What a fisherman in Ghana taught me about redefining masculinity
When circumstances require it, traditional gender roles don’t always apply. I’ve interviewed a lot of women survivors of domestic violence over the years. And by violence I don’t just mean the...
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“When the sun is shining, our crops are dying”
A changing climate threatens harvests from California to Liberia. How can we help? When I was in Liberia last month with a team of researchers, we spoke with farmers in some isolated villages about...
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Sudden realization that Kellogg is not so great on climate change moves corporate cartoon character to existential crisis. Check out the latest video for our Behind the Brands campaign, in which Tony...
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When the most practical—and elegant—form of aid is cash
It’s not a good idea to stop the legitimate flow of money to a country facing a food crisis. There’s nothing like a little cash to help cope with an emergency. Two years ago I talked with farmers in...
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Fighting giants isn’t easy
Farmer, defender of rights, and elected official Joanna Manu wants to change the relationship between politicians and people in Ghana. David, the Biblical warrior who defeated Goliath, is an inspiring...
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What do farmers want? Here’s what they’ve told me
We all rely on farmers to grow our food. But what do they want in return? Here are four common themes I’ve heard all over the world. One of the best and worst parts of my job is talking with farmers....
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What’s really going to end poverty? It’s a question of power
Delivering aid helps. But we need to change the conditions that create poverty in the first place. At a small village in northern El Salvador, on a quiet, warm, beautiful Sunday, I witnessed a peaceful...
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Who’s winning the struggle for land in Cambodia?
Despite pressure on indigenous communities, people are finding ways to defend their rights. Up in the northeast corner of Cambodia’s Ratanakiri province, the forests are disappearing. As you drive...
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Where does oil money go? I went to Nigeria to find out
In the last five years, oil-producing developing countries like Nigeria earned about $1.5 trillion. So where is all this money? Finding the site of the most recent oil spill near the community of...
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How much energy does it take to farm all day? Enough to run a marathon
I sometimes look at the people involved in the projects Oxfam is helping make possible and wonder if I could ever possibly work as hard as they do. The farmers in particular are impressive: People like...
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Violence, and bogus charges against human rights defenders in Guatemala continue
Legal advisor comes to US to accuse state, mining company of campaign against activists When the vice president of Guatemala resigned amidst suspicion of corruption, I raised an eyebrow. When the...
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What’s in a toilet? Way more than you thought.
How toilets fight poverty, and what you can do to help get them to the people who need them. The momentous day is nearly here: World Toilet Day is November 19 so we are turning our thoughts to this...
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Winning battles in war on poverty
We’re in a long struggle against poverty, but your participation in the fight is making a difference. Check out the headlines from last weekend: There’s a major international agreement coming out of...
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Five poverty-fighting investments that should bring us all hope
How a little knowledge, and inspiration, can make a difference in the lives of people. Here it is, the end of 2015, a tough year in the poverty fighting and humanitarian business. All those wars,...
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A farmer declares victory
On International Women’s Day, female farmers of Cambodia are building a movement, and one reaches a milestone for her family. Meas Sopheap spends a lot of her time growing rice, a vocation requiring...
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Six ways to fix up a well and get clean water
Here’s how a hand-dug well becomes a source of clean water for a community. This post was originally published August 20, 2013, and updated on May 13, 2016 Oxfam helps communities around the world fix...
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Fathers: Some are not so terrible
Don’t let the bad news overwhelm you, some fathers are looking out for their daughters. Father’s day is coming up fast! Allow me a brief appreciation for mine, a retired English teacher who tells me...
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Strong voice together: Young and old protecting Cambodia’s rivers and forests
Working across generations in a struggle to defend the environment and indigenous culture. Houn Kaleb is hacking his way through bamboo and brush up a steep hillside bank on the Sesan River. His...
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4 women leaders who are fighting for change—and who keep me feeling optimistic
Even amidst dark and gloomy days, I find inspiration in women leading their communities around the world. Suddenly it’s December. Here in the northeast of the US where I live and work, the late...
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After a poor harvest in Senegal, farmers find creative ways to carry on
In the semi-arid Sahel, Senegalese farmers find ways of coping. Binta Ndao is sitting in the shade in front of her home in a village in Senegal called Kalbiron. She has a bowl of groundnuts on her lap....
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