Get Involved

Michaelmas 2007

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Week 1: U8 + BurmaSoc - ‘Taken apart: Burma Crisis’

For breaking headlines and more stories on Burma: Google

750,000 people have signed this petition, in support of the protestors in their calls for an end to the military regime. Join them, at: Avaaz

To learn more about Burma (Myanmar), try: BBC News , CIA World Factbook, infoplease

Total Oil is a large French firm that still invests in Burma. Join the weekly protests outside their London Headquarters. Every Wednesday. 8.30am-10am. Total Oil headquarters, 33 Cavendish Square, WC1

This is a campaign film drawing attention to the plight in Burma. Check it out:witness.org

More history: World History Archives

More campaigning action: Burma Campaign UK

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Week 2: Oxford Amnesty - Taking Liberties

Join Amnesty
- Visit and sign up to AIUK at www.amnesty.org.uk
- Join the OUAI group at www.herald.ox.ac.uk/~amnesty

Join Liberty
- Visit and sign up to Liberty at www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk
- Join Oxford Students for Liberty by emailing lee.solomons@worc.ox.ac.uk

Write to your MP
- Demand to know what your MP is doing about the issues raised in the film. Visit www.writetothem.com for contact information and sample letters

Join the mass lone demos
- Demonstrations take place 5pm to 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of every month. Forms must be handed in or sent in by recorded delivery 1 week beforehand. Visit www.markthomasinfo.com/demo, for information about why and how to take part.

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Week 3: Oxford Amnesty - Rwandan Genocide

John Rusimbi depicted the historical build-up to the genocide of 1994. He then offered his own views and personal experience as he discussed the “way out” for Rwanda, how society and governance should be reconstructed, and the troubles with relocating the 2 million refugees that fled in 1994.

Join the debate about the West’s failure in Rwanda, here:
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/evil/.

For a compendium of articles covering a range of topics in Rwanda, follow the link:
www.africa.upenn.edu/Country_Specific/Rwanda.html

Mr Rusimbi’s books can be bought online, including at www.amazon.co.uk

To join the efforts of Oxford charities to stop genocides every happening again or to control arms, see:
- UBS Petition
- Oxford Aegis
- Hands up for Darfur
- Oxford Amnesty
- Kimberley Process

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Week 4: Fairtrade Coalition - Success of Fairtrade?

Dr Alex Nicholls, Lecturer in Social Enterprise for the Said Business school, discussed Fairtrade, not only as a tool for poverty-reduction, but as a social movement and market phenomenon.

View his presentation.

To buy his most recent books on Fairtrade: Amazon

To see Dr Alex Nicholls' profile: Said Business School

To see other papers on fairtrade: Fairtrade.org.uk

To join the Oxford Fairtrade Coalition, who aim to have 10 colleges awarded fairtrade status by the end of Trinity 2008: oxfordfairtrade.org.uk

To find some of the many online fairtrade stores: fairtrade.org.uk

And to see what Brookes did better than Oxford:Brookesnet

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Week 5: Oxford Development Abroad - Water Policy

This Week the Series saw Jane Cocking, Deputy Humanitarian Director for Oxfam UK, discuss water and sanitation policy.

To see more about ODA: www.odauk.org

To see other governments’ and NGOs water policies:
odi.org.uk
DfID
Oxfam

To see Oxford University’s Msc programme in Water Science, Policy and Management: www.ouce.ox.ac.uk/graduate/msc-wspm/structure.html
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Week 6: Oxford Hub - Homelessness in Oxford

Last Wednesday, representatives from Thames Valley Police, Homeless Link, The Bridge Project and Simon House engaged in an interactive debate with Oxhub's audience about homelessness in Oxford. It was a fascinating discussion and highlighted just how many social problems we face on our doorstep.

To get involved with the Oxford student sleepout taking place in St Hugh's grounds on Thursday 7th week email anna.kaleva@st-annes.ox.ac.uk.

To see more about UK homelessness & housing policy: http://england.shelter.org.uk/policy/index.cfm

Find out about last night's Sleep-out event, when hundreds of Oxford citizens joined in an act of solidarity by sleeping out like homeless people in Oxford:www.oxfordsleepout.moonfruit.com

To volunteer for the Gatehouse, an Oxford homelessness charity that provides cheap meals: www.oxfordgatehouse.org

To get involved with the outreach work that OICCU do e-mail timothy.platt@st-johns.ox.ac.uk

To see a comprehensive list of community support for the homeless in Oxford: Communigate.co.uk
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Week 7: Hands up for Darfur - Darfur Diaries

Last Wednesday saw Carol Berger introduce 'Darfur Diaries', a film by activists that presents an emotive set of interviews of victims and rebel soldiers inside Darfur, Sudan. On Friday, OUSU council also agreed to impose an advertising ban on UBS until they stopped dealing with Chinese companies who profit from Darfur. See www.ubspetition.org for more details.

To join Hands up for Darfur, or find out about their other events: www.handsupfordarfur.co.uk

To find out more: www.protectdarfur.org

For the politics geeks among you, see one of the most active blogs on
Sudan: www.ssrc.org/blog/category/darfur

Sudan Divestment Oxford is pressuring companies with investments in the Sudanese government to withdraw them, and stop supporting the actions of the Sudanese government. To sign their petition: www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/663422770

Or to get involved with Sudan Divestment Oxford: www.sudandivestmentoxford.org.uk
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Week 8: Stop AIDS Coalition - World AIDS Week

In commemoration of World AIDS day, the Stop AIDS Coalition hosted events on every day of 8th week, including a benefit concert, a memorial service and film night.

Find comprehensive information about the campaign and how to get involved at: www.stopaidscampaign.org.uk

Email Gordon Brown and Douglas Alexander and encourage them to act: www.unicef.org.uk/campaigns/take_action/direct_action/dfid/letter1.asp?action=58

For more information on the Patients vs Patents debate: www.aidsportal.org/Article_Details.aspx?ID=3322

To find out about more about the All-party parliamentary group on AIDS: www.appg-aids.org.uk
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Oxford Hub (OxHub) is the focal point for charitable activity at Oxford University. Through events, a website and office, we can connect you with a cause to help tackle the social and environmental challenges of today.

 
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