ONE member Jillian Slater of Minneapolis’s letter to Iowa caucus-goers.
I’m not going to be caucusing on January 3rd. In fact, I don’t live in Iowa and I’ve never met you. I’m not a member of the U.S. government, or being paid to send out a mass letter to a number of people on a list. I’m a hair stylist from Minnesota, a typical 9-5er, so to speak, and I’m taking the time to write to you today because there is an issue that I care deeply about.
I’m not asking you to vote for a particular candidate, or even a party. I’m just hoping you’ll take a few minutes to learn about extreme poverty and global disease and how the presidential candidates plan to put American leadership to work to help millions of people around the world lift themselves out of poverty.
I know it’s hard to involve yourself in such an issue when it doesn’t hit close to home, but it shouldn’t have to! Imagine yourself in their position…no way out. If we find it necessary to get involved with issues in Iraq and the Middle East as a whole, why should we not take concern with the masses of people around the world hurting as a result of poverty and disease? I’m not a saint, or anything close to it, I just have a heart that beats with a passion for those less fortunate. I know you do to. You have an amazing chance to do something about it.
ONE has put together a pretty interesting website called On The Record www.onevote08.org/otr with video from the presidential candidates and a tool that lets you compare their plans to achieve the following goals:
• Reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis;
• Eradicating malaria;
• Improving child and maternal health;
• Achieving universal primary education;
• Cutting in half the number of people without clean water or enough food.
Ending extreme poverty and global disease is the right thing to do, will make the world a safer place and is within our power. When you go into your caucus, think about which candidate has the best plan to tackle these issues and to help change our world for the better. Remember, it’s not as far from home as you may think. Please reach inside your heart and take action… It’s up to you!
Sincerely,
Jillian Slater, ONE Member
Minneapolis, IN
ONE member Pamela Kombe of Kissimmee, FL, wrote this letter to a likely Iowa caucus-goer as part of our “ONE to one” campaign. We thought it was great and decided to maximize her voice by mailing to 8,000 more Iowans.
My name is Pamela Kombe. I’m writing today to talk about extreme poverty and global disease – issues I care deeply about.
First let me tell you I grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh, slightly upper middle class. In the beginning I saw my parents struggle and I thought we were poor. But as I grew up, I understood more about poverty. In 2004 I married a man from Kenya, Africa, a wonderful man, with strong family values and an unbelievable work ethic. This man knew first hand of poverty in its ugliest meaning. All of my husband’s family still lives in Kenya, the challenges they face everyday are unlike anything you and I could ever imagine.
To imagine your own mother missing meals for days, to be sick with malaria, and not be able to get the medication because it’s so expensive. To not have clean drinking water. To watch her 25 yr old son die of AIDS, in an agonizing way that is preventable with affordable medical care. These are things we deal with, and we do everything we can to make their life easier in any way possible.
As a concerned ONE member, an organization with 2.4 million members including thousands in Iowa, I am asking you to find out where the candidates stand on issues of extreme poverty and global disease by visiting ONE Action’s On The Record campaign at www.onevote08.org/otr<. This is a way that you can have a say in the life of someone not as fortunate as you and I.
You may have seen ONE members at campaign events or our ads in newspapers or on TV. We're committed to making sure the next president of the United States is a strong leader in the struggle to end global poverty, and I hope you will join us and caucus for the candidate that you think has the best plan.
Sincerely,
Pamela Kombe, ONE Member
Kissimmee, FL
ONE member Ray O’Boyle of Rheems, PA, wrote this note to a likely Iowa voter.
My name is Ray O’Boyle and I’m from Pennsylvania. I know it’s pretty far from Iowa, but I have been watching both political parties’ debates recently especially the one in your state the other day. I am writing because you folks will contribute to the direction the campaigns focus on from your caucuses. I am concerned about the direction the next administration takes in regards to the poorest of us throughout the world. The issues of extreme poverty, global disease, and intervening in regional genocide are very important to me and many Americans who are members of ONE. I am requesting you to find out where the candidates stand on these issues before you decide who you’re backing. Please visit www.onevote08.org/otr to see what position the candidates support.
The United States probably contributes more resources to help other people throughout the world than any other country. I think we truly need to continue to aid people in extreme poverty. It is a great humanitarian legacy to be proud of.
We are all part of global humanity. I believe we can make a difference. It is a privilege to continue to take the lead throughout the world in these efforts as a country.
Thank you for your consideration. I appreciate your efforts in continuing the traditions of government by the people and for the people. I intend to vote my conscience when my opportunity comes here in Pennsylvania too.
Sincerely,
Ray O’Boyle, ONE Member
Rheems, PA
Last week, ONE members wrote letters to Iowa caucus-goers to urge them to choose the presidential candidate with the best plan to fight extreme poverty.
When all was said and done, five were so excellent that we’ve decided to increase the power of those authors by sending their letters to 40,000 Iowans.
Below, is the first of the five, from ONE member Alex in Concord, Mass:
I hope this letter finds you well! Before I say anything else, I want you to know that this isn’t an “automated” letter. It’s been written personally by me, just for you.
You see, I’m part of an organization called ONE, and our leaders asked us all to write a personal letter to be sent to someone in Iowa about making a difference in the world. So you are the only one receiving this specific letter, though many people in Iowa will be getting a similar one.
I know, I know. You don’t have time to read this. You’re busy. You’ve got a spouse or a boyfriend or girlfriend. Maybe you have kids. A dog. A cat. I know I’m busy. But please take the time to hear me out:
Global poverty and disease are enormous issues. They affect millions. But you, friend, can make a difference!
As an Iowa voter, you have the privilege of representing your political party, your state and your country when Iowa holds the first in the nation presidential nominating contest. I don’t care if you vote Republican, Democrat, Green, Libertarian, or anything else. I just want you to make a choice that will be beneficial to the millions waiting for you to make it.
As a concerned ONE member, an organization with 2.4 million members including thousands in Iowa, I am asking you to find out where the candidates stand on issues of extreme poverty and global disease by visiting ONE Action’s On The Record campaign at www.onevote08.org/otr. We have asked the candidates to tell us their thoughts, and many have personally responded to ONE!
So check it out. Make a good choice. I really hope you want to make a difference!
Oh, and by the way–if this interests you, join ONE! It’s amazing what this campaign has done. You can always shoot me an email or a letter too if you want.
Well, thanks for your time and happy voting!
Sincerely,
Alex, ONE Member
Concord, MA
The Senate passed the fiscal year 2008 omnibus spending bill today, which includes a historic $2.4 billion increase for global poverty programs.
Because the Senate version is different than the House version (which they passed yesterday), the House will have to vote on the bill again.
We’ll keep you updated.
-Virginia Simmons
There was a great ONE story in the U.K. newspaper the Guardian this week. The article focuses on a term Tucker Eskew suggested for ONE’s new form of bird dogging presidential candidates: bear hugging, as well as ONE’s “get out the vote” plans in the early primary states, new TV ad, and on ONE Vote ’08′s overall mission and effectiveness.
Excepts from Monday’s Guardian article:
Tucker Eskew, a former aide to president George Bush who works with One, has even coined a fitting name for the group’s less confrontational approach: “bear-hugging”.
Bear-huggers are One organizers or members who show up at campaign events with questions about Aids, early education and healthcare in developing nations. The “hugs” they receive can be as brief as a handshake encounter or more profound, in the form of anti-poverty policies that many presidential hopefuls provided to One this month.
Whether through small steps or great leaps, however, the group sees this presidential election as pivotal to its far broader mission.
….Of its estimated 2.4m members, One estimates that 80% are registered voters and more than 50,000 live in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, sites of the first three presidential primaries.
….For former Iowa lieutenant governor Sally Pederson, the initiative is already bearing fruit. Pederson serves as a One representative in her state and said she is impressed by the number of Kiwanis and Lions clubs – which are influential in the heartland but leery of politics – that have asked her to speak about the group’s goals.
“That said something. This is not just happening in Des Moines, or large cities, or just among people who are politically active,” Pederson said. “This is something that is going on in small towns.”
Read the full article here.
-Virginia Simmons
Dec 19th, 2007 2:33 PM UTC
By Field
The Church in Ocean Park began our ONE Sabbath event with Joy Buckley, one of our resident poets, reading the Millennium Development Goals as they appear on the ONE.org website. The Millennium Development Goals set a framework for how nations can work together to end extreme poverty. Then Ron Maxson read a quote about poverty being a justice issue.
The first to speak after the readings was Bob Gordh who discussed The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs. Rev. Janet McKeithen talked about the spiritual dimensions of poverty and ONE. I rounded out the presentations talking about ONE successes and what we can all do. This included signing the ONE Declaration, participating in the LA ONE Volunteer and Advocacy Training on December 8, and the World Swim Against Malaria on April 5 (where we will take to the water in fancy dress again).
A number of people responded thoughtfully during the community sharing. We sang several songs throughout, led by Elinor Graham and Bob Gordh singing Bob Marley’s “One Love”.
-Herley Jim Bowling, Santa Monica ONE Group Leader
