Oh the Places We Have Gone! 2013 A Year in Review

13 is considered an unlucky number, but 2013 brought great accomplishments for the Chicago Oxfam Action Corps. The continued growth and success in various campaigns displays the importance of unity behind an important message and general resilience that brings success.

We introduced the Behind the Brands campaign internationally beginning February 2013. Our first goal aimed towards Nestle, Mondalez and Mars, would help women cocoa farmers receive more pay. Our group headed to Mondalez headquarters located in Deerfield, IL dealing with a blizzard to produce a display to show corporations that they do have a responsibility to the global food system and to people. We as consumers expect corporate ethical responsibility. We followed with campaigning on International Women’s Day in Millenium Park and again in April around Easter. After Nestle and Mars, Mondalez finally agreed to the U.N. Women’s Principles, therefore, raising wages from $4 to $7. Given the low pay and discrimination women receive as cocoa farmers, this took great measures to balance the economic distribution. Women world-wide often provide for large families as sole breadwinners. A little more money goes a long way to help for more food, education for children and medicine.

Immediately upon the win with Mondalez, Mars and Nestle companies, we switched gears to focus on food aid reform. Current legislation remains outdated in efforts to support slower modes of transportation industries, resulting in delayed delivery of food to places in dire need. This legislation requires that food for food aid must come from the U.S., must be transported cross country via train and then internationally by ship. The Chicago Oxfam Action Corps Organizer team, with Adam Olson and representatives from allies completed a total of eight visits with Illinois Senators and House Representatives. Each caused impaction, each had a different response. Unfortunately, like many general industry amendments, food aid is packaged into the Farm Bill. Passage of the farm bill often expands out over a year or two years because of the number of amendments and major reforms stuck into the bill. By June 2013, the amendment for food aid reached the floor and unfortunately lost by less than ten votes. As a whole, we came so close but yet it felt so far. This allowed us to revamp our campaign nationally in anticipation for the next round of the Farm Bill.  

Back to Behind the Brands, the next campaign encouraged General Mills to become more transparent with their business practices. Our presence at Lollapalooza marketed to over 150,000 guests. Our team of twelve people accomplished obtaining over 1000 signatures, the first non-staffed Action Corps event to do so. General Mills signed on within a month of the beginning of our international campaign. After this win, we targeted PepsiCo, Associated British Foods and Coca-Cola Co to ensure the sugar they buy does not come from or contribute to land grabs. We introduced this cycle of BtB at an Atoms for Peace concert at UIC Pavilion. Since then, Coca-Cola has signed on to a zero-tolerance policy for land grabs. In order to persuade PepsiCo, our Action Corps volunteers, along with Action Corps volunteers across the United States visited PepsiCo sites to deliver petitions and leverage photo opportunities. We currently continue to focus on PepsiCo to stop land grabs.

Unfortunately, inclement tumultuous weather brought the Philippines to the center of international stage. Typhoon Haiyan ripped through, leaving destruction and many survivors in need of food, water, and shelter. Oxfam teams prepared for and jumped in to aid the people of the Philippines. Unfortunately, this case again shows the need for reform in food aid legislation. Oxfam America helped Dr. Juanita Salvador-Burris start a change.org petition to focus on the Philippines. It asks Congress to pass an exemption on food aid legislation to efficiently deliver food to where it is needed most in such a desperate time. Within a month, the signatures increased by ten times to 40,000 signatures. Our goal is 75,000 and we will continue focusing on food aid reform!

The following is a list of events we have hosted and attended. We cannot express our great gratitude to our volunteers who stay dedicated and who take action to Right the Wrong!

Events (in no particular order)

• Green Festival
• World Fair Trade Day
• Sweet Justice
• Greater Chicago Food Depository Hunger Walk
• Slow Food Chicago preSERVE Garden Workday
• Glenwood Farmer’s Market
• Kankakee Farmer’s Market
• Pilsen Farmer’s Market
• Logan Square Farmer’s Market
• Latino Fashion Show
• Lollapalooza
• World Food Day Dinner, 8^th Day Center for Justice
• World Food Day Dinner, Cuisine of India
• Teach-In Presentation on GROW Method
• Frontiers of Food Justice
• Hunger Banquet at North Central College
• ONE Campaign- Year of One Event
• ONE Campaign-Oxfam Happy Hour Meeting
• Chicago Fair Trade Global Fest Africa
• Great Lakes Bioneers Conference
• Surge for Water Waterfalls Fundraiser
• Slow Food Chicago Holiday Bash
• Hot Chocolate Run to raise money for Syrian Refugee Crisis
• Atoms for Peace
• Fitz and the Tantrums
• Arctic Monkeys
• Thao and the Get Down Stay Down

With the same fervor of 2013 to make progress in the fight against poverty, hunger and injustice, we are planning a few major events to engage the Chicagoland on a global platform. Everyone can do something to Right the Wrong. Get involved using your skills to make a better global food system for everyone.

@chiOXFAMaction

chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com


-Megan Nakra