Climate change - which statement would you use to challenge Environment Ministers? The British Council’s International Climate Champions youth representatives want to put together a youth statement on climate change. So far they have drafted 3 statements, one of which will be presented to the environment ministers at the G8 Summit in Kobe next month. Only one Challenge will be presented. You can be part of making a difference by selecting which one it should be. Which challenge do you want the champions to take forward to Kobe? 1 - Climate change is the problem and our generation is changing to become the solution. 2 - This generation will empower individuals to act on climate change for a sustainable future. 3 - To tackle climate change, we must recognise the challenge, accept responsibility and respond with integrity. Vote now >> posted at 10:39 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Swap it now! Today, Friday 25 April, Oxfam supporters across the UK are getting creative, having a laugh, and doing their bit to encourage people to freshen up their wardrobes without adding to the mountain of stuff we chuck away by holding Swap It! parties. We're even having our own Swap It! party here at Oxfam House (see right). Oxfam staff have been swapping their unwanted clothes, books, CDs, plants and even giant afro wigs since mid-day. Your correspondent has just returned from the fray with a lovely Damon Albarn CD in exchange for a frankly rather complicated cookery book. Result! More about Swap It! Every year 2 million tonnes of fashion items are bought in the UK and 900 million pieces of clothing and fashion accessories are thrown away. That’s a lot of stuff. All this consumer madness is helping to drive climate change, and it’s the world’s poorest people who are feeling the brunt of it. Get your mates together to hold a Swap It party. Whether it’s clothes, bags, CDs or video games, it’s simple – people bring stuff, swap stuff and help change stuff. It's Friday night, you don't need to do much to get the ball rolling so why not hold a Swap It party yourself? Swap it now >> posted at 12:12 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Internship opportunity to work on the Oxfam website! An exciting internship opportunity is currently open for a Website Editorial Assistant to help shape how Oxfam communicates with young people. Working as part of the Oxfam Youth Team, the people behind Generation Why, this internship offers a fantastic opportunity for anyone wishing to write and edit online content for one of the UK's largest charities. If this sounds like you, hurry, applications close next week (2nd May) Key responsibilities include: Provide support for the Oxfam youth website Generation Why. Writing regular content to encourage youth involvement, including features about Oxfam’s work, news stories, blogs, quizzes and competitions Project managing the Your Say section (where young writers contribute regular features about campaigns and issues that they care about) – involves organising writers, commissioning, editing and coming up with ideas for feature. Project managing Oxfam social networking spaces, including myspace.com/oxfamgb Contributing ideas for new content that will help to engage young people More information and how to apply >> posted at 12:41 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Patchwork Protest Lately, everywhere you look there are people doing it; on the tube, at the bus stop, in cafes, on lunch breaks and down the pub. There’s no doubt about it, knitting’s back. Whoever you are, wherever you’re doing it, we need you! Oxfam’s on the search for all those of you who want to turn your needles to a spot of poverty fighting. We’re aiming to collect 250,000 hand-knitted 9 inch squares, which we’ll put together to create a giant baby blanket. Then, in September, we’re going to be presenting the blanket to the government as a protest against the number of women who die unnecessarily in childbirth every year. Each square will represent a newborn orphan whose mother could have been saved this year, had decent healthcare been available. Oxfam works to provide hospitals and midwifery training in parts of the world where having a baby still means risking your life. When we’ve made our point, the blanket will be taken apart and sold online and in Oxfam shops to raise money for Oxfam’s work. Keep an eye out on the Oxfam website for more details or visit the stitch and bitch blog for essential knitting tips and more information. posted at 10:58 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Fairtrade universities' conference The Fairtrade universities' conference is open to anyone interested in giving their univesity or college Fairtrade status. It’s an opportunity to learn more about Fairtrade, to share experiences and challenges in becoming a Fairtrade institution, or to find out more about how to start a Fairtrade campaign. This will be the fourth annual conference and this year it’s happening at the University of Derby on Tuesday the 22nd April. It’s open to students, teachers, lecturers and catering staff - anyone who wants to get involved really – and it’s set to be a good day. Speakers include the executive director of The (fabulous) Fairtrade Foundation and writer and broadcaster Craig Murray. There’ll be workshops and disscussion sessions and the chance to browse the exhibition stalls and stock up on Fairtrade goodies. They’ll even some Fairtrade wine tasting to get you talking. Find out more and book your place posted at 4:01 PM | Permalink 1 comments

Youth Change Over the last couple of years Oxfam has fought to make some important changes to improve people’s lives. Last year, Oxfam supporters campaigned to get Starbucks to pay Ethiopia a royalty when using the name of its coffee. In June Starbucks signed a landmark agreement with the Ethiopian government which will enable farmers to get a fairer price for their coffee. That’s just one example of how campaigning can raise the profile of an issue and make a real impact on poverty and suffering in the world. Youth change is a training programme designed to give you the skills to make your campaigning successful. It's a 5 day residential course run by Oxfam staff for young people, designed to provide specialist training on Oxfam’s campaigns by professional staff. Learn how to really get your voice heard and make a difference through campaigning >> posted at 12:04 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Don't shop it, swap it! Every year 2 million tonnes of fashion items are bought in the UK and 900 million pieces of clothing and fashion accessories are thrown away. That’s a lot of stuff. All this consumer madness is helping to drive climate change, and it’s the world’s poorest people who are feeling the brunt of it. On the 25th April Oxfam supporters across the UK are getting creative, having a laugh, and doing their bit to encourage people to freshen up their wardrobes without adding to the mountain of stuff we chuck away. Get your mates together to hold a Swap It party. Whether it’s clothes, bags, CDs or video games, it’s simple – people bring stuff, swap stuff and help change stuff. Swap it now >> posted at 8:39 PM | Permalink 0 comments

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