April 2O1O
O.N.E Special: 20 million people in need of water: Drought in China JAPAN Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame launches a line of Fair Trade clothes ENGLAND Meet Anne MacCaig CEO of Cafédirect YUNNAN, CHINA Fair Trade is making a difference in women’s lives Hong Kong 52 Where to get Fair Trade Coffee (and 250 other things) Indie OFTEN a day of song, homemade tofu, soap and more
Illustration courtesy of Chopsticks
DROUGHT IN CHINA: 20 Million People Need Water By Keith Wong and Bonnie Kwok
Yunnan: ‘the worst drought in 100 years’
Guizhou: 86 out of 88 areas affected cow, which would normally sell for
In Guizhou, the drought began in
3,000 Yuan sold for only 1,600 in the
July. It is the worst drought on record.
drought, when many other farmers
There is a local saying that the east of
were also selling their livestock. Before
the province gets a ‘winter drought’
the drought, water was available
and a ‘summer drought’ while the
in the village; now residents had to
west gets a ‘spring drought’, yet,
walk farther and farther. “I really
nearly all of Guizhou – 86 out of 88
wish I didn’t have to sell it, but I had
cities/counties – is affected. About 5
no choice. A cow needs a lot of water,
million people and more than 2 million
and I need water too. I’m too old to
farm animals are in need of water,
have to go and walk and collect water
and 160,000 hectares of farmland
myself, so I had to sell the cow to have
will not yield any harvest. (Another
the money to buy water.” Ma cried as
540,000 hectares will have a severely
she told us her story.
reduced yield.)
Oxfam Hong Kong’s emergency
O n 10 March , Ox fam ru shed
relief programme began in Ma’s
to the county of Puan to conduct
village in early March 2010. Residents
assessments. Although we had heard
are now helping each other collect
about the harsh conditions there,
water, in new jugs from Oxfam. “One
we were shocked by the severity:
jug of water is good for a day: I first
the outlying villages had little or no
use the water to soak rice and to wash
water, and even the town centre was
vegetables, then to clean my face, and
rationing the supply.
then to feed the pigs. That way I can save water.”
YUNNAN: Ma Hua, age 90: “Never in my entire life have I seen such a drought.”
T he s eve rit y of the drou ght
billion Yuan.
In the township of Guanziyao, local government official Vice Secretary
Oxfam is working alongside various
Luo led us to three villages: Songgui,
local government units in the counties
Hongyan and Lazishu. In Songgui, Luo
of Chuxiong, Nanhua and Luquan
pointed to a field of wheat and said,
to assist affected people, especially
“We used compartmentalisation in
impoverished farmers, people with
this field to grow a high-yield wheat; it
disabilities , and ethnic minorit y
was the technology used in last year’s
communities. Specifically, Oxfam is
poverty reduction programmes. The
providing drinking water, water jugs
field was expected to yield as much as
and other supplies, allocating nearly
420kg of wheat, but with the drought,
700,000 Yuan in Yunnan. Oxfam has
it will yield nothing.”
in Yunnan is so extreme that the
One resident named Ma Hua,lives
many years of experience and strong
In Hongyan, Luo told us, “A special
expression ‘once in a hundred years’
alone in a remote village in Luquan.
community networks in the three
transplanting technique was employed
is being used by meteorologists and
“I’m 90 years old this year,” she says,
project areas, especially in Luquan,
in the canola fields. Each mu (0.07
farmers alike: the province has been
“and never in my entire life have I seen
where the agency has been working
hectare) was supposed to yield 270kg
in drought since September 2009.
such a drought.”
since 1992.
of canola, but this year no canola was transplanted at all due to the drought.
About 7.8 million people and 4.9
Ma used to have one cow, three
million farm animals are suffering a
pigs and fifteen chickens — these were
water shortage, and 945,000 hectares
her only assets. She has been unable
Our last village to assess was
of farmland will have no harvest at
to provide water for her livestock, so
the hardest hit and also the most
all. Economic loss is estimated at 17.2
she was forced to sell her assets. Her
impoverished. Its name ‘Lazishu’
The crop failed completely.”
O.N.E April 2O1O
A drought is causing widespread suffering for more than 50 million people across the southwest – more than 20 million people need water. Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan, three of China’s most impoverished provinces, have been hardest hit. Oxfam Hong Kong is assisting more than 50,000 people in these three provinces through emergency projects implemented with various local government units. The agency estimates that its humanitarian programme will need a total of HK$2.5 million, and welcomes donations.
CHUXIONG, YUNNAN: Oxfam Hong Kong and the Poverty Alleviation Development Office of Chuxiong Prefecture are providing emergency water systems in five communities. Oxfam’s emergency action in Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi includes providing drinking water, rice, materials for water storage units, and water containers (pictured).
Guangxi: drought relief in Bama and Lingyun means ‘chilli trees’– the trees here are
both human and livestock use.
so thin, like a piece of chilli. Lazishu is
Villagers tell Oxfam that with
a typical, high-altitude community:
two crop failures (of potato and
little infrastructure, few resources,
corn), they are short of food. Oxfam
very rocky if not barren soil, and as
is collaborating with the Chinese
in many other impoverished villages
Communist Youth League of Puan
across China, the residents are mainly
Count y to facilitate villager s to
elderly people, women and children.
transport water collectively, to provide
Many of the young adults live and
clean drinking water for one month,
work in the city.
and to supply two to three months
Collecting water is harder work
of food, depending on the severity
than ever. It can take several hours
of conditions. In Changshun, another
each day, walking back and forth.
badly-hit area, Oxfam is working with
Since several villages implemented
the Changshun County Committee
a programme to increase income
of the Chinese People's Political
through raising goats, people have to
Consultative Conference to implement
get water three or four times a day for
an emergency relief plan.
GUANGXI: Dried up crops
Guangxi has been experiencing drought since October 2009, with over 2.1 million people suffering from a shortage of water. Oxfam is working with the government of Bama County, where Oxfam has been working since 1995, to provide 6,150 residents with drinking water for one month. In Lingyun County, Oxfam is providing water equipment and covering watertransportation expenses for 2,865 residents of three ethnic minority villages. FOR PHOTOS AND INFORMATION on Oxfam’s response in China: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/ public/contents/press?ha=&wc=0&hb=&hc=&r evision_id=79219&item_id=78123 Oxfam Hong Kong has been working in Mainland China since 1987. The agency has supported more than 1,800 programmes in almost every province / municipality / autonomous region, allocating a total of more than HK$500 million. Keith Wong and Bonnie Kwok are members of the Policy, Campaigns and Communications Unit of Oxfam Hong Kong. GUIZHOU: A dried up reservoir
TO DONATE, call our hotline 3120 5000, or visit our website <www.oxfam.org.hk>
O.N.E April 2O1O
JAPAN, WITH LOVE from Emma
Emma Watson and friends model her new collection
by Madeleine Marie Slavick Five years ago, when the World
This is not a celebratory [sic celebrity]
involved, with more than 250 different
Japan in 1991 (ten years before they
Trade Organization met in Hong Kong
endor sement , this is something
products. A November 2008 survey
launched in England), they started
in 2005, there was a Fair Trade fashion
I thought was a really great idea and
indicates that about 18 per cent of the
out as an environmental NGO. The
show of organic cotton garments right
I wanted to help with… it's not made
population knows what Fair Trade is,
business now sources items from about
across the street from the meeting. It
using nasty chemicals, it's not going
but when the concept is explained,
50 Fair Trade groups in 15 countries.
was presented by Oxfam Hong Kong
to damage the environment and it's
about 80 per cent take an interest in
Their core customers are women,
and People Tree, one of Japan’s best
not going to make anyone sick or ill.
supporting it, especially women.
aged 25-40.
known Fair Trade brands.
And it's Fair Trade so you are actively
In Hong Kong, a 20 06 sur vey
Many companies in Japan have
helping someone who is living in poor
by Nielsen indicates a 73 per cent
joined the cause, including big chains
conditions.”
recognition rate. While Hong Kong
like Ion and the 24-7 convenience store Ministop.
More and more people are joining this ‘tree’ in Japan. Emma Watson, of Harry Potter fame, launched a new
Japan is crazy about Emma, who
and Japan of fer about the same
collection of handmade, organic and
turns twenty on the 15th of April.
number of products (250 +), Hong
Fair Trade clothes with People Tree in
Her collection, called ‘People Tree,
Kong seems to offer more spices and
late February. The clothes are made
With Love from Emma’, is for the 16-
food items in general, while Japan is
by fairly paid workers in Bangladesh,
24 market.
unique to offer fresh flowers: roses
India and Nepal.
How strong is the Fair Trade
Emma says on her website, “This
movement in Japan? More than 60
is not an Emma Watson clothing line.
companies and non-profit groups are
This farmer belongs to a coffee cooperative in Laos supported by Oxfam Japan
from Kenya and carnations from Colombia. People Tree is a pioneer. Set up in
For community groups, Alta Trade sells organic bananas from Mindanao, the poorest region of the Philippines, a country with several Fair Trade cooperatives. Alter Trade sells coffee from a cooperative in Laos supported by Oxfam Japan, which has been advocating for fairer trade ever since it was established, in 2003. For info on Fair Trade products in Japan: www.fairtrade-jp.org To wear Fair Trade clothes by Emma Watson: www.peopletree.co.uk/category/emma-watson/ Madeleine Marie Slavick is the editor of O.N.E. All images courtesy of People Tree
LEFT
The ‘School of Fair Trade’ design will go on a striped dress TOP
Here are two of the people who made Emma’s cardigan RIGHT
The screen-print for ‘Consumer Power Baby
O.N.E April 2O1O
O.N.E: What do you see as the potential for Hong Kong in the Fair Trade movement?
Cafédirect is the UK’s largest Fair Trade hot drinks company (coffee, tea and ho t choc olat e) and the first coffee brand to carry the Fair Trade trademark. Cafédirect was established with the support of Oxfam in 1989, when the collapse of the International Coffee Agreement impoverished millions of coffee farmers. I n 2004, Café d ire c t launched the largest ever ethical public share issue, allowing partners, consumers, employees, founders and other investors to own shares, to gain financial dividends and to have a say in the company’s governance. Cafédirect works alongside 260,000 coffee farmers in 40 groups in 14 countries; 34 of these groups opted to own shares in the company. The year 2009 was a good year: Cafédirect won the coveted Ethical Business of the Year Award by Triodos, and scooped up the most ‘Foodie Oscars’ at the Great Taste Awards. Oxfam Hong Kong brought CEO Anne MacCaig to Hong Kong at the end of March to be the keynote speaker of a Fair Trade conference. (see www.fairtradehk.org)
the developing world. In Sri Lanka, Cafédirect buys tea from Kelliewatte factory, a Fair Trade
well as to provide services to both their farmer members and to Kelliewatte estate.
registered estate. As well as the tea
Af ter training on tea hus-
MacC AIG : Hong Kong has great
grown in the estate, Kelliewatte buys
bandr y, Athapaththu, Chairman
potential in the Fair Trade movement.
leaf from the smallholder tea farmers
of the smallholder association in
There is an increased awareness
in the villages surrounding the estate
Mahaweligama village, has gained
of the Fair Trade concept as a result of
to process together with the estate
a new understanding of the tea
coverage in Hong Kong media and it
tea. There are three villages in the
plant lifecycle and is in the process
has never been easier to find Fairtrade
immediate vicinity of the factory.
of replanting tea bushes that exceed
products in supermarkets, shops run
The majorit y of the residents in
75 years. He has also started to pluck
by NGOs, and independent cafes.
these villages are smallholder farmers
leaf more frequently, resulting in an
Thanks to campaigns and events
– who cultivate a combination of
increase of the yield on his farm and
by Oxfam Hong Kong and Fair Trade
coffee, tea, paddy, vegetables and
the gross profit made. Learning the
Hong Kong to raise awareness and
spices. The residents of one of these
proper technique for plucking is also
understanding of Fair Trade, an
villages, approximately 113 families,
resulting in a better quality tea being
increasing number of people in Hong
are originally from another village
sold to Kelliewatte.
Kong are developing an interest in
and were internally displaced in 1984
Fair Trade.
when the construction of a dam meant
Cafédirect launched in Hong Kong
their village was swamped. They were
in 2007. The expat communities were
originally paddy farmers and only took
the first to purchase as they were more
up tea farming in the 1980s.
O.N.E: Are there more men or women farmers with Cafédirect? Cafédirect works with more male farmers than female farmers, but
aware about Fair Trade. The ethnic
Cafédirect invests over 50 per
we cons tantly seek to empower
Chinese community is now by far the
cent of its profits in tailor-made
women in the communities we work
main component of the Cafédirect
programmes to strengthen growers’
in partnership with.
consumer base.
businesses (our Producer Partnership
O.N.E: Is there a story behind the Cafédirect logo?
An impor tant point is that
Programme). Since Cafédirect started
Cafédirect products are reasonably
trading with Kelliewatte in 2006,
priced in Hong Kong, with the ground
Cafédirect’s investment has focused
The Cafédirect logo represents
cof fee blend s selling at around
on working with the smallholders
our ‘virtuous circle’ – the investment
HK$50.
to strengthen their organisational
made by Cafédirec t into grower
skills, improve their knowledge of
organisations which leads to better
tea husbandry, and develop a closer,
quality coffee, tea and cocoa, then
more direct relationship with the
more consumer demand, and increased
Kelliewatte factory. Early focus was
sales.
Cafédirect products are available in Wellcome and Park N Shop.
O.N.E: Right now, in Asia, Cafédirect works with coffee farmers in two countries, India and Sri Lanka. Please tell us a story of one of the producer groups there.
on organising the smallholders into
Each pack of Cafédirect shows a
associations – which have a total of
tool used to grow this coffee, a photo
124 members. In June 2008, all three
of a grower who grew it, a hand-
associations were legally registered
written signature of this person and
Cafédirect buys its crops from
under Sri Lankan law. Their next goal
their personal quote that helps us
260,000 farmers in 14 countries around
is to pursue Fairtrade certification as
appreciate the expertise involved.
SRI LANKA: A.M.N.K Athapaththu, a tea farmer and Chairman of the Diriya Smallholder Association, says, "Before training we didn’t have a good understanding about using fertilisers or the life cycle of tea plants. We have old plants (over 75 years old) and realise we should replant… We receive support from Cafédirect and now produce high quality and healthy tea."
KENYA: Anne MacCaig with children near a vegetable patch in Michimikuru
TANZANIA: Anne MacCaig discussing the UK market with members of Rungwe Smallholders Tea Growers Association, a Fair Trade registered group / All photos courtesy of Cafédirect www.cafedirect.com
O.N.E April 2O1O
HONG KONG 52 52 places to buy Fair Trade Coffee & other fair items Hong Kong offers more than 250 Fair Trade products, everything from rice and oil, to honey, salt, wine and footballs. Go to <www.FAIRTRADEhk.org> for info.
DRINK A CUP IN PUBLIC at cafes, clubs, restaurants… 1
Bookworm Café / www.bookwormcafe.com.hk / Lamma
2
Brunch Club, Brunch Club and Supper / www.brunch-club.org / Central, Causeway Bay
3
Café O / www.cafeo.hk / all locations
4
Club 71 / 2858 7071 / Central
5
Crossroads International / www.globalhandicrafts.org / Tuen Mun
6
Eat Right / www.eatright.com.hk / Central
7
Healthy Lane Café / Two locations in Central
8
Kubrick / www.kubrick.com.hk / Yau Ma Tei
9
Life / www.lifecafe.com.hk / Central
10 Pacific Coffee / www.pacificcoffee.com / Crema Scura Expresso at all locations 11 Simply Organic / www.simply-organic.com.hk / Causeway Bay 12 World Peace Café / www.worldpeacecafe.hk / Wanchai 13 Xen Coffee / www.xencoffee.com / Quarry Bay
at schools and universities… 14 Chinese University of Hong Kong / Women Workers’ Cooperative Store www. hkwwa.org.hk/?page_id=20 15 Hong Kong University / HEA Concept Store w3.cedars.hku.hk/ counselling/content/heastore.php 16 Ho Tung School / periodically offers coffee 17 King George Fifth (KGV) / offers coffee 18 Yew Chung International School (Secondary) / offers coffee 19 Lingnan University / Trueheart Society / 2464 5943
at trade fairs + other public events… 20 Fair Trade Fair 2007, 2008, 2010 21 Fair Trade Week 2009 22 Hong Kong Food Expo 2008, 2009, 2010
O.N.E April 2O1O
DRINK AT HOME
DRINK AT WORK
places to buy coffee to prepare yourself...
many members of Fair Trade Workplace Society offer coffee in their pantry/café…
23 Beauty of Grace / www.beautyofgrace.org / Kwun Tong 24 Boncafe / www.boncafe.com / Tsimshatsui
Asia Financial Holdings Asia Insurance
25 Breakthrough Youth Village / Sha Tin
A-World Consulting
26 City’super / www.citysuper.com / Various locations
AWTC (Lo + Lam) Consultancies
27 Club O / www.club-o.org / Mong Kok
Carthy C.K. Lo + S. Lam
28 Crossroads International / www.globalhandicrafts.org / Tuen Mun
Crossroads International
29 Fair Circle / www.hkfairtradepower.com / Jordan
DLA Piper Hong Kong
30 FAIRTASTE / www.fairtaste.org / Kwai Chung
FAIRTASTE Financial Dynamics Asia
31 GOURMET / www.aswatson.com / Causeway Bay
Henderson Land
32 Great / www.aswatson.com / Admiralty
Hobby Horse Toys
33 Green Concepts Health Shop / www.naturalhealing.com.hk / Causeway Bay
Hong Kong Convention + Exhibition Centre The Hong Kong and China Gas
34 Green Cottage / www.ymcagrassroots.org/Web2007Oct/cottage.htm / Lamma
The Hong Kong Council of Social Service
35 Health Gate / ww
Hysan Development
w.health-gate.com / Central
36 HKCSS – HSBC Social Enterprise Business Centre / www.se-mart.org.hk 37 JUSCO / www.jusco.com.hk
The Hong Kong Institute of Education J + H Company / One J + H Company / Harlan’s KEEP Consulting
38 Market Place by Jasons / www.marketplacebyjasons.com / Various locations
Mainland Headwear
39 Marks and Spencer / www.marksandspencer.com / All locations
NWS Holdings
40 MUJI / www.muji.com.hk / All locations
Marks and Spencer (Asia Pacific) ONC Lawyers Oxfam Hong Kong
41 Oliver’s / www.dairyfarmgroup.com / Central
The Royal Bank of Scotland
42 The Oxfam Shop / www.oxfam.org.hk / Causeway Bay and Central
Urban Group
43 PARKnSHOP / www.parknshop.com / Selected shops 44 Protrek / www.protrek.com.hk/oxfam_corner.htm / Kowloon Bay
WITH STARS
45 Rise Plus / www.riseplusgroup.com / Central
These stars support the movement and have had a cup or two…
46 St. John’s Cathedral Bookstore / www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk/fairtrade.html / Central
at17
47 Simply Organic / www.simply-organic.com.hk / Causeway Bay
Jim Chim (pictured on page 6)
48 SOGO (Boncafe) / www.sogo.com.hk / Causeway Bay
Craig Au Yeung Karena Lam Wong Yiu Ming (Anthony Wong)
49 Starbucks / www.starbucks.com.hk / Estima (coffee beans) 50 TASTE / www.aswatson.com / Kowloon Tong 51 ThreeSixty / www.threesixtyhk.com / All locations 52 Wellcome / www.wellcome.com.hk / Various locations
Fair Trade football game, 13 March: the ball was made in Pakistan and is sold in Hong Kong
WITH WHOLE cities… there are more than 650 Fairtrade-certified villages / towns / cities / regions in the world. When will Hong Kong join the list? go to <www.oxfam.org.hk/ONE//200910/index.html> for more on Oxfam Hong Kong and Fair Trade
Oxfam Hong Kong colleagues support Fair Trade. Oxfam Hong Kong is a full member of the World Fair Trade Organization as of March 2010
O.N.E April 2O1O
FAIR TRADE in YUNNAN, CHINA Words and photos by Stephanie Cheung
(left to right) Stephanie Cheung, Oxfam; a Yunnan craftswoman who made the tassels and straps; Gale Lok, Chopsticks designer of the fai-chuen; Gale's partner
The Zhuang minority are known for their embroidery skills, and the
earned from the women’s embroidery products.
‘fai-chuen’ – the traditional couplets
These women in Pingzhai, a small
that families put on either side of their
village in Yunnan Province in the
doorways to greet the Lunar New Year
southwest of China, are primarily
– are a testament to this.
subsistence farmers: canola, rice and
The fai-chuen double as
maize. They eat what they grow.
decorative bags, so they can be used
To earn cash to pay for school fees,
year-round.
health care and other expenses, some
This Year of the Tiger, special fai-chuen were made for the Hong
residents go into towns and cities to find jobs.
Kong market. Red. Yellow. Blue. Pink.
Now, with Fair Trade right in the
Bright colours for bright wishes: ‘ji
village, women can earn income at
xiang’ is a wish for good luck, and ‘ru
home. Families can stay together,
yi’ a wish that one receives what the
people can afford health care, and
relations, and recognise the value of
heart desires.
children are able to go to school.
their culture and traditions.
Group leader Li Jinfeng put her income towards building a new house
The fai-chuen take about 28 hours
The idea for the Fair Trade fai-chuen
How did the money earned
to make. The first step is choosing
came from Chopsticks, a new company
from the fai-chuen assist families in
colours and patterns, then cutting,
in Hong Kong, while the project was
Pingzhai? Women told Oxfam that
mounting, embroidering stitch by
facilitated by Oxfam Hong Kong.
they have spent the money for their
tiny stitch, assembling the tassel from
Yet, the women’s embroidery group,
children's education, and for seeds and
thread, making the strap, folding cloth
under the Women’s Development
fertilisers. Two women went to see a
into intricate button-clasps, and then
Group of Pingzhai, originally began in
doctor with their earnings. Li Jinfeng,
sewing the panels together.
2007 through the coordination of the
the group leader, put her money
Everything is done by hand except
Rural Social Work Research Centre of
towards building a new house.
for the last step of connecting the
Yunnan University. The Centre wanted
Oxfam has a few fai-chuen left.
two panels. That step is done by the
to assist the women to earn income,
To order yours, filled with Fair Trade
one sewing machine in the village – a
participate in community affairs, equal
cashew nuts from Vietnam, give
machine purchased with the income
out the power imbalance in gender
Oxfam a call at 852 - 3120 - 5273.
For more background on the fai-chuen project, go to: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/pres s?ha=&wc=0&hb=&hc=&revision_id=76822&it em_id=73918 Stephanie Cheung works on Fair Trade with Oxfam Hong Kong. She visited Yunnan, China, in late 2009.
O.N.E April 2O1O
OH HEAR… Here are the lyrics of ‘Into the Fair’, a song written for OFTEN, twelve hours of organic, Fair Trade and environmental friendly fun, food, workshops, crafts, music, talks on nutrition, and more…
Oh hear the suburban scream Beyond the arch of the stream This is where blood and sweat reconcile We are the same, you and I Please stop impairing my kind We need no technology but love How would you feel if fairness turns unreal? Refine, the meaning behind Then hope will soon be found We've got to make a stand Fight with our bare hands Heal this no man’s land Verse
It's just a little story About the adventure of an ignorant man He knows no history Why the farmers leave their lands in despair; done for in empty hands They've got little from what they've grown In this free but unfair world Finally he's learnt about the evil of the system And addresses the problem So he sings... Chorus
Give them a chance, help them lead a better life Help them sustain their culture and living Everything will go right way up As we spread this message of love Music by Innisfallen, Modern Children and Velvette Vendetta Lyrics by Erik Piece (Innisfallen) and Jacky Ho (Velvette Vendetta) Vocal and Guitars: Jacky Ho (Velvette Vendetta), Erik Piece (innisfallen) Vocal and Bass: Kenneth Tsang (Modern Children) Drums & Background Vocal: Marvin Lee (In Love and Pain!) China Drum & Background Vocal: Jan Lo (Qiu Hong)
OFTEN was brought to you by www.CHOPSTICKS-co.com, the same energetic company behind the Year of the Tiger fai-chuen. (See page 8) Ten per cent of the proceeds of OFTEN were donated to Oxfam Hong Kong. Both Visuals Courtesy of Chopsticks / Concept and Photos by Magic Circle Studios
O.N.E April 2O1O
O.N.E April 2O1O
10
5
N e w PartnerOrganisations
Every day, Oxfam Hong Kong works alongside hundreds of groups around the world, from small NGOs to international bodies, from government departments of developing countries to community groups based in Hong Kong. Here are 5 ‘partner organisations’ that we are supporting for the first time. CAMBODIA • 3S Rivers Protection Network
CHINA
• Non-Timber Forest Products • Guangxi / Department of Ethnic Affairs of Bama County
• Yunnan / Runtu Mutual Aid Working Group
(a volunteer group under the Yunnan Youth Development Foundation)
VIETNAM
• The Center for Water Resources Conservation and Development
In this edition of O.N.E, we highlight the 3S Rivers Protection
The focus of the Oxfam-3SPN programme is on capacity building
Network, a civil society organisation representing about 64,000
for communities, community mobilisation, advocacy networks, public
indigenous people in Cambodia who live along three rivers beginning
awareness raising on the impacts of dams and the rights of indigenous
with the letter ‘s’ – the Sesan, Srepok and Sekong, which is part of the
people, promoting “best practice” environment and socio-economic
greater Mekong River basin.
development policies, and promoting multi-stakeholder and multi-level
Usually called 3SPN for short, the NGO is based in Ratanakiri, a
dialogue and cooperation. The programme is due to assist about 31,000
province in the northeast, which is a focus area of Oxfam Hong Kong’s
people in 74 villages from now until the end of 2011. (The programme
work in the country.
will also extend to 2012.)
Hydropower dam construction is impacting the livelihoods of many
Established in 2001, 3SPN focuses on river protection and advocacy
poor communities in the Mekong Basin: flash flooding from released
related to dams, two areas that other NGOs in the country are relatively
water; environmental destruction due to construction; reduced water
less experienced in. 3SPN engages with NGOs at the provincial, national
quality; forced relocation; and severely affected livelihoods. Oxfam
and regional level and is officially registered with the Ministry of the
Hong Kong is supporting 3SPN on community-based initiatives to
Interior. They currently employ twelve staff members, of whom seven
restore natural resources and to improve the quality of people’s life.
are women.
MOKUNG
O.N.E Oxfam News E-magazine is published monthly, at www.oxfam.org.
The focus of the March edition
hk/ONE.
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when purchasing items connected to
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O.N.E (Oxfam News E-magazine) is published monthly by Oxfam Hong
poverty and its injustice.
Kong, 17th Floor, China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point,
Published by Oxfam in Traditional
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