We all know the inauguration happened this week. We also know that there were many events, galas, balls, service projects and concerts that took place. Do we know there was also prayer?

During these inaugural days three prayers were offered on the National Mall. What struck me about these prayers was that they were not only lifted up for President Barack Obama, his Administration, and his family. That is crucial. But, they each included a summons for me and for all of us to remember the task we share in fighting global poverty, hunger and disease. The prayers called us to act on behalf of our brothers and sister around the world, even while we are focused on our new president.

On Sunday, Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, began his prayer on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with a call for Americans to be “bless[ed] with tears, tears for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women in many lands are beaten and raped for wanting education, and thousands die a day from malnutrition, malaria and AIDS”:

Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, a ONE Sabbath supporter, gave the invocation Tuesday morning where he asked for forgiveness “when we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve.” He also prayed that Americans would seek “the common good of all” around the world in the years ahead:

Rev. Joseph Lowery, Civil Rights leader an co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, paraphrased the Books of (more…)

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…)

Yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI sent customary congratulations to President Obama as the Inauguration took place. The message goes far beyond congratulations and becomes a plea that President Obama and all of us remain firm in answering those who yearn for “liberation from the scourge of poverty, hunger and violence so that “all may share in the banquet of life.”

The full text below:

THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON, DC

ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR INAUGURATION AS THE FORTY-FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I OFFER CORDIAL GOOD WISHES, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL GRANT YOU UNFAILING WISDOM AND STRENGTH IN THE EXERCISE OF YOUR HIGH RESPONSIBILITIES. UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP MAY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FIND IN THEIR IMPRESSIVE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL HERITAGE THE SPIRITUAL VALUES AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES NEEDED TO COOPERATE IN THE BUILDING OF A TRULY JUST AND FREE SOCIETY, MARKED BY RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY, EQUALITY AND RIGHTS OF EACH OF ITS MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY THE POOR, THE OUTCAST AND THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICE. AT A TIME WHEN SO MANY OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD YEARN FOR LIBERATION FROM THE SCOURGE OF POVERTY, HUNGER AND VIOLENCE, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE CONFIRMED IN YOUR RESOLVE TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, COOPERATION AND PEACE AMONG THE NATIONS, SO THAT ALL MAY SHARE IN THE BANQUET OF LIFE WHICH GOD WILLS TO SET FOR THE WHOLE HUMAN FAMILY (cf. Isaiah 25:6-7). UPON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND UPON ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I WILLINGLY INVOKE THE LORD’S BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

After hours in the cold watching Barack Obama be sworn in and give his first address as president of the United States, I finally made it indoors and to a computer.

As a ONE member, I know I wasn’t the only one thankful and inspired by President Obama’s words on our issues:

“To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.”

And while writing this, I’m discovering this statement on the new White House website under foreign policy:

“Fight Global Poverty: Obama and Biden will embrace the Millennium Development Goal of cutting extreme poverty and hunger around the world in half by 2015, and they will double our foreign assistance to achieve that goal. This will help the world’s weakest states build healthy and educated communities, reduce poverty, develop markets, and generate wealth.”

Over the last 2 months, more than 101,000 people signed ONE’s petition calling on Mr. Obama to make clear in his speech the importance of fighting poverty and preventable disease worldwide. And he now has on the most prominent of global stages.

I look forward to working with ONE’s millions of members over the next days, months, and years, to keep up the pressure and make sure these powerful words turn into powerful action.

-Virginia Simmons

(photo credit Josh Peck)

On December 17th, we delivered our petition with more than 86,000 signatures to President-elect Barack Obama’s foreign policy transition team.

The petition asked Obama to make a clear statement, through his upcoming inaugural address and budget priorities, that he intends to fulfill his campaign commitments to fighting poverty and preventable disease worldwide. View the petition here.

Senior members of the Obama-Biden Transition’s foreign policy team gladly accepted this petition, and were impressed by the 86,113 members –- at the time of delivery –- whom we mobilized on behalf of the world’s poorest people.

Although the initial delivery is complete, you can still sign the petition here. As the number of signers grows — hopefully hitting our new goal of 100,000 before the inauguration on January 20th — your signature will keep on working in our fight to alleviate global poverty and prevent diseases, including HIV/AIDS and malaria. We will continue using this petition in our advocacy efforts, taking every opportunity to encourage the President-elect to get us on track to meeting his pledges.

After the inaugural address on January 20th, we’ll be looking at Obama’s first Presidential budget request, for Fiscal Year 2010, and working hard to make sure it provides sufficient support for the proven, effective and affordable programs that give hope and opportunities to millions of people now living in desperate need.

Learn more about our transition strategy here.

Sign the inauguration petition here.

-Emily Stivers

As the world gets ready to witness the inauguration of Barack Obama, we are asking the President-elect to use his inaugural address to spread hope and dignity to those most in need. President-elect Obama’s inauguration will provide an opportunity to take unprecedented action in the fight against global poverty. A few weeks ago, ONE launched a petition asking the President-elect to “make a clear affirmation of his pledge to fight poverty and preventable diseases worldwide” in his inaugural address on January 20th. Already we’ve smashed our goal of 50,000 signers with over 86,000!

Soon we will deliver this petition to Obama’s transition team. Before we do, please take a moment to add your voice, and be sure to ask your friends and family to do the same.

Dear President-elect Barack Obama,

In your inaugural address, please make a clear affirmation of your pledge to fight poverty and preventable diseases worldwide, and support that statement with an FY2010 budget request that puts the U.S. on track to meet your historic commitments.

-Chris Scott

On a historic Tuesday in January, as many as four million people from around the country will converge on the national mall, with tens of millions more watching from home, all with one purpose: to hear what the newly-inaugurated President has to say.

At that landmark moment, Barack Obama will set the stage for his next four years in office, and potentially dramatic changes in U.S. foreign policy. Please add your name to our petition to President-elect Obama asking him to make a clear statement in his inaugural address affirming his vision for helping the world’s poorest people:

President-elect Obama,

In your inaugural address, please make a clear affirmation of your pledge to fight poverty and preventable diseases worldwide, and support that statement with an FY2010 budget request that puts the U.S. on track to meet your historic commitments.

This January, the eyes of the nation and the world will be on Barack Obama. Let’s ask him to share the spotlight with those who are most in need.

Thank you for making a difference,

David Lane, ONE.org

In December of 2007, after months of campaigning, ONE members got eleven Democratic and Republican presidential candidates to go On The Record with their plans to fight global poverty.

Among those eleven was Senator Barack Obama- who is now, as of last night’s election – President-Elect Barack Obama.

We still have a great deal of work ahead of us in our fight against extreme poverty and preventable global disease, but we expect these On-The-Record plans will play a key role in the years ahead. You can find all of his plans, and his exclusive videos to ONE members, on our On The Record microsite – and below.

On his legacy to the world’s poor: ( Recorded Dec. 2007)

On doubling foreign assistance: ( Recorded Dec. 2007)

(NOTE: In the wake of the economic crisis, Senator Obama has said that we “may have to delay [a doubling of foreign assistance] a little bit.”)

His message to ONE members: ( Recorded Dec. 2007)

On reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis:

I’ll double annual foreign assistance from $25b to $50b by 2012. I was a co-sponsor of the Lantos-Hyde Act that authorized $48 billion by 2013 for HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. I support lifting the 33% cap on US contributions to the Global Fund, ensuring at least 4.5 million people are on ARV treatment by 2013, and preventing 12 million new infections.

On eradicating malaria:

I will support the goal of ending deaths from malaria by 2015 by building on the $1billion per year commitment to malaria in the recent PEPFAR reauthorization and dramatically expanding access to mosquito nets that for less than $6 will lower the risk of getting malaria and save lives. I will also expand access to ACTs – at the relatively inexpensive cost of $2 per dose – to treat people who get malaria.

On improving child and maternal health:

I will increase funding for child and maternal health and ensure that increases in other important areas – including HIV/AIDS – do not come at the expense of child health and survival programs. I will expand access to vaccinations, increase research into new vaccines, and expand access to reproductive health programs.

On achieving universal primary education:

Worldwide, an estimated 100 million children – including nearly 60 million girls – are not attending school. By 2010, getting these children into school could cost $10b annually. To meet our share of that sum, I look forward to signing the Education for All Act and will request the funding levels needed to carry it out.

On cutting in half the number of people without clean water or enough food:

More than 1b people lack access to clean water, and that number will increase with the impact of climate change. The US has an obligation to increase access to clean water and sanitation. Through increased funding of up to $1.3b annually and innovative programs like ‘play pumps,’ I will expand access to clean water and sanitation.

On additional commitments to the world’s poor:

I’ll make the Millennium Development Goals American policy. By the end of my first term I expect to see progress to meeting the MDGs, including reducing by half the number of people living on less than a dollar a day and suffering from hunger, and reversing the number of new HIV infections and malaria cases.