November 13th, 2013 Meeting Minutes

Minutes

Meeting November 13^th, 2013

Hannah’s Bretzel 555 W. Monroe St.

Began at 6:20pm

Note: Jan Donatelli, Ambassador for Sisters on the Planet, attended

Old Business

·         Event Recap for World Food Day potluck and Frontiers of Food Justice

·         Hot Chocolate 5K team raised $240 for Syrian Refugee Crisis Fund

·         Syria Fundraiser will be hosted in conjunction with RefugeeOne. Event details TBD

Behind the Brands Campaign Update

·         Coca-Cola agreed to ensure their upstream supply chain practices do not produce or encourage land grabs. The company confirmed their commitment by creating a timeline with Oxfam.

·         The focus shifts to increasing pressure towards PepsiCo to follow the lead of Coca-Cola. In a race to the top, PepsiCo can continue making strides to come closer to the Coca-Cola in ranking. If you are interested in taking action beyond signing the petition, please contact us for an opportunity from November 18^th-22^nd.

Upcoming Events

·         February- Oxjam Music Festival and Fundraiser

Chicago has been chosen as a pilot city for this unique event. Currently looking for planning committee members for Production, Promotion and Fundraising subcommittees. Large discussion about venues including Bottom Lounge, Old Town School of Music as well as potential media through music reviewers for Sun-Times and WBEZ. This music festival may be a fundraiser strictly for Typhoon Haiyan Relief for the Philippines. Ways to increase fundraising avenues include ticket sales, concessions, and raffle.

If you would like to join please contact us at chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com

·         March-International Women’s Day Event March 8^th

Currently looking for planning committee members

All volunteers are invited to the initial planning meeting on November 19^th, 6pm, Corner Bakery on 56 W Randolph St.

If you would like to join us, please contact chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com

·         April- Potential Food and Hunger Film Festival

Do you love films? Join us in planning a first film festival! Whether it is choosing a film, setting up concessions, or doing promotion, we would love to have you involved with our team! 

If you would like to join us, please contact chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com

Make sure to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @chiOXFAMaction. If you are not currently subscribed to our newsletter, email us to be on the list!

Behind the Brands: Next Chapter

We won our first Behind the Brands Cycle for women cocoa farmers. Mars, Mondalez, and Nestle have all raised wages from $4 to $7. Chicago alone managed more than one third of the signature goal for General Mills campaign for transparency.

We are about to embark on the next chapter...

World Fair Trade Day Chicago

By Delia Daly, Volunteer Chicago Oxfam Action Corps

Daley Plaza was filled with fair trade vendors and curious customers May 7th and 8th. Beautiful weather made it possible for Oxfam Action Corps Chicago and 20 fair trade groups to share their stories and products with Chicagoans. It was great to see people who were both familiar with Chicago Fair Trade's message, and those just passing through on their way to and from work. The market's purpose was to recognize the movement for ethical consumption in American cities. As consumers, each purchase counts. The message being shared was that supporting products that protect the environment and the people working to produce them is possible in Chicago. Our neighboring booths were The Dill Pickle - a food co-op located in the Logan Square Neighborhood, and Mata Traders - Fair Trade fashion (clothing and jewelry) supporting producers in India. 

 

 

The Oxfam team was promoting the recent "Behind The Brands" campaign. Visitors to our booth were encouraged to play a game - matching the top 10 American Brands with their "Behind the Brands" scores. Some used strategy, others just guessed, but all were shocked at how low every brand scored in the areas assessed by Oxfam researchers. (land, women, farmers, workers, climate, transparency, and water). Over a hundred of the visitors showed their support by signing our petition urging these companies to re-evaluate the impact their business practices have. It was encouraging to share the progress that Nestle and Mondelez have made. They agreed within two months of the campaign coming out to make changes in how they treat their women cocoa farmers. Divine Chocolate and their visiting Kuapa Kokoo cocoa farmers from Ghana demonstrated the success that Fair Trade practices have. Not only does Divine Chocolate provide a delicious product, but supports and respects the cocoa farmers that are in charge of production. The lives of the farmers have truly been enriched by the independence and responsibility Fair Trade practices give them.

Sweet Justice...The Event

A beautiful hallway filled with pictures of Nepalese workers lined the path towards the James Parlor room of the Chicago Temple. Of course there was a beautiful and delicious spread of fruit, veggies, breads and desserts. But upon entering the area you notice sampling of Divine chocolate in White Chocolate Strawberry, 85% Dark, Fruit and Nut, and Milk chocolates. Every piece is delicious. Guests including Divine Ambassadors, Fair Trade Vendors, community supporters and Oxfam volunteers chatted and delighted over the spread before the event.

 

Divine chocolate is a wonderful product, but the people who make this product make it that more delectable. The presentation began at 7pm. We learn that this company owned by cocoa farmers of a cooperative included the two visiting Ghanaian farmers of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative and farmer’s union. Ms. Christiana Adusei spoke of the constant training that the farmers receive in order to create an amazing product. Every part of the cocoa making process requires high quality and standard. But the driving force is the democratic principles of the cooperative. The inherent necessity to work hard and create a quality product follows the freedom to work comfortably within the decision making process. “I am glad to be a farmer of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative because it empowers women,” she gallantly stated. It was clear she was a proud farmer who took control of her life through this democratic organization. She has been able to give all of her children enough food, education and security because of it.

Mr. Kwesi Boateng Afriyie discussed the exponential growth of villages included in the cooperative. The basic freedom gave them opportunity to do more with the money they received from cocoa sales. Basic necessities like clean water are hard to come by. In addition, he was able to convince the village leader to have water pipelines installed for people to have better access to clean water. That was the first step to modernizing and simplifying the lives of his fellow village citizens. After pipes were installed, he propositioned the village leader to build a toilet for the town. This power to indulge in quotidian devices of our lives came to fruition with the right opportunity. 

Divine Chocolate company has high standard for product, marketing and most importantly people. With the standards of fair trade, we can improve the overall global system by promoting better business and opportunity everywhere. Danielle Nierenberg, co-founder of Food Tank, describes how we can involve ourselves in fair trade and therefore promote necessary change. For example, the organization Chicago Fair Trade allows businesses to provide amazing fair trade products through strong networks. 

Organizations like Oxfam find the concept of fair trade certification important to apply in corporations like the top ten food and beverage companies. The Behind the Brands campaign encourages consumers to pressure companies to improve their upstream practices and employ standards like Divine and the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative. We can all see the difference it makes! Better business practices, better pay and a democratic system contributes directly to the success and well-being of people everywhere, whether Ghana or the United States. We are thankful to Ms. Adusei and Mr. Afriyie for touring in Chicago and giving us the opportunity to hear how and why fair trade works. 

Thank you to our volunteers and guests. Special thanks to Regional Advocacy Lead for Oxfam America, Adam Olson. 

Please contact us at chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com to volunteer and learn more!

-Megan Nakra

Cocoa and Fair Trade Just Gets Better!

Chocolate, tea, sugar should all taste sweet at our table of nine billion people. We can make this true by endorsing  better treatment of women and small scale farmers. We had a significant victory with our first campaign under Behind the Brands. All three chocolate companies, Nestle, Mars and Mondalez, have agreed to develop better upstream practices for women cocoa farmers. All three major food and beverage companies agreed to sign the UN Women Empowerment Principles, which commits to assessing impacts across supply chain in all countries. Each company will publish concrete action plans to address issues by April 1, 2014. Using their corporate influence, they promise to advocate and network in order to abide by and promote the principles.

This is a time to celebrate our victory! We thank every single person who Tweeted, updated Facebook statuses, signed the petition, and got people involved. Special thanks to volunteers making our visibility events possible!  Whether it was in Daley Plaza on International Women’s Day or outside Mondalez property!

Join the Chicago Oxfam Action Corps to keep the momentum going. On May 7^th and 8^th Chicago Fair Trade will host its annual World Fair Trade Days in Daley Plaza. Over twenty fair trade vendors will be displaying products that are truly sweet. You can learn more about fair trade directly from cocoa farmers. Divine Chocolate invited two amazing individuals from Ghana to share their story. They will be present both days to discuss their combined 40 years of cocoa production experience that shows fair trade is delicious. 

Divine cocoa farmers will be guests at two events in the evening. On Monday May 6^th, Northwestern University will host program Kuapa Kokoo: Produce perspectives on Cooperative Development in Ghana. The NU Center for Global Development and Afrilogue is excited to present from 7pm – 8:30pm in the Evanston Campus. On Tuesday May 7^th, Oxfam America and Chicago Fair Trade will present Sweet Justice: Lessons in Food Justice from Cocoa Farmers. Both Ghanian cocoa farmers and co-founder of Food Tank will present. The registration is free and all are welcome.

We are incredibly excited to host these events to promote justice in the food system! Volunteer with us at these events and support fair trade and Oxfam!

• Chicago Fair Trade Days
• May 7^th and May 8^th
• Shifts from 9 am – 6pm
• Table for Oxfam America on GROW, Behind the Brands, and gain signatures for Food Aid Reform
• Sweet Justice Event
• May 7^th
• Shifts from 6 pm – 9 pm
• Help greet, set-up food, table and network at the presentation at Chicago Temple.

Contact us at Chicago.oxfamactioncorps@gmail.com for more information and to volunteer.

-Megan Nakra

#BehindtheBrands

Today Chicago is holding a special election for the 2^nd Congressional District. This unique constituency stretches from southern Chicago to Kankakee. In a recent debate on February 12^th in Kankakee, seven candidates discussed how they would help improve the area. It was not surprising when they discussed agriculture and the need for continued support for farmers, especially in the areas of Kankakee. Government policy makers and Congressional representatives are crucial to the process of change. We understand that change requires a strategic bimodal approach via government and corporations. Oxfam has made continuous legislative efforts to support better agricultural practices both at home and abroad. After the constant disappointments with the Congress in years past, you are frustrated, and we’re frustrated. Because change is proving to be slow.

How can we get things changing? 1.4 billion people are overweight yet 900 million people are starving. About one third of our food is wasted, but mothers are forced to choose between medicines and food and education. Our crops have been reduced and our food sources changing because corporations are buying public property at an increasing rate. Is anyone noticing? What about the people with a lot of buying power and media power?

After 18 months of careful research and consideration in the approach to improve corporate practices, Oxfam is now introducing BEHIND THE BRANDS. As an extension of the GROW campaign, this initiative allows consumers to empower themselves with information on practices by companies who make their favorite treats. Oxfam uses 7 different scoring areas to rank the companies against themselves. These themes that encompass social, environmental and economic issues are:

1. Transparency
2. Women and gender equality policies
3. Ethical Treatment to supply chain workers
4. Small scale farmers growing commodities
5. Land
6. Water
7. Climate and gas emissions

Let’s start a race to the top. Let’s encourage large corporations that are stealing water, land and abusing corporate power by paying people unfairly sprint to be better companies! Corporations move fast in response to consumer power and education. When you say something, they listen. Seriously. Tweet about what you expect from the companies you buy from. Update your Facebook status to make people aware about the unfair practices of many companies. Sign the petition to make cocoa-farming practices better. NPR, BBC News, Huffington Post, Bloomberg TV, and more media sources have been covering Behind the Brands. The companies have been responding! Show them you are passionate about supporting farmers and they will listen.

Find your favorite brands on the website Behind the Brands. How does your company stack up on the Oxfam scorecard?

Megan Nakra