Chicago Oxfam Action Corps at Coldplay!

Did you know Coldplay has invited Oxfam to tour with them at all their concerts around the entire world? We’ve been thankful to be able to join them at their amazing shows for over ten years, and on August 7^th and 8^th Chicago Oxfam Action Corps had the opportunity to join them in Chicago!

With almost 40 volunteers over the two nights, Chicago Oxfam Action Corps took to the crowds dressed as various fruits and veggies to collect signatures in support of the GROW Campaign. It was such a fun time watching the Coldplay crowd interact with our volunteers to learn more about Oxfam and the GROW Campaign, and even cooler to see Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin wearing an Oxfam button on his shirt during the show!

It’s always a bit intimidating to talk to strangers about signing our GROW pledge at first, but Rachel was a great mentor in giving all our volunteers tips and tricks about how to canvas the crowd.  By the end of the night, everyone was a pro, and Chicago was able to sign up hundreds of supports of the GROW campaign. Great job, volunteers!

Check out the photos below of our volunteers hard at work.  

-J.Benoit

These Coldplay concert-goers were wearing handmade Oxfam shirts! Awesome!

Find more photos at the Oxfam on Tour Facebook page here! 

Update on Sudan and South Sudan

South Sudan’s first birthday has come and gone. A stage has been set for its success; however its government struggles to establish the means for it to succeed. The building of internal infrastructures is the capstone for beginning an independent nation. Major issues derive from tensions between Sudan and South Sudan preventing strong institutions to propel both nations into stability. United Nations put a deadline for Sudan and South Sudan to resolve major military and economic issues by August 2^nd. However this deadline has passed and the two independent nations remain deadlock in conversations about peace with one another. Following UN resolution 2046 from May 2, 2012, the United Nations now calls upon Secretary Ban Ki-Moon to resolve several issues between the two countries by September 2^nd of this year. This established treaty specifies the need for Sudan and South Sudan to demilitarize their respective borders especially along the Abyei areas. Another major diplomatic move through UN Resolution 2047 calls for help by the UNMISS to aid in the demilitarization and increased security on the borders between these nations.

 It also focuses on resolve for oil revenue allocations between the two countries. While approximately 75% of the oil runs through South Sudan, pipes run through Sudan. Sudan demands 50-50 for revenue however South Sudan looks for numbers more representative of where the oil reserves lie. To exacerbate the situation regarding oil revenues, there have been accusations of stealing oil and no compromise in oil transportation tariffs. Safety along the borders would help peacemaking in oil revenue issues.

In considering the bright spotlight on South Sudan and Sudan to grow and come to terms with their independence, it is unfortunate to find continued strife between national governments. With almost a year of discussions, the people of both nations suffer in grim conditions, always living for the sake of survival, if that. The number of refugees moving from Sudan to South Sudan steadily rises. This is coupled with increasing distension of food shortages across the region. The United Nations and fellow partnering organizations, like Oxfam, are focusing on the deteriorating health issues. Soap, water, food and mosquito nets are among the top distribution items for refugees, many of them children. Children are at high risk of malnutrition, respiratory infection, malaria, and diarrhea. Conditions aggravated by the political and economic strife inflict wounds on the weakest of the population.

Oxfam, whose presence in Sudan since 1983 creates a positive impact on the citizens, strives to provide humanitarian effort. Long term assistance development embanks the Oxfam work to give people the opportunity to become resilient against food shortages and lack of help from the government. Projects include urbanization, educational programs, and help against famine and drought. With the influx of refugees shifting from Sudan to South Sudan and economic strain, support of these two nations by Oxfam and UN is essential to the people. Humanitarian efforts are only made possible by volunteers, donations and awareness. With Hunger Banquets and ACT FAST events, a concerned citizen in any city can help in aiding citizens of South Sudan and Sudan. You can change the world if you start here. In our action corps we strive to continue building a community for awareness and action. You can even organize your own ACT FAST event! Visit the Oxfam webpage to learn more. And keep in touch with us. Together we can support each other to change our world.

Oxfam ACT FAST http://actfast.oxfamamerica.org/

-Megan Nakra

 Resources:

http://www.oxfam.org/en/sudan-southsudan-crisis

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42622&Cr=South+Sudan&Cr1=

http://blog.endgenocide.org/blog/2012/08/02/no-deal-sudan-and-south-sudan-fail-to-reach-agreement-by-deadline/

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2046%20%282012%29

http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N12/344/09/PDF/N1234409.pdf?OpenElement

http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_resolutions12.htm

Year One in South Sudan: Keeping Hopes for Progress

As we celebrated the birthday of America, another country just marked its first birthday a few days after. The Republic of South Sudan passed a referendum July 9, 2011 to secede from Sudan as an independent government. Two major civil wars caused rippling and devastating effects to the people, resulting in many fleeing the nation. Refugees scattered across various in attempts to stabilize their lives from the atrocities from home. Families must now start over. Imagine having to move to a land not knowing how to contact lost family members or how to start a new life. Many refugees who fled Sudan now travel back to South Sudan. First settlers into the Americas came into struggles like the people of South Sudan struggle to start new life. However, the early settlers into the Americas began life in a bountiful land of resources, whereas the refugees are coming into a land of hardship. The region of this new nation always struggled with famine, health care and overall social and economic stability.

While oil reserves remain a promising source of income for Southern Sudan, the governments of Sudan and South Sudan deliberate how to split oil reserves. War tensions remain, relegating focus from economic stability to military efforts. The central government of Southern Sudan faces daily test of providing its citizens with basic needs like food and health care. Food shortages due to drought from climate change vary year to year. To the dismay of millions, rains decreased and crops waned, exacerbating the source of food and income since 2010. The situation demands the attention of the world as a test of humanity.

Oxfam has been working with the Sudan and South Sudan region for decades. The major goals to aid the South Sudan focuses on helping refugees become independent. Specifically in South Kordofan, where continued violence and food shortages leave civilians in disarray, Oxfam distributes seeds for planting, improves supplies of clean water, protects health of livestock and helps people launch small businesses. And Oxfam affiliate based in Juba adds assistance to Jamam camps of Upper Nile state. In Darfur alone, a region experiencing high levels of severe violence and conflict, Oxfam focuses on assisting the region by:

• providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene program with the help of water engineers to make pumps, tanks, pipes and taps
• ensuring camps have latrines, baths, soap, water
• educating people regarding hygiene and keeping water safe for drinking
• offering grants and loans to farmers and small businesses
• empowering women with high efficiency stoves to feed families and compete with food market, while helping to protect the environment

While South Sudan is struggling on its first birthday, continued efforts will allow the country to grow. With boost in awareness of the work of Oxfam and collaborating agencies, financial support, and pressure on legislators to support the government of South Sudan, we can hope for continued independence and success in this new nation. Happy Birthday to South Sudan and to many more.

To find out more, visit Oxfam at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/emergencies/conflict-in-the-sudans/what-oxfam-is-doing

-Megan Nakra

Couldn't make the last meeting? Read about the discussion here!

Recap Chicago Action Corps Meeting Wednesday, June 27^th, 2012

Old Business: The Eat 4 Equity event raised $700 for Oxfam America. The event was a great way to raise awareness about the risk of hunger in the Sahel region of Africa and socialize with other Chicagoans while enjoying a delicious meal.  The Deer Tick concert was also a successful event with three Oxfam volunteers collecting signatures from concert-goers and handing out Oxfam GROW campaign buttons and information about Oxfam Action Corps and the GROW campaign. 

It’s important to have a strategy at concerts and other non-traditional tabling events. Attendees are much more likely to be willing to listen to what you have to say, and become more engaged in the conversation before an event begins. Having an opening tag line such as “Deer Tick wanted us to be here tonight to talk to you about Oxfam’s current GROW campaign,” helps engage others and connects the event  to Oxfam. 

With the growth of Farmer’s Markets in Chicago and respective suburban areas, the GROW campaign greatly benefits from tabling at Farmer’s Markets. Several members have offered to talk to various organizers of Farmer’s Markets in Chicago, Kankakee, and Naperville. A letter is drafted to send so that members of the Action Corps and members of Oxfam may begin tabling in order to increase awareness and activity with the GROW campaign.

Marketing for awareness is necessary for continued growth of the Chicago Action Corps. Several ideas include posting signs at local shops, libraries and other areas with lots of foot traffic. In addition, we will attempt to grow using contacts at colleges in the CHANGE program and local groups in suburbs. If you would like to reach out to local groups, please let us know and we can discuss more possibilities! We do have NEW business cards available!

The meeting location has been set at the Corner Bakery of 56 Randolph Street. However, the idea to rotate locations would allow more people from various areas of Chicagoland area to attend meetings. In addition, we will be attempting to use Google Hangout or another online meeting medium for people located in the suburbs to be actively involved in meetings.

Discussion about shirts and t-shirt designs! A t-shirt design contest will be held for Chicago Action Corps t-shirts. There will also be a t-shirt design and potluck party in the month of September for members to socialize, make shirts and enjoy.  An email will be sent out about sending in designs. 

Reminder of the Presentation by Roger Thurow  about his book, The Last Hunger Season. His book recreates the story of four farmers that Thurow followed over one year. Thurow is former journalist for The Wall Street Journal and current senior fellow for the global agriculture and food policy on the The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. 

The next meeting is set for July 19, 2012. Location is TBD. A survey will be sent out regarding location of the meeting.