The Millennium Campus Network held a conference this past weekend to discuss global poverty and health. ONE’s former intern, Sam Vaghar, helped create this new network of Boston area colleges and universities, and their conference hosted over 700 students and included top global health experts like Ira Magaziner, Dr. Paul Farmer, as well as an event with musician John Legend and Dr. Jeff Sachs.

I attended the first day of the event at MIT and immediately noticed a few ONE shirts and many, many ONE bands. After opening statements and a very good speech by Sam, the keynote address was given by former presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards. In his speech, Sen. Edwards spoke about his travels to Uganda and the extreme poverty he witnessed in Africa. He spoke about the need to fight AIDS and malaria to help bring stability to poor nations and citied America’s moral standing in the world.

After his speech, I was able to briefly speak with Sen. Edwards and thanked him for raising the issues of global poverty while on the campaign trail. We even talked about the global poverty speech he gave in New Hampshire.

From the campaign trail to the colleges campuses, people everywhere are organizing and realizing that in today’s world, that we have the resources to fight global disease and end extreme – less than a dollar a day – poverty.

-Matthew Bartlett

Ambassadors Jenna Morton and Cisco Aguilar were on hand Tuesday night to spin their way through the post-debate analysis. ONE Vote ‘08 was an official co-sponsor of the debate and the logo could be seen every time Chris Mathews did a live shot of spin alley.

ONE Vote ‘08 volunteers fired up the crowd outside and passed out wristbands to debate watchers. Check out the awesome video ONE’s Matt Higginson put together from footage outside the debate.

Great night for Nevadans and ONE!

-Megan Jones

ONE’s Marine, Michael Castaldo attended a town hall meeting with Sen. Edwards in Rochester, NH, yesterday. In the middle of the meeting, Sen. Edwards started talking about debt relief, fighting AIDS in Africa, and making sure that children in poor and developing countries have access to primary education. He said that not only is it the right and moral thing to do in the world, it also helps improve the image of America around the world.

Michael got it all on tape, and then after, Michael was able to thank Sen. Edwards and take a photo for the blog. Go Michael! Go ONE!

-Matthew Bartlett, ONE Regional Organizer

Nevada ONE member Robin Mercer delivered 50,000+ petitions asking Governor Mitt Romney to go on the record and tell us exactly where he stands on fighting extreme poverty and global disease. Will he – and the other presidential candidates – take up the challenge?
Stay tuned.

Update: UNR ONE Club President Tracey Gaffney and club member Adam Allen just presented John Edwards with “On the Record” petitions, too.

-Aaron Banks

Senator John Edward was at Riverbend Middle School in Iowa falls, IA on Friday. I had set up my ONE gear right by the back entrance where the Senator entered. After greeting people who had waited to welcome him, Senator Edwards continued toward the ONE table and stopped to look at the literature. As his staff put on the microphone, I thanked him for his continuous support, and asked if he was wearing the ONE band, he extended his left arm and said, “put one on please.” I slid the wristband on his arm, and he proceeded. He kept the band on during the entire event.

During his speech, he talked about how America has to restore its positive image, “we have to be the light that shines the goodness”, he said. He continued talking about how America has to lead in all fights, “we are in the position to end poverty and stop the spread of disease,” the senator told a crowd of about 120 people. Most of the senator’s staff was wearing ONE bands. One in particular was proud to pose for a picture. I failed to ask his name but the picture speaks for itself.

Thanks to the custodians at Riverbend Middle School for providing me the table and the senator’s staff who helped me to set up.

-Natalie Sugira

Sen. Edwards hosted a town hall meeting in Hudson, NH, on Sunday. I went with some ONE members to make sure that the poorest people on Earth were represented, even in the Granite State!

I took to higher ground to videotape a question from a ONE member to Sen. Edwards, but before we could get the questions asked, Sen. Edwards started to talk about US efforts to eradicate poverty in Africa, in response to a question about restoring America’s moral standing in the world.

I got it all on tape, and even got some footage of ONE member Melissa talking with Sen. Edwards after his speech!

-Matthew Bartlett, ONE Regional Organizer

In NH last week.

At the MySpace/MTV forum in Durham, NH, (my hometown!) UNH student and ONE member Alex asks Senator Edwards:

“Do you believe that AIDS and poverty are national security issues for the United States?

Edwards’ short answer: “Yes.” More in the clip below:

UPDATE [1:45 p.m.]: If you missed today’s webcast of John Edwards answering live questions at UNH and from people online, don’t despair. It’s being re-broadcast tonight at 7:00 p.m. on MTV. I don’t want to give too much away, but ONE did play a role and we learned more about Edwards’ position on global AIDS.

Today at noon, YOU’LL have the chance to ask Senator John Edwards a question when he sits down with MTV, MySpace and a college audience at the University of New Hampshire.

No more tired questions from talking heads. You’ll get to submit your questions online in real time and hear them read by MTV correspondents. This is your chance to ask John Edwards – and in the weeks ahead all the other major presidential candidates from both parties – hard-hitting questions about what the next president should do to fight extreme poverty and global disease.

Here’s how to get in on the action:

1. Visit our question page for advice how to formulate a question about extreme poverty.
2. Watch the MTV/MySpace Presidential Dialogue with John Edwards live today online at 12:00 p.m. EST on MTV.com or MySpace.com/election2008.
3. During the debate, submit your question for John Edwards on MTV.com, or through MySpaceIM.
4. Use the live polling feature to rate each answer either: ‘agree,’ ‘disagree,’ ‘full of bull,’ ’scripted/canned,’ ’sincere/authentic,’ or ‘well argued.’
5. Stay tuned and let’s hear how John Edwards plans to end poverty if he’s elected president.
6. If you can’t watch live, it’ll be broadcast on MTV tonight at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Remember to include in your question that you’re a member of the ONE Campaign, a movement of over 2 million Americans working together as ONE to end extreme poverty and global disease and save millions of lives in the world’s poorest countries.

-Aaron Banks

The East Polk Interagency Association put on a forum about poverty and education with keynote speaker Senator John Edwards. ONE set up a booth at the event and when Senator Edwards arrived we gave the presidential candidate a ONE band right before he posed for a quick picture and delivered his speech.

Afterwards the ONE Campaign signed up new members, passed out literature, water bottles, and bands. Many people were excited about the cause and eager to learn more. As we signed people up we talked with them about ONE and the importance of raising their concern to the presidential candidates. ONE received a great response from Senator Edwards and the patrons of the event. Another success!

-Wes Peterson