VIETNAM: Farming and the Gods SOUTH AFRICA: AIDS and Welfare INDONESIA: Mining and the Body HONG KONG: Youth, Video and Change
8 00 t2 us ug A
I recently went to southern Africa
the most shocking is gender violence:
portance of their
focusing on bet-
projects I could see firsthand reaf-
for an international poverty meet-
every year, more than one million wom-
contribution.”
ter agriculture that
firmed my belief that our focus on
ing in Johannesburg and to observe
en and girls are raped. A girl born in
My next stop was
will bring in more
empowering women is the right way
Oxfam Hong Kong projects with wom-
South Africa has a greater likelihood of
Z a m b ia , w hi ch fa ce s
en in Zambia.
being raped before the age of sixteen
lower levels of violence, but
than of learning how to read.
By the time I left, I was reassured of
income, especially for
forward in Africa.
wo m e n . I v i s i te d v illa g e s
In the rest of O.N.E, you have the
a higher poverty rate. The country
where women are growing high-value
chance to read about AIDS in South
two things: Oxfam must continue our
Oxfam is suppor ting coalitions
ranks 165th out of 177 in the United
crops, both to earn more money and
Africa, land and religion in Indonesia
work in the region, and our strategic
of women’s groups that campaign,
Nations Human Development Index,
for better nutrition.
and Vietnam, and youth and social
goal of improving people’s livelihoods
educate and lobby against the vio-
partially because it neglected the ru-
Oxfam knows that women are the
and sense of security are the right pri-
lence. The people in these coalitions
ral areas for many years, so poverty
backbone of most rural communities
orities, especially for women.
are doing excellent and urgent work,
kept increasing. There is now more
– literally in terms of hauling water
welfare in Hong Kong. Enjoy the read.
While I was in Johannesburg, vio-
but maybe my Oxfam America col-
community development work being
and firewood and tilling the land,
lence against foreigners broke out in
league Ray Offenheiser says it best,
done to provide rural people with a
but also in terms of their willingness
John Sayer
the townships. Violence is an everyday
“to describe them as ‘heroes’ would
better life.
to work in collective efforts for the
Director General
occurrence in South Africa, and by far
be to understate the value and im-
betterment of the whole village. The
Oxfam Hong Kong
GODS, PEOPLE, LAND and INCOME Van Kieu farmers in Vietnam By Pham Tung Lam
Ox fam Hong Kong, for one, is
Although the national poverty rate fell from 58.1 per cent in 1993 to an estimated 16 per cent in 2006, poverty remains in Vietnam, especially among the ethnic minority population who tend to live in remote, isolated and mountainous regions of the country. As Vietnam develops, the gaps between rich and poor people, between urban and rural populations, and between the Kinh and ethnic minorities are widening. For example, the poverty rate among Kinh and Chinese is only 10.3 per cent, while among ethnic minorities, poverty stands at 52.3 per cent. In the central highlands of Quang Tri, where a farmer named Ho Thi Hom lives, she and her fellow Van Kieu people face a poverty rate of about 62 per cent. Quang Tri and Nghe An are two Ho Thi Hom has doubled her rice harvest in Oxfam's project / Photo: Pham Tung Lam
GODS, PEOPLE, LAND and INCOME Van Kieu farmers in Vietnam
ularly, and makes offerings of chicken
so clear and the application so easy, that
and sticky rice to ensure that Yàng is
it just seemed too good to be true, but
happy and supportive of her crops. For
it was!” Hom said, holding some newly
important occasions, Van Kieu people
harvested rice in her hands.
may even sacrifice a buffalo, their most
She also tried new ways of raising her two pigs through the Oxfam-IDE
prized farm animal. In the past, Hom’s average rice yield
training. No longer does she cook feed
was only 100kg per sao, compared with
but makes a simple mixture of fish, wa-
250kg on the coastal plains. This was
ter, and powder from cassava, rice and
only enough to feed her family for six
peanut. She also learned about animal
months. For the other half of the year,
nutrition and after three months, her
she had to spend about US$100 to buy
pigs weighed 60kg each, bringing in a
her own rice, and would rely on rice
significant extra income.
from the national reserve, which the
“It used to take us twice as much
government allocates to poorer prov-
time to get half of what we had now.
inces. To raise that US$100, she would
Therefore, we decided to continue with
sell her chickens or pigs, forage in the
the new method and we were able to
forest for mushrooms, and engage in
make over 200,000 VND net profit from
logging.
just one pig,” she said with a smile, and
“Raising pigs was a hard job then,”
a hint of pride.
Hom said. “I got up early in the morn-
With the money and some savings,
ing to cook the pig feed, worked in the
Hom built a better, enclosed latrine
fields all day, and when I returned home
for the family, and enlarged the pig
late in the day I couldn’t rest at all. I had
sty so that she could raise four pigs at
to prepare the feed again.”
a time.
Her life changed for the better when
“I will definitely raise even more pigs
she joined the rice cultivation train-
in the future,” she said. “I feel very com-
Photo: Pham Ngoc Tinh
ing in 2006; the activity was part of a
fortable with this new no-cook method
priority provinces for Oxfam, and it is no
“Before the project began, life was
tassium oxide for the whole rice paddy.
market-based model by Oxfam Hong
and I don’t think I will ever go back to
coincidence that both areas have high
so difficult for us,” Hom recalled. “We
Strictly speaking, this was against the
Kong and International Development
the conventional way. I now have more
ethnic minority populations, particu-
worked all day in the fields, but we
traditional customs of the Van Kieu,
Enterprises (IDE) which aimed to im-
time to look after my children and the
larly Quang Tri.
could never grow enough to eat.
rice paddy.”
who believe their God named Yàng Cute
prove the incomes of 200 families. She
Ho Thi Hom, 52, grows rice, cassava
“The project also helped build my
would not allow any human interven-
carefully observed the demonstration
Hom is now more than a farmer: she
and corn on the slopes of Truong Son
confidence,” she continued. “When I
tion with the soil – it was seen as an in-
models and then attended additional
is also a trainer. She belongs to a group
Mountain, near Laos. It is steep land,
saw how successful the demonstration
vasion of the God’s domain.
training in a new way of production
of key farmers who teach hundreds of
at 2,500 metres high. She also raises
plots were that had been set up in the
The Van Kieu believe in Yàng, with
and fertiliser application called ‘fer-
other women in the nearby villages
chickens. When her rice yield doubled
village, I thought I should try something
different Yàng for the forest, moun-
tiliser deep placement’. She also learned
about the new cultivation and the pig
by applying new farming methods, her
new… We started with just one ‘sao’ of
tains, rivers, rice and other things in the
about composting. Her rice yield is now
raising methods.
husband and three children all agreed
land, and I saw such good results.”
natural world. If any of the Yàng Gods is
almost 200 kg per sao annually, twice
Yàng does not seem to be up -
that it was the most important thing
Encouraged by the experiment with
angered, that Yàng may express it in the
as much as before, and the family food
set. There is harmony. The villagers in
that had ever happened to the family.
the one sao (500sqm), she and her hus-
form of storms, bad harvests, or bring-
supply is secure.
Quang Tri still respect their Gods, the
On harvest day, they killed three chick-
band decided to use pellets of an envi-
ing illnesses to the people. Yang Cute is
ens for a feast, and invited neighbors
ronmentally-friendly fertiliser made of
the God of land.
to celebrate their happiness.
nitrogen, phosphorous oxide and po-
Hom also believes in Yàng, prays reg-
INCOME OR HEALTH:
Can HIV Patients have both? There is a serious challenge in the
count is, the weaker the immune sys-
By Navin Vasudev
started as a way to curb the pandemic
tem.) Another requirement for HIV-
as well as poverty, has sometimes led
AIDS response.
AIDS patients is that they must be un-
to a conundrum with huge and highly problematic implications.
Currently, the government offers
dergoing antiretroviral (ARVs) treatment. All this seems quite logical and
zens in need, including the disability
appears to be a pretty good deal.
ods because we had never seen them applied in our village. The results were
land and themselves. Pham Tung Lam is Communications Manager with Oxfam Hong Kong. He is based in Hanoi.
AIDS in SOUTH AFRICA
South African government’s HIV and
several social support grants to its citi-
“At first, I did not believe the meth-
Oxfam is aware of this trend and is monitoring the situation to develop
• AIDS is the leading cause of death • Death rate is highest among women of child-bearing age, female teenagers, and young girls
• • 18.7% of adults age 20-64, were HIV-positive in 2004 • 10.8% of total population were HIV-positive in 2004 • KwaZulu-Natal has the highest prevalence rate, as of 2005 • about 6 million people will die from AIDS-related causes over the next About 4.5 million people had HIV in 2000
10 years
grant which HIV-positive patients can
Yet, there is a problem.
ways to address the issue. Since 1998, we
apply for. At around USD107 per month,
Let’s say a person’s T-cell count is
have been running large-scale anti-HIV
this grant may seem minuscule in this
175. She or he goes on ARVs, gets the
and AIDS programme in South Africa
better legislation. For several years, we
nal evaluation conducted in 2004/2005
middle-income country that ranks in
disability grant, and begins to feel
to prevent the spread of infection, to
have been focusing on KwaZulu-Natal,
recommended that we scale-up the pro-
the world’s top 20 GDP. Yet, one-third
healthy again. The immune system is
improve treatment, to reduce stigma
the province with the highest preva-
gramme, and we have begun working
of the families in South Africa live on
strengthening, and therefore, there
and discrimination, and to advocate for
lence rates, and in Limpopo. An exter-
in Eastern Cape, too.
less than USD 100 a month, one-third
are fewer infections and other illnesses.
of the population is unemployed, and
Then, because the ARVs are doing their
the country’s rich-poor gap is one of the
job, the T-cell count goes up over 200,
For more information on HIV & AIDS: http://www. thebody.com/content/art6110.html
widest in the world.
above the limit. The grant is promptly
Navin Vasudev leads Oxfam Hong Kong's work in southern Africa from his base in Johannesburg.
Simply put, the government’s so-
stopped.
cial grants have become integral to
Considering the importance of the
many families’ survival: for very poor
income provided by the grant, HIV pa-
families, the grant can be twice the av-
tient-recipients have sometimes been
erage monthly income. Studies show
willing to take risks to ensure that the
that the disability grant has been used
funds continue coming in. So, in order
to support entire families, and house-
to keep the T-cell count below the 200
holds with access to social grants have
limit, some patients have been known
been more likely to work their way out
to reduce the prescribed amount of
of poverty.
ARVs or stop taking them altogether.
People with HIV must have a T-cell
They put their own health at risk for
count below 200 to be eligible for the
the sake of the income, which may be
disability grant. (The lower one’s T-cell
supporting their whole family. What
Sources: South Africa Department of Health, South Africa National HIV Survey (2005)
Photo: HIV test at an Oxfam-supported organisation in Phalaborwa, South Africa / Oxfam Australia / Gcina Ndwalene
in South Africa
If you find time to come to West
National Park. Local government has
Initially, the Mollo people did not
gan, and she says her neighbours have
Timor, drop by Mollo. It isn’t a must,
also allowed marble mining of the
understand marble and mining. When
lost more. Last but certainly not least,
but you will not be dissatisfied with
mountains. In all, the land accessible
the talk of marble began, they thought
landslides come, slowly but frequently,
the beauty. Mollo has cool air, casua-
to the people is getting smaller and
it would beautify the stone, and they
covering homes, crops and sometimes,
rinas trees, rocky hills, savannas, cows,
smaller, as is their sense of well-being;
agreed to the plan. They soon realised
people. The Naipitan experience has
wild horses, and people will welcome
the forestry policy and government-en-
that mining meant cutting up the stone
convinced every last person of Mollo to
you into their round homes, and wear-
dorsed development projects have im-
and transporting it out of Mollo, and
reject marble mining.
ing beautifully hand-woven clothing,
poverished the people.
even though they may have little to of-
The Mollo people have tried many
fer you by way of meals or gifts. Poverty
ways to regain their land, through di-
is part of what will guide you around
alogue, negotiation, demonstrations,
the island.
and even sabotage. They have won
In a way, Mollo is already the richest
some, lost others, and refuse to sur-
part of Timor. With rivers and moun-
render. They have been intimidated,
tains, including Mutis Mountain, the
threatened, beaten and imprisoned for
highest in West Timor, there are many
their dissent, yet remain strong in their
natural resources. Mollo borders Mina
views, firm in their commitment to re-
River and Timau Mountain, and almost
gain what has been lost.
everyone here is a farmer, growing corn,
People of Mollo view nature as body:
tubers and other crops, and rearing
stone as bone, soil as flesh, water as
cows, buffalos and horses. The animals
blood, and forest as skin, lung and hair.
are branded and then either worked to
Stone is particularly essential in their
plough the fields or let loose to roam
view. Without stone, life is incomplete,
the grasslands, much of which used to
unstable, frail, tentative.
NATURE AS BODY Land and Life in Mollo, Indonesia By Siti Maemunah
they strongly protested. They filed a
But please do not change your mind.
case against both the local govern-
I still suggest you visit Mollo. At least
ment and the mining company, which
you will be able to enjoy the natural
has tried to mine six mountains. Five
beauty of the land, even if it will come
mountains have been protected, but
with destitution. I also think that a spe-
Naitapan Mountain, in the village of
cial inner beauty will come to you, a
Tunua, was ‘skinned’ three years ago.
beauty felt in the Mollo people’s deep,
Flesh has been torn. Bones protrude.
physical connection with nature. Their
Waste stone covers the base of the
pursuit of well-being is sure to inspire.
mountain.
When you come, you will see a
A village woman named Naomi
five-kilometre-long fence encircling a
Mnune talks about the impact in Tunua.
mountain that had once been mined
The water quality and supply has de-
for Naususu and Anjaf, but which has
teriorated. The Tokseko, Tokseok and
since been stopped due to the hard
Kuisfolo springs dry up, something
campaigning of the Mollo people. Made
which has never happened before, she
with local timber by local people, the
says. “There are 48 families who use the
fence is a symbol of their work to re-
springs. Now we have to walk farther
claim their stone, their bones, their land
be forest. Most people have between
Stone does more than strengthen
0.1 to 0.5 hectares of land which is seen
the soil and keep it secure through
ate precisely in this Naususu stone. The
away, for two hours, to get water at the
and their rights. Every time I see the
as being owned both by the community
rain or wind. People of Mollo believe
company has about 20 different min-
next village. Then, we have another two
fence, I imagine them standing hand
and by the family. Little of the crop is
that stone absorbs and retains water,
ing sites in the Mollo and nearby Flores,
hours to carry it back home. Our life is so
in hand, as strong as a rock. As long
set aside for seeds, most of the land is
and therefore can keep the surround-
and the capacity of marble is said to be
much more difficult. Lots of tubers have
as there is rock, there is also flint, the
not irrigated, and there is only one cul-
ing soil moist and fertile. Stone is the
approximately 3.5 trillion cubic metres.
died, as has corn. Our livestock drink wa-
promise of fire, of change, for a stron-
tivating season: one harvest must last
foundation, above which is soil, and
Typically, the company cuts Naususu,
ter that has been contaminated by min-
ger, deeper life.
for the whole year. This has been the
then topsoil.
the stone of all stones, the bone, the
ing waste. First their heads puff up, then
mother, the root of life, into one-me-
they die.” Naomi has lost seven cows
Siti Maemunah is the National Coordinator of Mining Advocacy Alliance (JATAM). Oxfam Hong Kong began working with JATAM earlier this year.
tre cubes.
and eighteen pigs since the mining be-
All photos by NM Rulliady
Mollo way of life for centuries.
People’s respect for stone is appar-
In Mollo, people feel deeply con-
ent throughout Mollo history and ev-
nected with nature. They realise they
eryday culture. Two of their words for
are alive because of nature, and to-
‘stone’, ‘fautkanaf’ and ‘batunama’,
gether with nature. Thus, they knew
even lead to many surnames, including
their life would be ruined if separated
the names of these main clans: Ba'un,
from nature. This happened when the
Fui, Lasa, Nani, Seko, Sumbanu, Tanisip
Forestry Department began its refor-
and Toto. (Interestingly, few names
estation of the savanna plains back in
come from ‘water’.)
the 1960s. Through the decades, hun-
Of all the stones in Mollo, it is
dreds of thousands of casuarinas trees
Naususu that is revered first and fore-
have been planted by the company
most – it is considered to be the oldest
Hutan Tanaman Industri on thousands
stone. The word Naususu means a moth-
of hectares of indigenous community
er who is breastfeeding, so the stone
land, mostly in 1974, 1977, 1983, 1996,
can be regarded as the first mother.
and recently. The trees have exhausted
The Mollo people also liken the Naususu
the water supply, and when the land
stone to a strong root, and the moun-
was fenced in, animals could not easily
tain that surrounds it as tree branches.
reach what water remained. Separated
Thomas Ola, a traditional doctor and
from nature, thousands of livestock
community leader in Mollo, explains it
have died.
this way, “roots of a tree support trunks
Other government projects have
and branches, so if the roots are pulled
also affected the land, essentially
out, the tree will collapse, and if the
changing the ownership from communi-
trunk is damaged, the tree will sink.”
ty land into state-owned land with dif-
Nevertheless, the Nusa Tenggara
ferent status, from Production Forest,
provincial government has given per-
Protected Forest to Nature Reserve or
mission to a mining company to oper-
Naitapan Mountain was 'skinned' for its marble, despite protests by the residents / Photo: NM Rulliady
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 it is bringing around the world: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/
OXFAM HONG KONG WEBSITE
in Hong Kong Video for Change
www.oxfam.org.hk
OXFAM BOOKS Two books have gone into their second print run: one on disasters and poverty, featuring new articles on the Sichuan earthquake and the Myanmar cyclone, and the second on people who receive social welfare in Hong Kong. Both books featured at one of Asia’s largest book fairs, at the end of July. Both books are in Traditional
Text and Photo by Genna Leung
Chinese. To order books: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/list
“We don’t read our world from
and disrespect, both by civil servants
sic right, we should not discriminate
books, we don’t listen to the radio, but
and the general public. It seems no one
against the people who exercise this
OXFAM in the NEWS
you can catch our attention through
in Hong Kong, CSSA and non-CSSA re-
right,” Tommy said.
HONG KONG – CNN quoted Oxfam Hong Kong (on 7 July) that the government’s
the image. Nowadays, we use our eyes
cipients alike, wants to have to depend
Oxfam Hong Kong has provided this
main welfare scheme, Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), is still
to receive and respond,” said Tommy, a
on welfare, as they know they will be
kind of short-term interactive training
“seen as charity” by the public, even if the bulk of the recipients are elderly. In Hong
teenager who joined an Oxfam Hong
looked down upon: self-reliance is an
with youth since 2006. “It has allowed
Kong, 1 out of 7 people is elderly, and 2 out of 5 of them are poor. Oxfam has
Kong training at the Hong Kong School
extremely strong norm in Hong Kong.
our students to be immersed in a social
been advocating CSSA reform since 2003 and views receiving the assistance as a “basic right”.
of Creativity. “Faced with so much mass
Comprehensive Social Securit y
issue for a few months long, which sel-
media, we don’t spend an hour to read
Assistance (CSSA) aims to provide a ba-
dom happens,” said Winkie Ho, a teach-
through all the information and digest
sic assistance for low-income people,
er at Hong Kong School of Creativity.
it, we select the parts that catch our eye:
most of whom are elderly, people with
“The outcome of visiting real cases [of
this becomes our perception. I see how
a disability and single parents. Based
welfare recipients] is much more pow-
the Hong Kong public has perceived re-
on the Oxfam-commissioned survey,
erful and effective than a typical school
cipients of CSSA (the government’s main
“Perception and Utilization of the CSSA
lesson. Through the video, the youth
social welfare scheme), and that’s why
- A study on views of the public on the
also spread the message to their class-
we’re making short films to respond to
lower income people” in June 2007,
mates. I really believe that it has been
these impressions.”
the predominant view is that recipients
a wonderful experience for the partici-
Tommy was one of 15 participants,
are “lazy, not willing to find a job [and]
pants, not only for their intellectual de-
aged 15 to 17, who joined the three-
abusive” of the welfare system. Some
velopment, but also for their personal
month training by Oxfam and Video
of the public also believe that “the ex-
growth and confidence build-up.”
Power, with video-making, poverty
pense for CSSA in government is increas-
Oxfam Hong Kong has always seen
analysis, and dialogue with poor peo-
ing every year and will be a burden to
youngsters as drivers of positive, sus-
ple who receive social welfare. The
Hong Kong’s economic growth”. Most
tainable change. The youth programme
youth developed their creative skills
respondents got their information from
has developed through the years :
to work against discrimination against
television (75 per cent) and newspapers
Oxfam gave talks to schools in the
these welfare recipients in Hong Kong,
(71 per cent).
1970s and 80s, established the Resource
and this primarily happened because
The participants decided to voice out
Library in 1992, set up Oxfam Club in
the youth saw, heard and felt, face to
the CSSA recipients’ reality by making
1997, Cyberschool in 2000, and the
face, the real situation: the people’s
a two-minute film, which took them
Interactive Education Centre in 2005.
daily poverty and their tears and anger.
three weeks, and then uploading it to
Through a more interactive approach,
Tommy and other teenagers said that
Youtube. They screened the film at a
such as by using visual art, drama and
they had never imagined so many dif-
press conference protesting CSSA dis-
photography shooting in workshops
ficulties; they had no idea that the ap-
crimination, at which they shared their
and trainings, youth have more ways
plication procedure was so humiliating
experiences with the press as well as
to speak out for themselves, and for
and intimidating, almost always with
with the four Hong Kong Legislative
poor people.
delays and mishandlings, and some-
Councilors who also attended. “If we
times treated with outright rudeness
assume accessing social security is a ba-
New PartnerOrganisation
Genna Leung works on development education with Oxfam Hong Kong.
PHILIPPINES – GM ANews.T V reported (on 18 July) the launch of a new 10-year programme in Mindanao, by Oxfam Hong Kong, Oxfam Great Britain and Oxfam Netherlands. “Poverty is greatest in Mindanao [as high as 47%] and is exacerbated by conflicts,” an Oxfam spokesperson said. The programme will focus on income generation and peace-building, with gender justice and minority rights as essential components.
One of many peace zones established in Mindanao
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 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
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 subscribe – it is free. To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/one/subscribe.html
Every day, Oxfam Hong Kong works
are supporting for the first time. The
alongside hundreds of groups around
location indicates where the project is
the world, from small NGOs to inter-
being implemented.
national bodies, from government de-
CHINA (MAINLAND)
17th Floor, 28 Marble Road, Northpoint, Hong Kong
at Beijing Normal University
O. N .E is also on-line: www.oxfam.org.hk/one
partments of developing countries to community groups based in Hong Kong. Here is 1 ‘partner organisation’ that we
• China Labour Studies Centre
Hong Kong
Editor: Madeleine Marie Slavick emagazine@oxfam.org.hk
COVER: Gcina Ndwalane / Oxfam Australia
category?cid=53988&lang=iso-8859-1.