Land Grab Action in Bath!

Oxfam has been out in force this weekend in Bath! A joint undertaking by Oxfam groups from Bath Spa Uni, Bath Uni and Bath Oxfam groups have been land grabbing across the city.

Don's barricaded door!

On Friday we ‘evicted’ Don Foster from his office. After luring him out into the sunshine to tell him more about the campaign, we taped up his door to prevent him entering and set up placards forbidding entry!

Don realising his eviction

He seemed to take it well, and was really supportive of all we were trying to do to raise the plight of poor communities affected by land grabs.

Land Grab Girls!

Then on Saturday we took over the Oxfam shop on Argyle St. Everyone entering the shop did so in the knowledge a land grab was in progress – which led many to ask ‘what on earth do you mean?!’ We got pretty good at our ‘campaign synopsis’:

Campaigning in Action

Land grabs are devastating poor families all over the world. They are being removed from land they depend on for food. And they are being told they may never return. Oxfam are calling for companies and governments to take urgent steps to improve land rights outcomes for people living in poverty.

People seemed genuinely shocked that this sort of activity was allowed to occur around the world.  This made it great fun acting out the role of a land grabber – not because we wanted to ‘grab’ land, but because we were raising awareness. Those we spoke to agree with Dame Barbara Stocking, Oxfam’s Chief Exec

“Land investment has great potential to help people work themselves out of poverty but the current rush for land is leaving people worse off. Global action is crucial if we are to protect local people from losing what little they have for the profits of a few, and build towards a tomorrow where everyone has enough to eat.”

Find out more and sign up to show your own support here. And if you want to do more locally, follow this blog or sign up to our mailing list – maybe you’ll be involved in the next Grab Action!!