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.