Click here for information about Launceston Oxfam Group

Saturday, 7 July 2012

July meeting!

Meeting 6pm Tues 10th July, 2012 at the Royal Oak.

We will watch a short Oxfam film, “Stop Hunger,” about people in East Timor overcoming hunger through knowledge of farming and nutrition; and their opportunities for the future, followed by discussion.

We will also be planning for Band Together, our fundraiser on Friday 31st August. Watch this space for more details!

Other business will include news about Tasmanian and Australian Oxfam activities including a possible Tasmanian conference, the suggested date being Saturday 14th September.

Cheers.

Monday, 18 June 2012

Photos of 2012 Fairtrade Fortnight's events in Launceston



Fairtrade Fortnight ran from the 5th of May 2012 to the 20th of May 2012.


OXFAM Australia on "Trade": 

Trade has the power to generate incredible wealth, and elevate people out of poverty. 

So why then, are millions of people still so poor?

Because the rules of controlling trade heavily... read more


Sat, 12/05/12 Fairtrade Fiesta at Brisbane Mall, Launceston 

A great start to a beautiful Saturday morning in Launceston with lovely people, delicious breakfast and awesome Fairtrade coffees at our local cafe called FRESH Cafe before the team of Oxfam-ers and Go Fair-ers set up their stalls selling Oxfam products and Go Fair ethical products. Good jobs braving the cold and promoting Fairtrade products for sustainable communities. Well done!




More photos of the Fairtrade Fiesta on Go Fair's Facebook page: click here


Sun, 13/05/12 OXFAM stall at Evandale Market 

In conjunction with Mother's Day (unknowingly planned), we had our second Oxfam stall at the Evandale Market to promote Oxfam's works and the shop at Centreway Arcade, Launceston CBD.



Sun, 20/05/12 Late breakfast coffee at Cafe Culture, Trevallyn

Many thanks to the staff members and owners of Trevallyn's Cafe Culture in supporting and selling Fairtrade coffee in the Launceston region for more than 8 years. Kudos!




Cheerio, Eric

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Agenda for June 12th, 2012 Meeting

Part 1: “Caught in the cycle of poverty.” Video about the life of a rickshaw driver in Bangladesh) showing his daily struggle to earn enough for his needs). 6 minutes followed by discussion and/or other films in same the collection.

Part 2: Formal meeting (including minutes and planning)

1. Evandale Market stall report (Eric and Sandra)

2. FairTrade Fortnight activities report (Roc)

3. Button Day report (Ros) – Tasmania raised $3092.41 including $264.85 by Don College (to be allocated by students), $1,247.45 in Launceston and $1,844.95 in Hobart. There may still be some to come from Ulverstone High and Launceston College. Thankyou to Pam, Sandra, Ros, Jackie, Mara, James, Pat, Roc, Mara, Jonathan from MyState and students from Scotch Oakburn.

Discussion on the options we have - whether to send funds to Oxfam general funds (for Oxfam to use for whatever is needed immediately) or to select a particular appeal. See attachment.

4. Band night fundraiser planning (James) - booked for Friday 31st August (the last day before uni mid-semester break). We need 10 volunteers to be on duty on the night. James will outline other tasks to be done in preparation for the event.

5. News about Tasmanian and Australian Oxfam activities. (Ros)

6. Group blog & communications (Eric)

7. Plans for July meeting (Tuesday 10th) (all)

8. Other business

9. Announcements including

Bhutan fundraiser 15th June

Amnesty International stall 15 and 16 June and meeting 5th July

Oxfam Trailwalker fundraiser Sat. 23 June

Cambodia fundraiser 29th June

Uni group stall 12 July

Results group meeting July

** Members and non-members are most welcome to attend the meeting at The Royal Oak Hotel (upstairs) at 6PM this evening **

Thursday, 31 May 2012

Launceston Locals Look at Climate Change

Launceston Locals look at Climate Change
By Mara Schneiders

Cold snaps and heatwaves! Has weather worsened because of climate changes, or is this part of nature's cycle? The debate is ongoing, yet there is concern by some that the time for talk is past and action is needed.
In towns around Australia, and the world, May 5th signalled Climate Impacts Day and local groups invited the community to ‘connect the dots’ between extreme weather and climate change. Their aim to raise awareness.
In Northern Tasmania, Climate Launceston, a local Tasmanian environmental action group joined with Oxfam Launceston Group to highlight the issue, and urge people to respond.

Connect the Dots event in Launceston for Climate Impacts Day
On a crisp, yet sunny autumn Saturday, people in the city mall were asked to consider recent events such as flooding, droughts, heat waves and rising seas.

Connect the Dots is a project of 350.org – a grassroots global movement which aims to solve the climate crisis. As campaign organizers say:
“Across the planet we see ever more flood, ever more drought, ever more storms. People are dying, communities are being wrecked — the impacts we’re already witnessing from climate change are unlike anything we have seen before. But because the globe is so big, it’s hard for most people to see that it’s all connected”.

Launceston locals, Anthea and Roger were out shopping. “It is really interesting to see the extremes of weather and look at the map at how continents have had record droughts and record floods” Anthea observed. Invited to add a dot to the world map on display, Roger chose Tasmania for the flooding that happened in the North East last year.

Yet not everyone agrees on climate change.

Jess works in one of the clothing shops in the area. Whilst she believes climate change is a concern, she said not all her colleagues think the same.
“One guy says don’t worry about it until all the trees are cut down"
Local organisers said the response to their event had been mixed.

“Some people insist there is no such thing, but others say yes, it is an issue, what can I do?”

Whilst the debate continues nationally and internationally about what governments should do in response to environmental issues, local organisers believe that people can make a difference.

Kim Beasy is a geography student at the University of Tasmania. She has established EcoAction, a University Student group. She believes that whether you are a climate change believer or not, we can all do things which contribute to a better world.
350.org has collated footage from around the world which demonstrates the link between climate change and extreme weather. For them, and local climate change groups, the evidence is all around. Just look out the window they say.

Watch: Launceston Locals look at World's Weather video on YouTube.

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

Amnesty International and Launceston Oxfam June Meeting

Hi all,

There will be an Amnesty International Meeting on the 7th of June, Thursday at Maggie's Place, Pilgrim Centre on Paterson Street. It is going to exciting to see the "revival" of Amnesty International in Launceston! Please come along and give your support to another great organisation for good causes.

Our June meeting is at the Royal Oak (upstairs) at 6PM on the 12th of June. Ros will be showing us a film on the life of a rickshaw driver in Bangladesh.

Cheers, Eric

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Fairtrade Fortnight 2012 in Launceston

A list of events in Launceston has been started in conjunction with Fairtrade Fortnight 5th May to 20th May 2012. Check them out guys!

May 5 - 20: OXFAM shop

May 12: Fairtrade Breakfast (small scale) at FRESH Cafe on Charles Street - See Amanda at OXFAM shop for details

May 12: GO Fair's Fairtrade Fiesta at Brisbane Mall from 10AM

May 13: OXFAM stall/information booth at Evandale Market from 8AM to 12NN - Come and support!

May 14: UTAS Hot chocolate stall

May 20: Morning coffee and celebration of Cafe Culture's 8th year of supporting Fairtrade coffee/products - RSVP to Ros (+61 437 741 677) for numbers

Please bring along family, friends and furry companions to these events to celebrate such a great cause of doing a bit for our world!