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Oxfam Active in North West England: December 2009
Oxfam Active in North West England: December 2009
December 2009
So the year has somehow snowballed its way into December and after all our preparations the Copenhagen climate talks
(http://tiny.cc/HG8lN) are nearly here. People around the North West are passionately going for it to push for that fair, adequate
and binding deal that the world needs – from making climate change giants in Chester to hitchhiking to the summit, to school
students from across the region dancing and presenting their views to number ten. Remember that it’s not too late to take action
on climate change and show the world you care!
Today is also World Aids day: Show your support in two simple ways.
1. Get inspired by reading the Annie Lennox blog, organised by Oxfam, up on the huffington post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annie-lennox/demanding-aids-justice_b_374058.html
2. Take action on the OGB website: we're supporting a campaign action asking GSK, Britain's biggest pharmaceutical company
to put its ARV medicines in a "patent pool", a one-stop shop where, for a small fee, pharmaceutical companies allow generic
version of their patented medicines to be produced. These medicines are far cheaper. In the past the cost of treament
annually has gone from $10,000 to $87. A patent pool means far more people can get the life-saving treatment they need,
and live the healthy life they deserve. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/actions/stop_aids.html
Remember to write in and let us know what you’re up to or just to find out more ways of getting involved!
nsansom@oxfam.org.uk and join our Facebook group: http://tiny.cc/xOWCO and twitter: http://twitter.com/oxfamnorthwest feed
to stay uber up to date. Also check out (and subscribe to) our brand spanking new North West Blog:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/where-you-are/northwest/
1. Book your transport today, and get all your friends/ family to come too! Some people are even walking/ cycling to get
there. Use your imagination – cartwheel all the way! Tell everyone that you are going and why!
2. Meet up with us in London so we can march together. Please meet us on the pedestrianised South Molton Street,
London, W1K between 11:45 am -12:00pm. We will then move as one Oxfam group around the corner to where the
Wave will commence at 12:15. Meeting Point Map: http://tiny.cc/0EIwj
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3. Attend our free craftivism session this Thursday 3 December and make lots of amazing blue goodies for The Wave/
Copenhagen. http://www.oxfamcraftivism.eventbrite.com/
Events include;
- A family day on Sunday 13 December with a solar cinema,
green craft workshops, waggle dances and all kinds of climate
change themed activities for all the family. There will be an
Oxfam childrens workshop and an Oxfam stall on the day so
come along and say Hi or volunteer(info@manchester-oxfam-
The event is free, but if you wish to attend, please email
group.org) to help out!
RSVP@decc.gsi.gov.uk with "Manchester, 8 December" in the
- A showing of the inspirational films Sisters on the Planet and
subject line. Please make sure you include your name and the
the Age of Stupid
names of people who wish to attend with you if relevant. You
- George Marshalls Carbon Detox = 16th December 2009:
will receive a confirmation by email that your tickets have
7.00pm Tickets are free, but booking is recommended
been booked.
(www.georgemarshall.eventbrite.com/)
When she’s finished we will be parading her around Chester to raise awareness of climate change. We will also be taking a
different giant, the beautiful Lady of the Lake, to The Wave in London, so look out for a gigantic blue water-woman next
Saturday!
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As you can see there’s still work to be done, and you can help out! Our next workshop is on Thursday (December 3 ), at BiG
Storage on Sealand Road (jump on the Number 10 from the bus station and it drops you off in front of B&Q, BiG Storage is just
next door). So if you live nearby and you’d like to get involved in the designing, making or decorating of our giant, get in touch
with Nadav at natik@oxfam.org.uk, or just come along on Thursday.
What’s been going on?
North West Schools take action on climate change Climate Voices Launch – Manchester & Liverpool
At 10 Downing Street Climate Hearings have brought out some amazing stories – people all over
the world are really suffering from climate change, and these stories
Five lucky pupils representing hundreds from across England including needed telling. It’s a bit harder to do in the UK though as people tend to
Thomas Davies from Upton by Chester and Ifra Saleem from Abraham believe that climate change in a threat of the future, not of the present.
Moss high schools in the North West, walked to the door of No.10 But it’s still important to feel connected to climate change, to realise that
Downing Street with messages for Gordon Brown before he travels to we are being affected here, and that we are doing something about it. So
the UN climate change meeting starting December 7. Their Downing St Climate Voices was launched from our North West HQ!
visit follows the schools conferences held by Oxfam in Bristol,
Birmingham, London and Manchester to raise awareness of the Two events ran from Manchester and Liverpool. Participants came from a
importance of the global deal for poor countries. Outside Downing St variety of backgrounds to share how they were being affected by climate
pupils took part in a media 'Splash Dance' stunt to show just how change, and what they were doing about it; we had people from the
important climate change is in their lives. council, a transition town movement, a renewable energy provider,
student campaigners, sustainability activists, a University researcher and
an artist campaigner. They were a really switched-on and inspiring bunch,
it was great to meet so many people with their individual take on climate
change. Climate Voices left us keener than ever to get that “climate
change is important and we can and are doing something about it”
message out there!
Check them out (http://tiny.cc/t1891) and if you feel inspired, make your
own climate voice video, email it to hwilliams@oxfam.org.uk
Other schools that will also be making videos for their MPs are
Picture the scene, it's bonfire night, and instead of enjoying the evenings
Abraham Moss in Manchester and Pleckgate High in Blackburn.
traditional festivities, 32,000 Evertonians are converging on Goodison Park
along with several hundred Portuguese to watch a football match which
two weeks ago had ended in a 5-0 reverse for the team from Merseyside.
Some might say this particularly drizzly night shouldn't be a hot bed of
fundraising, but 8 volunteers clad in all blue, with buckets 'n' all are ready
to meet their audience. "Climate change.. but it's freezing!" is one of the
typical responses, however the pounds and pence flow for a good few
hours as the group circle the stadium all raising awareness and money, to
allow these volunteers to hitch-hike all the way to Copenhagen for the
most important climate conference for a decade!
All in all, despite the regular confused looks from Benfica fans, coupled
with their valuable Euros, we raised approximately £470. A fantastic
amount for a fantastic cause! Let's keep going on about it until we're all
blue in the face...
Dates for the diary
December
3rd December – Free Craftivism training session – ‘How can you use crafts/ creativity to spread your campaigning
message?’ finishing by making something blue together for The Wave on Saturday! 6.25-8 pm Greenfish resource
centre, Manchester http://www.oxfamcraftivism.eventbrite.com/
4th December – The pains of being pure at heart at Academy 2. 8pm - 11pm. Outreach campaign and go for free!
Contact Rachel: activismnorthwest@oxfam.org.uk so you can get involved and you will get a briefing on the night.
7th December - Nicaraguan Speaker Orlando Mercado from the informal workers union is visiting UK for a tour and
will be in Liverpool for an evening of discussions and insights into work and life in Nicaragua.
7.00-9.00 pm Bar 33:45, above Parr St Studios, Parr St, Central Liverpool, L1 4JN
For more info call Mark 077 2206 1551
8th December – Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, will take part in a public rally in
Manchester. When: Tuesday 8 December, doors open at 5pm for a 6.30pm start. Where: The Exchange Auditorium,
Manchester Central (formerly G-MEX). The event is free, but if you wish to attend, please email
RSVP@decc.gsi.gov.uk with "Manchester, 8 December" in the subject line. Please make sure you include your name
and the names of people who wish to attend with you if relevant.
9th-12th December – The climate charge (hitchhike) to Copenhagen from Liverpool and Manchester. Follow us on our
journey and show your support – why not come along on 9th December to either Manchester/ Liverpool town hall to
wave us off with the mayor 8:30 am? http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/where-you-
are/northwest/ccharge.html
12th December – Beat promotions at Dry Bar 8pm - 11pm. Outreach campaign and go for free!
Contact Rachel: activismnorthwest@oxfam.org.uk so you can get involved and you will get a briefing on the night.
13th – 17th December - Manchester is hosting this Climate Change Festival in the town hall to coincide with the UN
Climate Summit in Copenhagen. Events include;
- A family day on Sunday 13 December with a solar cinema, green craft workshops, waggle dances and all kinds of
climate change themed activities for all the family. There will be an Oxfam childrens workshop and an Oxfam stall on
the day so come along and say Hi or volunteer(info@manchester-oxfam-group.org) to help out!
- A showing of the inspirational films Sisters on the Planet and the Age of Stupid
- George Marshalls Carbon Detox = 16th December 2009: 7.00pm Tickets are free, but booking is recommended
(www.georgemarshall.eventbrite.com/)
For a more up to date events list join our Facebook group and twitter feed.
Also check out (and subscribe to) our brand spanking new North West Blog
This will include for example; Creating a regional Outreach strategy, Recruiting, training and supporting volunteer outreach co-ordinators, Securing
Oxfam’s campaigning presence at some of the larger regional events, Helping to co-ordinate the regional campaigning for Oxjam (Oxfam’s music
festival), Creatively thinking of ways to campaign to new audiences, Managing the regional administration, monitoring, evaluation and learning of
this project, Using a range of on and offline tools to share good practice and create a sense of community/network throughout the region/nation.
For more information and the full role description and application form please contact Nicola = nsansom@oxfam.org.uk
th th th
Application deadline: 7 December, Interview: 18 December. Start date: 4 January
Up and down the UK – and around the world – ordinary people are making an extraordinary difference in the global fight against
poverty.
Become an activist … Oxfam needs your energy, ideas and enthusiasm. This could mean anything from lobbying your local MP to
organising exciting events that invigorate people, raise awareness and educate about Oxfam’s latest campaigns. We want you to
make our campaigns come alive in the North West, and prove that by taking action people really can make a difference! You can join
a group or campaign from home – just choose what suits you! Contact Nicola to find out more = nsansom@oxfam.org.uk
Help to raise vital funds – there are loads of ways you can support Oxfam by helping to raise vital funds for our work – from
becoming a cash collection coordinator and managing teams of volunteer collectors, to organising an Oxjam music gig or setting up a
fundraising committee with your friends and family. Every little helps – and with so much to choose from, there will be something
perfect for you! Contact Harriett to find out more = hchristie@oxfam.org.uk
Outreach campaigning at events … Can you inspire people to take action? Oxfam is searching for enthusiastic people to get out
there, speak to people and educate them about Oxfam’s campaigns at a variety of exciting events. Become a coordinator or just
come and join in when you have the time. The work Oxfam does is so much more powerful when we have thousands of people
standing beside us, and we need you to get them involved. Contact Rachel to find out more = activismnorthwest@oxfam.org.uk
Volunteer in a shop … Oxfam is one of the biggest names on the High street. Shops all over the region are always searching for
dedicated volunteers willing to help out, meet new people and learn about Oxfam. The work that you do will help to provide the
funds that keeps Oxfam going, and provides you with valuable retail experience. Find your nearest shop =
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shops/content/shopfinder.php or 0300 2001 333
All of these opportunities not only assist Oxfam to overcome poverty and suffering, but are also a lot of fun and a great way to boost
your skill set. Why not try them all to see what inspires you the most?
Get in contact if you have any questions/ comments – we are a friendly bunch!
Call: 01612 342786, Email: nsansom@oxfam.org.uk, or use our Facebook group: http://tiny.cc/xOWCO
Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International. Registered charity No. SC039042. To unsubscribe to these e-updates contact nsansom@oxfam.org.uk