Global Justice Oxford

A 3-hour debate will take place on Thursday 15th September (11:30am), in the Main Chamber of the House of Commons on Food Security and Famine Prevention in Africa.

This is a great opportunity for MPs to raise the role of financial speculation which has been driving up global food prices and is exacerbating the effects of the famine.

Action: Email your MP to let them know about this debate and encourage them to attend and raise questions about price volatility being driven by excessive financial speculation.

Template email/letter

Dear …MP,
Following on from our correspondence/ meeting about food speculation, I would like to inform you about a 3 hour debate in the Main Chamber of House of Commons on Food Security and Famine Prevention in Africa. This will take place at 11.30am on Thursday 15th September. This would be a good opportunity to raise the role of excessive financial speculation in driving up global food prices and how price volatility is exacerbating the effects of the famine. It would be good if you could mention the increasing support for regulation from international institutions such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation as well as the move to regulate in the US. You may also find this piece interesting as the cost of food aid has doubled since 2001 http://www.wdm.org.uk/news/donations-crisis-appeals-buy-half-much-food-2001.

I have attached our briefing on excessive food speculation which will provide you with background information. In the meantime if you would like any further information please feel free to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

YOUR NAME

MP briefing

The details of the motion which MPs will be voting on at the end of the debate is as follows:
Food Security and Famine Prevention in Africa
That this House welcomes the contribution of the British public, via the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), and the British Government to the famine relief effort in the Horn of Africa;

Recognises that emergency food relief must always be the last resort and that improving the productivity and resilience of domestic agricultural systems in Africa must be a priority for the UK and international donor community;

Calls upon the Government to increase its focus on improving awareness around nutrition and agriculture in the developing world to support farmers and secure greater international food resilience and to champion the welfare of those in the developing world in the discussions on food price volatility at the upcoming G20 Summit in Cannes.

The people of Madagascar are being evicted from the land on which they live, and have done so for generations. Some of the reasons this is happening so that national or foreign investors can to engage in agribusiness, real estate or tourism development, or for the land to be sold to a foreign company to undertake mining. As well as destorying their homes and livelihoods, these land grabs will push the people of Madagascar further into poverty and cause environmental destruction. At the same time, the profits from the land grabs won’t help the Madagascan economy, rather they will return to multinationals from the global North.

Join the people of Madagascar to fight the land grabs. Sign the Collective for the Defense of Malagasy Land (TANY) petition. The petition is in French, but you can view the English translation.

To take action you have to fill in:
• Your name
• Your email address
• Your profession
• Your town
• Your country of residence
Then click ‘valider’
• You will then be sent an email in French and you need to click on the link to confirm your signature.

Wednesday 31st August, 7pm-9pm.

Talk by Nicole Foss: Economic Crisis in the Era of Peak Oil

Nicole Foss, specialist in air & water pollution control & international development law, presents a disturbing perspective on our global finance system coupled with a clear analysis of global demand for energy.

Nicole (aka blogger Stoneleigh from the Automatic Earth – see link for more info) shows us when the energy needed to extrace energy exceeds the yield & how this links to the current economic crisis.

You can text questions for Nicole to 07722 047158 in the last week of August. This event is free but donations towards Nicole’s costs are welcome. To book your place call Bente 0118 958 6692 or email bente@risc.org.uk.

Venue: RISC, 35-39 London St, Reading RG1 4PS

Poster: Crisis peak oil 31Aug11

Just Do It – a tale of modern-day outlaws
Film trailer

Thursday 4th August, 6:30pm.

Just Do It lifts the lid on climate activism and the daring troublemakers who have crossed the line to become modern day outlaws. Emily James spent over a year embedded in activist groups such as Climate Camp and Plane Stupid to document their clandestine activities. With unprecedented access, Just Do It introduces you to a powerful cast of mischievous and inspiring characters who put their bodies in the way; they blockade factories, attack coal power stations and glue themselves to the trading floors of international banks despite the very real threat of arrest. Their adventures will entertain, illuminate and inspire.

The screening at the Phoenix on 4th August will be followed by a panel discussion asking “what makes everyday people cross the line and become outlaws?” The panel will feature Peter Lefort of Community Action Groups, Adam Ramsay of People and Planet, Nick Bryer of Thames Valley Climate Action and Suzanne Dhaliwal of UK Tar Sands Network. Oxford WDM will also be having a stall in the foyer.

At: Phoenix Picture House, 57 Walton Street, Oxford OX2 6AE
Box Office Number: 0871 902 5736

Tuesday 2nd August, 2pm-5pm
West Papua has been illegally occupied by Indonesia for over 40 years. As part of the ongoing campaign for freedom, the Free West Papua Campaign and the International Lawyers for West Papua are honoured to invite you to a very special conference: West Papua – The Road to Freedom.

The conference will bring together Papuan independence leaders, international lawyers, parliamentarians and NGOs. These experts will present the background to the current problems in West Papua and highlight the legal and moral arguments as to how they may be resolved. Speakers at the conference will include:

Powes Parkop, Governor of Port Moresby and the National Capital District, PNG
Benny Wenda, West Papuan independence leader
Frances Raday, Expert Member of the UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
John Saltford, Expert on the 1969 Act of Free Choice
Clement Ronawery Witness to the 1969 Act of Free Choice
Ralph Regenvanu Vanuatu Justice Minister
We will also be joined via video link by Dr. Benny Giay and Rev. Sofyan Yoman, two leading West Papuan human rights and independence activists.

The conference will be chaired by Andrew Smith MP (Chair, International Parliamentarians for West Papua) and Charles Foster (Barrister and co-founder, ILWP).

Venue: East School of the Examination Schools, 75-81 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BG. If you would like to attend the conference please RSVP to conference@ilwp.org with your name, address and if you are part of an organisation.

There is no fee for attending the conference but we continue to welcome all donations to the Free West Papua Campaign.