Your support has helped save lives

This year saw Oxfam launch GROW - a huge, global campaign for food justice. GROW seeks to change the international food system which despite producing enough food for everyone, fails to feed nearly 1 billion people every day. Unless the food system is transformed average prices of staple crops will double in 20 years with half of this increase caused by climate change. The scarcity of land, water and energy and an ever increasing population will add unimaginable pressure in the future.

This year Oxfam also launched its largest ever appeal for Africa in a food crisis affecting more than 12 million people across Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. Severe food shortages caused by the worst drought in 60 years, lack of investment in the poorest areas and deep-rooted poverty led to people facing starvation and famine in parts of Somalia. People in the UK led by example, responding generously to this emergency despite the global economic crisis.

As we move into 2012, Oxfam is calling on world leaders to set up new rules to govern food markets so that everyone has enough to eat. Greater investment to support small scale farm holders and tackle climate change and a shift in the private sector where profit does not come at the expense of poor producers, consumers and the environment.

Oxfam will continue to work hard in 2012 to alleviate natural disasters and continue to campaign for justice, particularly food justice through our global GROW campaign and we are asking people in the Midlands to get involved to grow a ‘better future for all.’

The challenges will be formidable but with continued public support for our local shops, donations, fundraising and campaigning on health and education for all and alleviating global poverty, we can meet these challenges and continue to save lives around the world. - Gurvinder Sidhu, Oxfam Midlands Campaigns.