Crisis in the Sahel

If you live in New Mexico, then you know how devastatingly hot and dry the land can be once summer hits. Gov. Susana Martinez issued a drought declaration for all of New Mexico last May.

People of the west Sahel Africa region are also experiencing droughts. Except there, 18 million people are facing a food crisis. With rains that came patchy and late during the Sahel annual rainfall, people are unable to grow a sufficient amount of food to live on. Harvest season is quickly approaching and there may not be enough food for people effected by the droughts. 

Oxfam is ready to respond and help 1.2 million people across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal with humanitarian aid. By gaining government support, increasing donations, and tackling the underlying causes of the Sahel crisis, preventing a similar crisis in the future is now possible. 

More information on the Sahel crisis: http://www.oxfam.org/en/sahel 

G20 Summit and Oxfam Action Corps

The G20 Summit is next week. Oxfam Action Corps has a great deal of information on our plate, and we're working to improve the the lives of people who urgently need food on theirs.

Here's what we know:
The G20 (world's 20 major economies) are gathering to discuss key issues on the global economy.

1. Economic stabilization and structural reforms as foundations for growth and employment;

2. Strengthening the financial system and fostering financial inclusion to promote economic growth;
3. Improving the international financial architecture in an interconnected world;
4. Enhancing food security and addressing commodity price volatility;
5. Promoting sustainable development, green growth, and the fight against climate change.

Here's the difference you can make with Oxfam Action Corps:

Tweet:
1. Tonight, 1 in 7 people will go to bed hungry. #G20 must act now to fix the broken food system.

2. Brazil lowered #hunger rates by one third from 2000 to 2007; #G20 countries can & should make ending    hunger a priority.
3. In 14 of 18 #G20 countries, inequality is on the rise.
4. More than half of the 1.3 billion people who live on less than $1.25/day are in #G20 countries.
5. #G20 must invest in farmers: agriculture generates 15% of exports and employs 70% of West African workers. #Sahel2012

For Oxfam activist's guide to the G20 visit: http://politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org/2012/06/12/an-oxfam-activists-guide-to-the-g20/

Oxfam Action Corps is recruiting for 2012!

Hey Everyone,



Oxfam America is currently recruiting new volunteers for 2012-2013. If you are interested in joining the Oxfam Action Corps please sign up and spread the word by February 14th at http://www.oxfamactioncorps.org/.


Join the Oxfam Action Corps to support women farmers, fight global hunger, and build a better food system! You will meet great people and work together to change laws that can save lives, defend the rights of the world’s poorest farmers, and protect communities from rising food prices and climate change. You will gain leadership skills, have fun, and change the world!


Anybody can join the local effort! All levels of experience are welcome. You can also apply for Oxfam’s free four-day leadership training in Washington D.C. May 12 – May 15.


This year, we will mobilize for the GROW campaign for global food justice. The women and men in poor countries who struggle to grow enough food to feed their families are facing competition for land and water, rising prices, and climate change. We will call for laws that support women and farmers, sustainable practices, and resilience to climate change, and ensure a better future for people in the poorest regions of the world.


This is a year-round volunteer opportunity, with a deadline of February 14 to apply for the spring training. Find out more and sign up at http://www.oxfamactioncorps.org/  .


Check out this video to see what we are all about:

Oxfam America's website has a feature article about Nelly Velandia, a Colombian farmer who is organizing farmer's markets in Bogota. Nelly is in Iowa right now attending the World Food Prize with several other international farmers. Learn more about Nelly and her project here

School Garden Project Grants Available

Know of a school in your district who could use $2000 to start or support their existing garden projects? The School Garden Grant Program, a collaboration between Whole Kids Foundation, Whole Foods Market and FoodCorps, can help. For more information about the grant application process, go here.

Stop Monsanto GM Corn from coming to your grocery store!

Food & Water Watch is currently circulating a petition that expresses concern about Genetically Modified corn being sold when Monsanto is legally allowed to distribute it next year. To learn more about the dangers of GM corn and/or to sign the petition, go here

Canning Power

Wonderful article with recipes about canning fruits and veggies on NPR. Check it out here