Photo: Charles Chu

As an Oxfam America Sisters on the Planet Ambassador, musician Thao Nguyen has signed on to help spread the word about the consequences of climate change for poor women around the world.  She also serves as an ambassador of sorts for Oxfam America itself, blogging for us and telling fans and friends about our work fighting poverty and injustice worldwide.

As she has several times before, Thao’s met the challenge again in a big way. Starting today, Thao and her friend Dianna Agron (“Quinn” on the hit TV show, Glee) have given Oxfam America supporters an exclusive look at the world premiere video for “Body” by Thao With the Get Down Stay Down.

“Body” was directed by Dianna, and in the prelude to the video (created exclusively for Oxfam), Thao and Dianna talk about how the collaboration came about, the challenges of international web-chatting, and Thao’s work with Oxfam on behalf of the world’s poorest women.

It’s their hope, and ours, that fans of Thao and Dianna and their various projects will visit Oxfam’s website, enjoy the video, and take action with us while they are there. To check it out, go to www.oxfamamerica.org/thao.

Like the video? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think…

Right now, the US Senate is drafting language for a new climate bill—and if we don’t take action, the world’s poorest communities may not get the resources they need to fight climate change. Find out how you can help.

Guest blogger Thao Nguyen (of Thao with the Get Down Stay Down), is a San Francisco-based singer-songwriter. Her latest album “Know Better, Learn Faster” was released in 2009.

Thao Nguyen, left, interviews climate witness Constance Okollet. Photo: Chelsea Brass / Oxfam America

I have no stripes to be a climate leader, but I do have the privilege of serving as an Oxfam America Sisters on the Planet ambassador. I share the honor with hundreds of wildly impressive and inspiring women from all over the US—former senators, interfaith workers, journalists, the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, etc.—all social and environmental justice advocates of admirable proportions.

Last month, we gathered for a summit in Washington, DC, to talk and learn and vent and stir frustration and advocacy on behalf of women who are very busy with other things related to climate change. Examples of these other things: extreme drought, severe flooding, erratic rainfall, land erosion, hunger, disease, thirst, living. 

The goal of Sisters on the Planet is to direct attention, funding, and political empowerment to those who are closest and most vulnerable to the effects of climate change: poor women. They are the primary food growers, providers and heads and spines of households everywhere.

You can relate to this very intimately because your mom has done and still does a lot of things for you. If you are like me, a child of suburbs which have not and probably never will be notably affected by climate change because strip malls make good shields, it is difficult to grasp how catastrophic these events are for vulnerable communities, and women in particular. Imagine how hard it is already to keep a family healthy and fed and then imagine the earth convulsing, scorching and spitting at you while you are trying to survive in ways that have always worked before.

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Oxfam America supporter Thao Nguyen (of Thao with the Get Down Stay Down) is a San Francisco-based singer-songwriter. Her latest album “Know Better, Learn Faster” was released earlier this year.

I have never been to Copenhagen, but I heard it is pretty and the air is brisk and sometimes the city oh, I don’t know, hosts world leaders convening to discuss climate change and climate treaties for two weeks, starting today, December 7th.

Those of us who will not be in Copenhagen can still participate. Oxfam representatives will be in attendance and keeping us updated: go to the Oxfam America Climate Action Hub (www.oxfamamerica.org/climate) to find out more, discuss, and read testimonies from those all over the world who face the grave realities of climate change.

ALSO do you like action? Take some this week in time for the Dec. 12th Day of Action: Help raise awareness and support in your community for a climate treaty that will actually help people.

But back to Copenhagen: Directly below is roughly what I hope will not happen, and below that is what I and Oxfam hope will happen. Roughly.

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Oxfam America supporter Thao Nguyen (of Thao with the Get Down Stay Down) is a San Francisco-based singer-songwriter, whose new album “Know Better, Learn Faster” has just been released.

Hello out there. I am very pleased to be writing you on Blog Action Day, as it is my favorite day of the year. Last year on this day I dressed up as a blog, but because I’m more of an idea person, execution was poor and no one could really tell. This year will be clearer and different.

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down. Photo: Tarina Westlund

I am a songwriter and musician by trade, and although that is incredibly fortunate in and of itself, I feel especially lucky for such job placement because it has afforded me the unique opportunity to closely work with and support Oxfam America.

I have always loved Oxfam’s focus and application of energies and issues to real live people, and how the scope and arch of causes great and small always return to how real places with real people are being affected, and what can be done to help improve their quality of life. Climate change is a real bastard, as we all have heard. And it’s happening, let’s not deny it. If you keep turning a blind eye to climate change it will probably be injured in a surprise gale force wind. Or not. The issue of climate change has painted the town so many times with so many brushes, it is understandable that those of us with the ability and privilege to forget, would.

Enter Oxfam and others of its ilk to keep us aware and connected: The people the world over who have done the least to upset nature are always the ones who bear the brunt of its imbalance and fury.

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