Your Computer Can Fight Global Disease Without You

We normally use our collective voices to advocate to the world’s leaders on the fight against poverty and global disease. Today, I was doing some reading that made me think we might be able to use our collective computing power.

Unfortunately, ONE hasn’t figured out a way to fight extreme poverty using your computer’s idle processing time (think screen savers), but the folks at UC Berkeley have figured out a way to help fight some of the diseases that are hitting the developing world the hardest by doing just that.

There is a lot of research underway on diseases that impact the world’s poor. In some cases, that research requires a significant amount of computational resources. One project, for example, simulates the transmission of malaria. Another maps three dimensional proteins that could one day help find cures for HIV/AIDS and others.

Thanks to the internet, supercomputers aren’t the only way for that research to happen anymore. Something called distributed computing allows personal computers around the world to work together to essentially form one single supercomputer. Seems pretty similar to our grassroots advocacy model here at ONE.

This whole concept is part of the BOINC Project (Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing Project). You might have already guessed that it’s run by the University of California at Berkley. Each of the projects you can volunteer your computer for is run by completely independent entities. According to BOINC, “Some are based at universities and research labs, others are run by companies and individuals.” You can read a New York Times Article on the project.

It’s pretty easy to get started. First, you have to pick a project (e.g. what disease you want to help cure). I can’t speak to which project is best or attest to the quality of the research being done, but the projects I list below have websites detailing their work. BOINC “believes their descriptions (institution and area of research) are accurate.”

Below are names of the projects related to developing world diseases and their stated goals from BOINC site:

1. Malariacontrol.net - “Simulation models of the transmission dynamics and health effects of malaria are an important tool for malaria control. They can be used to determine optimal strategies for delivering mosquito nets, chemotherapy, or new vaccines which are currently under development and testing. Such modeling is extremely computer intensive, requiring simulations of large human populations with a diverse set of parameters related to biological and social factors that influence the distribution of the disease.”
2. World Community Grid - “To further critical non-profit research on some of humanity’s most pressing problems by creating the world’s largest volunteer computing grid. Research includes HIV/AIDS, cancer, muscular dystrophy, dengue, fever and many more.”
3. Rosetta@home - “Determine the 3-dimensional shapes of proteins in research that may ultimately lead to finding cures for some major human diseases. By running Rosetta@home you will help us speed up and extend our research in ways we couldn’t possibly attempt without your help. You will also be helping our efforts at designing new proteins to fight diseases such as HIV, Malaria, Cancer, and Alzheimer’s.”

You can read more about the BOINC project on their site.

You have to download and install a program, then select the project you want to volunteer your computer for from a list, but it doesn’t take much time. I downloaded the program and signed up to work on MalariaControl.net in about five minutes today. I created “The ONE Campaign” team, so if you do sign up, feel free to join our team. I recommend you check out the preferences of the program so you can determine when it runs and how much space it takes up on your computer.

I am going to go get lunch now and let my computer do some of the disease-fighting.

-Josh Peck, ONE.org

On-the-ground in Zambia

Yesterday morning, I traveled with fellow ONE staff to several health-focused development programs in Lusaka, Zambia. (The country is gorgeous and we’ve taken incredible photos, but because of some technical issues I’ll have to wait until next week to post a few here.)

A couple of today’s highlights were visiting with the Matero Refferal Clinic - a health center in Lusaka that is heavily supported by the Center for Infectious Disease Research - and a meeting with the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative and the Zambia Minister of Health. All of the healthcare workers at the Matero Refferal Clinic were wonderful as they showed us around their extremely busy and well-organized clinic. They showed us a new wing they’re building for HIV/AIDS and general health, but they did let us know that they need more medical supplies and staff. There were two doctors at the facility who, combined, see 200 patients each day.

Of note, we learned that patients receiving AIDS treatment at the clinic also receive “nutritional portions” from the World Food Programme. Food is vital to the fight against AIDS. For people infected with HIV, proper nutrition can slow the progression of the virus to full-blown AIDS and improve the effectiveness of antiretrovirals. Unfortunately, at the Matero Refferal Clinic, the size of food portions has decreased from 45 kilograms 5 years ago to just 12 kilograms today. On top of this, many people receiving these small, individually-sized portions will also share the food with their full families.

The meeting with officials from the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) and the Zambia Ministry of Health was extremely informative as well. A main take-away: the government’s decision to focus its attention on children with HIV - combined with the government’s collaboration with NGOs and funding from international programs like PEPFAR - has more than doubled the number of children receiving life-saving AIDS-treatment in the country.

Throughout the day, the need for more trained healthcare workers was repeated by doctors, nurses and officials. This is a need that is echoed across Africa: Africa bears 25% of the global disease burden and has 14% of the world’s population- but just 1.3% of the world’s health care workforce. This deficit in capacity means that countries like Zambia face enormous obstacles in improving basic health care for children and scaling-up access to vital health interventions, such as HIV/AIDS treatment.

-Virginia Simmons

Delaney: ONE of our Best Ambassadors

Jennifer Delaney, Executive Director for Global Action, had a great op ed in today’s Tulsa World about the importance of PEPFAR reauthorization. She writes:

PEPFAR is probably not a term most people in the United States hear every day, but around the world, PEPFAR has become one of our nation’s most successful ambassadors.

She continues:

A great deal is at stake as the Senate is considering the reauthorization of PEPFAR. It is a moment when the support of Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and leadership of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is critical. They and the rest of the Senate should pass this bill and do so quickly for President Bush to use it to leverage other countries to also give more in effective aid when the G-8 meets in Japan this July. The $50 billion for PEPFAR might be seen as an investment in developing countries; however, it is actually a key investment in the future for the United States and the rest of the world.

You can read the full piece, “PEPFAR: One of our Best Ambassadors” on the Tulsa World site.

Hand in Hand Ministries plays role in PEPFAR fight

Hand in Hand Ministries is pleased to play a major role in the restoration of $5.1 billion to SB 2731 (PEPFAR Reauthorization) that will be used in the global fight against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The ONE Campaign and its partners are currently engaged in several advocacy initiatives to encourage Senate floor action and eventual passage.

Hand in Hand Ministries’ supporters were able to affect the restoration of funds by contacting key Congressional members who were in favor of the original bill. These members subsequently played major roles in introducing the amendment that restored funds so critical to the fight against these devastating diseases and global poverty.

In addition to advocacy, Hand in Hand Ministries helps provide life’s essentials – food, water, clothing, shelter, education and medical care – to the poorest of the poor, so they may one day become self-sufficient and go on to help others in their own communities. For a more about our programs, visit our new interactive website at www.hhministries.com. You may also contact me at 502-459-9930 or by emailing me at wayne@hhministries.com. I welcome your comments and questions.

-Wayne Fowler, Executive Director

Hey G8, Listen to Pedro

Many African countries are facing a grave threat from rising food prices. That’s why we’ve been asking President Bush and other G8 leaders to take immediate action to soften the blow on the poor and reverse the underinvestment in long-term agricultural productivity.

Some of us have been in Mozambique this week; a country like Mozambique is particularly vulnerable to global food shocks. Not only is it very poor (75% of the country lives on less than $2 per day), it also imports roughly 75% of its food and is hit by a drought or flood every six months.

Despite these challenges, many parts of Mozambique have ideal climate conditions for agriculture production and there’s certainly no shortage of land – Mozambique runs 1,500 miles down Africa’s eastern coast and is twice the size of California.

Today we tried to learn why Mozambique is not able produce more food – both for local consumption and export. To find answers to our questions, we visited plant scientist Pedro Fato at the Instituto de Investigacao Agraria de Mozambique (IIAM) just south of Maputo. IIAM is an agricultural research institute jointly funded by the Government of Mozambique and private donors, including the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Rockefeller Foundation. Pedro and his team are breeding more nutritious and insect resistant varieties of maize (corn), cassava, sorghum and sweet potatoes – all foods considered staples here in Mozambique. In the accompanying picture you can see Pedro holding orange maize which IIAM has bred to be rich in vitamin A and beta carotene.

Pedro outlined three major challenges to boosting agriculture growth and productivity in Mozambique

1. Water: nearly all agricultural production in Mozambique is rain-fed. With a typical rainy season lasting only three months, basic irrigation techniques and technology could significantly boost yields
2. Inputs (fertilizers and seeds): Fertilizer is expensive and not widely available in Mozambique. There is currently no domestic production; the limited quantities that are available are imported from South Africa. New seed varieties are also lacking. Approximately 70% of farmers are using unimproved local maize, which has lower yields and isn’t as resistant to pests and diseases. Like fertilizer, there is also no local seed production
3. Infrastructure: most of Mozambique’s agricultural activity occurs in the north of the country, where long distances and poor roads make it difficult to move crops beyond village markets. Improved access to markets could dramatically increase incomes for farmers and cooperative groups.

Pedro also told us more money is needed for agriculture research and extension workers so that new seed varieties and inputs can make it into the hands of farmers. He also said commercial farming is needed in Mozambique. Agriculture in here is mainly limited to smallholder farmers, limiting productivity, distribution and export potential. Pedro told us that 95% of maize in Mozambique is produced by small holder farmers.

Mozambique certainly isn’t alone. Many sub Saharan African countries are facing similar challenges. We’re hopeful that the global attention on food prices will translate into a sustained investment in long-term agriculture growth in places like Mozambique.

-Ben Hubbard and Tyler Denton, ONE.org

RESULTS: International Conference

I’m thrilled to let everybody know about an exciting opportunity for activists who want to learn more about how to talk to their elected leaders and local press about ending poverty. From July 12-15, RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund will be hosting our annual International Conference, featuring RESULTS activists from across the U.S. and around the world. Participants will learn how to fine tune their lobbying and communication skills in workshops that are designed both for those just starting out, and those who are on a first-name basis with their elected official’s staff! Split plenary sessions will address global and domestic issues separately, and confirmed speakers include Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria; and David Lane, executive director of the ONE Campaign.

Activities won’t be limited to the conference site. The last day of the conference will be devoted to meetings with our activists and their members of Congress, and meetings at the World Bank and IMF for our international partners. At the end of the day, my colleagues and I will host optional walking tours of DC, under-30 socials, and karaoke dance parties to make sure that participants can have some fun during their time in DC. Not that lobbying Congress on poverty alleviation isn’t fun, of course. But it ain’t karaoke either…

RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund provides our partners in the U.S. and around the world with the tools they need to get informed about fighting poverty both in the U.S. and abroad, and how to engage their policymakers and editorial boards. We focus on campaigns pertaining to global health, education, health care for all, microcredit, and ending hunger through nutrition programs. To learn more about us, or to register for our conference, please visit our website. I hope to see you there!

-Robyn Shepherd, RESULTS

Farm Bill: Same Bill, New World

Today, the House of Representatives voted 318-106 to pass a $300 billion, 5 year Farm Bill. While the bill funds some domestic conservation and nutrition programs and food aid, it also includes agricultural subsidies that have a tangible impact on global poverty. Agricultural subsidies, which Japan and other rich countries in Europe use as well, have historically been used to help farmers earn a living when world prices for commodity crops such as wheat, corn, and rice are low and farmers lose revenue. However, these payments can also cause subsidized crops to flood overseas global markets, making it difficult for farmers in poor countries to sell agricultural products in their own markets.

Farm incomes are higher than ever, the US Department of Agriculture reports that net farm income will top $92 billion in 2008, far exceeding the 10-year average of $61 billion. These agricultural subsidies often go to the wealthiest farmers in the country. Even under the new legislation only individual farmers who make $750,000 or more in farm income would be ineligible for direct subsidy payments. The legislation that the House approved today essentially continues subsidy programs that disadvantage the poor. During this time of high food prices, when U.S. farmers are earning at record levels and poor people in developing countries are struggling to feed their families, it makes little sense for the US Congress to pass a program that can have such a damaging impact on farmers in poor countries.

Next the legislation moves to the Senate, where it is likely to pass easily as well. The White House has threatened to veto the legislation when it comes to the President, but House and Senate leaders are saying that they will vote to override a veto, which requires a 2/3 vote in both houses.

To read more on the Farm Bill see the articles below

AP article

WSJ article

Links to some of our partners’ work on the Farm Bill

Oxfam America

Bread for the World

-Sara Rogge, Senior Trade Policy Advisor

Save the Children: Advocacy Day

I’m excited to be involved for the first time in Save the Children’s annual Advocacy Day program in Washington (June 11-12). Particularly at a time when the world food crisis threatens to push more people – especially vulnerable children in the developing world – back into poverty, this event gives us all an opportunity to do something for those children and their families.

Did you know that over 10 million children die yearly from preventable or treatable diseases and low cost solutions can do something about it? That’s 26,000 children a day! AIDS and malaria are killing only a small proportion. Most die of diarrhea, pneumonia, and measles. Four million of these deaths occur to newborns – less than one month old – in villages in Africa and Asia. That’s not right, especially since there are low cost solutions that can prevent these deaths from happening.

Save the Children is going to focus its June program on building support for the U.S. Commitment to Global Child Survival Act (H.R. 2266, S.1418). This legislation will strengthen American’s role in saving the lives of children and mothers in the world’s poorest countries by investing in low-cost, highly effective, lifesaving interventions such as vitamins, antibiotics and vaccines.

Already over 100 Senators and Representatives from both parties support this bill, but more must be done to get this legislation passed. We need to come together and tell Congress to provide more help for these children and families in countries like Nigeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Afghanistan.

If you want to make a difference for these kids like I do, join us June 11-12 in our call for change & reserve a spot today; register at www.savethechildren.org/advocacyday2008. If you have any questions, please email me at advocacyday@savechildren.org.

Advocacy Days is a terrific opportunity for us to make a difference by letting our elected officials know there is a voice calling for lasting change in the lives of children in need.

-Ryan Quinn, Save the Children

Gerson calls out the ‘Coburn Seven’

The Washington Post has a strong op-ed today from Michael Gerson calling for movement on the reauthorization of President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). He calls out the “Coburn Seven” — seven Senators impeding its progress.

Gerson writes:

It is the nature of the Senate that the smallest of minorities can impede the work of the majority. But it takes a conscious choice — an act of tremendous will and pride — for members to employ these powers against an AIDS bill with overwhelming bipartisan support.

I encourage you to read the full piece “Moral Scales in the Senate” on the Washington Post site.

It Takes Money to Make Money…

It takes money to make money, but poor people in Mozambique don’t have access to credit. Commercial banks don’t want to lend to them because there is no incentive in lending tiny amounts of money in such high-risk, isolated areas. Today, I visited Matola province in Mozambique. I met with Opportunity International, an incredible organization that gives microfinance loans to individuals and groups.

Microfinance loans are small amounts of money (often as little as $50 or $100) that enable very poor people, especially women, to start or expand small businesses. These loans are a vital resource in poor communities, where people have trouble accessing credit from traditional banks and money-lenders often charge exorbitant interest rates.

Their average loan from Opportunity International is small - around $170 dollars - and after just two years of operation the organization is already breaking even in the country, meaning it can expand its operations to reach even more people.

Study after study has shown that in spite of high levels of poverty, high risk and rapidly changing environments, good microfinance programs boast a repayment rate of more than 95%. Evidence also indicates that income generated from microfinance projects can spur wider development benefits because borrowers, especially women, are likely to use their extra income to invest in health care or education for their families.

We were taken to meet two groups of women whose lives had been transformed by the loans. They were able to use their money to buy stock to sell at their market stalls selling biscuits, clothes, charcoal etc. One woman had even used her money to open a restaurant. The great thing about talking to these women was how happy they were. They were so cheerful and delighted to show us around.

One woman, Rabia, has five children who live with her (in fact we met two of them - they were doing their homework at their mums stall). Rabia has one of the best success stories. She took us to see her old house, which was tiny and made of iron sheeting, and the new one she is building with the proceeds of her stall (picture above). The new house is huge (bigger than my house!) and really well organized - one room is bigger than her entire old place. As you can imagine, we were really inspired by these women.

It’s important to keep things in perspective though. One woman we spoke to was happy that she had increased her income, but she still only spent $4 a day on feeding her family of 5. It was fantastic to see what a difference a small loan could make to peoples’ lives, but we could also see that there is a long way to go to lift the community out of poverty.

-Hermione Davies