Volunteer spotlight: Judy Warrell, supporter since 1979
Judy Warrell has been a volunteer with Oxfam Australia (originally known as Community Aid Abroad) since 1979. Here's a snapshot of her experience to date.
BLOGS
Story Bridge turns Oxfam green
Brisbane's iconic Story Bridge has turned green for Oxfam to highlight the world-first Oxfam Trailwalker 55km event. With events all over the world, Brisbane will be the first city to host the shorter 55km event with plans to raise $1.6M for Oxfam's development work.
First-hand account: violence in South Sudan
South Sudan is again in the throes of extreme violence. Close to 10,000 people have been killed and almost 400,000 others have fled their homes. Oxfam’s Grace Cahill, a press officer, recalls her experiences in Awerial camp: "Yesterday half the camp looked up to see an armed helicopter pass down along the river and turn towards Bor, a series of bombs was heard two minutes later..."
Geneva II peace talks: where are the voices of Syrian women?
There is something almost surreal about the setting for the Syrian peace talks taking place in Switzerland this week. Montreux is breathtakingly beautiful, the snow-topped Swiss Alps rising starkly over Lake Geneva. Yet this is where world leaders are to decide the fate of Syria and to try and end the brutal war which has […]
Arms to Syria: A barrier to peace
The conflict in Syria is close to entering its fourth year. Ordinary Syrians are the victims of this humanitarian catastrophe – deliberately targeted by those fighting, their cities destroyed, often deprived of food and water, millions have been forced to flee for their lives. A conflict that began in the political turmoil of the Arab […]
Australian mining company undermining democracy
Much has been written in the Australian media recently about the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). The TPP is Free Trade Agreement currently being negotiated by the Australian, US and other Pacific-country governments.
Syria peace talks begin at last, but Syrian civil society and women sidelined
After months of postponements, the long-awaited Geneva II Conference to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria began yesterday in Montreux, Swtizerland. At the end of the first day of the conference, Oxfam’s Humanitarian Policy Advisor Shaheen Chughtai gave a wrap up of progress so far. It took a monumental diplomatic effort […]
A time for hope for Syria
Oxfam campaigners are amongst the hundreds of diplomats, journalists, civil society and solidarity groups gathering for the beginning of the long awaited ‘Geneva 2’ peace talks for Syria in the tranquil town of Montreaux, on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Police are patrolling the edges of a security fence which rings the buildings where the talks […]
Rapidly growing inequality is worsening poverty around the world
A new report from Oxfam sheds light on rapidly growing extreme inequality and how it worsens poverty around the world, as Prime Minister Tony Abbott prepares to spruik Australia’s G20 agenda at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. The report, Working for the Few, shows that the wealth of the world is divided […]
Australian aid an investment in security and prosperity
Details released today of government cuts to Australian aid meant that Australia would be investing less in security, prosperity and in improving the lives of those living in extreme poverty. The cuts announced by the Abbott Government will affect people living in extreme poverty in a number of regions around the world. Targeted and effective aid […]