Sisters on the Planet Campaign

 Aim of project
  • To communicate the human impact of climate change with stories from Oxfam’s global campaigns and programme work
  • To inspire change in attitudes and beliefs relating to climate change, shifting understanding to urgency of its human impact and it’s gendered impact, which will lead to behavioural/lifestyle change (including personal and political action). This will be an international tool delivered by each affiliate and region independently
 What is ‘Sisters on the Planet’?‘Sisters on the Planet’ is an inspirational set of films and audio with an accompanying report for an audience interested in learning about poverty, climate change and women’s rights. It tells the story of four women around the world each playing their different role but all striving to fight climate change and the impact it has on them and those around them. The 12-page report includes a celebrity foreword, an introduction about why this issue is important, and case studies of the subjects in the films. At the end of the report is an actions catalogue, giving ideas and inspiration to viewers about what they can do in their lives - as consumers and citizens – and in their local community, to drive action on climate change and to encourage others to do the same thing.   Actions: What can participants do once they’ve seen ‘Sister on the Planet’?‘Sisters on the Planet’ will inspire and provide actions and activity within community networks. The actions focus on behavioural change. This does not mean an emphasis on personal actions (alone), rather a focus on how people can become active change-makers within their communities and influence local decision-makers. It is therefore not expected that the actions will be suitable for an individual new to the issues or to activism – they will be high-level activities. Actions will include:  
  1. Make Change Happen. Commit to five actions – but one must be show to five of your friends or family members the films and ask them to commit to five actions too.
  2. At work: host a film screening of Sisters. And if you’re really keen, instigate work-based ‘greening’ as a result of the screening.
  3. In school: as a teacher –design a lesson around Sisters and ask your students to write to their MP. As a student – make your own Sisters video or report.
  4. Make your own video. You can make your sister, brother, mum, or your mate (well, whoever you like actually!) a Sister!! Once you’ve made it, let us know…
  5. Take Sisters to your MP – ask them to mention the disproportionate impact on women and people living in poverty in their next speech on climate change
  6. Organise a film party and transform how people think about climate change and it’s impact on the world.
  7. Organise an event and invite your local ‘notable’ people. Tell the story about how you are changing your life, and what you hope you can all do as a community. You might even get your local paper interested!
  8. Form your own group – whether this is just you and your neighbour, or it’s the whole village, deciding to establish your own network to fight climate poverty demonstrates change-in-action!
 In the UK we aim to reach 200,000 people over the period of two years through cascading chain dissemination of the product via our target audiences. In Year One, we will hit key women’s organisations as well as the Oxfam family. This will be done through Oxfam teams highlighted in Appendix 2. Year Two will focus on using those who have experienced the Sisters package to promote the programme to a new audience.  Timeline
  • First draft of the materials will be ready on 20 April 2008 and will be circulated to key stakeholders
  • Sisters on the Planet will be made public and released on 5 June 2008, World Environment Day