ly Ju 07 20
Bamboo is as hard as oak. The giant
The first of July. A day to remember.
in Happy Valley; in the afternoon, civil
and months, if not years and years to
Yes, in development work, every day
In Somalia, Burundi and Rwanda,
society made their causes known, from
develop. The possibilities of bamboo
is to be counted and remembered. Every
it’s Independence Day… Canada Day,
ethnic minority rights to a minimum
marketing in the Mekong… of peace
month. Every year.
Princess Diana’s birthday, the founding
wage and universal suffrage; at eight
and stability in Indonesia… of more
of the International Criminal Court… In
o’clock, fireworks began to light up the
rights for women in rural China.
Hong Kong, it marks the day in 1997 that
city night.
stories’ from around Hong Kong and around Asia.
rule transferred from England to China:
The July edition of O.N.E presents
some legal progress against domestic
Madeleine Marie Slavick
in the morning of 2007, President Hu
Oxfam Hong Kong successes in the
violence. Oxfam co-published a book on
Editor, Oxfam News Magazine
Jintao and Hong Kong’s Chief Executive
making, successes that in many cases
what it really means to live on welfare.
Oxfam Hong Kong
Donald Tsang attended an extravaganza
have taken days and days, months
IDEA advocates art and activism.
typically grows well.
for medicine, twigs for brooms, the
grass is one of the fastest growing
Bamboo is already good business.
top for scaffolding, mid and base parts
crops. Hardy, there are about 1,250
Globally, the industry stands at around
for medium value products like blinds
species. Strong, its roots bind the soil
USD 7 billion, but by 2017, the sector
and woven mats, the bottom section
together and prevent erosion. Versatile,
could reach USD 20 billion. China
for laminated flooring, shoots for
it has more than 1,500 different uses.
currently holds around 5.5 billion and
vegetable, waste parts for charcoal, and
I n dig e n o u s to m a ny d eve lo p in g
Vietnam 0.25 billion, but Vietnam and
various parts for handicrafts. Too often,
countries, the woody stems can help
the Mekong region as a whole has the
the whole trunk is used for paper and
curb the overexploitation of tropical
potential to increase its market share to
other low value products, when it could
forests and can help create a better
USD 1 billion, with jobs for more than
be used for higher value goods, too.
livelihood for millions of people.
1 million of some of the poorest people.
Oxfam Hong Kong is working to
From Hong Kong, there has been
We hope you enjoy these ‘success
Oxfam is helping to make it happen.
Each of the three main bamboo sub -sec tors – industrial produc ts,
develop the potential of bamboo in
The days are gone when bamboo
handicrafts and bamboo shoots – also
the Mekong countries of Vietnam, Laos
was primarily used for outdoor furniture
has different poverty impact potential,
and Cambodia, where some 22 million
and chopsticks. With the growing
market oppor tunities, and supply
people live in dire poverty and 20 to
international demand for timber,
chain structures. Industrial products,
30 million others live just above the
bamboo is filling a niche. Bamboo has
including everything from paper to
poverty line. Poverty is worst in the
become an environmentally friendly
blinds, chopsticks, construction panels
remote uplands, where community
source of wood and fibre substitutes,
and flooring, consume significant
facilities are normally substandard,
as well as a source of a new generation
amounts of bamboo and this demand
education limited, roads impassable,
of flooring, panels, clothing, furniture
for high volume has been driving farmer
and market infrastructure weak, yet,
and more.
income. Handicrafts create jobs in the
on a more positive note, also has a
Different parts of the plant are used
supply chain rather than farmer income;
landscape and climate where bamboo
for different products, such as the leaves
there are already 350,000 jobs in the
emagazine@oxfam.org.hk
Bamboo, Poverty and Industry in the Mekong John Marsh writes from Hanoi
Medium value processing
Premium processing
eg chopsticks, panels
eg flooring, laminate furniture
Jobs per ha
(Farmers Workers FTE)
Bamboo, Poverty and Industry in the Mekong
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
Low value and bulk processing eg paper, charcoal
0.4
0.2
Raw culms for construction 0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
Local pro-poor financial impact per ha
3,000
(USD)
Products:
for around 45 days of labour and zero
with bamboo is clearly linked to leaving
opportunities for women. Bamboo
cash inputs. In other places in Vietnam
poverty in the project area for now.
shoots can be a high value crop for
where demand is still not linked to
Oxfam Hong Kong is very optimistic
farmers at certain times of the year,
farmers, raw bamboo traders will only
about the opportunities of the bamboo
pay farmers after supply (weeks after in
industry for poor people, and is now
Flooring VN
Chopsticks VN
Charcoal, briquets, Laos
yet creates relatively fewer jobs in the
Mat board VN
Paper + pulp VN
Raw culms VN
supply chain.
Woven mat VN
Charcoal, briquets, China
Supply chain 'industry mix' scenarios for 50,000 ha Jobs per ha
(Farmers Workers FTE) 0.5
15%
Medium Mix
$31m 16,500 jobs
0.4
5%
40%
15% 30%
20% 20%
55%
New Industry Mix $40m 20,000 jobs
0.3 5% 15%
0.2
5%
40%
55%
80%
0.1
Mekong and the sub-sector creates
Products:
Bulk Mix
$21m 9,500 jobs
Premium
Raw Mix
Medium value
$20m 8,500 jobs
Low value bulk Raw
0 300
400
500
600
700
800
Local pro-poor financial impact per ha
900
1,000
(USD)
some cases), yet in Thanh Hoa, traders
working with MPDF to establish a
Working with the Mekong Private
are competing with each other and
bamboo consortium for the region.
Sector Development Facility (MPDF)
paying farmers, in full, one week before
We are supporting national and local
and other groups in Vietnam, and
delivery.
government bodies to develop the
International Network for Bamboo
In a survey of 36,000 families in-
sector by facilitating a widespread
and Rattan (INBAR) and other leading
fluenced by the Thanh Hoa project,
investment in the processing and
farming and business associations in
income from bamboo rose from USD6.6
marketing businesses , expanding
China, Oxfam Hong Kong is creating a
million in 2004 (when 61 per cent of
bamboo production by small scale
demonstration bamboo industry area
population had bamboo income) to
farmers, supporting critical markets
in Thanh Hoa Province in Vietnam.
USD10.3 million in 2006 (70 per cent
such as finance, transferring expertise
This includes working with farmers,
had bamboo income). In 2004, 68 per
from China, and making linkages to
businesses and the authorities to
cent of people were below the poverty
large international buyers, wishing to
develop an appropriate supply chain
line, but the bamboo industry has had
source products from the region.
structure to maximise efficiency and
a dramatic effect: between 2004 and
We see a vibrant, diversified, inter-
value and move towards the ‘New
2006, 1,700 poor households (5 per cent
nationally competitive and pro-poor
Industry Mix’. We see the current
of total population) who had bamboo
bamboo sector emerging in the region,
‘direct supply model’ used in Mekong
income moved across the pover ty
which in ten years, would mean a life
countries as generally inefficient, with
line. At the same time, households
free of poverty for one million more
little or no pre-processing near the
without any bamboo income had a net
people: a home without a leaky roof,
source. Therefore, we are working
movement back into poverty, around
an education for the children, rice to eat
to increase the numbers of locally
700 households (3 per cent of total
all year long….
owned pre-processing workshops to
population). With a net movement of
create more jobs, yield more income,
around 2 per cent out of poverty, work
John Marsh leads the Bamboo project team for Oxfam Hong Kong in Vietnam
improve the efficiency of the industry, and in the end, increase the Mekong’s
Direct Supply Model
Pre- Processing Model
Current model in Mekong Waste rates 50 to 70%
Current model in China Waste Rates 5 to 10%
competitiveness. Already, the intervention across the whole supply chain is benefiting
Farmers & traders
farmers, as Oxfam’s impact assessment studies have shown. In Thanh Hoa, the price for raw bamboo increased
Primary Processing Workshops
more than 20 per cent in 2006 alone. New jobs in the local pre-processing
(Local Value Adding)
workshops – especially for women and ethnic minorities – are providing Charcoal
Chopsticks
Panels
Flooring
Blinds
Charcoal
Chopsticks
Panels
Flooring
Blinds
Processing businesses
income of around USD450/year, well above the average of 100USD/year in the area. Farmers clear around USD200300 /ha /year from growing bamboo
Lu Thi Hoa: “With my monthly income from the bamboo workshop, I am now more independent. I support my parents and save some of the money for myself, too.” / Philipp Essl, Oxfam Hong Kong
In June 20 07, the government
It was back in August 2005 that the
2005, we started assisting the domestic
and to close the power gap between
announced a proposal to amend the
government first indicated that it was
violence advocacy work of the Coalition
men and women.
Domestic Violence Ordinance in effect
willing to amend the Ordinance. This
on Equal Opportunities for Women;
A committee is to be set up by the
since 1986: a small success for civic
followed a murder in the previous year
and in 2006, we joined the Alliance
Legislative Council from July 2007 to
groups who had been working for a long
of an abused woman and her two young
for the Reform of Domestic Violence
review the ordinance; it is expected that
time for gender justice: women’s rights
children in a Tin Shui Wai home (see “A
Ordinance. It is a well-known fact
the bill will be discussed again in the
campaigners, survivors of violence,
Life without Abuse – So Happy” in the
among NGOS that domestic violence
next term, from October 2007. Already,
academics, social workers, legislators,
June edition of O.N.E). The crime by
is the leading cause of injury and
the government has agreed to broaden
and NGOs – among them, Oxfam Hong
the husband and father, who also killed
death to women worldwide, and that
the range of coverage for domestic
Kong.
himself, shocked Hong Kong into action.
impoverished women are at particular
violence, to include the extended family,
When the jury issued 11 recommenda-
risk: they may be more likely to remain
and in-laws. The Alliance will go on to
tions at the inquest, relevant social
in an abusive situation, as they have
lobby for more changes, such as more
service organisations and government
few or no resources, and therefore
protection for women from the police
departments listened, and an alliance
fewer options. The Alliance is also well
and the courts, simpler procedures to
undertook legal reform advocacy.
aware that on the whole, Hong Kong
apply for assistance, a special domestic
Better Hong Kong Law in the Making
In 2000, Oxfam Hong Kong began
society still views violence against
violence court, a definition of abuse that
suppor ting the pioneering polic y
women as a private matter, which
clearly includes psychological abuse,
advocac y work of Kwan Fook, an
makes it hard to engage people to work
and for the law to apply to same sex
association of women survivors; in
for gender equity and social change,
couples, too.
Photos by Julia Kamirah, who leads Oxfam Hong Kong’s work in Indonesia
Spices and Peace Julia Kamirah writes from Jakarta
suffered from poverty.
study to fully understand the situation.
The people of North Maluku want to
Oxfam has been supporting farmers
This year, Oxfam and DIAHI are building
once again export their spices around
to return to cloves and other natural re-
a ‘Peace House’ as a neutral and inclusive
the world. They want a peace house full
Say the word ‘Maluku’ and cloves
died, another 2,000 were injured, and
sources for their living. Integrated into
meeting place for DIAHI participants,
of products for sale, and full of women,
may come to mind. The Chinese, Indians
over 165,000 had migrated to other,
projects to rebuild the economy were
women and poor people from several
men, elders, youngsters, children
and Arabs started trading for Maluku’s
safer areas. So many homes, markets,
activities to inspire peace-building, too.
parts of North Maluku. Strategically
and even babies sharing experience,
cloves and other spices in the 7th
schools, hospitals, religious centres,
A difficulty was that a sense of
built in a location accessible to public
knowledge, and love, in harmony.
century, and later, the Portuguese,
office buildings damaged or ruined. A
‘community’ was shattered by the years
transportation, the Peace House will
Oxfam Hong Kong is there to support
Spanish, English and Dutch all came and
state of emergency was declared and
of conflict. A sense of trust was missing.
also showcase products by communities
them in this peaceful work.
colonized this tiny dot on an atlas with
was not lifted until July 2003.
Government, military, political and mass
in the province.
an enormous production of spices.
Most people, whether they pray in
organisations had all tried to mediate,
The 20 0 6 s tudy recommended
North Maluku, situated between
a mosque or a church, disagreed with
but with no significant and lasting
economic enterprises for the area, and
Sulawesi and Papua in Indonesia, is a
the conflict. The majority did not really
results. Yet, Oxfam always believes in
Oxfam is supporting various micro-credit
province of about 900,000 people. The
comprehend why it had escalated to
the power of a community to face and
efforts in a three-year programme.
scent of spices is everywhere, and day
such a level. They were tired of seeing
solve its own problems, to improve its
DIAHI, which is managing the projects
by day, peace is becoming a reality. The
burnt houses, abandoned schools and
social and economic situation, and to
on a day-to-day basis, is working with
most recent series of conflict began in
silent markets. They wanted to tend
create peace again.
Bank Perkreditan Rakyat Malifut, the
August of 1999, triggered by disputes
their fields again, harvesting coconut,
First, in 2006, Oxfam collaborated
only community credit bank in North
between Christians and Muslims, and
nutmeg, cacao and cloves, plants that
with DIAHI, a North Maluku organisation,
Maluku, a bank designed to serve low-
between Kao and Makian tribes. By
had so loyally provided their livelihoods
and IDE, a Jakarta-based national
income people who have been excluded
April 2000, over 2,000 people had
for generations. Thousands of farmers
organisation, to undertake a feasibility
from regular bank services.
in China
Voices from Shimen
decreased, and women’s attendance at meetings has increased from 30% to
Shimen – a tiny township near the
Nowadays, poverty in the township
80%. The difference in women’s lives is
crossroads of Yunnan, Sichuan and
is unimaginable. In 2004, there was only
remarkable, as three women of different
Guizhou provinces – had been a centre
800,000 Yuan in the district bank, of
age groups express for themselves:
of education, Miao culture, medicine
which 510,000 was from Oxfam Hong
We try our best to listen to others’
and science in the 1900s.
Kong projects. Average income was 90
views and handle matters in a fair and
Yuan a month; 70% of families lived
reasonable manner. If we have a system,
with animals in huts, 80% of homes
we follow it. For example, one day I
lacked enough water, 90% of the
was late for 10 minutes for a meeting
villagers ate only potato and corn…
and I proactively paid the fine… Now,
When Oxfam began working in Shimen, in 1992, people said the most
fewer people are late, and more people express their views at the meetings.
important thing was to improve the
- Chen Ying, 26
water supply, which was full of fluorine
We have transformed ourselves.
and bromine. After water cellars were
Wo m e n h ave s to p p e d re s ig nin g
built, micro-credit, agricultural training,
ourselves to fate… We have become
and three road projects soon followed.
more active in speaking our minds at the
Special training classes were also
community meetings... Men no longer
conducted with women, who were
dare despise us… Now when men do
inordinately poor, illiterate, and
something wrong, we dare to object.
typically beaten by their husbands and
- Ma Guirong, 34
in-laws. With such a low status in the
We women really want to learn.
village and in the home, women seldom
Some of us, a child on our back, hurry to
joined community meetings, and if
the classes after doing the housework.
they did attend, none would actually
My husband, who is literate, also teaches
say a word.
me sometimes.
Oxfam’s trainings were held four times a month for four years, in literacy, health care, the basics of law, and A woman in Shimen / Madeleine Marie Slavick, Oxfam Hong Kong
in Indonesia
other areas. Domestic abuse has since
- Li, 42 This article was adapted from an article (in Chinese) by Li Changping and Hu Ming, published in the book (草根譚．談草根．中國婦女．民工．農 民) by Oxfam Hong Kong in 2006.
and suppor t s the local economy.
Oxfam Hong Kong says when a disaster
Quick action was urgent: the rainy
strikes.
season and its landslides would make
Last month, when an earthquake
ONELINKs
everything worse.
devastated Pu’er, the city in southwest
We also make sure not to overlap
vegetable oil, and the 1,625 mosquito
China famou s for it s tea , Ox fam
efforts by other organisations or by
nets were directed to five villages
p urcha s e d HK $ 570,0 0 0 wo r th of
the government. The 102 tonnes of
which weren’t receiving adequate
emergenc y supplies from local
rice, the 16,500 metres of fabric for
assistance.
businesses. This saves time and money,
temporary shelter, the 8,125 litres of
See www.oxfam.org.hk for more.
OXFAM HONG KONG WEBSITE www.oxfam.org.hk
OXFAM BOOKS Oxfam Hong Kong has created more than 30 books, some in Hong Kong, some in Taiwan, some on the Mainland, some in Chinese, some in English, some bilingual, and some mostly with images, which cross all languages. Through publishing the voices of poor people around the world, we want to change the way people think about poverty. We want justice. Oxfam’s newest title (in Chinese) is Life on Welfare in Hong Kong: Ten Stories (see ONE VOICE). To order books: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/list?lang=iso-8859-1
E-NEWS Issued every month in English and Chinese, this e-bulletin provides the latest from Oxfam Hong Kong, with bite-sized news on emergencies, campaigns, community projects, public education and fundraising. Oxfam e-News is emailed to more than 80,000 volunteers, campaigners, donors, Oxfam Trailwalkers, council members and subscribers. The Editor is Echo Chow. Villagers check the Oxfam notice which lists people’s names and the emergency items received / Lu Wenbo, Oxfam Hong Kong
Idea! At IDEA , a Cambodian
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/16830 (English version)
www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/7263 (Traditional Chinese)
www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/7265 (Simplified Chinese)
drama looks at beauty, reproduction,
MOKUNG
and health… women soldiers talk about life af ter war… poets and
Oxfam Hong Kong publishes a quarterly
independence in the Philippines…
magazin e , M o kung , in Tra di tio nal
IDEA (International Drama/Theatre and
Chinese. Mokung, which means both
Education Association) director Mok Chiu Yu, who has been associated with Oxfam for more than 20 years, says IDEA 2007 is Hong Kong’s most diversified performance festival ever, and that behind each event is the idea of social change, justice and empowerment. Oxfam is supporting 25 NGO workers from China to attend IDEA and is
d ian pro Palestin ir l : In this e fate of a g a n o M f th Story o nc e dec ides die the au Theatre r / Ashta
uc tion,
“no poverty” and “infinity”, highlights a different aspect of development in each issue. The Editors are Tung Tsz-kwan and Fiona Shek. The June 2007 issue focuses on social enterprises.
www.idea2007.hk
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/
plAnting humAn ideAs
Mokung is online at www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/category?cid=1017&lang=big5
bookstore/?lang=big5
hosting three education-through-drama sessions at our Interactive Education
CAN
Centre.
Oxfam Hong Kong is supporting a new magazine in China, called CAN, a photobased magazine in Simplified Chinese. CAN means both “look” and “do” in Chinese, and each 120 -page edition focuses on a different topic. The first issue looked at the state of education in China. The Chief Editor of the quarterly is
Sandy, Sau Ping and Ah Kwan
the writer-photographer, Liu Wai Tong.
all wanted to succeed financially but encountered hardship instead. In his seventies, Mr. Hui worked for many years, contributing like millions of
ONEquestion
other Hong Kong people to society, until he was at last seen as being too old to work. Ah Wan, So Han, Ah Suen,
What can people do about Climate Change and Poverty?
Ah Fung, Ah Ling and Ah Wong all volunteer in the community on top of
Please tell us at:
managing their families’ needs on a very
http://forum.oxfam.org.hk/?c_lang=eng
tight budget. In Life on Welfare in Hong Kong: Ten Stories, a new book (in Chinese) co-published by the Concerning CSSA
Mr. Hui wants to work but employers see him as being too old / Tse Chi Tak
Review Alliance and Oxfam Hong
the discrimination they often face as
the reader to reconsider any stereotypes
Kong, ten people talk about why they
recipients of government aid. The book
they may have about welfare, which in
have needed welfare, what day-to-day
reveals how social, economic and family
Hong Kong is called Comprehensive
life is like on the flawed system, and
changes can create poverty, and asks
Social Security Assistance, or CSSA.
Hong Kong
17th Floor, 28 Marble Road, Northpoint, Hong Kong O. N .E, published in the middle of each month, is also online: www.oxfam.org.hk/one//
COVER: Madeleine Marie Slavick
THINK local. This is what