Ending Hunger Starts with Women: Event marks the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day

Oxfam Action Corps helped organize and host a great event last night at FareStart restaurant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. Special guest speaker Ms. Prak Souern, a farmer and community leader in Cambodia, spoke of her work organizing for social change. Several Sisters on the Planet ambassaders spoke about what drew them to Oxfam, and invited others to "Become a Sister." Sisters Ambassadors included Linnea Hirst, President of the League of Women Voters of Washington, Makini Howell, chef/owner at Plum Bistro, and Patti Southard with King County Green Tools. Stay tuned for pictures from the event.

Hunger Banquet in Edmonds

In January, Seattle Oxfam Action Corps co-organizer Brook Elliott Buettner spoke at a Hunger Banquet hosted by a high school group (the Edmonds Woodway High School Mixed and Multicultural Club). The club members did a wonderful job of presenting the banquet- the majority of their guests sat on the hard gym floor and ate nothing but a small bowl of rice, while a small number sat at well-appointed tables and were served several courses including lasagna and pie. The local paper did an article about it, telling this little story:

After the meal, discussion questions were posed to the entire room. Club advisor and Edmonds Woodway instructor Kathy Ludgate asked the high-income group why they didn’t offer to share with the other two groups. Immediately a young man rushed over to her with a piece of pie. The room erupted in laughter. One of the discussion leaders asked why he hadn’t made the same move earlier. “Well,” he replied, “what I got just didn’t seem excessive to me. It seemed normal.”

Oxfam Action Corps 2011 Recruitment

Hey Everyone,
Oxfam America is currently in the process of recruiting new volunteers for 2011-2012. If you are interested in joining the Oxfam Action Corps or if you know someone that might be interested, please spread the word and sign up by February 14th at http://www.oxfamactioncorps.org .
You will meet great people and work together to change laws that can save lives, defend the rights of women and farmers, and protect communities from climate change. You will gain leadership skills, have fun, and change the world!
Anybody can join the local effort! All levels of experience are welcome. You can also apply for Oxfam’s free four-day leadership training in Washington D.C.
This year, we will mobilize a political response to the urgent problem of global hunger. The women and men in poor countries who struggle to grow enough food to feed their families are facing competition for land and water, rising prices, and climate change. We will call for laws that support women and farmers, sustainable practices, and resilience to climate change, and ensure a better future for people in the poorest regions of the world.
This is a year-round volunteer opportunity, with a deadline of February 14 to apply for the spring training. Find out more and sign up at http://www.oxfamactioncorps.org .
Check out this video to see what we are all about:

Sisters on the Planet Screening a big success

Thanks to all who attended our screening of Sisters on the Planet and of the Hardest Hit documentary series in conjunction with Meaningful Movies last Friday!

We were also pleased to welcome Rebecca Saldana, an community liaison and environment staffer for Representative Jim McDermott; and Jon Scanlon, Lead Organizer for Aid Effectiveness with Oxfam America.

There were about 100 people in the audience, and 70 signed Sow the Seed postcards demanding that world leaders "tackle climate change, secure food supplies and reduce poverty."

I want to share a moment during the night that helped the importance and effectiveness of our advocacy hit home for me. I was speaking briefly in between the Hardest Hit shorts and Sisters on the Planet. I reiterated that poor communities worldwide are those hit hardest by climate change. Then I asked if anyone had noticed in the videos who were the ones trekking further to collect water and fuel... and every woman in the large crowd nodded her head. It was a reminder of the power of a campaign like Sisters on the Planet to connect women in the developed world with our sisters, around the world, who are suffering.

WHAT: Screening and Discussion of “Sisters on the Planet” and “Hardest Hit” Oxfam Documentaries
WHEN: Friday, October 15th, 2010, 7-9:30 PM
WHERE: Keystone Church, Wallingford 5019 Keystone Place N. (50th and Keystone), Seattle, WA 98103
HOW: To attend this event please RSVP at seattle@oxfamactioncorps.org.

Join us for a night with representatives of Oxfam America featuring films and shorts on the effect of climate change on the world's most vulnerable citizens, and the latest efforts in aid reform. Taking part as well will be staff members from Representative Jim McDermott's office. Films will include: "Sisters on the Planet" - the stories of four women who have become community leaders working on adaptation projects in the wake of climate-related disasters and changing weather conditions. The "Hardest Hit" series will also be featured: shorts on the effects of climate change on poor communities in Vietnam, Ethiopia, El Salvador, and Louisiana. The evenings topic will also be expanded to include discussion of efforts to improve Aid Effectiveness, led by Oxfam Staffer Jonathan Scanlon, lead organizer for Aid Effectiveness.

We look forward to seeing you on October 15th!

First Meeting of the new Seattle Oxfam Action Corps!

Oxfam Action Corps is a non-partisan volunteer team advocating for lasting solutions to global poverty and injustice with grassroots action. It's a project of Oxfam America, and we're about to launch in Seattle!

Join us for the innagural meeting and a gathering to kick off our summer of action.

Seattle Summer of Action Kick-off Meeting
Tuesday, May 25th, 7-8pm
Grey Gallery and Lounge - 1512 11th Ave. | Seattle | WA | 98122

We'll learn about what we in Seattle can do to make sure that the world's poorest people aren't left out of the climate change discussion, and begin planning a big event to spread awareness and build grassroots political support for adaptation funding.

For more information, email seattle@oxfamactioncorps.org.

Sisters on the Planet

Climate change hits poor people hardest—especially poor women, who are disproportionately affected. Oxfam’s Sisters on the Planet initiative brings together American women leaders to raise awareness about women and climate change, and to help vulnerable communities adapt to the crisis.

Because women make up a majority of those living below the poverty line, they are most likely to bear the heaviest burdens from the effects of climate change.

Women in poor communities and countries are particularly vulnerable: they often depend on rainfall (instead of irrigation) to water their crops; they are typically responsible for providing their household‘s water, food, and fuel supply; and they are less likely to have the education, opportunities, and resources they need to adapt to the impacts of climate change. In addition, women‘s traditional role as caretakers means they have little time for and little access to community discussions, so their perspectives and needs are often not heard.

At the same time, many women in both rich and poor countries are powerful in their roles as consumers and citizens. Many are aware of the importance of protecting the environment for future generations. And when women create networks and organizations, they can be a powerful force for social and political change.

Oxfam’s Sisters on the Planet initiative seeks to harness the power of women, both in the US and abroad, to fight back against climate change. We’re calling on our leaders to go beyond cutting greenhouse gas emissions by providing financial assistance so that the most vulnerable communities can adapt. Learn more about the campaign.