350.org have released a new video, The Great Power Race, to kick-start a clean energy competition between students in China, India and the US.  350.org hope the campaign will encourage these nations to race towards climate change solutions.

The weekly newsletter LeCool, which finds cutting-edge events in various major cities, has nominated Oxfam’s Haiti Lives exhibition as one of this week’s picks.   The exhibition closes tomorrow, so be sure to get down to the Powerscourt Townhouse in Dublin to see it before it goes.  You’ll also be able to see and bid on the Oxfamhome DIY furniture (also recommended by LeCool) which is on display in the exhibition space.

Bids on the unique designer-customised furniture will be accepted until mid August.

Special adviser to the UN Secretary-General, Jeffrey Sachs, has called on US President Obama to take leadership on climate change.

Discussing the lack of real leadership, Sachs argues that in addition to the complexity of climate science, the immense economic challenge of reducing emissions and the well funded campaigns designed to discredit climate scientists and confuse the public; the unwillingness of US politicians to develop any clear climate change policy has become another key factor contributing to inaction.

In response, Sachs has called on President Obama to leave the back room negotiations behind and instead present a coherent plan directly to the American people.

In October 2009, hundreds of miniature tents appeared in cities throughout Europe.  The Oxfam stunt was organised to show world leaders what the future could look like if poor people are forced to become climate migrants.

Now, a new study focusing on climate change in Mexico has concluded that a warming climate will see millions of Mexicans forced to migrate to the US.  The report suggests that:

• A 10% reduction in crop yield due to climate change would result in 2% of the population emigrating,
• By the year 2080, it is estimated that between 1.4 – 6.7 million Mexicans would seek to emigrate to the US.

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4-5 September 2010

TRAILTREKKER challenges teams of four to complete a 100km route across Irish terrain in less than 36 hours and we need your help!

We need over 200 volunteers for TRAILTREKKER 2010. We have over 100 teams taking part in the event and we need volunteers to motivate and help the courageous walkers. Do you have what it takes to be part of the Oxfam TRAILTREKKER Team?

If so check out www.oxfamireland.org/trailtrekker or contact us at eventsvolunteer@oxfamireland.org

Click the image to watch the video on TV3's website. The segment on Oxfambridal starts at 26 mins into the show.

TV3’s Morning Show ran an excellent segment on bargain shopping for weddings yesterday, which featured a look at the Oxfambridal shop and an interview with its manager, Solene.  Click the image to watch the show on the TV3 website – the relevant segment starts at 26 minutes in.

Oxfambridal is Oxfam’s dedicated wedding wear boutique. Brides can make appointments to view the extensive collection of dresses, most of which are brand new and were donated by designers. Oxfambridal also stocks veils, shoes accessories, bridesmaids dresses and hats. Buying an Oxfambridal wedding dress for only €250, can buy two families in Africa a goat for each father, a vegetable garden for each mother and school books and musical instruments for the kids.

Click the image to watch the clip on the RTE website

RTE’s Six One News featured the Oxfamhome DIY auction last night, showing some of the gorgeous pieces that have been customised for Oxfam, and featuring interviews with some of the designers and Oxfamhome’s manager.

The silent auction for the seven unique pieces is still going on – you can bid here now.  The auction’s closing date has been extended until August 16th.

World leaders allow continued violation of rights

World leaders made no real commitments to ensure universal access to prevention, treatment and care for AIDS at this week’s International AIDS conference in Vienna said international agency Oxfam.

It was a disappointing conference. The tone was set by the host nation, Austria, when it indicated it would not contribute a single cent toward the replenishment of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria. “This conference gives us little confidence that the $20bn replenishment of the Fund will be fully achieved in October,” said chief executive of Oxfam Ireland, Jim Clarken who is heading the Oxfam delegation. “This is an echo of last month’s G8, where leaders admitted that this year they will break their promise to provide universal access”.

Read the rest of this entry »

Oxfam Ireland recently took the Climate Change Destroys Lives. Let’s Face It. campaign to Oxegen.

Here’s what we got up to: