Archive for January, 2009
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just arrived at the State Department in Foggy Bottom where she addressed her staff of over a hundred. During her remarks, she commented on the Obama Administration’s plans for global development which Obama himself touched on during his inaugural address.
Here’s a clip of her comments on “defense, diplomacy, and development.” (Transcript below.)
President Obama set the tone with his inaugural address, and the work of the Obama-Biden Administration is committed to advancing America’s national security, furthering America’s interests, and respecting and exemplifying America’s values around the world. There are three legs to the stool of American foreign policy: defense, diplomacy, and development, and we are responsible for two of the three legs. We will make clear, as we go forward, that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States, and I will do all that I can, working with you, to make it abundantly clear that robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long-term tools for securing America’s future.
-Chris Scott
Today Atlanta will officially become a ONE City thanks to the hard work and dedication of ONE members in Georgia. We’ll be posting shortly with first-hand accounts and photos from people on the ground in Atlanta so be sure to check out the ONE blog periodically for updates!
-Chris Scott
Jan 21st, 2009 5:51 PM UTC
By Field
Over the weekend, Orlando ONE volunteers participated at the Faith in 3D conference held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. The conference celebrated students coming together to learn about world cultures and religions.
From Friday to Monday, we passed out literature on ONE and talked to many students of various faith backgrounds from across the country about how they can get involved nationally and in their local communities to help raise awareness about extreme poverty and preventable disease by speaking out and taking action on these vital issues.
We also spoke about ONE Sabbath, an initiative by ONE to help provide opportunities within the faith community to learn more about global health issues such as AIDS, tuber¬culosis and malaria, as well as help alleviate the suffer-ing caused by extreme poverty, unclean water and lack of educational opportunities.
We encouraged each person we met over the weekend to work with their local congregations to continue to raise awareness through ONE Sabbath or through other avenues about these issues and inspire others from their home cities to take action against poverty.
By the end of the weekend the more than 2000 conference attendees had received ONE literature as well as our signature white wristband! Way to go Orlando!
-Sara Paterni
Wall Street Journal—Hopes for the Obama Presidency: Feed the Hungry
The Wall Street Journal presents a wide range of hopes for the Obama presidency submitted by political and social leaders, including a submission from former presidential candidate George McGovern writing that he hopes President Obama will substantially increase the U.S. contribution to the U.N. World Food Program. As matters now stand, he writes, there are 59 million children attending school in the poorest countries who have no lunch during the school day. Another 72 million school-age children in these countries are not in school and are hungry. And the cost to feed these children would be relatively very low.
The Guardian—Is Africa reporting on development?
A story in the Guardian asks the question: is African media equipped and willing to report on development and poverty issues? In some countries accustomed to corruption and neglect by those in power, it is not only cheaper, but it also generates more interest for a newspaper to report about, say, a musician’s latest car, as opposed to hard issues like poverty. But several leading African newspaper editors believe that coverage of development issues may increase as papers realize the utility of focusing more on telling meaningful stories that affect people’s daily lives.
AFP—Fresh talks on Zimbabwe may not yield results
Southern African leaders are planning their seventh summit on Zimbabwe since elections last March, and analysts said the latest diplomatic push stood little chance of faring better than the rest. Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have held three extraordinary summits and three security summits in hopes of forging a unity government with President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. When 12 hours of talks mediated by South African President Kgalema Motlanthe again failed Monday to reach a deal, the rivals agreed to yet another summit despite growing frustrations on both sides at the protracted negotiations. But analysts said the latest initiative was unlikely to succeed.
-Steve Wilson
As we continue to keep you updated on the volatile situation in Zimbabwe a report released this week by Roll Back Malaria warns that while the threat of cholera remains in the public eye, a malaria outbreak is very possible. With resources being diverted to fight the rise in cholera deaths, Zimbabwe remains more susceptible to malaria deaths.
Excerpts below, full piece here
[Herve Verhoosel of the RBM Partnership] said that “the surveillance system which helped to monitor and control epidemics has broken down throughout much of the country.
“Large malaria outbreaks could therefore take hold rapidly and claim many victims before the necessary steps can be put in place to halt the spread of the disease.
-Chris Scott
Jan 21st, 2009 2:23 PM UTC
By Field
ONE California has a big reason to celebrate!
ONE volunteers Paul Avion, Amy Quinn (L.A. Volunteer Team Leader) and Betsy Avila (ONE USC) have just announced that on January 14, 2009, Los Angeles approved and signed a resolution to become a City of ONE.
The resolution, signed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council President Eric Garcetti, and seconded by ALL 16 council members, concluded as follows:
“NOW THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED, that by adoption of this resolution, the Los Angeles City Council along with the Mayor, City Attorney and City Controller do hereby declare Los Angeles to be a ‘CITY OF ONE’ and encourage everyone to recognize the devastating impact extreme poverty and global AIDS have around the world and take action to bring about change.
“I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the City of Los Angeles at its meeting held January 14, 2009.”
These signatures make Los Angeles the latest in some 120+ cities who have signed the ONE resolution, meant to further awareness of the extreme poverty and preventable disease that continues to affect ONE billion people.
The resolution was passed due to the efforts of volunteer Avion, who has been in contact with Mayor Villaraigosa’s office since September, 2008. (And is currently working with Governor Schwarzenegger’s office to have California declared a State of ONE.)
This exciting opportunity was entrusted to him by 2008 SoCal Field Organizer Betsy Avila, whose encouragement and guidance he credits with having made it possible. The resolution was also made possible by the work of Cecilia Cabello, Legislative Deputy of the Office of Council President Eric Garcetti, who believed in the resolution and guided it internally to realization. (Everyone at ONE thanks you, Cecilia.)
Volunteer Paul Avion (whose band Par Avion is an upcoming SPIN.com pick), is also actively engaged in creating fashion-music shows to help support ONE in the Los Angeles area. A recent fashion-music show was recently featured here.
More about his efforts to combine music, fashion and charity can be found at www.brightlightsla.com, and through the ONE Los Angeles blog .
Congratulations to the entire ONE L.A. Team and ONE@USC!
-Paul Avion, Betsy Avila and ONE@USC
ONE member Michael Castaldo passed along this fantastic reflection about the inauguration and ONE Vote ’08:
Today was a historic day by any measure. The people have spoken and a new President will guide our nation for the next four years. For those of us here in New Hampshire the Inauguration of our 44th President was the end of a two year tour de force of presidential candidates. Each had their own agenda and each listened to ONE members, and agreed.
For me it was a whirlwind of events. My own life left me in a position where I had reliable transportation, a supportive wife and family; plus resources to cover the expenses incurred from traveling. I needed no motivation. To know that I was in a position to effect change I only needed guidance. I had the “One Candidate Tracker” and a great regional ONE co-coordinator Mathew Bartlett who kept me focused and informed. It may have been my fat face in the pics on the blog but you can bet Matty was behind them if not literally, figuratively.
I very clearly remember the first time I saw President Obama. It was at the VFW in East Rochester NH. I had been yuking it up with one of my reporter friends and overhear the speaker who was introducing the person who would be introducing the then Senator, so I and the reporter perked up and silently split up – him to be ready to take notes and me to take my seat. This took us on different paths. Mine led me down a dark hall and after turning a corner standing just a few feet from the man of the hour… his head was lowered, his breathing deliberate and his eyes closed. It was obvious he was about to use his words as best he could to effect the emotion he felt. My camera as usual was hanging from it wrist strap but I knew in an instant that this moment was not for the public. I had stumbled upon a man in deep thought about to give his first stump speech in the Granite State. This was not the time for flash bulbs. After his speech ended I waited patiently for a photo op and was rewarded not only by the opportunity to speak to and have a picture taken with Senator Obama but to have the picture taken by his aide and confidant Reggie Love. This was the last time the Senator and I would meet without “Americas Best” The United States Secret Service also being there.
Good manners and a great cause seemed to (more…)
