ly Ju 08 20 CHINA: The Challenges Ahead, after the Earthquake MYANMAR: The Local and International Response to the Cyclone GLOBAL: The Time is Now - Food Prices are now a Crisis CHINA: Fighting Back the Deserts in the Northwest HONG KONG: Minimum Wage, Race Discrimination, and Climate Change Education
Over two thousand miles from Timor
Kong’s small islands. Reliable electricity,
a bit more quiet, but we were part of
news I can about Timor-Leste and how
en in poor rural villages or urban slum
hot showers, cheaper food of amazing
a small local community, even in a city.
things are going there. I understand
areas. Each month, O.N.E takes us a
variety, and incredibly efficient trans-
Most neighbours would say “Bondia”
why many people who have worked
little way into those lives. In this issue
port are just a few of the more marked
(“Good morning”) and would be hap-
there and leave, end up returning be-
we read, among other things, of those
differences in terms of day to day com-
py to have a chat. Now I try a strange-
fore long. Happily, I still have oppor-
many millions affected by the Sichuan
fort and convenience.
ly accented “Jóu-sàhn” on the one or
tunities to visit Timor as part of my
earthquake, the Myanmar cyclone and the global food price crisis.
to Hong Kong and a world of difference
Having more privacy is another, but
two people who make eye contact as
work with Oxfam Hong Kong, just as
in way of life. Following seven years of
that is both a blessing and a curse. In
I make my way from high-rise unit to
I also visit project sites and local part-
living in the front section of an East
Dili, we were rarely alone or unnoticed.
fast ferry.
ner organisations in Indonesia and the
Timorese family home in Dili – the dusty
There were always people nearby – the
After seven years in Dili, it felt like
capital of the small and struggling na-
family we shared the house with, the
it was time to move on, but we miss
Every day, I am aware of the vast gap
Frank Elvey
tion of Timor-Leste (East Timor) – my
youth hanging out in the front garden,
our dear East Timorese friends and col-
between the overall affluence of Hong
Programme Manager for
partner Annette and I recently moved to
the neighbours and passers-by in the
leagues we have left behind. I cannot
Kong, or my home country Australia,
Archipelagic Southeast Asia
the serenity and beauty of one of Hong
street. We would often feel in need of
yet stop the habit of reading all the
and the lives of so many men and wom-
Oxfam Hong Kong
Philippines.
SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE: The Challenge Ahead
in China
By Howard Liu
Oxfam Hong Kong has done all it
Oxfam’s relief programme began
can to provide relief supplies to as many
within an hour or so after the earth-
people affected by the 12 May earth-
quake struck on that Monday after-
The situation in Sichuan is more
quake as possible. As of 12 June, we as-
noon, the birthday of Buddha, a holi-
complicated than in sites of previous
sisted over 280,000 people in about 35
day in Hong Kong, when several staff
disasters. The 300 kilometre Wenchuan
different areas of Sichuan, Gansu and
members were in a strategic planning
seismic belt can basically be classified
Shaanxi, providing counselling for chil-
meeting in the office. Decisions were
into two types of landscape: undulat-
dren, public health services for whole
made immediately, an initial HK$12
ing areas or plateaus, where more than
communities, and about twenty types
million was committed (over USD2.5m)
30 million people have been affected;
of necessities, such as rice, water, milk,
and staff members were sent to the
and mountainous villages, where some
medicine, quilts, shelter, and sanitary
site from our offices in Kunming and
2 million people have been impacted.
products, altogether valued at about
Lanzhou. The response would be the
Assisting people in these more re-
17.2 million Yuan. Another 3.6 million
largest and most challenging relief ef-
mote mountainous areas is the greater
Yuan has gone towards the construc-
fort ever undertaken by Oxfam Hong
challenge, and is Oxfam’s priority.
tion of new schools for children, for a
Kong in its 30 years of operation, and
The epicentre of the 8.0 earthquake
total of 20,802,839 Yuan.
yet an even greater challenge is ahead:
was located in the Longmen Shan range,
post-disaster rehabilitation. It is a chal-
where many mountains reach about
lenge not only for Oxfam, but also for
2,000 metres high, and seismic activity
A sign of hope in the village of Zhongxin, Sichuan / Keith Wong / Oxfam Hong Kong
the Chinese government and other humanitarian agencies.
OXFAM’s EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE as of 12 June, one month on
is also high: in about 50 seconds, the rupture travelled at least 100 kilometres in a northeasterly direction, into Gansu
•
and Shaanxi. The Longmen Shan area remains at risk over the next three to five years: quake lakes, landslides, and flows of debris. In-situ rehabilitation in the mountains is therefore very problem-
Oxfam has assisted 279,963 people in 35 locations of Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi with a range of relief supplies
• • • •
260 medical professionals carried out public health work in 5 locations 64 resettlement centres provided with portable toilets Counselling with children 3 times a week Priority given to groups often neglected in relief work (such as supplies for
atic, as is a hurried resettlement. Which
remote villages, milk for children, sanitary pads for women, easy-to-chew
is best? This is a question that the au-
food for elderly people, Halal food for Muslims, etc)
thorities, the communities, and local and international agencies will need to study in depth. Compensation issues are almost always complicated, and time is needed for negotiation. The sites se-
‘One Month On’, an in-depth report issued on 12 June which includes an overview of both the relief work done and the rehabilitation work ahead is available on the agency website: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/fs/view/downloadables/pdf/policy-paper/1_month_on_reportEN.pdf
lected for relocation must have enough farmland, schools, hospitals and other
residents themselves to be involved in
bilitation entails more than an appropri-
resources to accommodate a sudden in-
decision-making – ensures that deci-
ate site selection; it also must include a
flux of displaced people. When ethnic
sions are acceptable to as many people
respect for residents’ hopes and wish-
minority peoples, such as Hui (Muslims),
as possible.
es, as well as their rights to speak out
Qiang and Tibetans, need to be re-
Public participation usually leads to
housed, additional considerations must
a faster recovery, better access to infor-
also be taken into account: how to help
mation, a more efficient village/town
It is a long way ahead, a colossal
preserve unique cultural traditions yet
management, more effective monitor-
task. Oxfam set up its fifth mainland
also enable people to assimilate into the
ing of rehabilitation projects, a more re-
office in Chengdu on Children’s Day, 1
new, Han-dominated environment.
vitalizing redevelopment of local com-
June, to oversee this work over the next three to five years.
Participatory community develop-
munities, and a fuller recovery from the
ment, a method long advocated by
psychological and emotional trauma
Oxfam in its twenty years of work-
of a disaster. This view is more or less
ing in Mainland China, will be crucial.
shared by the Central Government. The
Planning and implementing rehabilita-
Ministry of Civil Affairs, which leads the
tion projects in an open and transpar-
government’s rehabilitation planning
ent way – in other words, allowing the
and processes, has indicated that reha-
On the Ground IN MYANMAR By Madeleine Marie Slavick
Population: About 50 million people, with about 120 ethno-linguistic groups
Employment: Farming and Fishing 63%, Services 25%, Industry 12%
about the process, and to be informed along the way.
in China
Howard Liu leads Oxfam Hong Kong’s earthquake response in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi. He is the Director of Oxfam Hong Kong’s China Unit.
Oxfam supplied Halal food for villagers in Dayuan, a remote Hui/Muslim area of Sichuan /Chun Wai
The international media coverage of the response to the Myanmar Cyclone
ing began their work just a few hours
season. It was supposed to be the be-
after the storm subsided.
ginning of a new school year. Instead,
has primarily been focusing on access
With over ten years of experience,
Nargis ruined thousands of acres of
for the United Nations and international
the Yangon-based organisation drew
farmland, and demolished about 3,000
humanitarian organisations.
on their huge network of volunteers,
schools, some of which had been built
Too often, the implication has been
community groups and faith-based
to a high standard and equipped with
that without international institutions
groups to take action. Within two days,
better facilities as part of post-recon-
like the UN, very little or next to nothing
their teams had assessment reports, and
struction work after the tsunami, which
is being done for the survivors.
by the end of May, they had assisted
struck some of the very same areas back
In fact, the bulk of the emergency
about 115,000 people with some kind
in 2004.
response to the deadliest natural disas-
of aid. Five of their own staff members
ter in Myanmar’s recorded history has
died in the cyclone.
Oxfam International has committed about US$6 million for relief and reha-
Religion: Buddhism, with Christianity, Islam, Animism
Natural Resources: Petroleum, Natural gas, Timber and Gems
been carried out by people who live in
emergency supplies ranging from im-
months, and additional projects will be
This is the case in any crisis: people
mediate shelter to food, water and first
carried out over the next three years.
Child Health: 32% of children under five under-weight; 10% will die before reaching five
Government: Military State, with approximately 488,000 people in the military
stay with their neighbours, orphans are
aid kits for families, to sanitary pads for
Now that humanitarian access has
taken in by other relatives, companies
women, and clothing for children. For
improved, response is being overseen by
donate supplies, civil servants are mo-
more long-term support, they have also
a tripartite body: the Myanmar govern-
Major Trading Partners: Thailand, Mainland China, Singapore, India, Hong Kong
bilised, and schools, temples, churches
supplied seeds, irrigation pumps and
ment, UN and ASEAN, and already over
and community centres of all kinds join
supplies for farmers, and counselling
US$168 million has been pledged by the
the effort to save as many people as
and support for children and for people
international community. As the large-
possible, people who are their friends,
living with HIV/AIDS.
scale projects begin, may they acknowl-
HIV/AIDS: 360,000 people living with HIV/AIDS (1.3% of adults) Gross National Income per capita (2006): US$220
Ayeyarwaddy: Families sail the delta to attend community meetings and claim their food, medical kits, water, and other relief items provided by Myanmarbased groups / Oxfam
Source: New Internationalist, May 2008
the country.
The organisation quickly provided
bilitation projects during the first six
neighbours, colleagues, classmates, fel-
A lot of work remains to be done, as
low believers... There are hundreds of
the scale of the damage was massive.
these on-the-ground community groups
Official figures put the number of dead
carrying out cyclone response.
or missing at more than 130,000. The
The community organisation that
cyclone came at the beginning of May,
Oxfam Hong Kong has been support-
which was supposed to be the planting
edge the groundwork that Myanmar people have already done. To donate: https://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/ donate/donate?donate_id=47 For information: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/ contents/article?ha=&wc=0&hb=&hc=&revision%5 fid=82526&item%5fid=80849
Gansu, in the northwest, is one of
tant grass and two types of trees. The
There are many other actions. In
the driest places on earth and one of
saxaul, a bushy tree, is often the only
Minqin, the climate is suitable for both
the poorest provinces in China. Im-
tree that survives in deserts, and is seen
agriculture and pastures, and more
The sheep now roam in enclosures
poverished farmers and herders here
in Iran to Turkestan to the Gobi. It has
people have shifted to raising livestock
instead of on the open land. A team
have always faced many natural disas-
an added bonus in that the ‘ginseng of
for their livelihood, which is less reliant
of residents provides incentives to en-
ters, most recently the devastating 12
the desert’ grows alongside it, a good
on the weather than agriculture is, and
courage the use of corrals, gives practi-
May earthquake.
second income source. Common sea-
which requires less land and water. In
cal advice, and ensures that there is no illegal grazing.
10 in the past, and their annual income is about 1,000 Yuan more each year.
Climate change is another devasta-
buckthorn, the more frequent type
one town, agriculture has fallen by 20
tion: desert now covers about one-third
of tree used in afforestation proj-
per cent over three years while sheep-
In this community economy, one
of Gansu. With drought since 2003, rain-
ects in China, also provides an addi-
raising has risen by 15 per cent. Many
farmer provides another farmer with a
fall has decreased, water levels have dropped to 100 meters, lakes are drying up and dust- and sand-storms are the norm. And the dunes keep moving.
ONE ACRE, ONE PERSON
In the Hexi Corridor, a strategic 1,600kilometre chain of oases that separates the Badain Jaran Desert from the Tengger Desert, sand is claiming 8 to 10 metres of land a year. In one area of the
...to stop the sand, and to stop the poverty. These grids of grass help stop the sand / Wei Mintao / Oxfam Hong Kong
in China
Corridor called Minqin, at least 32,000
tional income source: it produces oil
people do some of both. When farm-
healthy young lamb that he or she has
people have lost their land and their
used in many medicinal treatments,
ers are growing crops, they are plant-
bred, and passes on the training he or
livelihoods: desert has claimed 94 per
and the bright orange berries have a
ing less wheat or corn and more alfalfa,
she has learned, such as how to vacci-
cent of the land.
huge amount of vitamins and miner-
which is saline-tolerant and needs less
nate the animal, and when to quaran-
als – among the most nutritious berries
water, has high yields, and provides for-
tine it, if necessary.
anywhere in the world.
age for sheep.
Residents in Minqin Oasis have taken action and developed a community economy to stop the sand, and to stop
Instead of one acre for one person
The breed of sheep has been chang-
informal training sessions were possible
the poverty. Everyone participating in
– or 765 mu - the residents have ‘fixed’
ed to a small-tailed variety that is ac-
through the technical support of the lo-
the project – a total of 765 people – was
or ‘semi-fixed’ about 3,200 mu of land
climated to arid regions. Fast-grow-
cal government and Lanzhou University.
asked to work to protect one mu from
by planting 527 acres of grass and 1,017
ing and fast-breeding, the sheep have
The project as a whole was initiated by
the sand, or to ‘fix’ the sand. (A mu is a
acres of trees. Many of the sand dunes
brought in desperately needed income
the Earth and Environmental Science
Chinese acre, or 666.7 square meters.)
are now staying put. Desertification has
for people: most families have about 15
College of Lanzhou University and sup-
The residents planted drought-resis-
been paused.
or 20 sheep now, instead of only about
ported by Oxfam.
Global food prices are up 83 per
lines some of the changes that are nec-
tilisers for poor farmers, reduced VAT on
cent from three years ago. The World
essary. The report, entitled The Time
food, and in general, help smallholders
Food Programme has called the crisis a
is Now: how world leaders should re-
benefit from higher prices and alleviate
‘silent tsunami’.
spond to the food prices crisis, states
their chronic poverty.
Every day in the countries where
that at least US$14.5 billion is needed
Longer-term, political changes are
Oxfam International works, including
to urgently assist approximately 290
also needed. The Time is Now calls for
right here in Hong Kong, we are see-
million people who are at the great-
an urgent review of compulsory bio-
ing the impact of these escalating food
est risk: the poorest people in the 49
fuels targets in rich countries, as vari-
prices in the lives of poor people. In
Least Developed Countries, as well as
ous studies indicate that bio-fuels ac-
some communities around the world,
Kenya, Occupied Palestinian Territories,
count for about 30 per cent of recent
poor people are spending more than
Tajikistan and Zimbabwe. The US$14.5
food price rises, and they worsen cli-
half their income on food, and they are
billion figure is based on US$50 for each
mate change.
now eating less food, and what they do
of the 290 million people, an Oxfam
The food aid system also needs
eat tends to be less nutritious.
estimate of what people need so they
a revamp. More aid should be giv-
have enough to eat.
en as cash or purchased locally, rath-
The crisis is felt particularly by women, who in many traditional societies, in-
This amount is small when con-
er than shipped from overseas. The
cluding in China, typically eat last in the
trasted with the more than US$1 tril-
Organisation for Economic Co-opera-
family, after the men and the children.
lion that the US Federal Reserve and
tion and Development estimates that
When there is a shortage of food, they
European Central Bank have injected
an extra US$750m a year could be re-
often bear the brunt of it.
into the financial system over the past
leased if aid was given as cash rather
In early June, an emergency interna-
six months to try to avert an economic
than in kind.
tional summit was held in Rome by the
crisis. Similarly, annual aid to agricul-
The Time is Now does not support
United Nations Food and Agriculture
ture, which currently stands at US$4
a global free trade deal along current
Organization. At the time of the Summit,
billion, is a pittance compared to the
lines, as it would not help poor people.
Oxfam International called for a global
US$125 billion that rich countries gave
It is imperative for government of poor
action plan that goes beyond humani-
their farmers in 2006.
countries to have considerable flexibility
tarian aid, a plan that includes both
Aid to agriculture has halved be-
to be able to respond appropriately to
short- and long-term responses. We
tween 1980 and 2005: now is the time
crises such as this global food crisis. The
urged UN and world leaders to take im-
to reverse this trend. The Time is Now
existing proposals of the World Trade
mediate action: like any crisis, the food
advocates for governments in poor
Organization would be too restrictive
crisis can be seen as an opportunity for
countries to be supported to implement
and would further expose these coun-
change, and in this case, long-overdue
more social protection schemes to help
tries to market volatility.
change.
the poorest people; these include in-
To read The Time is Now: http://www.oxfam.org. hk/public/contents/press?ha=&wc=0&hb=&hc=&re vision%5fid=82459&item%5fid=82172
Oxfam released a report that out-
The para-veterinary skills in these
come guarantees, free seeds and fer-
A CRISIS IS A TIME TO CHANGE
Hong Kong only has a minimum
try. In Hong Kong, many workers are
wage for two occupations: security
not represented by a union. Oxfam, to-
guards and cleaning workers, of which
gether with unions, are calling on gov-
there are approximately 190,0 0 0.
ernment to institute a legal minimum
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of other
wage for everyone. This would signifi-
workers continue to receive extreme-
cantly help the lowest paid employees,
ly low wages, such as caterers (about
and their families.
HK$17/hour), convenience store workers
Many community leaders and pop-
(HK$21/hour) and caretakers at homes
ular personalities have also joined the
for elderly people (HK$22/hour).
call for better laws and policies against
VOICE HONG KONG CLIMATE Six action groups call for carbon dioxide emissions to be capped in the Air 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
A universal minimum wage is need-
poverty, and mainstream television has
ed, says Oxfam, many unions and policy
been running prime-time programmes
makers. Our latest commissioned study
on poverty and the minimum wage
done by City University of Hong Kong
over the past few months, including
asserts that legislation for a minimum
One Million People’s Stories (which is
wage is needed in societies such as Hong
the approximate number of poor peo-
Kong, Mainland China, South Korea and
ple in Hong Kong, out of a population
Taiwan, all of which do not have a very
of seven million people) and Public
OXFAM HONG KONG WEBSITE
strong collective bargaining system to
Forum: Employment Poverty and Cross
www.oxfam.org.hk
advocate different rates for each indus-
Generation Poverty.
it is bringing around the world: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/ category?cid=53988&lang=iso-8859-1.
OXFAM BOOKS Oxfam Hong Kong has created
IN SEARCH OF BEAUTY
more than 30 books, some in Hong Kong, some in Taiwan, some on the
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
A group of youngsters investigates
Mainland, some in Chinese, some in English, some bilingual, and some mostly with images, which cross all languages. Through publishing
Hong Kong.
the voices of poor people around
the case of four missing nations. Like
In S earch of Beau t y i s a new
detectives, they ask a lot of questions
workshop of the Oxfam Hong Kong
and look for clues on how and why the
Interactive Education Centre, and the
countries recently went extinct. They
400 or so youngsters who have partici-
carefully examine some of the relics
pated see how climate change is put-
left behind by some of those citizens,
ting the lives of millions of poor peo-
and they piece together the daily lives
ple at risk, that climate change is not
of the people in those faraway places.
just about the environment but about
Eventually, the youngsters come to un-
justice, and what they can do as global
HONG KONG On 11 June, community groups made
derstand the connections between the
citizens to tackle the problem. The four
a submission on the proposed Race Discrimination
climate, poverty, the disappearance
countries at risk are Bangladesh, Kenya,
Bill, with a special reference to the guidelines that
of the countries, and the lifestyles of
Tajikistan and Tuvalu.
people in modernised places, such as
the world, we want to change the way people think about poverty. We want justice. To order books: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/list?lang=iso-8859-1
OXFAM in the NEWS
Oxfam’s new workshop on Climate Change and poverty: four countries, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tajikistan and Tuvalu, are at extreme risk
government departments themselves follow. The groups, including UNISON, which is a partner organisation of Oxfam Hong Kong, say the Bill is poorly drafted as it does not sufficiently address the
In this edition of O.N.E, we highlight
opened on 10 June 2008, less than
livelihoods of ethnic minorities, such as education
the Sichuan Provincial Education
one month af ter the ear thquake.
and healthcare. The groups propose that the Equal
Foundation / 四川省教育基金, with
Senior officials of the Foundation, the
Opportunities Commission independently oversee
whom Oxfam has worked after the dev-
Pengzhou City Education Commission,
the implementation of the statutory plan called the
astating earthquake to build 10 tempo-
a Pengzhou City representative in the
Equality Plan. For more information, visit: http://
rary, yet earthquake resistant, schools.
National People’s Congress, Oxfam
www.unison.org.hk/.
The Foundation is a unit of the Sichuan
Hong Kong staff members and volun-
Province Education Department, and
teers, and journalists, were all there to
this new partnership is making use of
celebrate the event. The children can
a building technology usually used for
now return to some sense of normal-
Oxfam Hong Kong publishes this quarterly magazine
the world, from small NGOs to inter-
pre-fabricated structures. The schools
cy in their lives after the huge disaster
in Traditional Chinese. Mokung, which means both “no
national bodies, from government
are made with thin sheets of steel sand-
they endured.
poverty” and “infinity”, highlights a different aspect of
departments of developing countries
wiched with styrofoam, and are easy
It is estimated that reconstruction
development in each issue. The Editor is Tung Tsz-kwan.
to community groups based in Hong
to construct, lightweight, durable and
work for all of the new schools will
The March 2008 edition looks at the poverty news poll
Kong. Here are 19 ‘partner organisa-
inexpensive.
take 2 to 4 years, and the 10 Oxfam-
in Hong Kong.
NewPartnerOrganisations
Every day, Oxfam Hong Kong works alongside hundreds of groups around
UNISON and Oxfam Hong Kong have been campaigning against racial discrimination since 2004
MOKUNG
tions’ that we are supporting for the
The first of the 10 new schools to
Foundation transitional schools will pro-
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/?lang=big5
first time. The location indicates where
open is Bei Jun Ping Central Primary
vide an education for about 10,000 stu-
Mokung is online at www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/category?cid=1017&lang=big5
the project is being implemented.
School, located in a remote area of
dents during this period. For more infor-
Pengzhou, just southwest of the epi-
mation (in Chinese) on the Foundation,
centre. The school for 932 students
visit http://www.scedu.net/.
CHINA (MAINLAND)
• Ethnic Minority Affairs Bureau, Sichuan • Guanzhuang Earthquake Relief Command, Qingchuan County, Sichuan • Conservation International China Program • Communist
O.N.E – Oxfam News E-magazine – is uploaded monthly at www.oxfam.org.hk/one.
Youth League of Lizhou area, Guangyuan City, Sichuan • Daiyuan Township Government, Sichuan • Dujiangyan Center for Disease Control, Sichuan • Haoxixiang Township Government, Sichuan • Heifer International China • Islamic Association of Sichuan Province • Loving Source Information Consulting Center • Management Group for Road Building in Dujiahe Village • Qiaolou Township Government • Qingxi Township Government • Rilong Township Government • School of Huaxi Public Health of Sichuan University • Sichuan Provincial Education Foundation • Sichuan Provincial Supervisory Committee • Sichuan Poverty Alleviation and Development Office
To receive a copy in your inbox, please subscribe – it is free. To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/one/subscribe.html
Hong Kong
17th Floor, 28 Marble Road, Northpoint, Hong Kong O. N .E is also on-line: www.oxfam.org.hk/one//
INDONESIA
•Jaringan Advokasi Tambang / Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM)
ONE
Above: The first school opened in Sichuan by the Foundation and Oxfam Hong Kong Right: The schools are made of thin sheets of steel and styrofoam
Editor: Madeleine Marie Slavick emagazine@oxfam.org.hk
COVER: Liu Shuguang / Oxfam Hong Kong
Minimum Wage for All, Please!