Donald Trump has taken the Oath of Office of the President of the United States. With that historic moment comes both opportunities for and challenges to Oxfam’s fight against global poverty.
Long-term change requires persistence and vision. Oxfam’s mission doesn’t shift in response to political campaigns or public opinion. In the US, 2016’s presidential election was not only contentious; it was characterized by provocative and ugly public rhetoric. Rather than retreat in response to attacks on our values, we believe that the challenges we face make Oxfam’s mission more relevant than ever.
Over the next four years, we will renew our commitment to building a future free from poverty and injustice. And in order to do that, we’ll be calling on you to take action to hold our leaders accountable.
These are the areas where we believe you can do the most to help us; these are the issues that represent the biggest threat to the well-being of those of us living in poverty:
We’ll keep fighting against inequality that leaves so many millions behind and trapped in a cycle of poverty.
We’ll fight for fair wages for workers so that they can work their way out of poverty. We’ll fight to reform policies that disproportionately benefit corporations and the very wealthy at the expense of everyone else. We’ll fight for an end to discrimination of all kinds, which perpetuates inequality and poverty.
We’ll continue taking a stand against climate change and helping the poorest and most vulnerable communities adapt.
People who have done the least to contribute to climate change, are often most affected. We demand that our leaders in the US recognize that climate change is a real global threat, and we call on these leaders to uphold our international commitments. Fighting global climate change simply cannot happen without the United States.
We’ll always work to welcome people who have been forced from their homes and have nowhere else to turn.
We will work to ensure that the United States remains a safe and welcoming home for all its citizens and for immigrants—regardless of gender, race, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation. We’ll work to ensure the United States is a safe home for refugees fleeing from strife. This is not the time to close our hearts, our minds, or our borders.
We believe in the power of people to overcome poverty. And we all have a role to play in achieving that aim.
In the words of Nelson Mandela:
"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. And overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life."
Together we can hold our leaders accountable and fight to protect the poor and most vulnerable—around the world and in the US. Stand with us for what is right, what is fair, and what is just.
Sign up to join a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.