Archive for October, 2006
I just stood up against poverty with George W. Bush’s niece.
That is to day, I just got back from the Georgetown University Day of Action Stand-Up event. As an alum of the University and staff member of the ONE Campaign, I couldn’t have been happier to attend.
When I arrived, roughly 75 people were already gathered around the microphone for the outdoor event. All of us were handed ONE fact sheets and wristbands and a “Stand-Up Against Poverty” banner covered the brick wall beside us.
The speakers included Father Gonzales, a Georgetown Jesuit and professor, and, as already mentioned, Lauren Bush, niece of George W. Bush and model for Tommy Hilfiger and Abercrombie & Fitch. Lauren Bush spoke of the emergencies abroad and urged us to stand together against extreme poverty.
I’m glad I was officially counted as ‘standing up’ against poverty today – and I’m looking forward to posting blog posts tonight, and over the next few days, about the ONE events and house parties that are taking place all around the country today.
Tomorrow is the Day of Action to Stand-Up Against Poverty – something that people in Chicago have been talking about for almost six months.
I’m now a ONE Field Coordinator in DC, but I stepped back into my previous position as the Chicago Field Organizer, and worked with faith groups, community groups, campuses, ONE partners and volunteers, to pull this event together.
At this point, we’ve done everything we can to make sure it’s successful. The venue and program are set, the speakers are prepared, the flyers have been posted all across Chicago. Now is a time to step back and see what happens.
After many late nights of pondering where to hold a Day of Action Stand-Up event to let Congressman Lewis know that his constituents really do care, I chose to conduct the event at Loma Linda University. I happened to luck out by coming in contact with Melani Fellows, the VP of Social Activities with the School of Public Health Student Association.
The event at Loma Linda University will bring together people from all over California’s District 41, of all faiths, political affiliations and ethnicities. The day promises to be a dynamic and educational experience, with speakers touching on the subjects of global health, extreme poverty and the importance of following up with your representative to let him or her know that you care. There’s even some entertainment thrown in the mix.
Yet another example of Loma Linda University living up to it’s motto “to make man whole”. Thanks, Melani, for helping to make it happen.
Right now my house looks like a ONE warehouse. It’s stocked with ONE banners, wristbands, voter pledges, flyers, and tons of copies of fact sheets – plus emails from volunteers, new members, city officials and the media – all wanting more information about tomorrow’s event!
One of our event speakers, Derreck Kayongo from CARE, arrived today from Atlanta. A great friend to ONE, I always look forward to hearing Derreck’s personal stories about life in Uganda. I hope his message will inspire everyone to keep moving forward in this fight.
So what can you expect on the 15th? When you arrive, volunteers will welcome you and ask you to sign the ONE Voter Pledge. (These volunteers are not only members of ONE but also volunteers from local aid groups who want to help out.) Too young to vote? Then move to the next table where you can sign the ONE Declaration.
Next, we’ll hand you a ONE wristband. The gift is a thank you from us to you for joining us at our Stand-Up event.
Finally, step on over to the art area where we’ll trace your footstep. During the event, everyone’s footprints will be displayed, as a symbol of Orlando’s support of ONE.
Then stay a while. Enjoy live music from two awesome bands, purchase food from Dandelions Communitea Cafe and listen to our dynamic speakers – including members of ONE Orlando, Derreck Kayongo from CARE International, Joe Perry, from RESULTS, and Natasha McIntosh, from Fair Trade for a Greater Orlando Coalition.
What will take place at the moment of the actual ‘Stand-Up?’ You’ll have to be there to find out. It’ll be a great day to be inspired by speakers, create art, enjoy music and “Stand-Up” together to make poverty history.
As Product (RED) launches in America, opening a new front in the war against AIDS, a few words from Bono:
“Sometimes when I’m walking down the street a passer by will say “love your work on Africa Bono, great cause.” Sometimes, they wish they hadn’t. I’m Irish, I love to talk to strangers. I love to talk about Africa. It can be hard to get away. . . Each time it makes me think we need to do much more to get the message across that this is not a ’cause,’ this pandemic that we and so many others are working on. 5,500 Africans dying a day of AIDS, a preventable, treatable disease is not a cause. 5,500 Africans dying each day is an emergency.
Enter Product (RED). Red is a new idea we’re launching to work alongside the growing ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History. Over the past year, almost 2 million Americans have joined ONE, in churches and chatrooms. . . on soccer pitches and movie sets. . . at NASCAR races and rock concerts. By 2008, we’re aiming to have 5 million members – that’s more than the National Rifle Association. Just think for a moment of what that kind of political firepower could achieve for the poorest of the poor. . .
Where ONE takes on the bigger, longer-term beast of changing policy and influencing government, (RED) is, I guess, about a more instant kind of gratification. If you buy a (RED) product from GAP, Motorola, Armani, Converse or Apple, they will give up to 50% of their profit to buy AIDS drugs for mothers and children in Africa. (RED) is the consumer battalion gathering in the shopping malls. You buy the jeans, phones, iPods, shoes, sunglasses, and someone – somebody’s mother, father, daughter or son – will live instead of dying in the poorest part of the world. It’s a different kind of fashion statement.
You might think (RED) sounds too simple. But AIDS is no longer a death sentence. Just two pills a day will bring someone who is at death’s door back to full health, back to a full life. Doctors call it ‘the Lazarus effect’. I’ve seen it myself and I have to say that it’s nothing short of a miracle. These pills are available at any corner drugstore. They cost less than a dollar a day, but the poorest people in Africa earn less than a dollar a day. They can’t afford them, and so they die. It’s unnecessary. It’s insane. . .
As Product (RED) launches in America, opening a new front in the war against AIDS, a few words from Bono:
“Sometimes when I’m walking down the street a passer by will say “love your work on Africa Bono, great cause.” Sometimes, they wish they hadn’t. As I’m Irish, I love to talk to strangers. I love to talk about Africa. It can be hard to get away. . . Each time it makes me think we need to do much more to get the message across that this is not a ’cause,’ this pandemic that we and so many others are working on. 5,500 Africans dying a day of AIDS, a preventable, treatable disease is not a cause. 5,500 Africans dying each day is an emergency.
Enter Product (RED). Red is a new idea we’re launching to work alongside the growing ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History. Over the past year, almost 2 million Americans have joined ONE, in churches and chatrooms. . .on soccer pitches and movie sets. . .at NASCAR races and rock concerts. By 2008, we’re aiming to have 5 million members – that’s more than the National Rifle Association. Just think for a moment of what that kind of political firepower could achieve for the poorest of the poor. . .
Where ONE takes on the bigger, longer-term beast of changing policy and influencing government, (RED) is, I guess, about a more instant kind of gratification. If you buy a (RED) product from GAP, Motorola, Armani, Converse or Apple, they will give up to 50% of their profit to buy AIDS drugs for mothers and children in Africa. (RED) is the consumer battalion gathering in the shopping malls. You buy the jeans, phones, iPods, shoes, sunglasses, and someone – somebody’s mother, father, daughter or son – will live instead of dying in the poorest part of the world. It’s a different kind of fashion statement.
You might think (RED) sounds too simple. But AIDS is no longer a death sentence. Just two pills a day will bring someone who is at death’s door back to full health, back to a full life. Doctors call it ‘the Lazarus effect’. I’ve seen it myself and I have to say that it’s nothing short of a miracle. These pills are available at any corner drugstore. They cost less than a dollar a day, but the poorest people in Africa earn less than a dollar a day. They can’t afford them, and so they die. It’s unnecessary. It’s insane.
You might think it’s too difficult to get these drugs to the people who most need them. A couple of years ago when DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) lobbied President Bush, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac to do more on AIDS we went to experts about this. From Bill and Melinda Gates, to Dr Paul Farmer working in the poorest places on the earth, to Dr Coutinho in his AIDS clinic in Uganda. Is it easy? No. Is it impossible? No. Can we do it? Absolutely. In 2001, there were 50,000 Africans taking ARVs. Now there are over one million people getting these life saving drugs thanks to President Bush’s AIDS initiative, and thanks to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
There are though still 4.3 million Africans without drugs, which is why 100% of (RED) money is going directly to the Global Fund to support the work they are doing. (RED) uses the power in your pocket to keep people alive. ONE uses the power of your voice to create a more just world where people can earn their own way out of poverty. This means tackling more than AIDS. It means fighting corruption. Insisting on good governance. Getting kids in school. Changing trade rules. Getting businesses to invest in Africa. Myself and Ali started a company called Edun – a fashion line that makes clothes in Africa – because so many Africans we met said what they wanted more than anything was a job.
All of this is ganging up on the same problem – the greatest health crisis in human history and the extreme poverty in which it thrives. The Number 1 question we get asked is, what can I do to help? From today, you can do one more thing than you could do yesterday. Shop (RED). And if you haven’t already, join the One campaign at one.org.
As I said, this is an emergency. And in these dangerous times, how we in the West respond is an opportunity to show what we stand for, as well as what we stand against. If we’re successful, we will not only transform millions of people’s lives, we’ll transform the way these people see us … and in turn, the world in which we live.”
Join the ONE Campaign:
For more information on the campaigns Bono mentioned:
Joinred.com
Product (RED), founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to engage consumers and the private sector with its marketing prowess and funds in the fight against AIDS. Money raised from (RED) Products goes to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
ONE.org
The ONE campaign to make poverty history was founded in 2005 and is now 2.3 million members strong representing Americans from all 50 states. The goal of this movement is to persuade the US government to spend an additional one percent of the federal budget on tackling AIDS and extreme poverty.
Data.org
DATA (debt, AIDS, trade, Africa) is an advocacy organization founded in 2002 by Bono, Bobby Shriver and activists from the Jubilee “Drop the Debt” campaign to fight extreme poverty and AIDS in Africa. DATA’s mission is to tackle the three issues that most adversely affect the African continent — unpayable debts, the spread of AIDS and unfair trade policies – by raising public awareness and working with leaders in the U.S. and throughout the G8 to bring more resources to the region.
Edun.ie
EDUN, which has just produced a ONE Campaign t-shirt raising money for AIDS drugs in Lesotho, is an ethically-sourced high fashion clothing company. It was created in 2005 by Ali Hewson, Bono and designer Rogan Gregory in an effort to increase trade opportunities and sustainable long-term employment in developing nations. With factories located in Africa, South America and India, EDUN believes in respect for and investment in the people and places where its clothing is made.
We are just two days away from the October 15, 2006 Day of Action Stand-Up event here in Louisville and I am working on the final details. The event will highlight the local community’s work to fight extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS and will feature Kentuckians from all walks of life – to show that this fight is something all Americans, from the left and the right, can do together.
Two people who have agreed to speak together at Sunday’s event are leading Kentucky political bloggers Mark Nickolas, of the liberal BluegrassReport.org, and Jefferson Poole, of the conservative Bluegrass, Red State.
Strange bedfellows? Perhaps. But ONE is not your usual campaign.
Check for a Day of Action Stand-Up event or house party in your area for this Sunday, you will be surprised at how many different types of Americans will be there.
