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CHINA: Red-white-blue Homes for the Sichuan Earthquake PHILIPPINES: Affordable Medicine for All CAMBODIA: Justice for Girls and Women GLOBAL: Climate Experts meet Disaster Experts HONG KONG: Fair Trade in the Workplace HONG KONG: Sustainable Fashion
HO Wai-Chi
The first time was 2005, when I
I concentrated on teamwork. Months
solve poverty; but right now, because
say to myself that I am ‘lucky’ to have
coached a football team of homeless
later, somehow, there was synchronic-
it is often done unjustly, it doesn’t:
joined Oxfam just at the ‘right’ time.
people – I didn’t have any coaching ex-
ity. Those days in Edinburgh, as a real
factory workers in Pakistan remain
Not that I want to satisfy any heroism,
perience, and most of the players had
team, with true solidarity, were the
poor, and we in Hong Kong who use
thinking that I could save the world
not played much football, yet, togeth-
most extraordinary and glorious days
those balls are also poor, in conscience,
single-handedly, but to offer myself in
er, we represented Hong Kong in the
of our lives.
Homeless World Cup in Edinburgh.
in spirit. To me, we are all part of the
helping those who are in great need. I
Then, a few months ago, I joined
same team, and we each have a role to
know I am not strong enough to move
The experience changed my life,
Oxfam, and football arrived again, this
play, from CEO to consumer. I am play-
the rubble, I am not that professional
When I was young, I wanted to be
starting from the very first training
time as part of the Fair Trade movement.
ing my part: I have urged the Homeless
footballer with endless stamina, but I
a professional footballer. But like many
session. The players were rather unfit,
I learned that many footballs are pro-
World Cup to use Fair Trade footballs
at least can make sure I communicate
fans, my dream didn’t come true! Yet, I
physically and in other ways. One lit up
duced in Pakistan, under exploitative
in their games – ones that are made in
people’s needs to the public and appeal
managed to develop a career in another
a cigarette, a few swore, several eas-
conditions, with very low wages, espe-
factories that do pay good wages and
for support, and justice, in Sichuan, in
field I have a great passion for: human-
ily ran out of patience with each oth-
cially for women and children. If we all
do prevent poverty.
Myanmar, in Sudan, in Hong Kong, in
itarian work. I never thought the two
er, and themselves. Instead of focus-
change the way we do business, if we
As I write, the news is full of re-
would ever connect.
ing on footwork, the social worker and
do it ethically and responsibly, trade can
ports from Sichuan, and I can’t help to
A survivor in Xinshui – at least 109 people have died here, and many remain missing, including this woman’s husband
HOMES OF REDWHITEBLUE in China
Text and photos by Keith Wong on 21 May 2008
as many places as possible. Ho Wai-chi is the Director of the Hong Kong Unit.
In the town of Xiushui, in Sichuan, hardly a building remains standing after the earthquake, and almost all of the survivors are homeless. This woman (left) stays with about 50 other people in a makeshift tent erected next to the pile of rubble which once was her house. Her husband remains missing. Her tent is made of a plastic woven fabric commonly called “red-whiteblue” – named after the colours of the rain-resistant material. Formally, it is called polyethylene or polypropylene. The fabric was specifically requested by the residents. They want the flexibility of how to use it – as ground cover, for shelter, and to be able to easily adjust the size of the area to be covered. A typical temporary shelter made with the red-white-blue. For people’s
immediate needs, they have requested
in the daytime, it is about 25 to 30 de-
specific needs. For instance, we are sup-
this fabric for its versatility in use.
grees Celsius, and many men go about
plying sanitary pads for women; nutri-
shirtless. At night, it drops to about 15
tious milk for children and elderly; and
degrees.
Halal food and milk to five remote Hui
Yet, the red-white-blue home can only be a temporary measure. The material is not strong enough to endure
People in Xiushui have shown a
the rainy season and its typhoons: the
strong resilience in the face of the cri-
rains are due to start in June and run
sis. They are cooking outdoors, even
until September or so. In Xiushui, it has
though flies surround her food and
already been raining for several days
utensils. To feed their surviving live-
straight.
stock, they have searched through the
The supply of stronger tents is extremely limited in Sichuan. According
rubble to find maize. The poultry will be their meals in the future.
to official figures, only about 280,000
Oxfam Hong Kong has almost 20
tents have been delivered to affected
staff members in the disaster zone.
areas so far. The government has just
Working alongside government units,
announced, and has sought Oxfam’s
local NGOs and a disease control centre,
support, to supply one million tempo-
we are focusing on shelter, water and
rary pre-fabricated shelters, but this will
sanitation, and prioritising the needs of
takes many weeks. Overseas shipments
women, children, elderly people, peo-
of about 150,000 donated tents are on
ple in remote areas, and people with
(Muslim) communities. For a map of Oxfam’s work: http://www.oxfam. org.hk/public/contents/news?ha=&wc=0&hb=&hc= &revision%5fid=79572&item%5fid=79328 For more photos: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/ sichuan_earthquake/photo/chinese.html OXFAM in CHINA: Oxfam Hong Kong has been working in the country since 1987. Last year, Oxfam allocated over HK$68 million (over USD8.7 million) on about 230 development and emergency projects in Mainland China. OXFAM in an EMERGENCY: Oxfam Hong Kong, founded in 1976, has responded to hundreds of disasters over the years, including the 1984 famine in Ethiopia, the ongoing crisis in Sudan, and the Asian tsunami. In any crisis, 100% of all donations received go to assist the survivors. For a book (published in Chinese) about Oxfam Hong Kong’s disaster management experience, please go to: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/ bookstore/list?page=3&lang=big5. Keith Wong, at the disaster site in Sichuan, is a member of the communications team of Oxfam Hong Kong.
the way from outside Mainland China. Oxfam Hong Kong is sourcing tents from Gansu, just north of Sichuan, from Hebei to the northwest, and from other locations. But it may take two weeks or more to receive the bulk order, and in the meantime, the red-white-blue is meeting people’s immediate needs for shelter. In addition to the red-white-blue material, Oxfam Hong Kong has also de-
in China
livered packaged milk to people in Xiushui, with a priority for children, women and the elderly – families with these members received the supplies first. The milk can help people endure the temperature changes in Sichuan:
Howard Liu, the director of the China Unit of Oxfam Hong Kong, distributing milk in Xiushui – the priority is for children, elderly people and women. Oxfam is distributing over 250,000 packets of milk in a dozen or so areas of Sichuan, including five Muslim communities.
Girls and women in Cambodia face
As a consequence, violence against
became addicted to drugs. He began
the Khmer New Year, 14 April 2007, she
sues and implementing existing laws.
discrimination in many areas of their
girls and women has generally not been
arguing with her, beating her, repeat-
was raped by her stepfather while her
Change is happening. There are fewer
lives: unequal access to an education,
seen as ‘wrong’ in Khmer society and
edly, to the point where she had to
mother went to make the traditional
cases of violence in the communities
inappropriate and inadequate health
this attitude was exacerbated by the
do something. But she did not know
round of greetings to her neighbours.
where these organisations are working.
care, limited options for jobs, little or
years of civil war (1967-1975). During
what to do. Volunteers helping with
The mother returned home and saw the
There is a greater determination from
no voice in public affairs, little involve-
those years, violence was typically the
the community development organisa-
rape taking place, and screamed as loud
the government to address the issue, as
ment in the family or the society’s de-
first way that people resolved con-
tion Banteay Srei heard her story from
as she could for the whole neighbour-
indicated by the passing of the Law on
cision making, and the high risk of be-
flicts, both within the family home, and
people in the community, made con-
hood to hear. The next day, the mother
Prevention and Protection of Domestic
ing abused. Three common types of
in society as a whole. In a 2003 survey
tact with her and arranged for her to
and daughter reported the incident to
Violence (2007). More and more survi-
this gender-based violence are rape,
looking at views about rape among
stay in a safe shelter. This gave her the
the police who immediately arrested
vors are gaining justice in the courts,
human trafficking and domestic vio-
youngsters, only 13 per cent of respon-
space and time to decide her next step.
the stepfather. The teenager was re-
which sends a clear indication that the
lence. Girls and younger women are
dents viewed rape as wrong. Similarly,
She chose to take the crime all the way
ferred to stay in a safe shelter run by
violence against people like the 13-year-
especially at risk.
in a 2005 survey conducted by the
to the courts, and her case was han-
the Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center,
old girl and the 35-year-old woman is indeed ‘abnormal’ and wrong.
Cambodia has traditional moral
Ministry of Women's Affairs, 23 per cent
dled by a lawyer from Banteay Srei who
where she could get practical assistance
codes for women (called Chbab Srey)
of the women said that their husbands
helped secure the ruling she had hoped
and emotional support from a counsel-
and for men (called Chbab Pror) which
had been physically violent recently; a
for: a divorce, with half of the family
or, a doctor, and a lawyer.
were written in poetry form by Krom
figure likely to be an underestimate as
assets. She also went to several coun-
In addition to these straight-for-
Ngoy (1865-1936), who is regarded as
many cases remain unreported.
seling sessions to rebuild her sense of
ward ways to help these survivors of
the father of Khmer poetry. His poem-
Here are two cases that illustrate the
self that had been shattered. Other fol-
violence, Banteay Srei and Cambodian
codes have been taught at secondary
violence and also the actions taken by
low-up services helped her re-integrate
Women’s Crisis Center – two of sever-
schools across the country, and rein-
two community groups.
into the community and re-establish a
al organisations supported by Oxfam
forced by parents and grandparents
A 35-year-old rice farmer in the
normal life again, without violence at
Hong Kong – also do extensive advocacy
through the generations. The Law for
nor thwest , near the border with
home, and with a higher status in her
and awareness-raising to persuade lo-
Women suggests that women should
Thailand, married a policeman in 1992
everyday world.
cal, provincial and central government
serve and respect their husbands at all
and they had four children together.
A 13-year-old girl, also in the north-
times, whatever the circumstance. Girls
They needed more money, so he decid-
west, used to live with her mother, a
grow up believing that a man’s violence
ed to do construction work for some
day labourer, and stepfather, a hunt-
is ‘normal’ and acceptable and private.
extra income, and around this time, he
er. At nine o’clock, on the first night of
ING ODE By Tobias Jackson
in Cambodia
of the importance of tackling these is-
Clients at a shelter in northwest Cambodia in a skills training session / Photo courtesy of the Cambodian Women's Crisis Center
Based in Phnom Penh, Tobias Jackson is the Programme Officer for Cambodia and Myanmar. Oxfam Hong Kong supports a number of organisations in Cambodia on different ways to reduce violence against girls and women in general, and to stop rape and trafficking, in particular. The agency has been supporting projects in the country since the 1970s.
CLIMATE EXPERTS WITH
DISASTER EXPERTS by Sahba Chauhan
in The Philippines
62 More Pesos a Day by Shally Vitan
A unique net work has
usually use longer time frames
just been formed: the Harbin
and see risks over a period of
Alliance for Harmonisation of
time, whereas people in disaster
Climate Change Adaptation
risk reduction work usually de-
and Disaster Risk Reduction,
scribe situations in shorter time
called Harbin Alliance for short,
frames. Oxfam Hong Kong led
is named after the city in the far
that meeting in Harbin to try
north of China.
to facilitate a closer link. We
Being able to get medication has
anywhere in the world. The bill intro-
Lola and Lolo are not first-time
The Harbin Alliance is a
wanted to facilitate more com-
been hard in The Philippines. The cost
duces several basic public health safe-
campaigners for better public health.
worldwide partnership of ten
munication and better informa-
of prescription drugs there is second
guards into the country’s intellectual
Defying the infirmities of their age, the
NGOs, UN bodies, intergov-
tion exchange between the two
highest in Asia, after Japan. About 26
property code.
elements and sometimes even hunger,
ernmental bodies and research
groups, so that development
million Filipino people, almost one out
In fact, all of these provisions are
they have joined hundreds of other el-
organisations: Asia Disaster
policies would not be conflict-
of every three citizens, can not afford
already recognised in the World Trade
derly Filipino people to stage numerous
Preparedness Centre, Asia Dis-
ing, and disaster management
the basic medicine they need.
Organization TRIPS (Trade Related
public actions since 2006. They patiently
aster Reduction Centre, Care
and short- or long-term de-
People like Lola (grandma) Eufemia
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights)
monitored all-night deliberations on the
International, Climate Action
velopment projects would be
and Lolo (grandpa) Jose, a couple in
Agreement of 2001, yet millions of the
bill through two Philippine congresses.
sustainable.
their eighties who live on the edge of
poorest patients in the poorest devel-
Their passion and tenacity in the halls
Network South Asia, Climate
Lola Eufemia and Lolo Jose can now get their medicine at an affordable price saving 62 pesos a day
Action Network South East Asia,
The Alliance has meshed
poverty in Metro Manila, have been
oping countries in the world have been
of Congress captured mass media and
International Disaster Reduction
well. So far, the members nego-
suffering from hypertension for years.
denied access to life-saving and pain-
galvanized broad public support for
Conference, Prevention Consor-
tiated ahead of and during the
They pay exorbitant prices for their pat-
relieving medicine simply because they
affordable medicine like nothing else
tium, Oxfam Hong Kong, UNDP
UN climate change meeting in
ented medicine, and sometimes they
operate under patent rules that do not
could. They have also been an inspira-
South Asia and UN/ISDR (Inter-
Bali in December 2007, and they
too have to go without.
include the TRIPS safeguards.
tion for all of us at Oxfam International,
national Strategy for Disaster
are currently preparing the re-
Lola and Lolo are not quiet about
The few developing countries that
which has been working on fair access
Reduction).
port, “Global Linkages between
their pain, about the injustice. They
have succeeded in incorporating these
to medicine through the Make Trade
It all began last year, at a
Disaster Risk Reduction and
have made their situation public, cam-
safeguards have had to do battle in the
Fair campaign for years.
major conference in Harbin on
Climate Change Adaptation –
paigning the government to take bet-
courts and even now are being subject-
In early 2006, Lola and Lolo pro-
disaster risk reduction. Oxfam
Can two roads become one?”.
ter care of its citizens, as right now the
ed to punitive trade measures by phar-
tested against the pharmaceutical
government is barely covering ten per
maceutical companies. These countries
company, Pfizer, which had brought
cent of public health care costs.
include India, Brazil, Thailand, and now
the Philippines government to court
the Philippines.
when it imported a cheaper version of
Hong Kong led a discussion about the importance of inte-
In general, the work of the Alliance includes:
grating climate change in disas-
• Promoting best practices by
The couple can claim a victory:
ter response, and we brought
sharing, analysing and dis-
the government recently passed the
The Bill also limits what kind of med-
a patented drug. This case is still in the
together internationally regard-
seminating information
Universally Accessible Cheaper and
icine can be patented, and ensures that
courts, yet the Cheaper Medicines Bill
ed experts in and practitioners
• Engaging policy-makers and
Quality Medicines Act of 2008, which
as soon as a patent expires, generic ver-
will ensure that such companies can no
of disaster risk reduction and cli-
practitioners on the bene-
everyone calls the Cheaper Medicines
sions of that medicine can be introduced
longer mount a similar court offensive
mate change adaptation.
fits of synergising the two
Bill.
immediately into the market.
in the country, ever again.
How do the two fields over-
fields
What this means is that Lola and
lap? How is adapting to climate
• New research
Lolo can now use a different, equally
change related to reducing
• Lobbying the UN that disas-
effective, yet less expensive drug man-
risks in a disaster? Both address
ter risk reduction is the first
ufactured in Pakistan, medicine that
the many risks in emergencies,
and foremost strategy to ad-
saves them 62 Pesos a day (HK$8.60).
such as cyclones, floods and
dress climate change
When their income is only 100 Pesos a
droughts; and both aim to re-
• Build up a critical mass of
day, every Peso counts. They can now
duce the vulnerability of peo-
disaster risk reduction prac-
turn on their old electric fan whenev-
ple, as well as their animals and
titioners who understand
er the heat beats down. Now they do
crops, yet, there are several dif-
climate change negotia-
not have to choose between paying
ferences that have often kept
tions, in particular the UN
for food and paying for the medicine
the two groups apart. The two
climate change adaptation
to stop their dizzying headaches and
groups, for instance, can use
framework
blurred vision.
very different language to discuss their work. People working on climate change adaptation
Sahba Chauhan is Humanitarian Policy Officer of Oxfam Hong Kong. Please contact her for more information on the Alliance, including the report.
For millions of poor people like Lola and Lolo, the parallel importation safeguard is one of the most important provisions of the bill. This provision confers new power on government to set aside patent privileges of drug companies and to import medicine that is cheaper from
Many elderly people joined the many rallies to get the law passed.
Shalimar Vitan, whom colleagues call Shally, is the Philippines coordinator of the Oxfam International Economic Justice campaign. She is based in Manila. Photos courtesy of Oxfam Great Britain.
New PartnerOrganisation
Every day, Oxfam Hong Kong works
sation’ that we are supporting for the
alongside hundreds of groups around
first time, as of May 2008. The location
the world, from small NGOs to inter-
indicates where the project is being
national bodies, from government
implemented.
departments of developing countries
CHINA (MAINLAND)
to community groups based in Hong
VOICE HONG KONG CLIMATE Six action groups call for carbon dioxide emissions to be capped in the Air
• Youth Elevation Association
Kong. Here is 1 new ‘partner organi-
Pollution Control Ordinance: right now, the Hong Kong SAR Government does not regulate CO2 emissions of its two power companies, which account for about 70% of all CO2 emissions. Please add your voice to this campaign (http://write-aletter.greenpeace.org/407) – if action is not taken soon, now, Hong Kong winters may disappear within just 20 years, according to The Hong Kong Observatory. Oxfam Hong Kong is also calling to stop climate change, to stop the poverty it is bringing around the world: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/
Founders and committee members of the new Fair Trade Workplace Society / Photo courtesy of Samuel Foo and Terry Leung
OXFAM HONG KONG WEBSITE www.oxfam.org.hk
OXFAM BOOKS
Fair 11, Fair 12, Fair…
Oxfam Hong Kong has created more than 30 books, some in Hong
How can one’s workplace be fair?
TBWA\Hong Kong. The group was of-
Each of the 12 members pledges
Kong, some in Taiwan, some on the
This is a question a new group in Hong
ficially inaugurated on 10 May, which
to practice Fair Trade and to urge col-
Mainland, some in Chinese, some in
Kong is answering. An easy first step can
was World Fair Trade Day 2008. Marks
leagues in their professional network to
English, some bilingual, and some
be stocking Fair Trade food and drink
& Spencer has since joined as member
do the same. To join, visit:www.fairtra-
mostly with images, which cross
for employees, and the new Fair Trade
number 12.
dehk.org.
all languages. Through publishing
Workplace Society is inspiring employ-
the voices of poor people around
ers across Hong Kong to practice Fair
the world, we want to change the
Trade in as many ways as possible.
way people think about poverty. We want justice.
The 11 founding members are ABN/
To order books: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/list?lang=iso-8859-1
ARMO, Asia Financial, Asia Insurance, Hysan Development, Hong Kong and Education, Hong Kong Council of Social
OXFAM in the NEWS
Service, NWS Holdings, Oxfam Hong
VIETNAM: Oxfam Hong
Kong, Royal Bank Of Scotland and
Kong was recently awarded
China Gas, Hong Kong Institute of
with a Certificate of Merit for its contributions to humanitarian and development work
HONG KONG TWELVE
in the central province of Quang Tri. Oxfam has focused on rural, often
From left to right: Pham Tung Lam, Nguyen Hien Thi, Chris Adams and Mark Blackett of Oxfam Hong Kong; Nguyen Duc Chinh, Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee, and Hoang Dang Mai, Director of Foreign Affairs of Quang Tri
remote, ethnic minority villages in the high-lands of Quang Tri, such as in Kieu and Pa Co, near the Laos border. Over the past 15 years, more than 90,000 people have been participating in anti-poverty projects run alongside governmental units and community groups. Oxfam Hong Kong has been working in Vietnam since 1988 and is currently active in three central provinces: Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Quang Tri.
MOKUNG Oxfam Hong Kong publishes this quarterly magazine in Traditional Chinese. Mokung, which means both “no poverty” and “infinity”, highlights a different aspect of development in each issue. The Editor is Tung Tsz-kwan. The launch of Sustainable Fashion Business Consortium, Earth Day 2008 / Photo courtesy of Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA)
The March 2008 edition looks at the poverty news poll in Hong Kong. To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/?lang=big5 Mokung is online at www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/category?cid=1017&lang=big5
Twelve Hong Kong textile and apparel companies founded the Sustainable Fashion Business Consortium to pro-
trading and a carbon footprint
Consortium was officially launched on
label for clothing
Earth Day 2008, the 22nd of April.
• better public reporting on Cor-
mote best practices throughout the gar-
porate Social Responsibility
ment supply chain. The 12 members rep-
and sustainability
resent the whole production process, from design to dyeing, from spinning to manufacturing. The consortium’s initiatives include:
• instituting better employment practices and working condi- tions • applying for Fair Trade labeling • establishing carbon account-
• increasing energy efficiency and reducing waste, such as recycling leftover fabric, which
Oxfam Hong Kong is in dialogue with the new consortium and the Clothing Industry Training Authority, a government-supported body which
ONE O.N.E – Oxfam News E-magazine – is uploaded monthly at www.oxfam.org.hk/one. To receive a copy in your inbox, please sub-
assisted with months of behind-the-
scribe – it is free.
scenes work. Oxfam has also been fa-
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/one/subscribe.html
cilitating several roundtable sessions
can be up to 20 percent of the
for the past six months on CSR and
total
ethical sourcing with Esprit, Giordano,
The 12 members are Ace Style Group,
Goldlion and Moiselle, four of Hong
Central Textiles, Clothing Industry
Kong’s leading brand clothing com-
Training Authority, Crystal Group,
panies. Best practice can reduce pov-
Fountain Set, Glorious Sun Group,
erty, including the poverty caused by
Hong Kong
17th Floor, 28 Marble Road, Northpoint, Hong Kong
Gunzetal, High Fashion International
low wages, misguided natural resource
O. N .E is also on-line: www.oxfam.org.hk/one//
ing standards for the industry,
Management, I Limited, Lever Style, Sun
management, and excessive carbon
working toward carbon credit
Hing Industries and TAL Apparel. The
emissions.
Editor: Madeleine Marie Slavick emagazine@oxfam.org.hk
COVER: Keith Wong / Oxfam Hong Kong
category?cid=53988&lang=iso-8859-1.