Jul 20th, 2008 9:13 AM UTC
By tom.gavin
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On the first day of the ONE trip to Rwanda, the team spent some powerful moments touring the Kigali Genocide Memorial and listening to the testimonials of both a perpetrator and a survivor of the genocide. We also visited a coffee washing station where local farmers bring the beans and area workers clean and sort them. Many of these beans end up in our coffee back home. The coffee industry is growing fast, and other specialty crops are not far behind.
On our second day, we’ll look at another key industry – tourism. We’ll hear from Rwandans about their experiences in the tourism industry, what that has meant for the economy here in the effort to fight poverty, and what the future may hold.
-Tom Gavin
[Photo: Kigali Rwanda 19 July 2008: Congressman John Kasich and Karen Kasich in discussion with women working at the USAID Coffee Farm washing station project. ]
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Jul 19th, 2008 8:00 AM UTC
By tom.gavin
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Our first day is starting with a meeting with Ambassador Arietti, our U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda. He’s giving a good overview of the progress that has been made here since the genocide ended in 1994. It is amazing to think of the progress that this country has made, not only in education and health care, but also in healing the societal scars from the genocide.
Couple of points that the Ambassador made that should especially interest ONE members. PEPFAR — our global AIDS program — is making an enormous contribution to Rwanda. He said that the U.S. contributes around $120 million through PEPFAR to Rwanda. As a result, 50,000 people are now on HIV medicines.
The Ambassador pointed out that we have used the PEPFAR program to help build medical capacity in Rwanda. There are 441 rural clinics in this country. Many didn’t have power or water or staff. The United Stats has been a strong partner with Rwanda and, through PEPFAR funding, America has been able to improve medical services. Doctor training, nurse training, and medicines are at the core of the U.S. involvement.
Later today, we’re going to see how Rwandan products are opening doors to trade and opportunity for people (hint — think Starbucks).
-Tom Gavin, ONE’s Communications Director
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Aug 15th, 2007 5:56 PM UTC
By tom.gavin
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Want to restore people’s confidence in their leaders? Give them something to believe in.
A poll out this afternoon from CNN shows that 57 percent of the country think that the Bush presidency has been a failure. Democrats in Congress don’t fare much better, with 55 percent calling their work a failure as well. The CNN Polling Director put it pretty plainly — “The public clearly doesn’t like what it sees coming out of Washington these days.”
What could our elected leaders do to restore our faith in their work?
If you take a look at our ONE Poll from New Hampshire, one answer that cuts across party lines is taking on the fight against extreme global poverty and disease. Ok, now some will say, of course ONE is saying that buying into its mission is a good thing for any president or member of Congress. That’s like someone in Austin saying that he roots for the Longhorns. But take a look at the polling data.
Our ONE Poll in New Hampshire found that 93 percent of Democrats and 84 percent of Republicans agree – yes, agree! — that the United States has a moral obligation to work to fight treatable, preventable disease, particularly those that children predominantly suffer from. Democrats (86%) and Republicans (67%) agree that presidential candidates must incorporate their plans to address global hunger and poverty issues in their foreign policy platforms.
The rest of the ONE Poll shows the same. Let’s have leaders who make a priority of those issues that bring us together as a country. ONE has pointed the way. It’s time for our candidates to jump on board.
-Tom Gavin, ONE Communications Director
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