This is an opinion piece by Oxfam Ireland’s CEO Jim Clarken, published in the Irish Independent on Tuesday, February 14, 2012.
We have been here before. The spectre of hunger is once again stalking the people of the Sahel, at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. Early warning systems point to the risk of a major food crisis in the region, potentially affecting 10 million people. This time, though, there is the chance to re-write the end of a tragically familiar story, by responding now to the risk of humanitarian disaster, rather than waiting until it unfolds.
Six months ago Oxfam launched our biggest ever Africa appeal in response to the drought t in East Africa. Thanks to your generous response the public all over the world donated around $32 million to Oxfam. This response has saved countless lives and Oxfam continues to provide emergency and long-term support to nearly 3 million affected people across the region, helping them recover and cope with future droughts.
The crisis is one of the worst we have faced in many years – over 13 million people have been affected, thousands have died, and many families have lost their livelihoods. The situation remains extremely concerning, especially in Somalia. However, your help has gone a very long way. Thank you
On the eve of the 2012 African Cup of Nations, more than 25 footballers including Seydou Keita from Mali, Charles Kaboré from Burkina Faso, Demba Bâ from Sénégal and Lawali Idrissafrom Niger have spoken out in solidarity with millions of people facing hunger across their region. They are appealing to the international community to work together so that “We CAN avert a major food crisis”.
Mali and Barcelona football star Seydou Keita added: “If we act now we could save the lives of women and children who are always the first victims of food crises. If we act urgently, millions of children will be saved from malnutrition and will have the chance to grow healthily and to succeed at school.”
The new head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, José Graziano Da Silva, previously led Brazil’s successful Fome Zero (Zero Hunger) programme. To find out more about this and other Brazilian initiatives, have a read of this Oxfam case study from 2010.
For a discussion on the new appointment, watch this Aljazeera clip, which features contributions from Oxfam’s Duncan Green:
Just days after the conclusion of the Durban Climate Conference, attention has fallen on Canada following the announcement this week by Environment Minister Peter Kent that Canada will formally withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol.
Minister Kent explained that the decision to do so will save the government an estimated $14 billion in penalties under the terms of the treaty for not cutting emissions by the required amount by 2012.Canada was one of the first countries to sign the Kyoto Protocol but was not on track to meet its legally binding targets.
Canada’s exit from the one existing agreement that legally binds some countries to emission cuts targets is seen as an affront to the nearly one billion people who struggle every day to feed their families in the face of increasingly severe droughts, floods, heat waves and storms.
Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent has announced to the press that Canada will formally withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol.
As the world celebrates International Human Rights Day, the effects of climate change are undermining the most basic rights of women and vulnerable people in the developing world.
Through the stories featured in Enough to Eat, some exceptional women show us some of the impacts of a changing climate in the Western Cape of South Africa.
It’s here – the last day of the climate negotiations in Durban.
Regardless of the direction things turn, a spin operation from negotiators will be in full force to try to frame the outcome. The finger-pointing has already begun and many are doing whatever they can to avoid the blame-game if a workable agreement looks in doubt.
The hastily organized press conference from the US delegation is an early indication that their team is working hard to push back on the narrative that they have not been constructive parties to the negotiations. Mr. Stern’s vague signals in the direction of support for the EU roadmap yesterday were quickly parsed and promptly rolled-back suggesting nothing has changed in their obstructive stance. But the press coverage last night and this morning suggests that the US efforts served their purpose, at least for a little while.
The climate negotiations in Durban are stuttering and there’s only 48 hours left.
There is little progress on agreement on the emission reductions needed to keep warming below 2 degrees. There is also a rumbling debate about how to fill the Green Climate Fund.
We need you to urge our leaders along the path to a sustainable planet. Together with Oxfam members across the world you can tweet at a range of the key players at the Durban UN Climate Summit.
Oxfam’s Conor Costello reports from Durban as the second week of climate negotiations continue:
Saturday 3 December was not a normal day for the population of Durban, South Africa. A climate march wound around the streets of the centre as somewhere between 10, 000 to 15000 people called for – in fact demanded – action on climate change. They brought the city to a colourful, vibrant and peaceful standstill.
Walking with, and sometimes carrying our gorgeous puppets – Mama Mhlaba (Zulu for Mother Earth) & Baba Manzi (Father Water) – I saw groups as diverse as the Rural Women’s Assembly and the Airport Workers Union marching side-by-side. All for the same ultimate goal – climate justice through urgent, fair and effective action on climate change.
