we have to cushion us when times are lean.

We cannot rush from crisis to crisis with short-term fixes. What more evidence do we need than what is happening in East Africa now? This is not the region's first famine, but imagine the headline: Africa's last famine.

]]> No publisher Oxfam America Darfur East Africa Ethiopia GROW Guatemala Sudan agriculture equality for women farmers food security gender global food crisis humanitarian relief hunger oil, gas and mining violence women 2012-02-13T17:20:33Z Oxfam Exchange Obama's visit to Africa: Time for a new partnership founded on transparency and shared responsibility http://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/pressreleases/obamas-visit-to-africa-time-for-a-new-partnership-founded-on-transparency-and-shared-responsibility WASHINGTON, DC — On the eve of his historic trip to Ghana, international humanitarian agency Oxfam called on President Obama to commit to a new partnership for African development built on new resources and new measures to increase transparency and accountability.

"Much like the Cairo speech, we are hoping the Accra speech will signal a new era of engagement, respect and partnership with Africa," said Raymond C. Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America. "This historic visit, so early in his presidency and on the heels of important commitments at the G8 in Italy, signals the importance President Obama places on African development."

Millions of Africans live in extreme poverty, and are now hit hard by the global economic and climate crisis. Sub-Saharan Africa alone is expecting losses of up to $245 billion this year as a result of the global slump, which is almost seven times the amount it receives in global aid. In Ghana, a resource-rich country, the life expectancy is a mere 58 years and 70% of people in the poor northern regions live on less than $1 a day. Despite the economic crisis, Africa continues to attract large investments to extract the riches that lie below ground, producing billions in government revenues. By 2015, oil revenues in African oil-exporting countries will exceed the amount needed to meet key social development goals by $35 billion annually—but investing this money wisely is not a sure thing.

"Africa is rich in natural resources like gold, diamonds and oil, but, too often, these resources have contributed to corruption, conflict, and human rights abuses," said Offenheiser. "But important progress can be made to turn this around. President Obama can help by supporting increased transparency and the disclosure of payments from US and other companies to African governments to help ensure responsible use of billions of dollars of government revenues per year."

Oxfam praised Ghana's recent commitment to transparency in the country's nascent oil sector and urged President Obama to encourage the government to follow through on these commitments and encourage other African governments to follow the positive steps the Ghanaian government has taken to date.

Oxfam also noted that key reforms are needed to make the US foreign aid system as effective as possible in reducing poverty and creating prosperous communities throughout the developing world. The US currently lacks a coherent assistance strategy for many of the countries it is trying to help. Oxfam is calling on the US to keep recipient country governments and their public informed on the nature and amount of American aid, help the recipient country to manage its own development, and ultimately, let each recipient country lead its own development agenda.

"American generosity is undermined by a reactive approach that prioritizes relief efforts—like food aid—that saves lives, but doesn't address underlying causes of poverty and hunger," said Offenheiser. "If the US wants to use its aid consistently help the poor in countries such as Ghana, it needs a global development strategy to guide the US government's efforts to fight poverty."

Climate change is already impacting the lives and livelihoods of millions of poor people in Africa, as a recent Oxfam report details. Tackling these impacts is essential to addressing food security and broader development objectives. President Obama must commit to help bring about a comprehensive global climate strategy that will help poor communities cope with the impacts of global warming, from failed crops to dwindling reserves of clean water and displacement caused by extreme weather events.

"Global hunger and poverty is a human tragedy exacerbated by faltering investments in agricultural production and the growing impacts of climate change," said Offenheiser. "We are pleased to see President Obama follow through on his commitments to reassert US leadership and address the challenges facing the billion people around the world without enough food."

]]> No publisher mborum Ghana human rights food security natural resources hunger West Africa oil, gas and mining transparency foreign policy politics and government peace and security 2009-07-10T17:49:52Z Press Release OXFAMExchange Spring 2009 http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/oxfamexchange-spring-2009 The power of resilience We believe climate change is more than an environmental concern. We believe curbing global warming isn't enough. We must go beyond that if we're going to help poor communities—from the US Gulf Coast to Bangladesh—build their resilience to climate change. The situation is increasingly urgent; many are already struggling to cope with the consequences of erratic weather, crop shortages, and receding coastlines. Naturally it is the world's poorest—among them women and children—who are hit hardest.

With some champions in Congress and support from the White House, we're hoping to see domestic legislation that not only fines companies who pollute, but also uses some of these funds to help affected communities build their resilience. If we are successful domestically, we can lay the groundwork for a global deal at the UN Climate Change Conference this December—an agreement that will create a more hospitable climate for us all.

Also in this issue: A force of peace in Peru; Rebuilding in Bangladesh; Oxfam America's new role in Darfur.

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]]> No publisher Oxfam America Horn of Africa oil, gas and mining Bangladesh Sudan climate change violence Darfur Central and South Asia South America humanitarian relief Peru women peace and security natural resources 2011-06-29T14:20:53Z Oxfam Exchange OXFAMExchange Spring 2008 http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/spring-2008 Raising a generation without fear The global food crisis is new and very real, but the seeds were planted long ago. Oxfam has long spoken out against poor policy decisions—like farm subsidies in wealthy countries and misguided trade policies—that have undermined small farmers in the developing world and have made a fertile ground for today's crisis. Yet the situation is far from hopeless. The global community must act swiftly. Unfortunately—as we've seen in other crises—that does not always happen. For example, this issue of OXFAMExchange features the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has been going on for over a decade. Increasingly Oxfam is a harbinger of such avoidable crises. We need your help in speaking out. Through effective advocacy, we can prevent unnecessary suffering. Together, we have the ability to influence our futures.

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]]> No publisher mborum Ghana oil, gas and mining equality for women Central America global food crisis El Salvador humanitarian relief Democratic Republic of Congo 2009-06-15T18:28:22Z Oxfam Exchange Oxfam in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/oxfam-in-central-america-mexico-and-the-caribbean All across this diverse and beautiful territory, new faces of leadership are emerging. Women, rural communities, and small farmers are adding their voices to the political dialogue, calling on their governments: Hear us now. Half the population of Central America lives in poverty. The chronically poor—women, small farmers, and those in rural communities—lack the access to government services, economic opportunity, and basic rights that could enable a secure existence. Since the 1980s, Oxfam America has supported promising community-driven organizations, helping their leaders and members develop skills and resources—and a voice to achieve their visions for a fairer, more prosperous future for all.

]]> No publisher Oxfam America community finance coffee oil, gas and mining Caribbean aid reform Cuba Central America climate change HIV-AIDS water trade Mexico El Salvador Guatemala natural resources disaster risk reduction Honduras Haiti Nicaragua equality for women 2009-06-24T19:40:06Z Brochure OXFAMExchange Spring 2006 http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/spring-2006 Challenging Injustice Stories include environmental campaigns in Peru, controversy over gold mining, coffee farmers demand role in international coffee organization, and citizens work for peace in Africa.

]]> No publisher mborum coffee oil, gas and mining natural resources trade South America Peru peace and security 2009-04-30T19:23:19Z Oxfam Exchange Oxfam in South America http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/oxfam-in-south-america To their government officials and to the corporations who want to exploit their lands and natural resources, the indigenous and rural people of South America have a simple, yet important message: "We are here." Since 1984, Oxfam America has helped them voice this message in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru—by strengthening farmers' organizations, women's groups, and indigenous associations that represent poor communities. With a stronger voice and the right skills, indigenous and rural people can manage their lands, promote their rights and cultures—and build a better, more prosperous future.

]]> No publisher Oxfam America natural resources indigenous people disaster risk reduction climate change trade environment South America land oil, gas and mining humanitarian relief Peru minority rights women Bolivia agriculture transparency Ecuador equality for women 2009-06-09T20:49:25Z Brochure OXFAMExchange Fall 2002 http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/fall-2002 What's in your coffee? Oxfam's coffee campaign. Plus Afghanistan, Make Trade Fair campaign, and the Hopi people's struggle for clean, safe drinking water. What's in your coffee? Oxfam's coffee campaign. Plus Oxfam in Afghanistan, Coldplay support Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign, southern Africa food crisis, and the Hopi people's struggle with an energy giant.

]]> No publisher mborum Afghanistan coffee indigenous people natural resources East Asia Make Trade Fair public health trade United States Central and South Asia oil, gas and mining humanitarian relief water 2009-04-30T21:05:19Z Oxfam Exchange