Latest news with #OxfamIreland
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Displacement orders are 'entirely erasing Gaza', Oxfam warns
Mass displacement at the hands of Israel is 'entirely erasing Gaza' as the raging war now enters 600 days, charity Oxfam has warned. Since the breaking of the ceasefire, Israel has issued 30 forced displacement orders and are pushing people into isolated areas, according to Oxfam. A new analysis by Ofxam found that 'since breaking the ceasefire on March 18, Israel has issued over 30 forced displacement orders, covering a swathe of 68 out of 79 neighbourhoods'. These, along with the expanding 'no-go' Israeli military zones, make up over 80% of the Gaza Strip. This has resulted in the starving of a population who are unable to find refuge, said Oxfam. Oxfam Ireland CEO Jim Clarken said: 'Israel's plan to confine civilians in militarised 'humanitarian' zones under armed guard, while displacing hundreds of thousands through relentless bombardment, is a grotesque violation of humanitarian principles. In any other conflict, civilians have a route to safety. Palestinians are being caged, corralled, and shoved towards the coastline with nowhere to run. 'This is not humanitarian aid — it is forced internment, and the international community must not continue to ignore such blatant war crimes.' He described how more than 160,000 people have been uprooted from their home which is part of the 600,000 who have been forcibly displaced since March. 'This is a deliberate strategy' said Mr Clarken. 'Ireland has its role to play – the Occupied Territories Bill, despite only affecting the West Bank — needs to include a ban on the trading of services as well as goods. Other nations are watching the progression of this legislation, and we must do it justice. "Irish MEPs must continue to push for the suspension, not simply a review, of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. We commend our Irish parliamentarians for fighting for justice — but actions mean everything at this crucial moment in time for the survival of Palestinian people.' Fidaa Alaraj — Oxfam's gender advisor in Gaza who has been displaced with her family several times, said: 'Imagine trying to move with four children or an elderly parent in the middle of the night, with no transport and nowhere to go. People are so exhausted, many would rather face death than flee again.' Read More Independent TDs vote against Government to back Sinn Féin bill on Israeli government bonds
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Charity shop staff reveal the surprising reason behind recent surge of 'unsellable' donations: 'They aren't really resellable'
A charity in Ireland is sounding the alarm after a recent spike in low-quality clothing donations. Donation centers generally rely on contributions from others, but fast fashion is making it harder to accept certain offerings. Fast fashion describes a business model many clothing companies use to mass produce stylish (or at least momentarily stylish) clothing at the lowest cost possible. Nonprofit organization Oxfam Ireland is open to all donations, but online fast-fashion purchases are having a major impact on the charity. An Oxfam spokesperson said the charity often receives donations with price tags still attached — but with fast fashion, "brand new" doesn't necessarily mean quality. "Things that have come in from the really big online sellers, that are poorly produced, that are ill-fitting, that don't hold up to washing, then they aren't really resellable," Oxfam Spokesperson Mark Sweeney said, according to Live95. Fast fashion is a problem for charities and donation centers worldwide. For example, donations skyrocketed in Southern California following the massive wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in January. The majority of donations received consisted of fast fashion rather than necessities. A lot of the clothing ends up in landfills and negatively impacts the environment. A whopping 101 million tons of fast-fashion clothing end up in landfills each year, according to Moving forward, the industry's global pollution will likely double by 2030 if fast-fashion waste continues at the same rate. While fast fashion may seem like the easiest and most affordable option, there are plenty of alternatives that are much more sustainable. Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to recycle old clothes and electronics? Giving me money back Letting me trade for new stuff Making it as easy as possible Keeping my stuff out of landfills Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Check out online resale platforms like Depop, Poshmark, and ThredUP. These websites give customers the opportunity to shop and sell various articles of clothing for affordable prices. More consumers are also educating themselves about greenwashing in an effort to prevent fast fashion. Greenwashing refers to deceptive branding used to advertise companies as environmentally friendly while that may not be the case. Knowing how to spot these misleading campaigns can help customers save money on products in the long run. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
