What's gonna be BIG in 2009
9 January 2009
The festive season is over and 2009 has properly begun. While some New Year's resolutions have already been quietly dropped, we know that we'll all need plenty of resolve to take on the big challenges that are ahead
Our CEO, Barbara Stocking, has laid some of them out in her New Years message to our supporters. We didn't realise when it was recorded that her wish for peace would be challenged so soon.
Gaza
Read more about the terrible situation in Gaza, and a personal account from Oxfam staff member Mohammad Ali. Our thoughts are with everyone, on whichever side, who are suffering from the violence. Oxfam's programmes are currently on hold as our staff, and the staff of our partners, are forced to shelter from the air raids.
However, they are desperate to resume our programme's, helping to maintain clean water supplies and 'cash for work'. We're calling for an immediate ceasefire from both sides. Add your name to the call for a ceasefire.
Climate Change
After the disappointment of the UN climate change conference in December, 2009 is even more pivotal in the battle to stop catastrophic climate change. The focus is on the next UN conference in Copenhagen where a comprehensive deal needs to be reached to replace the Kyoto protocol. With your voice, we can make so much noise that it'll be impossible for world leaders to ignore. Watch our short animation Face the music, then pass it on to your friends.
Health and Education For All
We're over halfway to the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals to be implemented, but we're definitely not halfway towards reaching them. We were already worried that some governments were way off target on these commitments. So as the financial crisis continues to dominate the news, we're determined to make sure that they're not sacrificed for short-term expediency. Sign our petition, millions of lives depend on it.
As always, we know that together we can make a real difference. If you've got any thoughts about what you'd like to see happen in the next year, then let us know by leaving a comment.
