April – June 2010
Currently: East Africa food crisis. Communities across East Africa are facing increasingly frequent and severe droughts, exacerbated by a changing climate and less rainfall in areas with already limited access to water and sanitation, education and healthcare. Over 20 million people across the region are in need of urgent humanitarian aid. Oxfam staff available for interviews both here in and in Africa.
12 April: Launch of TRAILTREKKER 2010 – A new trail and a new challenge! TRAILTREKKER offers teams the chance to participate in one of the most exciting challenge events in Ireland. On 4-5 September 2010, teams of four will trek a 100km route inside 36 hours, walking by day and by night from the start in Newcastle through the Mournes, the Ring of Gullion and the Cooley Peninsula to the finish in Carlingford,. RTE’s celebrity medic Dr Mark Hamilton is available for limited interviews. Oxfam Ireland spokespeople and TRAILTREKKER participants also available.
12 April: Three months since the Haiti earthquake. Oxfam spokespeople in Haiti are available to discuss reconstruction efforts in Haiti three months after the 7.3 earthquake displaced an estimated 1.2m people and destroyed 90 percent of buildings in Port au Prince.
17 – 20 April: UN Security Council trip to DR Congo. Visit to eastern DRC ahead of discussions on the mandate renewal of the UN peacekeeping force in May. There have been discussions about the peacekeeping force leaving the country. Oxfam can comment on the threats faced by civilians in eastern Congo and how the peacekeeping force can best keep them safe.
W/C 19 April (date tbc): OXFAM BRIEFING on the global economic crisis: Oxfam reports on how low income countries have been hit by the crisis.
23 April: OECD Development Assistance Committee aid statistics. Detailing how much individual governments have given in aid over the last year.
25th April: World Malaria Day: At least 700 million insecticide-treated bednets and 200 million of treatment doses need to be delivered worldwide by 2010 to achieve a decline of malaria cases and deaths. Oxfam Ireland’s Humanitarian Coordinator Michael O’Riordan is available for interviews.
April (date tbc): OXFAM REPORT on adaptation for climate change. Case studies of how climate change adaptation programmes save lives and livelihoods.
May (date tbc) Oxfam Ireland opens its doors to a new store in Mullingar; along with new store in Botanic Avenue in Belfast, Oxfam Ireland will now have 49 stores throughout Ireland who are all in urgent need of stock. Oxfam Ireland’s retail team are available for interviews.
8 May: Join with Oxfam Ireland this World Fair Trade Day and receive a free gift with every €10 purchase (while supplies last) in one of Oxfam’s four Fairtrade stores. This candle which is handmade in India shows your support for fairer trade.
31 May: Mandate Renewal of MONUC, the UN peacekeeping force in Congo. Oxfam can comment on threats faced by civilians in eastern Congo and how the peacekeeping force can best keep them safe. There have been discussions about the peacekeeping force leaving the country.
31 May – 11 June: UNFCCC Intercessional in Bonn. The first round of official climate change negotiations since Copenhagen and climate cash will be high on the agenda. Oxfam will be releasing its own vision on how not only $100billion a year can by raised by 2020, but it can be doubled in a fair, predictable and accessible way.
May (date tbc): OXFAM REPORT: Financing for Development and Aid. Oxfam flagship report on aid: showing that aid works and why more is needed, as well as challenging the aid “sceptics”.
20 June Father’s Day: Stuck for a unique, different gift that will change lives, then why not purchase your gift this year from one of Oxfam Ireland’s Fair Trade stores? Choose from a Fair Trade laptop bag, or if you are into gardening, a windchime or a birdfeeder from India. New Fair Trade product release available.
30 June: 50th anniversary of Congolese independence. Start of the Congo Now month of action to raise awareness of the conflict.
June: EU Council meeting – finalising the EU’s approach to the MDG+10 Summit in September. Oxfam will have spokespeople available for interview.
