Our new campaigns director says a warm "hello"
22 January 2008
There's a new face here at Oxfam HQ. Towards the end of last year we were very happy to be joined by our new Campaigns Director, Thomas Schultz-Jagow.
Thomas is in charge of making sure people know about how they can work with Oxfam to help put pressure on decision makers and world leaders to help put an end to poverty.
Thomas is originally from Germany. Before starting here, he lived in Switzerland for 9 years and worked for the World Wildlife Fund, campaigning for the conservation of our natural environment.
In the video below Thomas says a quick "hello" and talks about some of the things coming up over the next year to note down in your diary.
Have a watch and perhaps there's a question you'd like to ask him? Or maybe you want to know more about what Oxfam's campaigning on? Post us a comment about whatever you want to ask him and we'll post a reply.
Comments:
Thomas is one of the best campaigners I have worked with and wish him all the best at Oxfam
David Cowdrey | February 5, 2008 5:52 PM
i would love to help with this charity please call me.
-That's great to hear! Please go to http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/index.html to see how you can get involved with supporting Oxfam.
Kelly Saunders | January 31, 2008 10:34 AM
how ignorant are we about the world! are we not but one community? then why are some starving? i think we should all help!
Evelina | January 28, 2008 8:35 AM
Welcome to your new position.
There is loads to do.
Good luck.
Paul Dunn | January 23, 2008 10:24 PM
Hello all,
As we've already had a couple of comments posted in reply to my video, and a video reply on YouTube - thank you to Tim Davies for that - I thought I'd take the opportunity to write a quickly reply.
Tim - I'm glad people are asking more about why we're campaigning on climate change and why it's a poverty issue.
Our planet's climate is changing, and this stands to affect all of us. In rich countries, like the UK, we're well equipped to deal with the harm caused by climate change, but in poor countries things are very different.
Take Bangladesh for example. Sea level rises caused by an increase in global temperature are already having a huge impact on the 10 million people who live in areas that are less than a meter above sea level. That, coupled with changes in weather patterns, is devastating news for poor countries.
Climate change is a poverty issue, and that?s why it?s an issue for Oxfam.
As for your second question about how we'll be working with corporations, the answer is we'll be doing both. Putting pressure on them when their practices push poor people further into poverty, and giving them the credit when they deserve it. But more to follow on this as we push on through the year...
Hope is enough to keep you going for now. If any you have any suggestions about how we campaign I'd definitely like to hear them, so feel free to post more comments on here.
Thomas Schultz-Jagow
Thomas Schultz-Jagow | January 23, 2008 6:12 PM
Welcome Thomas,
I want to do all I can to help the work of Oxfam.
I buy fairtrade, bank ethically, consume little and recycle all I can. I have no spare money but try to campaign online and raise the issues with everyone I talk too. Does this really help , I feel pretty useless in the face of all the waste and consumption and greed I see around me.
Lizzie Biolik
Lizzie Biolik | January 23, 2008 12:39 PM
Thank you 4 intro to Thomas. Makes a very welcome change from bland paper or email.
Chris thorogood | January 23, 2008 9:10 AM
Welcome Thomas :)
A really helpful overview here.
I've posted a video in reply with a few questions over here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuMhlYvK3r8
Thanks again
Tim
Tim Davies | January 22, 2008 6:05 PM