Oxfam Action Corps Leaders back from D.C.!

2012-2013 Oxfam Action Corps Leaders!

Every year Oxfam America holds a a four day training event in Washington D.C. for aspiring Oxfam Action Corps leaders. Kim and I(Liz) were fortunate enough to be two of the action corps volunteers selected to represent Minnesota! 

New Minnesota Leaders!

Kim Kokett (Left) & Liz Harper (Right)

It was three days of intense (but fun) training, on how to run a local chapter effectively. The fourth day was spent on Capital Hill, where we made our lobby visits to Rep.Ellison, Sen.Franken, and Sen.Klobuchar's office's. All of the staffers we met with were very receptive and curious to know what could be done on their end. Our meetings were centered around the urgent need to reform the food aid portion of the 2012 Farm Bill. Specifically, we asked for two things:   

• Greater use of local and regional purchase of food aid: At this point it has been determined that about $.32 cents of every $1.00 spent on food aid is lost through the shipping and handling process. Currently the farm bill demands that all foreign food aid come form the United States. It must be transported across the country to special flag ship vessels, where it is then shipped to the country in need. This process can take anywhere from 4 to 6 Months! This is a very significant lapse of time during a crisis, when lives our being lost. With the utilization of local and regional purchasing, food could reach the final destination up to 14 weeks faster. This is not a movement to take business away from local or smallholders farmers in this country, with less then .05% of the food grown in this country being used for food aid, and only by large agro-businesses. Greater flexibility between, using U.S. and food aid from neighboring countries, is in the best interest of all U.S. tax payers alike. Countries from all over the over the world utilize this practice because it just makes sense! Food purchased locally costs less to ship and is consistently cheaper to buy.

• Develop the effectivness of "monetization" and fund programs with cash not food:
Currently NGO's in the field working on development programs, such as integrated nutrition programs, vaccinations, livestock care, etc. must fund their programs with surplus food aid. For example, an NGO recieves 100 lbs of maize from the U.S. they may use 20 lbs to distribute to the community, and sell the remaining 80lbs on the market to fund the reset of their programs. This can be very hard on the economy of a developing community. When these groups dump large amounts of subsidized food into the village communities, it forces local farmers to lower the prices of their food to compete. With more cash funding these groups could fund their programs, as well as utilizate cash-transfers that can be given to local villagers to purchase food in their own communities (similar to food stamps here in the U.S.). This in turn stimulates the countries economy and helps the NGO work to its greatest potential!

                                                        So, what can you do?? 

We will be arranging follow-up meetings with in-district offices to further discuss these reforms. If you are interested in joining us, to help tell congress that we are tired of our tax dollars only going part of the way, when people are in need, then please contact us or check back for dates and times.

 When kids play with their food it's cute. When Washington does,it costs lives. Tell Washington to stop playing with food aid

Take Action now!

Right now, more than 50 percent of the aid money the government spends on basic food grains is wasted.

Lastly,

I would like to take a minute to spread the word about a free public forum coming up:

                

        Drought and Disruption: 

      Impacts of Climate Change in East Africa. 

When: Tuesday,June 5th, 7-9pm

Where:Whittier Recreation Center, 425 26th St W, Minneapolis, MN, 55408

Please join us for a panel discussion of the impacts of climate change in East Africa and how you can take action on climate change. Speakers from (yours truly) Oxfam Action Corps, Somali Family Services, Sierra Club and more will talk about the changing climate's long-term impact on food security, droughts, and other climate disruption and how people are addressing these issues in East Africa and around the world. Snacks provided!

IWD Event at the Global Citizens Network

Thanks to everyone who helped make International Women's Day 2012 in Minneapolis a success! What better way to celebrate IWD than coming together to honor women 

who promote peace and food security? 

Semhar Araia, keynote speaker

Our keynote speaker for the 8 March event was Semar Araia, Founder and Executive Director of the Diaspora African Women's Network (DAWN), an organization whose mission is to provide support to women and girls of the African diaspora focused on african affairs. A lawyer by training, Semhar has worked in various Africa-focused positions, including as Oxfam International's Horn of Africa poliy advisor and an Africa analyst for The Elders, an organization created by Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and eleven other world leaders.

Semhar is a frequent guest speaker on US-Africa policy, effective advocacy strategies and community organizing. She was listed in The Root's Top 100, which recognizes emerging and established African-American leaders making extraordinary contributions. She has also been featured in various media outlets, including National Public Radio, Christian Science Monitor, and The Huffington Post. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota and her law degree from Marquette University Law School, with studies at American University’s Washington College of Law and Tel Aviv University. Semhar was born in New York City to Eritrean immigrant parents and currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

IWD goers 

Jessica Spanswick, emcee

After watching the film Africa's Last Famine produced by Oxfam and Link TV, Semhar engaged the audience in a conversation about the relationship between food security and conflict. She pushed us all to ask the tough questions and challenge conventional thinking about development. Fittingly the week of  IWD Invisible Children's campaign Stop Kony 2012 captured the hearts of many. Semhar, one to engage in controversial issues, spoke out in the Christian Monitor with her article It's Fine to Stop Kony and the LRA But Learn to Respect Africans. In accordance with her bold nature, she challenged Americans to really consider who and what we are supporting when our hearts bleed for the "third world." 

Thank you to Semhar and Oxfam Action Corps and the Global Citizens Network for the venue!

International Women's Day

International Women's Day Event: 8 March 2012 Every year on March 8th, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. This year, join Oxfam America and Oxfam Action Corps Minnesota and help us honor Semhar Araia, founder and executive director of the Disapora African Women's Network (DAWN). We will be screening the film "Africa's Last Famine" (produced by independent broadcaster Link TV and Oxfam America) - a documentary examining solutions to famine and chronic hunger around the world. In addition to the film and a discussion about food justice and the role of women in fighting global hunger, our guest of honor, Semhar, will be speaking about her work locally with DAWN and globally with Oxfam America. We will also be providing food by El Coco Loco Catering, a local catering business offering awesome authentic Mexican cuisine. You can check these guys out at their website.  We hope you can join us for this exciting event!  Event Details When: Thursday March 8th, 2012 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Where: Global Citizens Network 129 North 2nd St #102 Minneapolis MN 55401  Space is limited so please RSVP via this form, our Facebook Invite or by emailing us.

Oxfam Action Corps 2012 Recruitment

Hey Everyone,

Oxfam America is currently recruiting new volunteers for 2012-2013. If you are interested in joining the Oxfam Action Corps please sign up and spread the word by February 14^th at http://www.oxfamactioncorps.org.

Join the Oxfam Action Corps to support women farmers, fight global hunger, and build a better food system!  You will meet great people and work together to change laws that can save lives, defend the rights of the world’s poorest farmers, and protect communities from rising food prices and 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. May 12 – May 15.

This year, we will mobilize for the GROW campaign for global food justice.  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: