Oxfam America's eCommunity is 300,000 members strong, and is creating political change with just the click of a mouse. Our e-alerts are an easy way for Oxfam supporters to take action about important political concerns. Our eCommunity members have sent thousand emails to lawmakers and corporations — letting them know how they can help alleviate global poverty. What have we done?
eCommunity members reacted quickly and generously when the tsunami of 2004 devastated South Asia. In turn, Oxfam was able to rush clean water, food, and temporary shelter to thousands of tsunami survivors. Members have also generously funded Oxfam relief and rehabilitation efforts in Bangladesh, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia.
After hitting a 30 year-low, the price of coffee remains below the cost of production for many coffee farmers. As a result, 25 million coffee-producing families are struggling just to survive.
But thanks in part to the eCommunity, the US government announced in 2004 that it would re-join the International Coffee Organization (ICO). The US — the world's largest consumer of coffee — can now use its position at the ICO to develop solutions to the global coffee crisis.
In addition, Procter & Gamble (P&G) — the largest coffee company in the US — announced in 2003 that it would introduce Fair Trade CertifiedTM coffee products — after receiving tens of thousands of emails. This decision will help guarantee small-scale coffee farmers a decent and steady price — helping them, in turn, to avert poverty and ruin.
Thanks in part to the efforts of the eCommunity, Oxfam America can boast of two important legislative feats. First, the Senate and House overwhelmingly passed the Clean Diamond Trade Act. This act aims to stop the trade in gems whose profits are used to fund groups committing terrible human rights abuses and acts of terror.
Second, the Help Commission Act, a bill intended to improve and refine the food aid process, became law. Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), sponsor of this bill, commented: "I would like to personally thank Oxfam America ... [and] those who took action."
In the summer of 2003, Oxfam launched a campaign to protect indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon from a natural gas project. The project was awaiting a crucial loan from the Inter-American Development Bank — an entity that is partially funded by the US government. Due in part to concerns expressed by you and thousands of others, the bank attached a number of unprecedented social and environmental conditions to the loan.
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Mining Companies: Open Up! August 05, 2008 |
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Tell the candidates: Help the poor adapt to climate change February 26, 2008 |
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| Its Been a Year: Where's the Darfur Peacekeeping Force? August 04, 2008 |
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Help Protect Native American Lands November 28, 2007 |
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| Put Poor People First at Next Week's WTO Meeting July 17, 2008 |
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Tell the Candidates: Keep America's Promise to the Gulf Coast July 11, 2007 |
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| Help Oxfam Respond to Crises Around the World July 08, 2008 |
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| Urgent: Tell World Leaders to Fight Climate Change June 16, 2008 |
Don't let Burger King have it their way November 20, 2007 |
| Ask Us Your Questions About Darfur March 18, 2008 |
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| Welcome to Oxfams Humanitarian Action Team! August 04, 2008 |
Rock Out with Oxfam at a Concert July 21, 2008 |
| Oxfam Goes Into Congo July 29, 2008 |
Help Oxfam Respond to Crises Around the World July 08, 2008 |
| Help Oxfam Respond to Crises Around the World July 21, 2008 |
Tell the G8: Fight Poverty and Climate Change June 30, 2008 |