Jun 18th, 2008 4:32 PM UTC
By Taylor.Royle
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Today in Washington, the Global AIDS Alliance hosted a teleconference for journalists to talk about the urgency of passing the Hyde-Lantos Bill (a.k.a. PEPFAR). Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a longtime supporter of the fight against poverty, was joined on the call by Annette Tilleman-Dick, eldest daughter of the late Representative Tom Lantos, for whom this legislation is named. Tomorrow Mrs. Lantos will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of her late husband in part for his dedicated work on AIDS and poverty.
Archbishop Tutu said, “The U.S. has a wonderful opportunity to help make God’s world a compassionate place, so the vulnerable ones will know they’re not here to be taken advantage of but to be cared for. We belong together as a human family. I plead with the leaders in Congress for the sake of the world, for the sake of the future, expedite the passing of the legislation.”
Annette Tilleman-Dick said, “Freedom and prosperity come with responsibility. We have an opportunity to see this bill, which was my father’s final work, come to conclusion.”
You can listen to a recording of Desmund Tutu and Annette Tilleman-Dick speaking on today’s call on the ONE podcast.
-Taylor Royle
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Feb 19th, 2008 9:46 AM UTC
By Taylor.Royle
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 This morning in Kigali, Rwanda, I attended two events: first, a roundtable discussion on education with First Lady Laura Bush, First Lady Jeannette Kagame and a group of Rwandan schoolgirls and second, a press conference with President Bush and President Kagame.
The schoolgirls at the roundtable were very nervous, but they each stood up and told Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Kagame their stories. Their ages ranged from 16 to 18 and they all came from families who could not afford to pay for their schooling. Each girl was a beneficiary of the African Education Initiative – in other words, your tax dollars and mine put these girls in school. And that was an amazing thing to see.
Education for girls in poor countries means that they are much more likely to earn decent wages as adults and much less likely to become infected with HIV. Mrs. Bush asked them if they all knew how to prevent AIDS: they all said they did.
One other thing that surprised me: more than half of the girls were heading to universities to study physics or chemisty.
The press conference with President Bush and President Kagame focused on Rwanda’s impressive economic growth since the terrible genocide here that ended in 1994. Rwanda is a country with little corruption and big plans to become a technology leader in Africa. Even though they grow amazing vegetables and fruits here, Rwandans know that their land-locked country must find an industry other than agriculture if their people are to work their way out of poverty.
Now I am back in the White House press corps filing center. It’s funny to listen to the TV and radio reporters filing their stories. Surely they have seen many interesting things on this trip so far – but all of them are talking about the bed net factory they visited yesterday. They are amazed that children die from malaria transmitted by mosquito bites, that something as simple as an insecticide treated bed net can save lives…and that the United States is not only saving lives by buying these bednets for families – we are also providing jobs to the workers in the factory and better lives for their families as well.
-Taylor Royle
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Feb 14th, 2008 3:14 PM UTC
By Taylor.Royle
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 Hi, ONE members! My name is Taylor and I work in the press office here at ONE headquarters in Washington, D.C. Yesterday I did something I absolutely hate – I went to the doctor and got shots. Why? Because later this week I will be traveling to Africa with President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and legendary Live Aid and Live 8 organizer Bob Geldof.
Bob and I will be visiting sites in Rwanda and Ghana where US-funded programs are providing life-saving medicine for HIV/AIDS, putting kids in school, creating desperately needed jobs and giving hope to millions of people. These programs are the direct result of YOUR support. When we get to Africa, Bob and I will be sending you reports on what we’re seeing and how your money and support are working to improve the world.
Also, I’d urge all of you to check in here as much as possible over the next week. Ginny, who runs our blog, has asked some very special guests to provide great content during the Africa trip. I know you’ll enjoy it – and I look forward to writing to you again soon. Thanks for your support – keep it up!
-Taylor Royle
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