I just checked the video viewcount - this video has only had about 1000 views. It seems whilst we have been busy debating this the rest of the world has been doing other stuff, like shopping or shopping in Primark!

Oxfam seems to be doing partly some fundraising but mainly some campaigning work in this video. And this well within its remit, indeed an international development charity who just doled out money or did projects without trying to change the structural reasons for poverty would be rather foolish. Whether the video addresses the right campaign issue or is well made or is value for money are other questions, but don't criticise Oxfam for campaigning.

People making a living off rich world consumerism?
Of course they do.

The alternitive can of course be having no work and being free to starve. Or selling the kids because can't afford to feed them.

For whatever reason, people do buy cheap goods from abroad.
Many of us aren't particularly bothered by 'sweatshops' producing the goods, few bother to find out exactly how their goods were made and the wages of the people concerned in comparison to living costs in their country.
What the public does seem to want is for quality goods to be available cheap enough to buy. Especially when money is short....

I have no problem with the Oxfam ad - doesn't make me want to do anything, but can't see anything bad about it. Maybe they've figured out they can't please all of the people all of the time.
And I'm starting to agree with Catman......

"I imagine a lot of people in poor countries even make a living off rich-world consumerism".

Adam, where have you been? Living in a wi-fi enabled cave? Did you not see or even hear of the programme on Primark. Yes people do make a living off of our consumerism, they are called multinational companies who use glogalisation to drive down their labour costs and the average worker in the developing world gets bugger all. And our continued consumerism keeps them locked in that cycle.

What is it with you and people asking you to do things, charties shouldn't talk to you in the streets, charities shouldn't explain to you how our society affects others. I'm getting a picture of a person who at his core isn't overly charitable. Please prove me wrong.

catman

Adam, the Oxfam message is great. It makes you think why you need a new mobile every year, why have you owned 3 MP3 players, it makes you question if you really need that new laptop/car/plasma tv/xbox 980 that you 'had your eye on'. Stop being grumpy and enjoy the vid.

Then again, if I gave my money to Oxfam to help the developing world and they spent it on that I'd be pretty mad. Good job I just give my money to Intelligent Giving instead.

Steve: maybe I am being a bit grumpy. But I have every right to be! It's enormously simplistic to say that the world would be a better place if we just bought less stuff - yet Oxfam's silly video completely ignores this. I imagine a lot of people in poor countries even make a living off rich-world consumerism. If anyone takes Oxfam's moralizing seriously, this may well damage those people's prospects.

Adam, Intelligent Giving

Adam,

Maybe you're just feeling a bit grumpy today. This video is great!

It's challenging us all to borrow, swap, buy second-hand... and buy fair trade. All good stuff for reducing our environmental impact (which will hit the poorest people hardest... which is absolutely Oxfam's job to worry about).

It's a great message for a climate-changing, credit-squeezed decade.

Steve