Join our Global Week of Action

New Action:

From Oxfam America:

With a new season upon us, Oxfam America invites you to celebrate by joining the Global Week of Action starting April 10th. People from Senegal to Honduras to Bangladesh—more than 35 countries in all—will be gathering and organizing local events focused on trade justice.

With just a few friends and a couple hours of your time, you can make a real difference and educate those around you about how trade could help lift people out of poverty if the rules are fair.

How can you get involved? Well, Oxfam has a number of ideas and tools to get started. For instance, you could host a movie night and educate your friends on the effects that unfair trade has on small family farmers. Or you could talk to your local supermarket about carrying more Fair Trade products.

What about organizing an Oxfam Hunger Banquet and teaching your fellow students or church members what it really means to be hungry? You also could team up with socially-responsible retailers to plan a Fair Trade sale, fashion show, or fundraiser. What's more you could call your congressperson to to talk about making trade fair for farmers.

To learn more go to www.oxfamamerica.org/weekofaction and get all the tools you need.

If you'd like we'll send you free posters, calendars and postcards with photos of Antonio Banderas, Alanis Morissette, Coldplay's Chris Martin and Youssou N'Dour for your particular event. Each celebrity donated their images to support our cause. Click here to order materials.

We look forward to the Week of Action and celebrating all your hard work.

Sincerely,

Brian Rawson
Trade Campaign Organizer
Oxfam America

Help Keep Up the Pressure: Stop Persecution of Sudanese Activists

New Action:

From Human Rights First:

Help Keep Up the Pressure: Stop Persecution of
Sudanese Activists

Massive violations of human rights and humanitarian law have been committed in the Darfur region of Sudan. Civilians have been victims of mass killings, rape and other serious forms of sexual violence, burning of villages, and forced displacement.

Sudanese human rights activists have an essential role to play in informing the world about the continuing human rights crisis in their country, and they carry out their work at great personal risk.

Human rights activist Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was arrested by Sudanese government security forces at his home on January 24, 2005. Dr. Mudawi is chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO), an organization actively monitoring human rights violations in Darfur, and was the subject of an earlier Human Rights First alert.

Thanks to pressure from the Defender Alert Network and other initiatives, after a month of detention in unknown locations, known as "ghost houses," Dr. Mudawi was finally allowed a visit from his family on February 23. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Mudawi was then released from government custody.

Following his release, however, the Sudanese government reportedly stated that, because of Dr. Mudawi's hunger strike, it may prosecute Dr. Mudawi for violation of a criminal law against attempted suicide. If they do so, Dr. Mudawi could soon be sent back to the "ghost houses" or another detention facility.

Mr. Salah Mohammed Abdalrahman, a volunteer with SUDO, was detained along with Dr. Mudawi. Mr. Salah's whereabouts are still unknown, however, and concern for his well-being is mounting.

Your action can make a difference. Please call for the immediate release of Mr. Salah and an end to the persecution of Dr. Mudawi and other human rights activists in Sudan.

Click Here to Take Action: http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/MudawiSalah/ii86xu62f7bnwjm

Click here for more information on Dr. Mudawi.

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You can give "Water for Life"

New Action:

From The Child Health Site:

"Water for Life" & How You Can Help

Yesterday was World Water Day and the beginning of a ten-year initiative that seeks to improve this dire situation. The United Nation's Water Decade, "Water for Life," intends to cut in half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. You can help...

Educate yourself and talk about the problem. Visit the World Water Day Web site to learn more, and forward this email to your friends and family to increase awareness about water issues and how it affects our most vulnerable world citizens -- children.

Help fight hunger. Inadequate nutrition and inadequate water are closely linked; adults who are ill from lack of water or food, or who must care for an ill child, are unable to provide for their family, furthering the cycle of poverty and food insecurity. Clicking every day on the "Help a Child" and "Give Free Food" buttons is a simple, quick and free way to help.

Identify the water-related problems and issues in your area and get involved by contacting local officials. Make your voice heard on national or international issues by contacting your government representatives and sharing your thoughts on current water conditions and how you would like the U.S. to become involved in the United Nation's Water Decade.

Purchase a Mercy Kit that supports the work of our humanitarian partner, Mercy Corps. Mercy Kits are specific packages of aid that strengthen vital community programs to fight hunger, poverty and disease around the globe. The Water Kit, Family Rice Kit and School Lunch Kit are a few examples of ways you can help.

Thank you for your vital efforts and ongoing concern for the health and safety of families. Together, we can make a difference!

Sincerely,

Greg Hesterberg & Tim Kunin
The Child Health Site
greg@thechildhealthsite.com
timkunin@thechildhealthsite.com
www.thechildhealthsite.com

A Last Chance for Justice in Darfur, Sudan

New Action:

From Human Rights First:

Ask President Bush to Help Stop Mass Murder in Darfur

Tomorrow, March 30, the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution that would authorize an international court to investigate and prosecute the mass murder in Darfur. If the resolution does not pass, an opportunity for the international community to take decisive action on the grave situation in the Sudan will be lost -- possibly forever.

The United States, which has until now taken a leadership role in focusing the world's attention on the atrocities in Darfur, does not support the resolution because of its objections to the court, the new International Criminal Court (ICC). As an alternative, the United States proposes further discussion.

But this would only mean additional delay.

It is time for the U.S. government to raise its objections to the ICC in another venue. In this instance, the ICC represents the best, and perhaps the only, realistic mechanism for justice.

Please join with us in asking President George W. Bush to ensure that the United States does not veto a Security Council referral of the situation of Darfur to the ICC.

Click Here to Take Action: http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/iccreferralbush/ii86xu64v7bdj88

Click here for more information on the crisis in Sudan.

Children endure a second major earthquake, Save the Children responds

New Action:

From Save The Children:

It seems totally unfair that children and their families in Indonesia once again have been so heavily hit by a second major earthquake in three months. Yet again, the consequences of the quake that hit south Asia yesterday were most severe in areas where we have been working for some time.

Save the Children is moving quickly to respond and two planes loaded with medical kits and supplies are expected to leave Sumatra shortly. A large cargo ship containing medical kits, large tents, baby food and a variety of household items already is on its way to the islands. More...

Save the Children has assisted more than 200,000 children in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India since the December 26 earthquake. Because of the previous generosity of donors like you we believe we will not require additional funds to respond to this disaster however, if you would like to contribute to our work, we encourage you to consider supporting other Save the Children programs in more than 40 developing countries around the world, including the United States.

Thank you,

Charles F. MacCormack
President and CEO

Oxfam Responds to Earthquake in Indonesia

New Action:

From Oxfam America:

Just three months after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck south Asia, another major earthquake centered off the western coast of Sumatra jolted Indonesians on Monday, killing hundreds and leaving many towns in rubble.

Today Oxfam will be flying emergency materials to the island of Nias, near the quake's epicenter. In an effort to rebuild water systems on the island, Oxfam has ordered water tanks, tap stands and generators and will be providing jerry cans, chlorine, tents, flashlights, cooking utensils, fuel, and other essential items. Oxfam will be accepting donations for this disaster through our Global Emergencies Fund. Read more information here or donate now.

Oxfam Works to Restore Livelihoods in India

As Oxfam responds immediately to this latest disaster, we are helping restore livelihoods in the tsunami-affected region by providing tools to tradespeople, repairing boats, and helping fishermen get their catch to market. Read more here.

Thank You for Your Incredible Outpouring of Support

To date Oxfam America has raised over $30M for tsunami-affected countries. In the three months since the disaster, hundreds of groups and individuals have organized events to raise even more money for Oxfam. From belly dancers performing at 12 national events to one karate school's Kick-a-Thon, these efforts have raised more than $500,000 and rallied people together to help their neighbors on the other side of the world - read more here.

Other Emergencies: Crisis in Sudan

As people in south Asia begin to rebuild their lives, the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan continues. More than 1 million people have fled their homes and the UN is calling this one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history. Click here to read more on what Oxfam is doing and information on how to order Oxfam's free new video, A Place Called Darfur.

Oxfam and Coalition of Immokalee Workers report a major victory

Last year the Oxfam ecommunity sent close to 20,000 emails to Yum! Brands asking them to only purchase from growers paying an additional penny per pound for tomatoes.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and Taco Bell Corp., a division of Yum! Brands, have announced that tomato pickers will be guaranteed the additional penny per pound-an increase that will double their wages. Growers will be contractually bound to pay this amount. Learn how the agreement goes even further.

Thank you again for your support.

Sincerely,

Nick Rabinowitz
Internet Manager
Oxfam America