Oxfam America's eCommunity is 300,000 members strong, and is creating political change with just the click of a mouse. Our e-alerts are an easy way for Oxfam supporters to take action about important political concerns. Our eCommunity members have sent thousand emails to lawmakers and corporations — letting them know how they can help alleviate global poverty. What have we done?

Raised Millions in Aid

eCommunity members reacted quickly and generously when the tsunami of 2004 devastated South Asia. In turn, Oxfam was able to rush clean water, food, and temporary shelter to thousands of tsunami survivors. Members have also generously funded Oxfam relief and rehabilitation efforts in Bangladesh, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia.

Pressured the US to Help Solve Coffee Crisis

After hitting a 30 year-low, the price of coffee remains below the cost of production for many coffee farmers. As a result, 25 million coffee-producing families are struggling just to survive.

But thanks in part to the eCommunity, the US government announced in 2004 that it would re-join the International Coffee Organization (ICO). The US — the world's largest consumer of coffee — can now use its position at the ICO to develop solutions to the global coffee crisis.

In addition, Procter & Gamble (P&G) — the largest coffee company in the US — announced in 2003 that it would introduce Fair Trade Certified^TM coffee products — after receiving tens of thousands of emails. This decision will help guarantee small-scale coffee farmers a decent and steady price — helping them, in turn, to avert poverty and ruin.

Helped Push Aid Legislation Through Congress

Thanks in part to the efforts of the eCommunity, Oxfam America can boast of two important legislative feats. First, the Senate and House overwhelmingly passed the Clean Diamond Trade Act. This act aims to stop the trade in gems whose profits are used to fund groups committing terrible human rights abuses and acts of terror.

Second, the Help Commission Act, a bill intended to improve and refine the food aid process, became law. Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), sponsor of this bill, commented: "I would like to personally thank Oxfam America ... [and] those who took action."

Protected Indigenous People in the Amazon

In the summer of 2003, Oxfam launched a campaign to protect indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon from a natural gas project. The project was awaiting a crucial loan from the Inter-American Development Bank — an entity that is partially funded by the US government. Due in part to concerns expressed by you and thousands of others, the bank attached a number of unprecedented social and environmental conditions to the loan.