O.N.E October 2010

October 2O1O

An entry by Vu Phuong Mai for an Oxfam drawing competition in Vietnam, ‘The Climate is Changing, So is Our Life’

This edition of O.N.E marks both World Food Day and World Poverty Day, with a range of Oxfam Hong Kong stories from around the world.

Climate Change, Food and Poverty in China

Salute to a Fighter against Poverty

Meet a woman who lives in a big city but by a forest. She teaches both students and teachers, writes books about animals, eats organic food, and once had about one thousand worms in her home. Meet Olivia Yong of Oxfam Hong Kong’s Development Education team.

Oxfam Hong Kong remembers Mou Yichao, our late staff member who was based in Lanzhou, China.

One Person in Media Thomas Lau talks about climate change in Hong Kong and India, NGO work in Hong Kong and in Europe, and perceptions of global issues. Thomas Lau is Media Lead with the Policy, Campaigns and Communications Unit, Oxfam Hong Kong.

Food Aid following two Earthquakes in China China was struck by two severe earthquakes in the past two years. One hit just before the rainy season; the other during snowfall. One affected mainly Han Chinese and Muslims, and the other, predominantly Tibetans. Did the food aid reflect these differences?

People in Gansu, a northwestern province of China, have been struggling with six years of drought. They are meeting the challenge with farming drought-resistant potato and alfalfa and herding a special breed of sheep.

Animals, Humans, Beings

The Climate is Changing; Food is Changing Too Eight photographs show how farmers are changing the way they grow their food.

Across Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Philippines and Vietnam, farmers are adjusting their crops and the way they work their land.

8 New Partner Organisations This edition of O.N.E highlights the Center for Poverty and Rural Governance Studies for its innovative policy research.

Salute to a Fighter against Poverty

By Brenda Lee

Oxfam Hong Kong staff member Mou Yichao passed away in a tragic car accident on 18 September while on his way to visit a project site in Yushu, Qinghai Province, an area that suffered severe damage in an earthquake in April 2010. Yichao, the Rural Development and Disaster Management Assistant Programme Officer, had been with Oxfam for just over one year.

Yichao (second from right) will be remembered and missed by all the villagers whose lives he touched.

I first met Yichao in early September, when I was in Gansu on a work assignment.

Before departure, we exchanged emails and talked over the phone to arrange all the details of the visit, and he sent me all

Yichao (centre) talked easily with villagers.

Here he is with Brenda Lee (author) and a Muslim man.

Photos courtesy of Brenda Lee, Donor Communications Officer with Oxfam Hong Kong.

the related project documents before I could ask. He reminded us to bring warm clothes just in case of cold weather, and despite his busy work schedule, he picked us up at the Lanzhou train station. I was already touched by his unique qualities – amiability, compassion, attentiveness – before I met him face to face.

collecting straw by the roadside. Again,

after generation. I am 40 now and I want

he walked up to her asking, “How is life?

to do something more for poor people,

A fighter against poverty since birth, Yichao

Are you taking part in our project? How

and I think Oxfam provides me with a

felt at home in villages and befriended

do you think the project can help you?”

good platform.”

every one who took part in his projects.

He chatted with her for a while. Yichao

He enjoyed talking with people in their

showed real concern for the well-being of

On the last day of my stay in Lanzhou, we

homes and helping them find solutions to

the villagers; he took his job seriously and

had dinner at another colleague’s home

overcome poverty. “Every villager has an

wholeheartedly.

until about 11 pm. Yichao was very eager

interesting story, if we can stay in a village

to go home to see his wife and son, yet

for a few days at least, we will get to know

Yichao had worked with a local NGO for

he insisted on escorting us back to our

more about their struggles, difficulties,

many years before joining Oxfam Hong

hotel first. He smiled and waved to say

and lives,” he said to me when we visited

Kong about a year ago. Out of curiosity,

goodbye to us and headed home. His smile

people in their homes in Pingliang, Gansu.

I asked him why he made this move? I

is stamped in my mind.

On the way, we came across a mother

remember he smiled at me and turned

working in a field of maize while taking

to look out over the valley before us. A

A goodbye isn't painful unless you're never

care of her two little children at the same

cool breeze embraced us. “You know,

going to say hello again. Yichao, I know we

time. Yichao walked into the field and

across the valley is another province called

will meet again someday in another place

greeted the mother, “How is work today?

Ningxia. Traditionally, this is a Hui ethnic

where there is no sorrow, poverty, disaster

How is the harvest?” A few minutes

minority region. Water is very scarce there

or injustice. You will be remembered and

later, we ran into an elderly woman

and they live difficult lives, generation

missed.

O.N.E October 2O1O

ONE PERSON in Media

Thomas Lau

Madeleine Slavick, Editor, O.N.E: Tell us

Thomas: We visited two villages there.

uncomfortably and thinking, “Is there

about a typical day at Oxfam Hong Kong.

It was very hot and dry. The road seemed

one, really?” Fortunately, a colleague from

like a path through a desert. Outside the

Oxfam Ireland managed to compose herself

Thomas Lau: I check my emails every

window, we were told there was farmland,

and said, “Maybe not technically… but if all

morning before I come into the office, as

but all I could see was dry white land that

the world leaders can come together to face

I always have this nagging feeling that a

looked more like sand, sometimes with

this issue, there will be a solution.” I let out

disaster might have happened overnight. I

a yellow sheen. No green in sight. When

a sigh of relief, but I can still see the piercing

want to be mentally prepared for the day’s

I saw soil, there was invariably a dry crack. I

eyes of those farmers.

expectations and priorities – or whether

was confused at what I was supposed to be

I might receive certain enquires from the

seeing. Overwhelmed with the vastness, we

O.N.E: What and when is this UN meeting

media.

were largely silent. A village representative

coming up in Tianjin, China? What does it

explained to us that the ‘reservoir’ we were

mean and what will you be doing?

I do not have the luxury to concentrate on

apparently seeing only has water for a few

just one issue or project; I cover a range of

months of the year after the monsoon.

Thomas: The next meeting of the UN

issues and deal with many different types

It dries up soon after, and the water is so

Framework Convention on Climate Change

of media outlets. On paper, I do advocacy

tainted with disease that it can only be used

(UNFCCC) will be held from the 4th to the 9th

communications, namely on Climate

for tending animals and farmland. Still, the

of October in Tianjin, a large city in northeast

Change, Fair Trade and Corporate Social

thought that what we were seeing could

China. It is the first time for China to host one

Responsibility, which are Oxfam Hong

be a reservoir seemed unbelievable. These

of these UN meetings on climate change. It

Kong’s main campaigns now. Yet, I also

farmers basically have no livelihood they can

is significant because it is the last round of

cover media work around humanitarian

depend on – just that! We drove through

negotiations before the next big meeting in

crises, plus a lot of dealing with Oxfam

this bareness for about an hour or so before

Mexico (from 29 November to 10 December).

International affiliates on media issues,

we reached one of the project villages.

Oxfam Hong Kong has been active, and

working on strategy, planning media

will remain active, throughout all of these I will never forget when a farmer asked us

important meetings of the UNFCCC. Since

– in translation – about the climate crisis,

Tianjin is relatively nearby – Oxfam Hong Kong

O.N.E: You recently traveled to Rajasthan,

which had effectively killed his crops and his

is closer than any other Oxfam International

India, for some meetings on climate change.

livelihood. He asked, “Is there a solution?”

affiliate – we will be leading the media work

How did you see people's food supply being

We were stumped. S T U M P E D. It was

around this. I will take the role of global

affected?

a quintessential moment. I was shifting

media lead, coordinating the media work.

responses, and reactive lines and such.

Thomas and the dry land of Rajasthan, India.

Indian villagers dance to entertain Thomas and his team during their visit to the farming community.

Photos courtesy of Thomas Lau / Oxfam Hong Kong

O.N.E October 2O1O

O.N.E: You have also conducted an impact

in Europe would be that it showed me there

explanation that we are not a charity but a

survey of Climate Change in Hong Kong. Tell

is more to the world than the stock market

development agency. We are trying to make

us a little bit about it.

and property prices. I met some of the

permanent social and economic changes in

most amazing people, and made amazing

systems – at the family, community, national

Thomas: It is a public survey on how

friendships. I met people with very different

and international levels. Media work is part

residents here view climate change and its

backgrounds and life experience, such as

of this – to make changes in the way people

impact. We have found that more than 90

people who grew up in extreme poverty

think, to influence policy and politicians,

per cent of the population does recognise it

and in war zones. I remember I was once

and the like. In the end, we want poor

as an issue that has dire effects on people,

told to stop complaining so much about the

people to have better opportunities and

such as people who work outdoors, elderly

inefficiency of the Belgian system: my friend

more power in the long term, not just more

people and chronically ill people. Yet, many

from Romania pointed out that when he

food and income for a day or two.

still view it mostly as an issue related to the

was a teenager, he would wait in a queue

natural environment. They do not seem to

every morning at 3 a.m. for bread and

O.N.E: It is World Food Day coming up.

recognise the role of policy in the solution.

milk for his family. That really put things in

What are five of your favourite foods and

(The survey is available on Oxfam Hong

perspective for me.

why.

I feel that in Hong Kong, people tend to

Thomas:

O.N.E: You speak English and Chinese

have a limited world view. I get annoyed

Caesar’s salad / the sauce is tasty and it

fluently. How does this help as a media

when people here use terms like “financial

makes me feel like I am being healthy.

person in Hong Kong?

tsunami”. The fact that people can equate

Xiaolongbao / I like that hot soup inside

the huge humanitarian disaster of 2005

the dumplings. It is warm and tasty, like a

Thomas: Well, although I am from Hong

(when many people here first learned the

wrapped gift of food.

Kong, in most of my education and career

term “tsunami”) with a stock market crash

Instant noodles / I have probably had this

I have rarely used Chinese. It has only been

says a lot about how they view the world.

at least once a week since I was 15, when I

since I joined Oxfam in 2009 that I began

The global financial crisis has done a lot of

started living by myself.

using it more and more. In some ways, the

damage, but even when markets are good,

Sago mango pudding / At this traditional

more languages you know, the more it helps

huge numbers of people in Africa, the

restaurant in North Point, where Oxfam’s

to communicate. Yet, I truly believe that

Middle East and Asia remain poor.

office is, you need to book a day in advance

Kong’s website, www.oxfam.org.hk)

to get this pudding. It is so rich in flavour

when it comes to successful communication, it also comes down to how you say things –

I have learned that in this town – my

that you feel like the world is going to be

not only what you say. I worked in French-

hometown – people also have a very limited

okay. The ultimate comfort food!

speaking countries for a long time, yet my

view of what an NGO is and does. Oxfam

Tarte Flambé / A thick crust pizza-like dish

French was sometimes incomprehensible.

is my first NGO in Hong Kong, and the way

that is famous in Alsace, a region in France

Still, I managed to have a good career

that the agency is perceived as a charity by

where I used to live. It is traditional, very

working as a media person there, because

the mainstream is a kind of cultural shock

tasty and I really cherish it (and miss it!).

of what I said.

for me – even though I know the culture here, as I grew up here and have been a

O.N.E: For World Poverty Day, what

O.N.E: What is similar and what is different

journalist here. But I like to think I am now

statement would you like to make?

about the NGO sector in Europe and Hong

working to change that limited perception.

Kong?

It’s just as important for an NGO to hire

Thomas: I hope to be able to see in my

efficient and effective people, not just “nice”

lifetime that a day against world poverty

Thomas: In Europe, I was working with a

people, which to me is a bit “patronising”.

becomes obsolete. Also, I am a true believer

conflict crisis NGO in Brussels, and another

A lot of my colleagues here work really hard

that whatever happens in one part of the

human rights advocacy NGO there as well.

and have a much bigger world view than

world affects other parts too.

Later, I worked with a scientific research NGO

most people I know here. When someone

in France. Doing communications work for

says, “Oh, you do charity work at Oxfam,” I

all of them, my comment on my experience

usually take a deep breath and go into a long

Thomas Lau is Media Lead with the Policy, Campaigns and Communications Unit of Oxfam Hong Kong

O.N.E October 2O1O

Food Aid Following Two Earthquakes in China

By Madeleine Marie Slavick

QINGHAI EARTHQUAKE:

SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE:

Survivor Lang Jie (right) with volunteers of an Oxfam-supported organisation. Lang Jie suffered from severe anxiety, sleeplessness, frequent nightmares, and a fear of leaving her tent, which she shared with her frail elderly mother, her nine-month-old child, and husband. In any disaster, lactating women often have difficulty producing enough milk; Oxfam Hong Kong prioritises special needs like this in aid delivery. / Photo: Aman Yee / Oxfam Hong Kong

An Oxfam Hong Kong colleague (left) interviewing three members of an extended family to determine their needs. The woman in the centre is 102 years old. In any disaster, Oxfam Hong Kong provides appropriate food, such as paste-like food for elderly people who may or may not have enough teeth to chew certain foods. We also provide nutritious food, not fast food items such as instant noodles. / Photo: Oxfam Hong Kong

China was struck by two severe

survivors, community groups and

as their main food aid. Oxfam provided

earthquakes in the past two years: the

government bodies to identify needs

items that are basic staples of the

“5.12” (12 May 2008) earthquake with

and gaps in service delivery so as not

Tibetan diet: 20 tonnes of roasted barley,

the epicentre in Sichuan, and the 14

to overlap. In distributing food aid

10 tonnes of tsamba (processed barley

April earthquake in Qinghai in 2010.

we gave special assistance to children,

which is ready to eat), 1 tonne of butter

Following each disaster, Oxfam Hong

elderly people and ethnic minorities.

and 200 boxes of Chinese noodles. This

Kong worked to address people’s specific

We provided black sesame paste to

food delivery was made possible by

needs. In Sichuan, the disaster struck

elderly people, many of whom had

working with an alliance of NGOs based

just before the rainy and hot season; in

difficulty chewing food as they had lost

in Qinghai. Extra steps that Oxfam took

Qinghai, there was significant snowfall.

their teeth. For children we distributed

included conducting needs assessments

Sichuan generally has bigger cities,

a nutritious beverage. For Muslims we

in the tents where people were staying,

better infrastructure and less poverty,

provided Halal food, including preserved

as many people were in deep shock and

while Qinghai is largely rural and poverty

tubers. In addition, Oxfam Hong Kong

were too afraid to leave their tents once

is more severe. In Sichuan, the affected

personally supervised the delivery of

they were provided one. This would

people were mainly Han and Hui

about 370 tonnes of rice, 240 tonnes

have meant they might not receive food

(Muslims) and in Qinghai, predominantly

of flour, and about 40,300 bottles of

aid. Supplies were therefore delivered

Tibetan.

vegetable oil.

to convenient and nearby public spaces, where people could more easily collect

Following the 5.12 quake, Oxfam

In Qinghai, many temples and community

conducted its own assessments with

groups tended to supply instant noodles

them.

O.N.E October 2O1O

Climate Change, Food and Poverty in Gansu, China Text and Photos by Xiao Sha

people are abandoning their farmland

The essence of poverty is the deprivation of capacity and right.

and homes and trying to make a living

– Amartya Sen

for instance; now there are less than

elsewhere. There used to be 40,000 people living in the nearby town of Ruoli 16,000.

In Gansu, a northwestern province of

come more frequently, the people suffer

There used to be seven people in

China, many communities have been

extreme hardship.

G r a n d p a C a o ’s h o m e , b u t n o w h i s

affected by climate change: poverty is

children and their spouses all work

increasing in the form of less income, less

According to official government statistics

elsewhere, and the 54-year-old man lives

food and poor nutrition, among other

from the Ministry of Environmental

alone. A hailstorm in July 2009 ruined his

things. Making a sustainable living is

Protection, 95 per cent of the national

harvests, and he told me he is hoping for

getting harder and harder.

population living in absolute poverty

better weather in the future.

(marked in red on the map) are living I recently traveled to Jingyuan County

in ‘ecologically damaged areas’ in the

Auntie Wang is a corn and potato

in Gansu. In the village of Shengyang,

interior of the country (marked as EDA).

farmer. She cultivates 15 mu (about

residents are trying to survive on an

People in Shengyang are among this 95

10,000 square metres) of land by herself

average income of about 1,000 Yuan a

per cent.

to help pay for her two sons’ schooling.

year, about US 25 cents a day. Their work

The hailstorm also killed her corn crop:

is mostly growing potatoes and corn, and

Food, Farming, Income

with a drought that has lasted for five or

Because drought has been continuous

repay the money she had borrowed for

six years now and harsh hailstorms that

for five or six years in the area, many

the seeds and fertiliser. She told me she

she lost the whole harvest and could not

is waiting for the potatoes to mature, and is hoping that they will make it to harvest.

Oxfam Hong Kong is working with communities like Shengyang to make sure that crops are more resistant to drought. A new variety of potato seed has been introduced with a stronger membrane to protect against drought, and new mulching methods have also been initiated. Farmers like Auntie Wang Jingyuan County, Baiyin City, Gansu Province

can expect about double the harvest

Coast Line

– in the past, it was only about 250

Ecologically Damaged Areas (EDA): 500m from Coast Line

kilogrammes per mu, in the future, it will

EDA: 10km from Coasst Line

be more like 500kg.

EDA State-Level Poverty-Stricken Country

Alfalfa is also being promoted as food

Province-Level Poverty-Stricken Country

for sheep, an important livestock in

Source: Climate Change and Poverty, Oxfam Hong Kong, 2009

O.N.E October 2O1O

1

Gansu. This variety of alfalfa is also drought-resistant, needing less water than other forage crops. The breed of sheep is called Tan, which is suited for desert and semi-desert climates. Grandpa Cao said, “Oxfam staff members came to the village to meet with us, and together we discussed different development

2

3

opportunities. We all agreed that alfalfa would be a more effective way to increase our income from the sheep.”

Nowadays, farmers like Grandpa Cao also have the option of raising sheep. So far, about 110 families have each been provided two Tan sheep by Oxfam. The benefits are in the making.

4

5

6

7

Education and Water In Wujiachuan, another mountainous village in Gansu, improving the education system has been a priority.

Huaxianzi Primary School was destroyed by the earthquake of 12 May 2008, even though the epicentre was a province away, in Sichuan. With Oxfam’s support, the 290 or so students now have a newly

a fact of life for many children in rural

built school. At lunch time, some of the

areas across China; according to the

children take out the food they have

China Development Foundation (2007),

brought from home. Wang Hong, the

a sizable proportion of rural children

school president, says, “Kids normally

(about 20 per cent) are underweight

lack good nutrition, as most of them just

and stunted in growth. In Wujiachuan, I

eat potatoes.” This lack of nutrition is

saw a child who looks about eight but is twelve. She was among the hungry ones.

Figure 1 Urban-Rural Comparison of Proportion of Children Underweight or Stunted

3 New Oxfam-supported school in Wujiachuan / Photo: Oxfam Hong Kong 4 Grandpa Cao, a farmer who has begun raising Tan sheep through Oxfam / Photo: Oxfam Hong Kong 5-7 The wishes of three 16 year olds for their school – each of the girls are in their 7th year of school / Photos: Xiao Sha Zhao Xiaoyan: A beautiful school Wang Qiaoxia: I would like there to be new tables and chairs.

a modest lunch for students who live

35%

Cities

2 Auntie Wang, a corn and potato farmer in Oxfam’s agricultural projects / Photo: Oxfam Hong Kong

Ding Caihe: I wish there were more books

Wang Hong has thought about providing

40%

1 Shengyang is situated on high, dry land like this at an elevation above 2,000 metres. / Photo: Oxfam Hong Kong

Countryside

30%

far from school, but it has proven too

not be able to pay for the lunch, which

difficult, so far. Wang explains, “First of

would be about two Yuan for each

all, there would not be enough water

meal.” Providing food in a simple dining

here at school for the children. It is just

hall remains a beautiful wish, for now.

25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

1992a

1995b

1998c

2000c

under-weight rate for children under 5 (%)

1992a

1995b

1998c

2000c

enough now for the 16 teachers who

stunting rate for children under 5 (%)

Source: Children’s Nutrition in Poor Areas of China, China Development Research Foundation, 2007

live here. Secondly, many students would

Xiao Sha is Communications Officer with Oxfam Hong Kong.

She is based in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan, China.

O.N.E October 2O1O

Animals, Humans, Beings: An afternoon with Olivia Yong

By Madeleine Marie Slavick

Olivia and her dog, a friend for 18 years

I recently saw the Hong Kong film ‘KJ’,

earthworms to reduce her kitchen waste:

Olivia sees her job as filling in the gaps. She

about the child prodigy pianist Ka-jeng

the worms lived on her food scraps. I put

sees that a simplification of the hunger crisis

Wong, who says several times: “I just want

my egg shells in the soil of the plants on the

can lead to stereotyping and unfair views

to be a human being. I want to lead a

community rooftop.

of poor people. She shows me the Hunger

meaningful life.” KJ was raised to compete

Map that her team has helped create for

and succeed, yet all along, he put the search

Olivia tries not to eat fast food. For the past

children aged ten and over. The map goes

for truth and meaning above everything.

twelve years, she has eaten no beef as a

beyond the facts, and asks: Why are people

way to reduce deforestation, and two years

hungry? Some of the answers: climate

KJ makes me think about my colleague

ago she tried to stop eating any mammal,

change, unfair trade, genetic modification

Olivia Yong, who seems to embody the

as a demonstration of her love for animals,

of food, war, and an over-consumption of

same dedicated purpose, but without KJ’s

and from an environmental and ethical

meat. To Olivia, the most important is that

angst and anger and loneliness.

point of view. She clarifies her eating habits:

students ask themselves: Do I contribute to

“I only eat animals I would be able to kill.

hunger in the world? What is my role and

Talking with Olivia is like being with an

When I was twelve or so, as a Scout, I killed

responsibility?

animal that is at peace. There is warmth,

a chicken and then barbecued it.

Olivia and her teammates try to instil

harmony, a sense of mutual respect, c o m p a n i o n s h i p , c a r e a n d s o m e h o w,

“Process is very important,” she says. “When

a respect for the world’s natural and

wisdom. The animal is free, of course, not

you know where your food comes from

human resources: a more ethical mode of

in a cage like ‘The Square Bear’ – her story

and how it gets to your table, you will

consumption, a sustainable way of life, a

published by Beanie magazine to promote

respect and treasure the food, the farmers,

sense of global citizenship, and a deeper

animal rights.

and Mother Nature.” A few months ago,

appreciation of humanity. In Hong Kong,

she visited a small free-range cattle farm

after all, the main food supply relies on

Olivia calls herself ‘Sheep’, as her surname,

in Australia as a volunteer, and broke her

back-breaking and often underpaid work

‘Yong’, has a similar sound to the word

twelve-year ban of beef. “There, it was so

by farmers elsewhere.

‘sheep’ in Cantonese, and because the

different. Farm factory cattle spend their

last eighteen years of her life have been

whole life on a concrete square, hardly able

As a child, Olivia grew up in a high-rise

alongside her dog, which looks sheep-

to turn their bodies. Cattle at this farm are

building in a middle-class district. She did

like. Lately, Olivia has been listening to her

free to roam around with their folk, happily,

not know her many neighbours and felt

dog breathing, a bit heavier and louder

purely, and are grass-fed rather than grain-

that success was measured by how fast

due to old age. She says that being with a

fed. It is much more ethical and friendly to

and how much one learned at school. Now

dog since the age of twelve has been an

nature. And, the beef was delicious.”

she lives in a home near a feng-shui forest on the outskirts of town. She knows the

important part of her personal growth.

When she says this, I sense a deep wisdom,

people and animals around her. She says,

Olivia and I talk about what it is to be

and I can see how she would be good at her

“Finally, after all these years, I feel a sense

human in the city. She rides her bicycle to

job: Olivia develops Oxfam’s educational

of community.”

the train station; I walk to the tram. She

resources for teachers in Hong Kong.

runs a weekly delivery of locally grown organic vegetables to our office, while I

Olivia says that teachers request materials

round up orders for Fair Trade goods. We

about hunger more than anything else, that

both have thrown-away and second-hand

they see food as a good starting point with

furniture in our homes, and we both recycle

students. Teachers begin by trying to instil

paper, plastic, glass and aluminium. For

empathy for the poorer, hungry people

three months, she also had about 1,000

around the world.

Olivia Yong is a member of the Development Education team of Oxfam Hong Kong, which runs a Resource Library (since 1990), a small grant scheme (since 1995), Cyberschool at www.cyberschool.org.hk (since 2000) and the Oxfam Interactive Education Centre (since 2005). Before she joined Oxfam, Olivia authored two books, Magic Socks (about personal growth) and Free Doggie Show (about animals and ethics), both in Chinese.

She was in conversation with Madeleine Marie Slavick, editor of O.N.E. Photo courtesy of Olivia Yong

O.N.E October 2O1O

THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING FOOD IS CHANGING TOO

By Madeleine Marie Slavick

As the climate changes, many Oxfam projects are underway across Asia and Africa to assist farmers to adapt their choice of crops and their farming methods.

Rice / Cambodia and Philippines

Wolfberry / China

Farmers are choosing different varieties of rice, and their yields have been increasing through such practices as System of Rice Intensification, which also saves on water with only intermittent irrigation. Production costs have been cut by reducing or discontinuing the use of chemical pesticides (sometimes garlic is used instead) and fertilisers (carbonised rice hull is sometimes used to condition the soil and improve water retention). / Photos: (left) Courtesy of RWAN, Philippines; (right) In Cambodia, courtesy of Oxfam America

This drought-resistant red berry is used in soups and wine, as well as in treatments for the eye, kidney and liver. It grows on bushes that act as sand barriers in an effort to protect against desertification. / Photo of Gansu, northwest China: Tang Kong Fai

Floating gardens / Bangladesh

Watermelon / Vietnam

Alfalfa / China

Northeast Bangladesh faces frequent floods, so farmers are making floating gardens which enable them to continue farming whatever the weather. The gardens are built on a wooden frame and held in place with string. / Photo: Chun Wai

Farmers in the Mekong Delta are diversifying both their agriculture and aquaculture: growing watermelons under a mesh, farming mud crabs in fresh water ponds, and raising blood cockles in the alluvial coastal and river areas. / Photo: Bui Thi Minh Hue

Alfalfa can resist drought and is grown as forage for sheep, a valuable livestock across China. ‘Tan Sheep’ is a breed especially suited for the dry climate in northwest China. / Photo: Xiao Sha

O.N.E October 2O1O

8

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 8 ‘partner organisations’ that we are supporting for the first time.

CHINA

Anhui

• Economic Legality Research Center of Anhui University

Beijing

• Institute of Economic and Resources Management, BNU

• Zhonglun W&D Law Firm

Guangxi • People’s Government of Wuxuan County, Laibin City

• Poverty Alleviation and Development Office of Fengshan County

• Economic Development Department of Ethnic Affairs Commission of Guangxi Province

Hubei

• Center for Poverty and Rural Governance Studies

Sichuan • 5.12 Voluntary Relief Service Center

In this edition of O.N.E, we highlight the Center for Poverty and Rural

FAIR FOOD in HONG KONG 51 Fair Trade food products available Almonds Apples (juice, dried) Apricots (dried, seeds) Bananas (chips) Brazil Nuts Candy Cashew Nuts (roasted, raw, butter, candy) Cardamom (pods, powder) Chili (powder) Chocolate Bars Cinnamon (sticks, powder) Clove (whole, powder) Cocoa (dried, powder, tablets) Coconuts (shredded, oil, butter) Coffee (Arabica and Robusta) Cookies Coriander (powder) Curry (leaves, powder) Ginger (dried, whole, powder, candy, cookies) Granola Bars Grapefruit (juice) Guava (jam, candies) Honey Ice Cream Jam Juice Lemongrass (whole) Macadamia Nuts Mace (whole) Mangoes (dried, juice) Nectarines (dried, jam) Nutmeg Olive Oil

Oranges (juice, marmalade) Passion fruit (juice, jam) Peaches (dried, jam) Peanuts Pears (dried) Pepper (black, white, whole, powder) Pineapple (juice) Quinoa (pasta) Raisins Rice Sesame (paste, seeds) Sugar (cane, raw, brown, muscovado) Sultanas Tea (12 types) Turmeric (powder) Vanilla (whole, ice cream) Walnuts Wine 34 to go… (not yet available in Hong Kong) Apple* / Apricot* / Araza* / Banana* / Bell Pepper* / Blueberry* / Baobab / Dates / Fonio (grain) / Grape* / Grapefruit* / Beans (kidney, pinto etc)* Lemon* / Lime* / Lychee* / Mango* / Marula / Melon* / Mint* / Olives / Orange* / Papaya* / Passionfruit* / Peaches* / Pears* / Peas* / Plums* / Physalis* (also called ground cherries and cape gooseberries) / Pineapple* / Potato / Pulses (lentils, etc) / Soybeans / Sweet potato / Tomato * fresh

Governance Studies, which is based at Central China Normal University in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in central China. The Center and Oxfam Hong Kong are working together on reconstruction after the devastating earthquake of 12 May 2008, with its epicentre in Sichuan.

An academic research organisation, the Center integrates expertise in Political Science, Economics, Management and Education. Its focus is mainly on studying innovative theories, policies and methods for grassroots management in poverty reduction. It also conducts training programmes and pilot projects.

The reconstruction of impoverished villages affected by the massive earthquake has required the full participation of many individuals, groups, civil society organisations, government units and the society as a whole. The reconstruction process provides a good context to study the roles of three key actors: the community, the government and the NGO. The Center for Poverty and Rural Governance Studies will research

MOKUNG The June 2010 edition of MOKUNG marks the last issue of this Chinese-language magazine in its current format.

The award-winning magazine has been published since 2004. Before we meet again on a brand new platform with a brand new face, please go to Oxfam Hong Kong's Cyberschool (www.cyberschool.oxfam.org.hk) for educational resources for both student and teacher, and in Chinese and English.

The focus of the June edition is on ‘poorism’ – voyeuristic tourism in poor areas and countries – and how to prevent being exploitative and disrespectful while traveling.

To read online: http://www.oxfam.org.hk/en/mokung_y2010.aspx

and analyse the values, motives, functions, approaches, performances, effectiveness and the impact of NGO involvement, with case studies drawn primarily from Oxfam Hong Kong. Comparisons will also be made with work supported by the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, the Shaanxi Research Association for Women and Family and the Environmental Education Center of Beijing Global Village. The Center will make recommendations

O.N.E Oxfam News E-magazine is published every two months, at www.oxfam.org.hk/ONE. To receive a copy in your inbox, please subscribe – it is FREE. www.oxfam.org.hk/one/subscribe.html

concerning poverty alleviation development and poverty reduction policy.

These findings and recommendations will be provided to NGOs and the Chinese government to improve their collaboration in disaster prevention, mitigation, reconstruction and poverty alleviation development.

O.N.E (Oxfam News E-magazine) is published every two months by Oxfam Hong Kong, 17th Floor, China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, Hong Kong. The publisher does not necessarily endorse views expressed by contributors. For permission to reprint articles, please contact us; normally, we grant permission provided the source is clearly acknowledged. O.N.E is available free to all, in both an HTML and PDF version, and in Chinese and English.