Oxfam Community Aid Abroad
Diamond Valley Group

C/- 88 Silver St. Eltham 3095   email: dvoxfam@optusnet.com.au   web URL: http://members.optushome.com.au/dvcaa

June 2004                      Group's Newsletter                    Page 2          Home

June Group Meeting
Friday June 11 - 8.00pm


What do you know about Oxfam Community Aid Abroad's "Blueprint for a more secure world"? At our June meeting you will not only hear more about the Blueprint, but we will all have the opportunity to "have our say". As a Group we have been very aware that a federal election is looming. At our May meeting we agreed that in some way we need to make our views known to the pollies. There has been some discussion on how we might go about this.  This Blueprint has been prepared by Oxfam Community Aid Abroad and is currently in a draft discussion paper format. It is appropriate that we have a coordinated approach in our lobbying and campaigning efforts.

Blueprint for a more secure world
A six point plan for Australia's contribution

About the Blueprint
Whatever else it may achieve, the 'war on terror' cannot guarantee global security. There can be no true global security without action to eliminate poverty and promote social justice. With a Federal Election approaching, it's time to let Australia's decision-makers know that national interests and security are not best served by current policies.

Oxfam Community Aid Abroad's Blueprint for a More Secure World, to be launched in July, is a challenge to the political status quo. It will detail the six steps that Australia can take to contribute to a lasting solution to global security.
How we can contribute
We are invited by the National Office to provide our ideas and feedback on building a more secure world on all aspects of the document, in particular detailed policy recommendations for government. At our June meeting, we will be spending some time looking at each of the six points and to add our experiences and voice to a call for Australia to broaden its approach to global security. It would be great if you could access a copy of the Blueprint prior to our meeting. The document is 29 pages and is in PDF format. It is available for reading and download at http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/blueprint/blueprint.pdf
For those of you with no access to a computer, a couple of suggestions are to book a time to use the internet at your local library, or call a friend or Group member who can give you access. At our meeting we break off into a few groups and allocate one of the following six points to each group to discuss:

Under Oxfam Community Aid Abroad's six point plan for global security, Australia would:
1. Increase spending on development aid from the present record low levels and refocus the aid program on need rather than strategic interests.
2. Make a long-term development commitment in the Asia Pacific region, particularly in the southwest Pacific, East Timor and Indonesia.
3. Resume its role as a global champion of human rights, including by reforming domestic asylum seeker policies.
4. Spearhead attempts to redress the rigged rules and double standards of the international trading system.
5. Become a driver of renewed global commitment to multilateral governance through the UN and other multilateral institutions and environment agreements.
6. Regulate Australian corporate conduct to ensure fundamental human rights and basic environmental and labour standards are respected wherever our companies operate.

Each of the six points is about 2-3 pages, so don't fear, it is not necessary to read 29 pages. Copies of each point will be distributed on the night. Collectively as a group, it is hoped we can go back to the National Office with some detailed suggestions.