Petition Drop-Off in PA

With less than a week before Election Day, ONE volunteer Dan Donmoyer and I joined volunteers across the country in dropping off petitions at various state offices. We stopped by both the Obama and McCain headquarters in Harrisburg, PA to help remind both presidential candidates of the commitments they made to help the world’s poorest people when they went On the Record with the ONE Campaign.

During these times of economic instability in both domestic and global markets, we must not forget about the world’s poorest people who are especially vulnerable during times of economic hardship. We should continue to support smart, affordable initiatives that are making a real difference for millions around the world.

This month over 68,832 ONE Members nationwide and 2,849 in Pennsylvania, signed a petition asking that:

As you work to find a solution to the global financial crisis, please do not waver in your support for the world’s poorest people. It is now more important than ever to stand up for effective, efficient solutions that save millions of lives, strengthen the global economy, and win the hearts and minds of people around the world. I’m keeping my commitment to fight global poverty, and I ask you to do the same.

Even when we face challenges here at home, we must continue to lead, work to strengthen America’s global reputation, and make our world a safer and better place.

-Brian Sweeney

Fair Trade Month Wraps Up

In a recent blog I wrote about Fair Trade Month, an annual campaign every October to promote Fair Trade – a system that provides economic development opportunities for farming families and sustainable development for the planet. In this entry, I’d like to underscore the role that Fair Trade certification plays in poverty alleviation, thus aligning with ONE’s core mission to “make poverty history.” I know of no easier way for us to make a difference for struggling farmers and workers in developing countries than to simply choose a Fair Trade Certified™ product—coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, banana, flowers, wine—when we shop or celebrate a special occasion. Fair Trade premiums and additional income for farming families are invested in improving livelihoods as well as community development projects, empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty.

For example, Fair Trade revenues have made it possible for Hutu and Tutsi farmers in Rwanda to provide necessary services to their communities after the devastating civil in the 1990s. Augustin Rutarauisha, member of the Dukunde Kawa Coffee Co-op, says this: “Thanks to Fair Trade, I was able to purchase schoolbooks and keep my children in school. I was even able to buy a cow!”

However we approach solutions to end hunger, the empowerment factor is essential, because with empowerment comes a sense of dignity, and with dignity the possibility of change and sustainable development. Fair Trade is a creative, proven model that works—it addresses poverty at its roots and benefits everyone involved: farmers & workers, industry, consumers, and the Earth.

Fair Trade Month is winding down, but you can support Fair Trade throughout the year. Each of us can make a difference—purchasing the products and sharing the story—as together we help make poverty history.

-David Funkhouser, TransFair USA

Amid the turmoil…

Kofi Annan, Michel Camdessus and Robert Rubin penned an editorial in the Financial Times yesterday pleading with world leaders to keep the right against poverty a priority, even in uncertain economic times. The piece is in anticipation of the Doha meeting on financing for development that will be held a month from now.

Excerpts below, full piece here

There are two lessons that history and our personal experience teach us. One is that when crises occur, the least responsible are usually the worst affected and the least able to cope. The second is that crises can provide the momentum for reform and radical change. These moments are fleeting and need to be grasped to put arrangements in place that will prevent their recurrence. In today’s globalised world, that means new arrangements that are more effective, efficient and equitable.

The Group of Eight leading industrialised nations and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries must honour their existing commitments, particularly aid levels, to the developing world and not use the crisis as a pretext for abandoning them. These commitments have been hard won and are encouraging many African and other developing countries to plan around MDG achievement. Not honouring commitments would send a powerful negative message to them and undermine the fragile but growing sense of mutual accountability that is emerging between Africa and its traditional partners for addressing the continent’s many challenges.

-Chris Scott

Starbucks is now (RED)

I wanted to share with you news that our sister organization (RED) has partnered with Starbucks. Bono made the announcement in New Orleans yesterday. Since its launch in 2006, (RED) has already raised $112 million for the Global Fund – more than some countries.

Excerpts below, full piece here

The partnership with (RED), co-founded by the U2 frontman, will donate a portion of the proceeds of selected holiday Starbucks drinks to the Global Fund to help raise funds for and awareness of AIDS in Africa, where the coffee company buys some of its beans.

Bono praised Starbucks for joining an effort that companies like Microsoft, Converse, Apple and Hallmark are already part of, particularly amid the economic turmoil.

“Here we are, talking about the economy tanking. People are saying, Maybe the world doesn’t need more coffehouses. And what do you do? What does Starbucks do? You decide to give your money away,” he said to thunderous applause from the thousands of store managers and others gathered at New Orleans Arena. “This is not charity. This is commerce.”

-Chris Scott

Final Report: McCain’s and Obama’s Plans

I want to share ONE’s ‘Final Report’ on Senator McCain’s and Senator Obama’s public commitments to address global poverty.

When you go to our On The Record microsite today, you can see McCain’s and Obama’s most up-to-date plans side-by-side. While you’re there, make sure to check out our exclusive video interviews with John McCain and Barack Obama.

ONE is a nonpartisan organization that does not endorse or oppose any candidate, but we do want you to know where the candidates stand as you go to the polls on Tuesday.

-Virginia Simmons

Update on the EU Food Facility: Chasing the €1 Billion

Here’s the latest from ONE’s London-based Government Relations Manager, Eloise Todd, on the EU Food Facility. The facility is based on a proposal in the European Union to channel 1 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in unused European farm subsidies to farmers in developing countries.

Although the European Parliament voted last week on the EU’s budget for 2009, the decision on how to finance the €1 billion for developing country farmers has been deferred until 21 November, mainly because it’s become such a politically-sensitive topic.

This new date is basically the last chance for the money to be directed to farmers in poor countries. The move to defer the final decision could be a good signal that the Members of Parliament are committed to finding a lasting solution. We sense a real political will by several people within the Parliament to deliver the money, including Jutta Haug, who wrote the 2009 budget report (called a “rapporteur” in EU-speak) and Reimer Boege, who heads up the Budgets Committee .

In these last few crucial weeks, ONE will be working to keep the pressure on EU governments, especially now that some seem to be favoring a creative accounting exercise that could mean not all the money will be new. Instead, it could pull from current aid budgets, which could mean pulling money from existing development programs to finance the proposal.

Whatever is decided on EU financing, we’ll continue to watch each member states’ aid budget closely, as there is a danger that many governments will sign on to the proposal at the EU and then undo their commitments when mapping out their individual agriculture budgets later this year. We will also keep up our lobby work on the content of the proposal, especially how the money will be spent once it’s made available to developing countries. We want the money to go to those in most need and to be spent through the most effective systems. In these difficult financial times, we also need the Council to remember that the world’s poorest are suffering most, and that investing in sustainable development through agriculture is the most prudent investment donor nations can make.

-Eloise Todd

Divine Chocolate Sweetens the Deal

As we reported earlier, October is Fair Trade Month. Erin Gorman, who works at Divine Chocolate, wanted to share some information about their organization and what they’re doing to make trade fair.

-Chris Scott

Happy Halloween! As you plan your costume and celebrations, here’s something delicious to consider: chocolate can help end poverty. Fair Trade chocolate that is. The best news: anyone that eats chocolate can play a part in making change happen.

I have been blessed to have a job that affords me the opportunity to share this good news and great chocolate with people everyday. Divine Chocolate (where I work) is a farmer-owned Fair Trade chocolate company. The 45,000 cocoa farmers that are members of Kuapa Kokoo Farmers’ Cooperative receive a guaranteed Fair Trade price and a social premium that is invested in community projects like schools, clean water, and training to help women start small businesses for additional income. As owners of their own chocolate brand, they receive a share of the profits, a say in the company, and have a seat at the table of global trade.

For the farmers of Kuapa Kokoo and other small-scale farmer cooperatives in the Fair Trade system, the extra money received from Fair Trade enables them to invest in the future – the future of their children and communities. Their investments are not dissimilar to the investments that you and I make. Their aspirations are similar to our own. Fair Trade helps to level the playing field to make it possible to realize those aspirations in a marketplace where farmers and consumers work together to create conditions of respect and dignity.

And it can all start with a bar of chocolate.

There’s no time like now to get started on a chocolate crusade against poverty.

1) Commit to making the chocolate you purchase Fair Trade. Check out TransFair USA’s website to find a list of companies including Divine Chocolate selling Fair Trade chocolate (www.fairtradecertified.org)
2) Ask for Fair Trade chocolate. When you shop, wherever you shop, ask the store to stock Fair Trade chocolate.
3) Raise money with chocolate. Divine Chocolate offers a fundraising program that helps organizations interested in raising funds and promoting Fair Trade. Check it out at www.divinechocolateusa.com
4) Spread the word. Send this post to the chocolate lover in your life.

Good luck with your Halloween costume. Perhaps you could go as a Divine Chocolate bar…

-Erin Gorman

As Election Day Nears, ONE Gets Fired Up

South Florida ONE volunteers were hot on the campaign trail yesterday, representing ONE at back-to-back rallies for Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama.

In the morning we went to the Everglades Lumberyard in Miami to hear Senator McCain speak. He was accompanied by fellow Republicans Governor Charlie Crist, Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart and Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Florida’s former Governor and current ONE Vote ’08 Co-Chair, Jeb Bush.

Just a few hours later Senators Obama and Biden held a campaign rally at the Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale. Just when we thought we were not going to be able to get in, the security guards let us through and we found great seats just behind the stage.

With the election right around the corner, ONE volunteers are working harder than ever to maintain their strong presence on the campaign trail in Florida and to show the candidates that regardless of party affiliation, fighting global disease and extreme poverty must be a priority in the next administration.

-Sara Paterni

ONE Bus in Birmingham

We made it out to Samford University in Birmingham AL on Monday, October 27th. There were numerous volunteers that came out to the bus to help out by passing out literature and wristbands. Being parked in the circle, which was directly in front of the student center, made it almost impossible for the students to ignore us. Not to mention, pizza was served and as we all know is a huge hit, especially with the college crowds!

-Megan Schweizer

Swaziland: Set to Eliminate Malaria

I’m another new addition to the policy team here at ONE, and will be sharing updates on global health and human development with you here on the ONE Blog. As my first post, I wanted to share some great news: According to health experts, Swaziland is poised to eliminate malaria. This would make Swaziland the second country in the “Southern African Development Community” (SADC) to eliminate malaria. (Mauritius was the first, with its last case of reported malaria in 1997.)

Swaziland has successfully reduced malaria cases from 45,000 in 2000, to below 10,000 in 2007. The success has prompted the Global Fund to allocate millions more dollars ($13.9 million in fact) earlier this month towards scaled-up elimination programs in the country.

While this news is still preliminary, it could mark a substantial achievement for this small African country, and for the global health community as a whole. If the disease remains eliminated in Swaziland for three consecutive years, the World Health Organization will certify the country a malaria-free zone.

The release of the “Global Malaria Action Plan” just a few weeks ago in New York has provided a real blueprint for eliminating malaria deaths worldwide. There have been many successes in the fight against malaria in the past few years, now with Swaziland as an addition to that list, showing that eliminating deaths is within reach if donors fully fund the Global Malaria Action Plan.

-Rena Pacheco-Theard