Go Gordon! After ten years of Tony today sees the dawn of a new era as Gordon Brown moves in to number 10. We have high hopes for our new Prime Minister and want him to make a bold statement – we are asking him to put poverty, climate change (and it’s impact on the developing world), and a fair foreign policy on the top of his agenda during his first 100 days in office. These crucial first weeks in power will be when Gordon sets out his long-term agenda, and these issues must be at the top of it. We want him to commit to make a long term difference for the millions of poor people in developing countries who suffer from poverty, injustice and conflict. Take action and email Gordon now >> posted at 9:54 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Over 70,000 people count at Glastonbury We're back from Glastonbury, we've had a wash and we're a little less stinky - and now we're overjoyed with the news that over 70,000 festival-goers signed up to I Count over the weekend. That's a lot of people who care passionately about climate change and want to stop climate chaos. Glastonbury organisers Michael and Emily Eavis joined Oxfam (and Greenpeace and Water Aid) to urge everyone to get behind I Count. Celebrities who signed up included Arcade Fire, The Kooks, Klaxons, Jo Whiley, Peaches Geldof, Just Jack, Zane Lowe, Billy Bragg, and Keith Allen to name a few. We just wanted to say a massive thanks to all of you who signed! If you missed out you can sign up to I Count now >> posted at 5:27 PM | Permalink 1 comments

Campaign victory: Starbucks signs licensing agreement with Ethiopia Back in October 2006 Oxfam asked people to put pressure on Starbucks to give Ethiopia a fair share of its coffee profits. The Ethiopian government had approached Starbucks global HQ in Seattle and asked the company to recognise Ethiopia’s legal ownership of the names of its coffees. By owning the rights, Ethiopia would be able to help its farmers negotiate a better price - potentially increasing income for the country’s coffee industry by an estimated $88 million a year. Starbucks refused. Campaign victory You, and more than 96,000 other people across the globe kept up the pressure - through emails, faxes, phone calls, postcards, in-store visits and via the Take Action Against Starbucks MySpace. Well the good news is that Starbucks and Ethiopia have finally signed a licensing agreement securing Ethiopia's ownership over its speciality coffee names Sidamo, Harar and Yirgacheffe. This agreement is worth millions of dollars per year to Ethiopian farmers. Well done and thank you. Read the official press release announcing the agreement >> posted at 1:38 PM | Permalink 1 comments

Stella McCartney has designs on Glastonbury Catwalk queen Stella McCartney has designed a stylish Glastonbury vest which will be sold exclusively at an Oxfam Glasto stall. The seventies inspired tie-dye design echoes the era that Stella’s parents (that's Paul and Linda, in case you didn't know) loved so much. Festival organiser Emily Eavis said: "Stella has a long-standing relationship with Glastonbury and has been coming to the festival for many years, so it's great for us to have this opportunity to work together. "People at Glastonbury can get their hands on a genuine collector's item, and - even better - all the proceeds go to Oxfam, which is a charity we're very close to." Only 5,000 of the limited edition vests have been produced, so snap up your piece of festival fashion history before they sell out. The vest costs £30 from the Oxfam Glastonbury stall in the new Park Field. All proceeds go to Oxfam. More about Oxfam at Glastonbury >> posted at 10:52 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Glastonbury comp winners! Leigh and Toni from Lancashire jumped for joy when a pair of sacred Glastonbury tickets landed on their doormat this morning. They were the lucky winners picked at random from everyone who took part in our climate change survey last week. Thanks to all of you who filled it in, much appreciated. Well done guys, don’t forget your waterproofs, and have an amazing time! posted at 4:21 PM | Permalink 0 comments

DJ Shadow goes to Kenya with Oxjam Hip-hop scratch-master DJ Shadow recently visited Kenya to see how funds from Oxjam are being used. See the film below of his visit to YIKA (Youth Initiatives Kenya Association), one of Oxfam's partner organisiations in the Babdogo slum in Nairobi. YIKA raises awareness about urban youth, conflict and crime and how it is affecting the youth in slums in Kenya. DJ Shadow also travelled to Masai villages and played an Oxjam set in Kariobangi. He performed with local musicians, finding a wealth of inspiration about how music can be used to help end poverty. Get involved with Oxjam>> posted at 10:32 AM | Permalink 0 comments

G8 2007: the verdict Want to know what Oxfam thinks of last week’s G8? Read the official line here. Basically, it wasn’t good enough. G8 leaders have let us down by missing this opportunity to make a big difference. Tell them what you think >> posted at 4:42 PM | Permalink 1 comments

Live your life, change your world This is the film we're showing at festivals. Watch it. It's nice. More about our campaigning at festivals >> posted at 10:00 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Festivals for free - volunteers needed There is still chance to get into a couple of this year's festivals for free by campaigning with Oxfam. The first is NASS (the National Adventure Sports Show), which takes place between 6-8 July in Somerset. There'll be loads of action-packed stuff going on, from BMX and skate shows to para-gliding and freestyle Frisbee. Headlining bands include Goldie Lookin Chain, Dirty Sanchez and The Charlatans. And for those of you who are more arty than action-packed, how about Latitude Festival? Taking place between 12-15 July at Henham Park in Suffolk, top acts include Damien Rice, The Good, The Bad And The Queen (Damon Albarn’s new band), Jarvis Cocker, The Magic Numbers and Arcade Fire – to name just a few. We need enthusiastic volunteers for both festivals to help us talk to festival-goers about climate change. In return for daily four-hour shifts, you get to enjoy the rest of the festival for free. What could be better? If you're interested send an email to plusby@oxfam.org.uk stating which festival you would like to campaign at and why. Deadline: Friday 22 June. Find out more about our festivals campaigning >> posted at 10:44 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Win a pair of Glastonbury tickets Two tickets to Glastonbury. Just fill in this survey. It's about climate change. We'll pick a winner on Friday. Enough said. posted at 10:01 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Klaxons LOVE Oxjam Oxjam - the month-long music fundraising bonanza which takes place every October - has been firmly endorsed by those mighty fine Klaxons lads. "For us, Oxjam is the highlight of the festival season because everyone gets to make the noise themselves," says James Righton. "The only thing more exciting than putting on your own event to help fight poverty is knowing that you're part of a movement of thousands of gigs, club nights and events right across the country." He's right, you know. Oxjam ROCKS. And that's Official. Find out more and get involved >> posted at 11:08 AM | Permalink 0 comments

Actor Bill Nighy sees for himself how G8 money can help We all know and love Bill Nighy for his starring roles in films such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Love Actually, but last week he left the bright lights behind and headed out to Tanzania with Oxfam to see the real difference that international aid can make. Bill visited local hospitals, schools, women’s groups and food security projects in the remote Ngorongoro District of Tanzania to look at how the minimal international aid that has been delivered has already helped to fund long-term improvements. He also saw how vital it is that each of the G8 leaders fulfils their aid promises. Only a collective effort from the world's richest nations will give the long-term support needed by poor countries to break out of poverty. Watch a video of Bill’s trip>> posted at 12:49 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Eight facts for the G8 To mark the start of the G8 summit today, here are eight facts to show why those worlds leaders should increase their aid budget. When it comes to giving aid, G8 countries are far less generous today than in the 1960s. In 2006 the amount of aid given was lower than spending on other, every-day items - here are some facts to put everything into perspective: Get the latest from the G8 in Germany on our blog >> posted at 11:25 AM | Permalink 0 comments

The G8 summit is near This is the big week we’ve been waiting for - the G8 summit starts in Heiligendamm, Germany, and campaigners have already been making a huge noise. There was a rally in London on Saturday to send Tony Blair on his way - over 10,000 lined the streets, and 575,263 people from all over the country sent their Voices Against Poverty down the Thames. And there have been good-natured demonstrations in Germany, too. Oxfam campaigners (in their G8 "Big Heads" alter-egos) showed how the real G8 leaders are gambling with the lives of poor people by not meeting their previous promises to reduce poverty. Watch the video now... And 1,000s of campaigners gathered at the port of Rostock with their messages to the G8, under the banner ‘Another World is Possible’. Have a look at the latest pics now. On Friday Oxfam welcomed the German government's announcement that it is increasing aid to €750m a year (for four years starting in 2008) - let's hope that the other G8 countries follow its example. Campaigners also delivered a petition signed by a million people into the hands of Angela Merkel and Tony Blair, demanding action from the G8 to end poverty. History has shown us that the G8 only take action and stick to what they promised when they feel the pressure of campaigners across the world - so get involved now. Follow all the action on the G8 blog >> posted at 3:48 PM | Permalink 0 comments

Activists hijack phone boxes to raise voices against poverty Campaigners commandeered phone boxes in London last week, to give people the chance to let off steam at G8 leaders. Supporters went in to special phone boxes to shout against poverty and let world leaders know that they must act now on debt cancellation, aid, health care, sanitation, education and climate change. Hear what they had to say. The stunt is just one part of the massive public pressure leading up to the G8 Summit which starts in Germany on 6 June, all under the banner: The World Can’t Wait – Your Voice Against Poverty. "I wanted to leave a message to world leaders say sort out your act around HIV and AIDS," says Emily Wong, one of the phone-box hijackers. "There are than five million people who are living with HIV/AIDS in the world, who do not have access to the vital medicines to keep them alive. This is shameful. As the clock ticks, peoples' lives are lost." If you want to make your voice heard, head down to the huge rally in Westminster on Saturday 2 June. That's TOMORROW, in case you didn't know. More about the G8 Summit >> posted at 1:50 PM | Permalink 0 comments

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