Walking for Climate Justice

On Sunday, April 20th the Oxfam Action Corps made a splash with their first walk for climate justice. Carrying signs and buckets, they paraded through the Earthday festival at Valley Junction bringing awareness of the connections between poverty and climate change. The walk served as a visual representation of the increasing distances that women and children in many countries must travel for water- a trek made longer by erratic climate.

Stephen, Action Corps Co-leader and organizer of the march, was quoted in the Des Moines Register saying: "When people think of climate change, they think of polar bears, but we need to think of people too." Another walker said: "Every time someone sees a message, even for just a minute, it's one more time they think about it". Read the article to see what else was said.

Start Helping and Stop Harming

How can you make change when it comes to climate change? It's so big but there are some little things you can do.



1) Sign the Petition

http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vYWN0Lm94ZmFtYW1lcmljYS5vcmcvY2FtcGFpZ24vY2NwZXRpdGlvbg==

2) Sign up for the Oxfam Climate Change Action Team

http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vYWN0Lm94ZmFtYW1lcmljYS5vcmcvY2FtcGFpZ24vY2NfYXRlYW0=

&

3) Send me an email at iowa.actioncorps@gmail.com if you want to help and to get on the list serv!

Thanks!

Peace,
Ellen
Iowa Action Corps Co-Leader

Coffee, Climate, and Conversation

On Thursday, the Iowa Oxfam Action Corps had its first meeting of the new season in Des Moines. Stephen, an action corps coleader, was joined by three highly enthusiastic women at Caribou Coffee for an informal get-together. They talked about the challenges of starting a movement and about how to reach out to more people and other organizations on the issue of climate justice. Want to know what was talked about? Join them on the third Thursday of May for their next meeting. The small and mighty Action Corps wants YOU to show up at Caribou Coffee (3220 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines 50312) on May 15!

Cherry Blossoms and Climate Change

(National Oxfam Action Corps Leaders)

Ellen and Stephen, Iowa action corps co-leaders, recently returned from training with Oxfam America in Washington, DC. We learned a lot from Oxfam America staff and from leaders of the Oxfam Action Corps in 12 other cities across the US.

(United States Capitol Building)

We went to the Captiol to speak with aides to Representative Boswell and Senator Harkin about the effects of climate change on people who suffer from poverty and hunger in the US and around the world. We asked that they support efforts to stop harming by reducing pollution and start helping by providing international adaptation funding for disadvantaged communities around the world to adapt to the effects of climate change.

We're back in Iowa and excited to bring the human face of climate change to Iowans across the state!

What is the Action Corps?

The Oxfam Action Corps is a dedicated group of volunteers working in cities across the country to create meaningful solutions to issues of hunger, poverty and injustice. Join Action Corps and help support legislation that is before Congress this year, engage Presidential candidates on the issue, and most importantly build public support for more ambitious legislation come the new Congress and administration next year. We are volunteers in Iowa!! Join and invite your friends!