1. There’s a crisis within a crisis.

Refugees from Syria living in Zaatari camp in Jordan. The camp now houses about 100,000 people. Photo: Caroline Gluck/Oxfam

Many of the stories we’re hearing about the war in Syria actually overlook a fast-growing emergency: millions of ordinary Syrians have had to leave their homes to escape the fighting. In many cases, families had to leave home with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and now struggle to obtain basics like food, water, shelter, and medical care.

2. More than five million people have had to flee their homes.

Refugees reach Jordan after having just walked across the border from Syria. Photo: Anastasia Taylor-Lind/Oxfam

Most of these five million displaced families remain in Syria, where nearly a third of the population is in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. However, more than 1.5 million refugees have fled across borders to neighboring countries like Jordan and Lebanon. (To put it in perspective, that’s roughly the same as if every woman, man, and child in the state of New Hampshire had to leave home and take refuge in Massachusetts and Vermont.)  The UN predicts that the number of refugees could rise to three million by the end of 2013.

3. At least half of the refugees are kids.

Children from two families who were neighbors in Syria before they fled the war in February. They now live in a makeshift shelter in Lebanon. Photo: Sam Tarling/Oxfam

UNICEF estimates that at least 50 percent of the refugees from Syria are children under 18. Many had to drop out of school, like Reema, a bright 12-year-old whose home was destroyed by an air strike. Her family now lives in a small, windowless shelter in Lebanon. “I was at school when it was bombed. Some of the children were killed … We left because we were afraid of the bombings in Syria,” Reema said. (Read some of the poems Reema wrote about her experiences.)

4. Most refugees are not living in camps.

Judi and Mohammed Yousef in their family’s temporary home: an abandoned shopping center in Lebanon. Photo: Sam Tarling/Oxfam

While Jordan’s Zaatari camp is now home to more than 100,000 refugees from Syria, 70 percent of the refugees in Jordan are living in urban communities. In Lebanon, there are no camps in place for refugees, so families are scattered among 1,200 different locations—like the abandoned shopping center near Tripoli, pictured above, where 90 Syrian families have built makeshift homes in bare tiled rooms that used to be stores. Read the rest of this entry »

In the Segou region of Mali, 82 percent of households polled in a recent survey live on less than $1.25 a day. The typical village is more than 14 miles from a paved road. As a result, few people have access to resources that many of us take for granted—like a place to save and borrow money, for example.

Enter Saving for Change, an innovative program from Oxfam America, Freedom from Hunger, and the Strømme Foundation. Focusing on rural villages like those in Segou, the program trains groups of women to save regularly; they borrow from their group’s fund to build small businesses or homes, or to buy essentials for their families. Members then repay loans from the group with interest. The model has taken off, and Saving for Change now has 680,000 members in 13 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. (Read what members in Guatemala and in Senegal are saying about their experiences.)

Women from the Banakoro village Saving for Change group in Mali hand in their weekly savings contributions during a meeting in 2009. Photo: Rebecca Blackwell/Oxfam America

In Mali, where some of the first Saving for Change groups were founded, Oxfam and Freedom From Hunger conducted a three-year study exploring the impacts of the program. The results of the study, released last Friday, show that households in villages with savings groups experienced an 8 percent increase in food security and saved 31 percent more on average.

The groups helped in other ways, too. The study showed that the value of livestock held by households in participating villages increased by 13 percent compared to families in villages without the program. “Livestock are a critical safety net for families. The animals are a form of savings that can be sold in hard times. Imagine if your home value or stock portfolio increased by 13 percent—it could be game-changing for your family,” said Freedom from Hunger President Steve Hollingworth.

Learn more about Saving for Change and the results of the study here.

Cocoa farmer Adelaju Olaleye leans against the wall of her house in Oke-Agbede Isale, a village in Nigeria’s southwestern cocoa-growing region. Photo: George Osodi/Panos for Oxfam America

Sweet news today for chocolate lovers: the biggest chocolate maker in the world, Mondelez International, has agreed to take steps to address inequality facing women in their cocoa supply chains—thanks to pressure from customers like you.

More than 100,000 people around the world joined Oxfam’s campaign, signing petitions and taking action to urge Mondelez and its competitors to tackle the hunger, poverty, and unequal pay facing many women cocoa farmers and workers. You also made your voices heard by sending messages to the companies on Facebook and Twitter.

One of the images posted to Mondelez’s Facebook page by Oxfam supporters. Pictured: Amir Gorjifard of the Oxfam Club at Grinnell College. Photo: Mary Zheng

Today’s announcement by Mondelez follows commitments last month by Mars and Nestlé to address these issues. Together, Mars, Mondelez, and Nestlé buy more than 30 percent of the world’s cocoa—so changes in their policies could have huge effects for cocoa farmers and their families.

“Empowering women cocoa farmers has the potential to improve the lives of millions of people, some of whom are earning less than $2 a day,” said Judy Beals, manager of Oxfam’s Behind the Brands campaign. “We hope that the steps taken by Mars, Mondelez, and Nestlé offer an example to the rest of the food and beverage industry that consumers are paying attention to how companies impact the communities they work in.”

Mars, Mondelez, and Nestlé are now taking the first steps to commit to the empowerment of women and to find out how women are being treated in their supply chains. All have agreed to publish the data from first stage impact assessments in one year’s time and to publish concrete action plans to address the issues. Mondelez will also sign on to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles later this month, becoming the first of the three major chocolate companies to do so. Learn more about companies’ commitments.

Oxfam will make sure that these companies stick to their promises, but we can’t do it without you. We’ll put out progress reports so consumers and supporters can keep track and hold Mars, Mondelez, and Nestle to their word. You can also stay informed and take further actions through Oxfam’s Behind the Brands scorecard; we’ll be updating this online tool in real time so you can see how the giant companies that make your favorite brands (chocolate and otherwise) measure up.

Photo: Rankin

Huge news coming out of the UN today: this morning, delegates from 154 nations voted to adopt the first-ever international Arms Trade Treaty.

This is a historic moment. For the first time, the world has a treaty to help monitor and control the flow of arms and ammunition across borders. It’s a strong, effective treaty that will save lives and protect human rights around the world.

This momentous victory is the culmination of more than 10 years of campaigning by Oxfam and many other like-minded organizations and allies. And it’s the result of the actions of tens of thousands of Oxfam supporters like you – people who raised their voices in support of an Arms Trade Treaty, donated to fuel this work, and spread the word about this crucial issue.

For families in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Mali, and other countries wracked with armed conflict, the Arms Trade Treaty means a safer, brighter future. Ending armed conflict in poor communities is vital to righting the wrong of poverty, which is why Oxfam has been working to pass this treaty for more than a decade.

President Obama and his administration played an important leadership role to ensure the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty. Join us and send a message thanking them now.

Photo: Percy Ramirez/Oxfam America; click to enlarge

Above, Marlith Amasifuen Ishuiza and her son Bryan Sangama at a community water tap in Aviación, a rural town of about 300 people in Peru’s northern Amazon region. With support from Oxfam, women in Aviación worked together to cultivate a traditional garden, which protects their indigenous Kichwa culture while providing an additional source of food and income for their families.

I thought of my 2012 visit to Avación when I read “The Kids Left Behind by the Boom,” a moving op-ed by journalist Marie Arana that appeared in yesterday’s New York Times. With the story of 12-year-old Henrry Ochochoque, Arana touches on many of the same issues that Oxfam’s programs in Peru seek to address: the stark inequalities between the flourishing capital city and the struggling rural villages; the environmental and human costs of out-of-control natural resource extraction; and the still-persistent discrimination that leaves many indigenous people shut out of the country’s recent economic boom.

As Arana points out, these problems affect kids first and foremost. Henrry, and many others like him, are getting “an education that will leave [them] drastically unprepared for the 21st century. … 78 percent of Peru’s indigenous children live in poverty. A third of all rural children suffer chronic malnutrition. … For Henrry, despite his A’s and sunny optimism, the Peruvian boom may as well be on the moon.”

In the face of challenges like this, it’s hard to be optimistic about the future. But for Henrry’s sake, and Bryan’s too, I hope we’ll see some changes before they grow up.

Now that International Women’s Day is over, I’ll never feel the same way about M&M’s. Nor will I see Oreo cookies or Crunch bars in quite the same light. That’s because, for this March 8, we transformed the wrappers of these iconic products into a call to action on behalf of women cocoa farmers.

Why cocoa farmers? Although chocolate is a $100 billion industry, 90 percent of the world’s cocoa is grown by small-holder farmers in countries like Nigeria and Indonesia. Millions of these farmers, especially women, live in poverty. Meanwhile, Oxfam’s Behind the Brands scorecard found that the world’s biggest chocolate companies could be doing a lot more for the women who grow this key ingredient.

At Oxfam, we believe that no company is too big to listen to its customers. So as the world celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, we called on consumers to send a message to three influential chocolate companies—Mars, Mondelez, and Nestlé—asking them to put policies in place to help women cocoa growers get a fair deal. To get the word out, we transformed some of these companies’ most famous products, and shared our versions, below, on social media.

Share this graphic on Facebook -  Share it on Pinterest - Tweet it

Share this graphic on Facebook - Share it on Pinterest - Tweet it

Share this graphic on Pinterest – Tweet it

Giant versions of these reimagined products also made an appearance at a snowy Times Square event at the M&M’s World store, and in front of Nestlé’s US headquarters in downtown LA, where the stormy skies parted just as Oxfam staffers and volunteers climbed into a human-sized “scales of justice” to stand in support of women cocoa farmers (see the photos at the top of this post). Oxfam Action Corps volunteers also handed out thousands of redesigned treats all over the country, from Austin, Texas, where the SXSW Festival was just beginning, to Seattle’s Pike Place Market.

Together, these efforts added up. On March 8 alone, more than 10,000 people signed our online petition. As of today, more than 30,000 people have taken action, and one company, Nestlé, has already shown that they’re listening.

Of course, we still have further to go to create real change for women cocoa farmers. But, for now, seeing some iconic brands in a new light could be a great place to start.

Which companies are actually behind the food and drinks we buy every day? Most of us would like to know the answers—but, unlike nutrition information, they’re not always written on the label. That’s why thousands of you have commented on and shared Oxfam’s new infographic (below; click to enlarge) making the connections between big companies and some very familiar brands.

Those 10 companies in the middle are now the biggest food and beverage companies in the world. Together, they generate revenues of more than $1.1 billion a day. They also employ millions of people in poor countries, directly and indirectly, to grow and produce their products. Because of their global reach and influence, these companies could play a big role in reducing poverty, hunger, and inequality. But right now, they’re not doing enough.

Oxfam spent 18 months looking closely at how the “big 10” say they do business. Then we created an easy-to-use scorecard—a “behind the brands” look—comparing and contrasting their policies and commitments. We discovered that all 10 need to do a whole lot more to support farmers, communities, and our planet. You’ll find more information about their scores below, along with some surprising connections to everyday products that are probably staples in your grocery cart.

One thing to remember, though: you don’t need to stop buying these products in order to make a difference. Instead, make your voice heard. Check out the Behind the Brands scorecard. Get the facts. Then use your power as a consumer to tell companies exactly what needs to change. After all, no company is too big to listen to its customers.

1. Skinny Cow, owned by Nestlé

These low-guilt desserts are just one of many brands owned by Nestlé, the company behind Nestlé Crunch, Nescafe, and a host of other products. Among the companies on Oxfam’s Behind the Brands scorecard, Nestlé is near the top; it leads the way on climate change and water usage, and is the most transparent. A failure to condemn land grabs and to support women in its supply chains prevent it from being a true sector leader on policy, though. Find out more and send Nestlé a message here.

2. Tropicana, owned by PepsiCo

Who doesn’t drink a glass of OJ now and then, especially in the winter when colds and flu are rampant? The “Florida sunshine” brand is actually owned by PepsiCo, which owns not only Pepsi but Quaker Oats, Doritos, and many other common brands. PepsiCo fizzes in the top half of Oxfam’s scorecard, particularly for its water policies, but still falls flat on land use, the treatment of women, and transparency. Find out more about PepsiCo’s score and send them a message here.

3. Ben & Jerry’s, owned by Unilever

For me, this was the biggest surprise—that the quirky, hippie, eco-friendly ice-cream brand is owned by Unilever, a mega-company that also owns Lipton, Slim-Fast, and all kinds of other products. Near the top of Oxfam’s Behind the Brands scorecard, Unilever scores well on its policies supporting small-scale farmers, workers’ rights, and managing water usage, but its record on women’s rights and land rights leaves plenty to be desired. Ask Unilever to do better by sending a message here.

4. Oreos, owned by Mondelez International

Whether you like cookie or the crème, you may not know that “America’s favorite cookie” is actually owned by Mondelez International, the giant company behind Toblerone, Chips Ahoy, and other chocolate delights. Unfortunately, Oxfam’s scorecard found that Mondelez’ business behavior is less than sweet: their policies score poorly on climate change and water, and could do more for women’s rights, workers’ rights, and land use, though there are some positives around farmers. Take action here to ask Mondelez to do better.

5. Dasani, owned by Coca-Cola

This popular bottled water is owned by one of the most well-known companies in the world: Coca-Cola. Even if soda isn’t your thing, you’ve probably bought one of Coke’s beverages recently, whether it was Odwalla juice or Vitamin Water. Not quite the real thing on Oxfam’s scorecard, Coke scores higher on policies related to worker’s rights, climate change, transparency and the treatment of women, but is left trailing the top companies due to poor performance on land rights and support for farmers. Learn more about Coke’s score and take action here.

6. Twinings, owned by Associated British Foods

A long-ago job at a café introduced me to the delights of oolong tea, and this classic British tea brand makes one of the best oolongs around. It’s owned by Associated British Foods (ABF), which scores poorly on Oxfam’s scorecard for its policies assessing impact on food producers, communities, and the planet, and does even worse on supporting women and land rights, as well as responding to climate change. They are making progress on transparency and workers’ rights, but, overall, they could try harder. A lot harder.  Explore the issues and ask ABF to do better here.

7. M&M’s, owned by Mars

These tiny, colorful chocolates are so iconic, you don’t even need to see the signature “M” to recognize them pretty much anywhere. Mars, the company behind M&M’s, Snickers, Three Musketeers, and many other candies that graced the Halloweens of my childhood, is neither horrific nor heroic on Oxfam’s scorecard. They score poorly in terms of supporting women and protecting land rights, but fare better when it comes to their policies on transparency and recognizing issues faced by small-scale farmers. Learn more about Mars’ scores and take action here.

8. Dannon, owned by Danone

We are huge yogurt fans in my household, so we buy a lot of Dannon products. The company behind Dannon is actually the similarly-named Danone, which seems to have the yogurt market cornered with brands like Oikos, Stonyfield, Light & Fit, and more. So how does the dairy giant perform on Oxfam’s scorecard? The good news is that Danone’s policies are above average on water and transparency. But the bad news is that it lacks any commitment to supporting women, farmers or land rights. Send Danone a message here and ask them to do better.

9. Old El Paso, owned by General Mills

This brand’s yellow and red logo is a big presence on grocery store shelves; most of us have bought their tacos, salsas, or tortillas at one time or another. The big 10 company behind Old El Paso is actually General Mills, owner of brands ranging from Cheerios to Nature Valley. Oxfam’s Behind the Brands scorecard found that General Mills has a limited understanding on water but no commitment to food producers, land rights, or tackling climate change, and no anti-biofuel advocacy. Learn more and send General Mills a message here.

10. Special K, owned by Kellogg’s

Okay, you probably knew that Special K cereal is owned by Kellogg’s—no secret there. But did you know that Kellogg’s also owns Corn Flakes, Pop-tarts, and tons of other breakfast-y brands (including one of my favorites, Kashi)? Oxfam’s scorecard found that Kellogg’s policies on land rights, worker’s rights, and support for small-scale producers are distinctly lacking in snap, crackle, and pop. It is at least more transparent about its business than some other companies, however. Learn more and send Kellogg’s a message here.

Photo: George Osodi/Panos for Oxfam America

Comfort Adeniyi, a cocoa farmer, on her farm in Ayetoro-Ijesa in southwest Nigeria. In this portrait by photographer George Osodi, Adeniyi holds a long knife used by farmers for cracking open cocoa pods, weeding fields, and other routine tasks.

Adeniyi’s portrait also appears on Oxfam America’s new fact sheet, Women and the big business of chocolate. Ninety percent of the world’s cocoa is grown by 5.5 million smallholder farmers like Adeniyi, many of whom live below the poverty line. In West Africa, where most cocoa comes from, women do nearly half of the labor on cocoa farms but own just a quarter of the land. They have fewer economic opportunities and, as workers, typically earn less than men.

Fortunately, consumers like us can help (and we don’t even have to give up chocolate). Check out Oxfam’s Behind the Brands scorecard to learn what the world’s biggest food companies could be doing to improve their policies. Then join thousands of others and ask companies to give cocoa growers a fair deal.

Photo: Luca Sola/Oxfam

Samira, pictured above in a camp for displaced people in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, is a refugee from the ongoing conflict in Syria.

Samira is living in a self-made shelter with just one room, which she shares with 12 other people. Her home is made from one wall of breezeblocks and finished with plastic sheeting and cardboard boxes. The floor is wet and icy cold, and outside snow melts into the ground, creating icy mud.

“[My family] decided to come to Lebanon because of the fighting that was taking place,” Samira told Oxfam last month. “The shelling and the shooting were happening while we were trying to live peacefully in our homes. It has been eight months since I left my home. I have no idea what happened to it; we just had to leave it behind and escape because of the fighting.”

An estimated 670,000 people have fled violence in Syria to neighboring countries since the onset of the crisis in March 2011. The region is now experiencing harsh winter weather conditions, with heavy rain and snowstorms sending temperatures plummeting to below zero. Many of the displaced are living in shelters with no winter clothes and no blankets.

Oxfam and its local partners have been distributing blankets, mattresses, heaters, gas oil, and other supplies to help the new arrivals stay warm during the harsh winter. Significant funds are needed to reach more refugees before winter takes its toll.

Learn more about how Oxfam is helping Syrian refugees and donate now to support these efforts.

Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam

Pablo Tosco’s photo of a girl lifting a water jug shows the reality of life for thousands of Malian refugees living in Mentao camp, Burkina Faso.

Since January of last year, more than 370,000 civilians—many of them women and children—have fled northern Mali, with 142,000 finding refuge in neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger, and an additional 228,000 displaced in southern Mali.

With the recent escalation of the conflict in Mali, the already dire situation for tens of thousands of Malians could get much worse, according to an Oxfam report published earlier this week. “We call on countries neighboring Mali to continue to keep their borders open to allow refugees a safe haven, and for the UN to show the leadership that is needed to deal with the impact of this conflict on Malian refugees and their hosts,” said Oxfam West Africa regional director Mamadou Biteye.

Oxfam is also providing humanitarian assistance to those displaced by the conflict. Although access to those in need within Mali is limited, we are providing aid to nearly 60,000 people in Mali’s Gao region. And in neighboring Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger, we are aiding 150,000 refugees and the people struggling to host them. Find out how you can support our efforts.