Sachs Speaks at CARE Conference
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm | posted by Virginia SimmonsLast Wednesday night, a few of us at ONE had the chance to hear Jeffrey Sachs speak at the CARE National Conference. It was a really exciting opportunity to hear from someone who has done so much research and reflection on the challenges of fighting global poverty and more specifically, meeting the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. It was great to hear his insights on both the looming food crisis and the upcoming election.
Sachs cited a lot of data that really put the crisis of global poverty into perspective. He compared the American defense and foreign assistance budgets to demonstrate how little we give to Africa as a percentage or our GDP (we give 1/100 of the defense budget in foreign assistance.) He also mentioned the food crisis as an example of the need to support local farmers and empower their growth instead of limiting our activities to emergency aid.
Sachs concluded his speech by sharing his wish to see the Millennium Development Goals in the next president’s inaugural address as a way of expressing our solidarity with the world’s poorest people. His message and enthusiasm were heard and embraced at the conference, leaving us with yet another voice encouraging us to keep pushing our leaders in such a significant year.
-Sarah Wald, ONE Intern
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Thanks Sarah for your synopsis of Jeffrey Sachs’ speech at the CARE conference last week. He is an inspiring individual for all the amazing work that he has done to help the world’s poorest countries to find their way to some sort of economic self-sufficiency.
We must always remember that Prof. Sachs has a very IMPORTANT place in our movement to end AIDS & extreme poverty. Afterall, he was the professor who taught the man most associated with ONE (Bono) all he needed to know almost a decade ago to get started on learning the economics of extreme poverty.
Let me just remind my fellow ONE members that Jeffrey Sachs has a NEW book out this year. It’s called “Common Wealth” and is a GREAT book!
I’m reading it a chapter at a time to be able to fully understand all that Prof. Sachs is trying to share with us.
Now I understand some of my friends’ positive comments about Jeffrey Sachs. I bet y’all were at this conference.(smile)
Take very good care of each other. Blessings abound.
ALWAYS ONE in the Spirit, debbie
www.mpwn-uganda.org
June 24th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Dr. Sachs’ speech was a great inspiration to carry us into the following day’s advocacy. I admit I geeked out a little and asked him to sign my copy of Common Wealth. I would also suggest reading The End of Poverty, which provides a thorough and brilliant foundation for the political policies we’re promoting. It made me a far better prepared advocate, and I’d highly recommend it.
Also, for more about the Care Conference in general, check out we.care.org, and read blog entries from participants. It’s an incredible opportunity to make the system work for us, and I have felt empowered after each of the past two conferences. If you’re a ONE member, and you’re looking to step your advocacy up to the next level, check out the Care Action Network and look into next year’s conference.
Peace & Justice
Sean
June 24th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Thanks Sean for your input in this thread. If I wasn’t unemployed and a part of the under-class of this country, I would have been with all of you last week in DC at this conference.
This is one area that non-profit advocacy groups in this country have really NOT tackled sufficiently - how to involve the poor of this country in the fight against extreme poverty in the world.
We have a wealth of personal experience with real poverty on which our advocacy organizations can learn from and use but, outside of the RESULTS organization, I don’t see this aspect as a priority with other non-profit advocacy groups in this country.
Jeffrey Sach’s “The End of Poverty” is the virtual bible of our movement and most of us have already undoubtedly read it. His “Common Wealth” book is less known which is why I made a plug for it here.
As for feeling “geeky” when meeting Prof. Sachs - I felt the same way when I met him too. (smile)
Have a beautiful day, everyONE. Please don’t let it get away!
ALWAYS FOREVER, ONE - debbie
www.mpwn-uganda.org