STOP POVERTY! STOP CLIMATE CHANGE! HONG KONG: One Change Leads to Another CHINA: I Want More Rain PHILIPPINES: Not for Granted
FOOD PRICES CRISIS: Every Fridge Tells a Story
08 20 er ob ct O
When I led a group of Hong Kong
poor place, the ones who smiled with
warmer weather or more plastic bags.
teenagers to the Philippines, I kept
me are many. I really didn’t under-
It ruins people lives, let alone hopes.
thinking we were one – a unity of
stand why, even though they do not
We could understand this in the torn-
people, substance, and poignancy. We
have enough food each day, they feel
up roads, houses with leaking roofs,
went to an island named San Miguel
so happy…” I read from Bryen’s eyes
and battered fishing boats. It takes
to witness how people are becom-
that he was starting to think whether
only 8,000 pesos (about HK$1,300) for
ing poorer due to climate change;
money was the most important thing
people to be able to relocate to higher
we went to build up momentum for
for well-being. Could something else
land – a good precaution when waves
Oxfam’s campaign against climate
compensate? Do poor people only
and flooding come – but they can’t
poverty. It is all connected. We are
need money and other resources?
afford it, and the government doesn’t
one, someone, everyone.
Annie shared some sparkling thoughts after a clean-up. “Before
Susan, after talking with a man
Kong youth already knew that cli-
the trip, I wondered how coast-
on the island, told us about his goal:
mate change had something to do
al clean-ups and tree planting are
“to finish university and be a good
with global warming + being green +
related to climate change. Being here,
governor”. She said, “I was wrong
saving the next generation. Then they
I have learned how the preservation of
before. I used to think that poor
attended Oxfam’s pre-trip training
the coastline helps preserve the live-
people have no aspirations.” The
which tried to instill more knowledge
lihoods of people who fish, and that
islander told Susan that poor people
and awareness to unlock more truth.
tree planting prevents soil erosion. I
also have hopes and are willing to con-
They came to see that climate change
have learned that, to reduce poor peo-
tribute to the community. Frankly, we
is not only about the weather being
ple’s vulnerability to climate poverty,
witnessed a lot of poor people giv-
warmer than before. It is not only
mitigation work must include preven-
ing much of their lives to help others,
about the lives of polar bears. Climate
tion, preparedness and adaptation
while some rich people do not.
change is not just an environmental
altogether.” Annie seemed very clear
Maybe these points by these four
issue: it cannot be ignored even if
about what livelihood is and what
teenagers seem slight and subtle, but
they do not want to follow the green
sustainability is, and that both should
to me, they indicate substantial, mem-
way of life. Now, through the expo-
be equally treated. It’s easy to say, she
orable changes in the values of young
sure trip to the Philippines, the youth
said, but not easy to achieve.
people, bit by bit, over the whole trip.
Yvon shared this during a debrief-
who have to live with the problems
ing session. “Am I helping people
of climate change. The youth would
here? I am not sure. I have discovered
see, feel, and experience more of the
that in fact, I am someone who has
truths about climate change, and I, as
made their lives worse.” Yvon realised
their group leader, witnessed some
the impact of such habits as over
remarkable moments. One teenager
consumption, over logging, mining,
named Bryen, after staying with a host
and over air-conditioning. She saw
family, said, “Although I was in a very
that climate change is not only about
STOP CLIMATE CHANGE!
seem to do anything to help them.
Even before the trip, these Hong
would have direct contact with people
STOP POVERTY!
Learning never ends. It is one unified process. Spencer Lou is a member of Oxfam’s development education team and manages the Oxfam Club, an experiential educational project. Every year, since 2007, a new group of youth is formed.
To see Oxfam Hong Kong's 30-second trailer against climate change, visit: www.oxfam.org.hk/climatechange
One Change Leads to Another What comes to mind when you
Only 38.8 per cent of respondents
think of climate change?
see climate change and poverty as
A. Polar bears
being interrelated. However, when
B. Glaciers
asked whether or not climate change
C. Malnourished children
is threatening the livelihoods of poor
D. Rising sea level
people, 80 per cent said yes, but do
E. Income loss
not necessarily understand how.
Most people think of ecology first:
As for a sense of responsibility,
receding glaciers, melting icebergs,
56.8 per cent of respondents agree
the endangered habitat of polar
that the Hong Kong lifestyle has
bears, rising sea levels, disappearing
contributed to global warming and
beaches, and so on. Actually, all five
greenhouse gas emissions, and 40.8
answers are ‘correct’: climate change
per cent agree that we have helped
is also linked to, and is leading to,
cause climate problems in mainland
more malnutrition and less income.
China. Yet, only 36 per cent agree that
Millions of farmers are losing huge
Hong Kong residents should be held
parts of their harvest due to strange,
responsible for the problem.
unpredictable weather, such as ear-
When asked what the Hong Kong
ly floods and prolonged drought.
SAR Government can do to tackle cli-
Millions of people by coastlines have
mate poverty, 71.2 per cent agree that
less fish because water temperatures
setting a mandatory emission target
are higher and typhoons are disrupt-
would be helpful, and 25.5 per cent
ing animal life. The loss of people’s
see financial support to be helpful for
harvests – on land or sea – means less
poor people to cope better.
food and less money, so less school-
When asked what an individual
ing, less health care, and so forth.
can do, 83.2 per cent of the respon-
These people are already some of
dents show a willingness to take
the poorest people in the world, and
action, among which 30.5 per cent
climate change is making their pov-
see this being for the sake of the next
erty even worse.
generation, 28.4 per cent for conser-
“I want more rain.” This is the wish
here that our land is particularly dry.”
of a wheat farmer named Li Zhuang and
In Gansu, the average rainfall is only
probably 20 million other people in the
240 mm a year while the evaporation
very arid northwest province of Gansu,
rate is 1,775 mm.
all of whom are dependent on water for their lives and their livelihood.
Thanks to a Gansu-wide water conservancy project carried out twen-
Li and his family live in Jingyuan, in
ty years ago, the farmland around Li’s
the centre of Gansu. The county, up-
village is connected to an irrigation
stream on the Yellow River and perched
system which draws from the Yellow
high on a sandy plateau, is officially
River. Yet, Li’s land is one of the plots
designated as ‘poor’ by the national
farthest from the pump, so he often has
government. Residents here, a mix of
less water than others. One way that
Han Chinese and ethnic minority, are
he and other farmers are adapting to
used to drought and sandstorms, and
the drier climate is planting less wheat
the lack of trees and rain, but they say
and more potato, which is much more
the drought has intensified. Over the
drought-resistant.
past three decades, streams have been
The rainy season in the region is nor-
drying up, and a trend is emerging for
mally in August and September, and the
those who can afford it: migration away
rain is for crops as well as for people’s use
from the drought. Yet building a house
in their homes: rain is the major source of
elsewhere and preparing other land for
the domestic water supply in Gansu.
farming is not an option poor people can even begin to consider.
By Fiona Shek
the sandstorms. Unpredictable, they strike anytime, though most frequently
severe droughts, the first one in 1983
between March and May, and without
when he and his parents had to rely on
rain and humidity, they are becoming
food aid. “The second extremely dry
more and more common. Li’s family lost
past five years have been very dry, with
I Want More Rain
There is another season in Gansu:
Li Zhuang, 41, has experienced two
year is right now - 2008,” he said. “The
CLIMATE CHANGE - CHINA
a third of their wheat crop this year because of the sand.
Technology: in 2006, JCAST trained farmers in planting wolfberries (fea-
no rain at all this year. The wind is so
After the Spring planting, Li had to
tured on the cover). Drought-resistant,
strong that it drives away the rain clouds.
work in a coalmine for a month to support
the small red berry is used in treatments
Without rain, farming is difficult.” Li‘s
the family. “I know it’s dangerous work,
for the eye, kidney and liver. It is also
family farms 7 mu (just over one acre) of
but I had no choice. One day of work in
an ingredient in making soups and
land which only brings in a little income,
a mine brings in as much as 100 Yuan –
wine, and the bush can function as a
so they receive a monthly allowance of
at other jobs, it’s only around 40.“
sand barrier and fixer.
30 Yuan from the government.
Another way to increase people’s
In 2007, Li’s family invested 750 Yuan
“I don’t know much about climate
income has been introduced by a local
to plant wolfberries on 1.5 mu of their
change,” Li says. “I guess it is main-
non-profit organisation, the Jingyuan
land, and a year later, it is full of bushes.
ly because evaporation is so intense
County Association for Science and
Yet, there are no berries! “We just didn’t
Who and what has caused climate
vation and sustainable development,
change? People in wealthy, industri-
20.4 per cent for reducing the impact
alised societies are the major contrib-
of natural disasters on poor peo-
utors to the historical as well as the
ple, and 20.3 per cent for stopping
People often say that Hong Kong
current greenhouse gas emissions that
climate change from undermining
youth are too spoiled, uncaring, and
have brought global warming and
the achievements of poverty reduc-
other climatic changes. Meanwhile,
tion efforts.
it is people in poorer countries who
“Climate change is undermining
have been the least responsible for
Oxfam Hong Kong’s work against
climate change, but who are the ones
poverty. It is deepening poverty,” says
paying the consequences. With few
Stanley So, a policy officer with Oxfam
financial resources, it is very difficult
Hong Kong. “As a poverty alleviation
CLIMATE CHANGE - PHILIPPINES
unwilling to assume a real sense of responsibility. Yet, when forty teenagers
Not for Granted
and twenty-something’s stayed for six days in a poor village in the Philippines, they demonstrated maturity and took nothing for granted. Each youngster stayed with a local family, who welcomed them as their
By Nicole Lee
for them to cope with and recover
and humanitarian agency, Oxfam is
from climate disasters. (Oxfam esti-
helping at-risk people in develop-
own, smiling readily, often hugging,
mates that, in total, poor people in
ing countries to cope with climate
and serving their best food: sometimes
developing countries need at least
change through adaptation, sustain-
crab and lobster, even for breakfast. For
US$50 billion every year to be able to
able development, and disaster risk
fishers, this is the everyday fare, though
adapt to the climate crisis.)
management.”
not usually for the morning meal as
In Hong Kong, how many people
Now, with our Stop Poverty!
well! The youth wanted to return the
are aware of these links between
Stop Climate Change! campaign,
warmth and kindness; they wanted to
the climate and poverty? As part of
Oxfam calls on world leaders and
reduce the poverty gap; they wanted to
Oxfam’s new Stop Poverty! Stop
the United Nations to agree on a
contribute to justice. Could
Climate Change! campaign, Oxfam
climate deal that is fair to poor people
they? They felt real anxiety
Hong Kong recently commissioned
– the next UN meeting is in Poland in
about whether they could do
a sur vey to find out . In August
December 2008. Oxfam calls on the
anything or not.
2008, 515 people aged 16 or above
wealthier industrialised societies –
The 40 members of Oxfam
were interviewed, by telephone, in
including Hong Kong – to financially
Youth Club and Oxfam Youth
Chinese, in a poll conducted by the
support adaptation projects in poor
Campaign Partners travelled
Public Opinion Programme of the
countries: this is in line with the pol-
to the small non-touristic
University of Hong Kong. The find-
luter pays principle. Oxfam also calls
island of San Miguel (no rela-
ings of the Oxfam survey confirm
on the Hong Kong SAR Government
tion to the brewery!) as part
what we had suspected: Hong Kong
to adopt proac tive measures to
of Oxfam’s campaign against
residents have a low awareness of
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On
climate change and the pov-
how climate change is affecting poor
average, each Hong Kong resident
erty it brings. Residents of
people’s livelihoods. Oxfam has to
consumes 5,700 units of electricity a
change that before we can reduce
year and emits 5.5 tonnes of carbon
climate change.
dioxide.
www.oxfam.org.hk/climatechange
San Miguel told the Hong San Miguel, Philippines - with climate change, there are more typhoons and smaller harvests of fish and crops.
Kongers that typhoons are stronger now, and more frequent, and the damages of the 2006 super typhoon are still evident: roads remain torn up, trees uprooted, buildings stand in mud. With
Oxfam Hong Kong is working along-
FOOD PRICES CRISIS
side JCAST on a series of anti-poverty programmes in Gansu. Together, we are providing emergency support to endure the drought, introducing
Every fridge Tells a Story
drought-resistant crops, supporting vocational training with farmers, and promoting various eco-friendly technologies in rural communities, such as biogas and solar energy. Farmers are saving money as they do not have to spend much on charcoal, which emits
By Tung Tsz-kwan
carbon, and they do not need to cut
In July, Hong Kong’s food prices
place even though it does not always
cern. They do not look for bargains
down as many trees, which contributes
reached a 27-year high. The price of
work very well, sometimes gets too
when they shop for food. “What we
to erosion, deforestation and thickening
rice increased by a record 66.3 per cent,
cold, and has to be sealed up to make
care about is eating what we feel like
sandstorms. Women, who are typically
and overall, food cost us 19.7 per cent
sure it closes completely. Ah Lin, who
eating.”
responsible for cooking, benefit a lot, as
more than last July.
receives welfare, says, “in case I fail to
In another home, there is beef
make ends meet, at least I will still have
from the United States, fish from New
something to eat.”
Zealand, carrots from Japan, chili from
they save time and labour: the sun is free for cooking and boiling water.
Li Zhuang, a farmer in drought-stricken Gansu, is growing wolfberries - the drought-resistant fruit featured on the cover of O.N.E / photo: Tang Kong Fai
Ah Lin's refrigerator
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
JCAST is totally reliant on support
Nations, more than 925 million poor
Her fridge has food in different
Thailand, mint from Australia, most is
from NGOs such as Oxfam Hong Kong,
people - up 75 million from last year -
packages and containers. A rule of
organic food… It is only through the
foundations and the government.
are struggling to feed themselves and
thumb for her is to buy food in bulk:
logos of high-end supermarkets and
JCAST President Zhang Keqin says, “the
their families in the crisis, as the three
the unit price will be lower. If she buys
prices marked in Hong Kong Dollars
local government here is burdened
main staple grains – rice, wheat and
perishables, Ah Lin makes them last as
that we know that this fridge is in
with a deficit, so we receive little
corn – all hit record highs. According
possible. For fish, she will sprinkle it
Hong Kong.
funding from them for implementing
to The World Bank, rice was at a 19-
with salt, dry it in the sun, package it
In fact, the fridge is in the Mid-lev-
these adaptation programmes. It would
year high in early 2008 and wheat at
up for the fridge, and eat a little at a
els, a middle-class neighbourhood of
be good if funding came through from
a 28-year high.
time. Ah Lin has also come up a ‘cook
Hong Kong. It belongs to a Russian-
other sources.” With more support,
Poor people in developing coun-
and freeze’ method that saves her
Korean couple who have lived in many
JCAST and other groups can imple-
tries – primarily farmers and fishers
some money. She makes dried duck
places around the world because of
have money to buy a net to protect the
ment more anti-poverty projects across
– typically spend anywhere from 50 to
leg this way, cooking the whole leg,
their work. They say it always takes
crop from birds,” Li sighed, but seemed
Jingyuan and the region.
80 per cent of their income on food, so
drying it, slicing it and then freezing it.
time to adapt to a new place, and the
to take the setback in stride. “People
“I want more rain,” Li repeats, “and
the increase in prices means that they
For soups, she prepares a pot at a time,
wife elaborates, “coming to a new
say that the first harvest of wolf berries
a bigger rain storage tank.” During our
are eating less and less. In Hong Kong,
makes it highly condensed, as a soup
place, I don’t have any idea of the
is usually unsatisfactory anyway. I will
visit to Gansu, it rained for the first time
too, poor people are being hit the
base, and then stores it in the freezer.
local prices. So when I shop for food, I
work harder to make more money this
all year.
hardest. Their limited income, in one of
For meals, she will shave a few slices of
don’t care about the price. I am more
Fiona Shek is a member of the communications team of Oxfam Hong Kong. She visited Gansu with the artist, Lau Gukzik, as part of our campaign against climate poverty.
the most expensive cities in the world,
the duck leg, scoop a small amount of
interested in looking out for organic
is being stretched even further in the
the soup base, add water, and bring it
products since they are healthier.” The
face of inflation. About 18 per cent of
all to a boil.
beef in their refrigerator costs HK$65
year so that I can buy a net. We will get prepared for a big red harvest of wolf berries next autumn.”
Hong Kong’s population is poor, and
Another refrigerator in the exhibi-
per 100 grams.
the gap between rich and poor people
tion belongs to a married couple who
Earlier this year, Oxfam International
is at its widest ever.
rarely cooks at home. It has no ingre-
released a report, The Time is Now,
and how urban living habits can con-
Do we see people’s poverty? Do we
dient for making a homemade meal at
which made recommendations about
and sea, the fish are fewer and smaller,
tribute to global warming and other
see the inequity? One way to visually
all. Much of the space is taken up by ice
what governments and internation-
and people’s income less and less. San
changes in the climate.
communicate the reality and the
cream, pastries, soda and other sweets.
al agencies need to do to alleviate
There is one bowl of leftover soup.
the food prices crisis. Immediate aid
the warmer temperatures, of both air
The trip is over now – the youth are
disparity in Hong Kong is through ‘You
lems because it is situated right at sea
home. Yet their determination, pas-
Are What You Freeze’, an exhibition
Both the wife and the husband
was needed to prevent hunger and
level – much of Albay Province is.
sion and commitment remain. The trip
(and future book) of people’s refrig-
work during the day and take courses
malnutrition, as well as more small-
m e mb e r s have s e t up a blo g to
erators, an appliance which reveals a
in the evenings, so they rarely eat
scale agriculture. Since then, the Food
sure trip for all of these reasons, as well
share what they have learned in the
lot about a person’s taste, lifestyle and
dinner at home on weekdays. They
and Agricultural Organisation has
as for the fact that it is the first province
Philippines, and will host a big pub-
income status.
Miguel is at severe risk of further prob-
Oxfam selected Albay for the expo-
eat most of their meals out, or they
approved US$21 million to provide
bring take-away food home. Their fully
assistance for farmers in 54 countries.
in the country to begin climate adapta-
lic education-awareness event soon in
Refrigerators in the Mid-levels
tion work: the San Miguel community
Causeway Bay, one of Hong Kong’s busi-
tend to store imported food. Fridges
equipped kitchen is put into use only
Oxfam will continue to support com-
alone has carried out needs assessments
est shopping areas. They are doing what
of young middle-class couples may be
on weekends and holidays, sometimes
munity projects with people affected
they can to change.
filled with ice cream and other things
to prepare soup.
by the food crisis, and we will also con-
for their plans, which include reforestation, waste management, and devel-
The passion has not yet died down
sweet. Fridges in poorer homes are
“Life can be so hard – we’ve got
oping alternative ways of earning an
from an Oxfam trip held a full three years
usually filled with self-prepared food,
to have some sweet stuff to brighten
about policy changes.
income that are not so dependent on
ago, to Iloilo, also in the Philippines,
dried vegetables, herbal medicine, and
it up,” the couple says. After a busy
the climate. They have wanted to build
but focussing on issues of trade and
bulk items.
day, they long for some comfort, or
The ‘You are what you Freeze’ exhibition, supported by Oxfam, runs from 7-31 October at A-Link, 302-308 Hennessey Road, in Wanchai, Hong Kong. The exhibition is also online: www.hkcmp.org/fridgeproject.
a sea wall for protection, and started
poverty. When the Youth Campaign
Ah Lin’s refrigerator is second-
construction, but had to stop due to a
Partners 2005 heard that people in
hand, donated by a social service
with snacks, what they see as instant
lack of funds.
Iloilo were hit hard by Typhoon Frank/
organisation. She sees it as a wonderful
life sweeteners. Price is not a con-
During the trip, the youth met
Fengshen in June 2008, they decided
with staff from the Philippine Rural
to fundraise among themselves. They
Reconstruction Movement. They did
raised HK$9,300 (about US$1,200) and
physical work under the hot sun such
transferred the money directly to the
as planting jackfruit trees and clean-
organisation that worked with Oxfam
ing up the beach, which is not just for
to arrange the exposure trip. The
beautifying the scenery: when sand is
amount may not seem like a big sum of
clear of rubbish, it can better absorb
money to some people, but it reveals
the heavier rain and bigger waves of a
that the youth are more ready to give,
typhoon. They lived a low-carbon life,
than to take.
with no mobile telephone signal, no
To join Oxfam’s campaign against climate change: www.oxfam.org.hk/climatechange
Internet access, and limited electricity the island just got it two years ago, and not all homes are hooked up yet. Not all of the homes had running water either. Oxfam guided the youth to reflect on their ‘normal’ lives back in Hong Kong,
compensation, so they fill their fridge
Nicole Lee is a campaigner with Oxfam Hong Kong and manages the annual Youth Campaign Partners project.
Tung Tsz-kwan is the editor of Mokung, Oxfam's Chinese-language magazine, where this article first appeared.
TEN THINGS that people in Hong Kong are doing to save money on food 1. Eat two meals a day instead of three 2. Buy frozen meat, not fresh meat 3. Eat less meat 4. Freeze meat so that it can be easily, and thinly, sliced for use at more meals 5. Eat less steamed rice, more congee and noodles 6. Buy more food from Mainland China, especially rice 7. Purchase rice at rice retailers, instead of at super-
To visit the youths’ blog about their San Miguel trip: (http://oxfam2008ycp.mysinablog.com/index. php) (only in Chinese). For more about Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, an organisation that Oxfam has supported: www.prrm.org (only in English)
tinue to lobby world leaders to bring
markets, where the size of packages is fixed 8. Buy food in bulk together with neighbours Ah Lin’s fridge contains a lot of beans and other dried food, homemade soup stock, and herbal medicine she can take instead of paying to see a doctor / all photos courtesy of Hong Kong Community Museum Project
or friends 9. Buy canned food products in bulk from wholesalers 10. Buy soon-to-expire food at supermarkets
With the help of June Tsoi and Ken Wong, two interns from Hong Kong Design Institute, Oxfam has created two
The games are for all ages, but
one month of working – discussions,
Oxfam is especially targeting youth and
research and designing on the computer
have duly uploaded the games onto
– I understood more about my strengths
facebook and other sites.
and weaknesses, I should learn to
VOICE HONG KONG CLIMATE
Here is what the two designers have
express my opinions to the fullest, and
Six action groups call for carbon dioxide emissions to be capped in the Air Pollution
to say about creating the games with
explore different drawing styles. It was
Control Ordinance: right now, the Hong Kong SAR Government does not regulate
Oxfam:
a valuable working experience.
CO2 emissions of its two power companies, which account for about 70% of all CO2
JUNE TSOI, Oxfam game illustrator:
KEN WONG, Oxfam game programmer:
emissions. Please add your voice to this campaign (http://write-a-letter.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.
When I do design work, I often
I have heard a lot of people talking
Oxfam Hong Kong is also calling to stop climate change, to stop the poverty
rely on my personal interests and feel-
about climate change, but I had not
it is bringing around the world : http : / /w w w.oxfam.org.hk / public / contents /
The first game is an animated
ings to develop it. When making these
realised the seriousness of the problem.
category?cid=53988&lang=iso-8859-1.
quiz. The second, inspired by a popu-
climate change games for the public,
During the time I worked with Oxfam,
lar Japanese game called Taiko Drum
I had to think from several different
the weather was so bad and that made
Master that has two large drums at its
angles during the creative process. What
me feel even more uncomfortable. I do
five-foot-high console, goes through
kinds of games do people like? Should
love Hong Kong, and I’m afraid that
the steps that farmers are taking
I draw some cute characters to attract
I will lose this beautiful city, if life as we
OXFAM HONG KONG WEBSITE
to adapt to the different weather
people to play? What outfits are suit-
know it comes to the end because of cli-
www.oxfam.org.hk
able for the characters to wear? After
mate change.
new online games about poverty in the face of climate change.
patterns.
OXFAM BOOKS Oxfam International recently published “Joining
For more than a year, Oxfam has been running a campaign to institute a minimum wage for all workers in Hong Kong. Currently, we are giving many interviews to the press, setting up educational booths on the street, securing space in newspapers, placing large posters in the subway stations, printing pamphlets and postcards – all to gather support. Stephen To and Rush Cheung are students from Hong Kong Polytechnic University Department of Applied
HUMANITY AND ECONOMY: The Minimum Wage in Hong Kong
we interviewed them about their vision
the World Trade Organization: A non-government
of Hong Kong as a fair society, each of
perspective in the accession process” for least-
them reflected that one basic prerequisite is that people should be able to support themselves and their family with a decent salary. Hearing them share their ideas invigorated us to keep striving to legislate the minimum wage. “We did not only seek support
developed countries. The publication discusses the membership process of the WTO, step by step, and the lessons learned by five developing countries: Cambodia, Nepal, Tonga, Vanuatu and Vietnam. (The negotiations to become a member can take fifteen years, as in China’s case.) Oxfam offers an assessment on the technical assistance available to applicants, and suggests ways that countries can negotiate beneficial entry conditions. The 59-page
from celebrities. We recruited people
publication was financially supported by Oxfam Hong Kong and Oxfam Australia.
from all walks of life, including our
To order books: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/list
own friends and classmates. Some of them were reluctant at the beginning:
OXFAM in the NEWS
Social Sciences who have been working
they saw the minimum wage as a con-
as interns on the campaign for the past
troversial issue, worrying that it might
OXFAM INDIA
four months. These are their reflections
weaken the competitive advantage of
away, the huge floods in Bihar present a massive amount of work to do! The new
on the experience.
some lower-income groups. We replied
On the first of September, Oxfam India was founded. Straight
agency brings together resources from several existing Oxfam members: Oxfam Hong Kong, Oxfam Australia, Oxfam Great Britain, Intermon Oxfam (Spain), Oxfam Novib (in
“Working on the campaign has re-
to their concerns with evidence from
ally broadened our thinking about
other countries which have benefited
employment poverty. Deciding how to
from instituting the minimum wage.
convey the advocacy message to the
We provided Oxfam’s statistics and re-
UNESCO AWARD
public has been a particular challenge.
search on the issue. Such solid informa-
national Literacy Day, the UNESCO Confucius Prize for
One way to attract attention to Oxfam’s
tion was effective: many people in our
Literacy 2008 was awarded to Operation Upgrade,
campaign was through inviting 10 well-
circles agreed to support the cause and
an Oxfam-supported NGO which works with adult
known public figures including Lee Kin-
join Oxfam’s campaign.
learners, mostly women, in KwaZulu-Natal, South
wo (football player), Li Pang-fei (policy
“The minimum wage is not just
analyst), Chong Chan-yau (anti-poverty
about the economy, but humanity.”
activist), Cheung Chuiyung (journalist) and Anthony Wong (actor) to support the cause and join a media blitz. When
Tam Yuen-yan, a security guard who calls for the minimum wage
For more information on Oxfam’s campaign for the minimum wage: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/ public/contents/article?ha=&wc=0&hb=&hc=&revis ion%5fid=86266&item%5fid=86103)
the Netherlands) and Oxfam Trust. Please see www.oxfamindia.org for more.
On 8 September, Inter-
Africa. UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuuro said, “Operation Upgrade’s KwaNibela Project in South Africa offers an innovative approach to integrating knowledge about HIV and AIDS into literacy
Itumeleng Lebajoa (left) of Operation Upgrade receives award from Koichiro Matsuuro, of UNESCO
programmes.” Many residents in KwaZulu-Natal have little water and food (the area is sand veldt), little money, little education and only basic infrastructure. Operation Upgrade runs 28 adult literacy classes alongside food projects, seedling nurseries, HIV and AIDS and human rights education, and crafts projects.
Coral Development Education Workshop
(DE) as a key tool for reaching urban youth, teaching the youngsters more
This organisation is so new that
about poverty, urban development and
its name is still being processed. They
globalisation, and encouraging them to
will certainly use the word ‘coral’: the
take action as they can.
For more about Operation Upgrade and the award: http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ ev.php-URL_ID=57417&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
MOKUNG Oxfam Hong Kong publishes this quarterly magazine in
sea animal relies on interdependence
Currently, however, there is not
Traditional Chinese. Mokung, which means both “no poverty”
to survive, and the concepts of ‘living
enough training on DE for educators
and “infinity”, highlights a different aspect of development
side by side’ and ‘space for growth’
in urban China: materials are limited.
in each issue. The Editor is Tung Tsz-kwan. The latest edition,
are what this organisation values. They
As Oxfam Hong Kong is one of a few
in a new format, looks at food and inflation in Hong Kong.
believe that all people, of whatever
organisations supporting DE in China,
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/?lang=big5
race, sex, age, religion, education,
Coral proposed a project to create more
nationality, income level, are strongly
teaching materials, run three intensive
Every day, Oxfam Hong Kong works
interconnected, and as an organisation,
workshops with educators, develop a
alongside hundreds of groups around
Coral expects to make room for all of its
core team of facilitators, mainstream
the world, from small NGOs to inter-
partner groups to grow through train-
DE concepts and approaches, work
national bodies, from government
ing and networking on development
with youth on social development,
departments of developing countries
education – and Coral itself will grow
create a website and publications,
to community groups based in Hong
as well. For the past few years, three of
and overall, build a stronger DE net-
– it is free.
Kong. Here are 3 ‘partner organisa-
the Coral founders had been working
work for a stronger civil society. Coral’s
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/one/subscribe.html
tions’ that we are supporting for the
with other educational organisations
application was successful: the Oxfam-
first time.
that Oxfam Hong Kong had partnered
supported project started in Beijing in
with in the past.
September 2008.
NewPartnerOrganisations
CHINA
• Coral Development Education Workshop • Beijing Siruijiyuan Social Economy Counseling • Indie Film Workshop
In the metropolises of China, there is a wide disparity between the middle class and migrant workers, between
Mokung is online at www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/cate gory?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
Hong Kong
17th Floor, 28 Marble Road, Northpoint, Hong Kong
rich and poor people. Some academ-
O. N .E is also on-line: www.oxfam.org.hk/one
ics regard development education
Editor: Madeleine Marie Slavick (emagazine@oxfam.org.hk)
COVER: Wolfberries in Gansu, China / Tang Kong Fai
TWO INTERNS, TWO GAMES