August 23rd, 2008 at 8:37 am | posted by Virginia Simmons
The news is finally out!
Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. For more than a year, ONE members have been advocating our issues to the presidential candidates, our next job is to deliver that same message to the VP-picks.
Let’s turn this political moment into a poverty-fighting moment by talking to Senator Joe Biden right now, before he gets swept-up in coast-to-coast campaign and the crush of 24-hour national media attention.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:17 am | posted by Brian Sweeney, ONE Volunteer, Jonestown, Pennsylvania
Last Thursday August 7th five ONE Members and I attended the official campaign office opening for Barack Obama in Harrisburg, PA. The energy during the event was unbelievable! Our volunteers were able to speak to many people in attendance about ONE and our ONE Vote ‘08 initiative.
Mayor Steven R. Reed was the key note speaker for the evening. The Mayor gave an inspiring speech to a giant crowd that filled the office all the way out the front door! Our ONE members were also able to take a photo with Obama Regional Field Director Alex Kragie. Also pictured is Mayor Reed who was extremely receptive to the idea of Harrisburg becoming a ONE City!
August 11th, 2008 at 2:43 pm | posted by Virginia Simmons
Listen to this NRP piece from Thursday about McCain and Obama’s interest in boosting foreign aid. The beginning of the piece is transcribed below, but the full clip is just over 4 minutes and worth the listen.
The economy may be in trouble and the budget deficit growing, but supporters of U.S. foreign aid see some promising times ahead. That’s because both leading candidates for president have talked about the need to continue to help poor nations develop.
Every so often at town hall meetings on the campaign trail, Republican John McCain calls on people from a grassroots organization known as the ONE campaign. They ask him what he’ll do to help poor nations fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and illiteracy. McCain has said he sees foreign assistance as a key factor in securing America.
“It really needs to eliminate many of the breeding grounds for extremism, which is poverty, which is HIV/AIDS, which is all of these terrible conditions that make people totally dissatisfied and then look to extremism, particularly Islamic extremism,” he told a town hall meeting in New Hampshire last month.
At a speech in Washington this summer, Democrat Barack Obama also spoke about development aid as a strategic imperative for the U.S. in today’s world.
“I know development assistance is not the most popular of programs, but as president, I will make the case to the American people that it can be our best investment in increasing the common security of the entire world and increasing our own security,” he said. “That’s why I will double our foreign assistance to $50 billion by 2012 and use it to support a stable future in failing states and sustainable growth in Africa, to halve global poverty and to roll back disease.”
McCain has not been that specific about how much money he would spend, but he has set a goal of trying to eradicate malaria in Africa and fight corruption.
Steve Radelet of the Center for Global Development sees a total change in Washington’s attitude about development aid, and he’s hoping this will translate into some real reform….
July 24th, 2008 at 2:26 pm | posted by Virginia Simmons
Moments ago, Senator Barack Obama stood before a crowd of tens of thousands in Berlin (estimated at 200,000), to give a speech titled: A World That Stands As One.” We know there were ONE members, in ONE shirts, in the crowd - and we hope to get a post from them soon.
The speech itself drew upon many themes related to ONE’s work. Below some excerpts:
The poverty and violence in Somalia breeds the terror of tomorrow. The genocide in Darfur shames the conscience of us all….
That is why we cannot afford to be divided. No one nation, no matter how large or powerful, can defeat such challenges alone…
This is the moment when we must build on the wealth that open markets have created, and share its benefits more equitably. Trade has been a cornerstone of our growth and global development. But we will not be able to sustain this growth if it favors the few, and not the many. Together, we must forge trade that truly rewards the work that creates wealth, with meaningful protections for our people and our planet. This is the moment for trade that is free and fair for all…
This is the moment to stand as one.
And this is the moment when we must give hope to those left behind in a globalized world. We must remember that the Cold War born in this city was not a battle for land or treasure. Sixty years ago, the planes that flew over Berlin did not drop bombs; instead they delivered food, and coal, and candy to grateful children. And in that show of solidarity, those pilots won more than a military victory. They won hearts and minds; love and loyalty and trust – not just from the people in this city, but from all those who heard the story of what they did here.
Now the world will watch and remember what we do here – what we do with this moment. Will we extend our hand to the people in the forgotten corners of this world who yearn for lives marked by dignity and opportunity; by security and justice? Will we lift the child in Bangladesh from poverty, shelter the refugee in Chad, and banish the scourge of AIDS in our time?
July 15th, 2008 at 5:46 pm | posted by Virginia Simmons
Senator Obama delivered a long speech in Washington, DC this morning. A relevant part to our work:
“We will have to provide meaningful resources to meet critical priorities. I know development assistance is not the most popular program, but as President, I will make the case to the American people that it can be our best investment in increasing the common security of the entire world. That was true with the Marshall Plan, and that must be true today. That’s why I’ll double our foreign assistance to $50 billion by 2012, and use it to support a stable future in failing states, and sustainable growth in Africa; to halve global poverty and to roll back disease. To send once more a message to those yearning faces beyond our shores that says, “You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is now.”
Yesterday, Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama promoted national service at home and abroad in an effort to renew American diplomacy, asking individual citizens to stand up and “change history’s course.”
He addressed an audience at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs:
“I am running for President, right now, because of what Dr. King called the fierce urgency of now…Our country faces determined enemies abroad, and definitive challenges at home. But I have no doubt that in the face of these odds, people who love their country can change it. That is why I am running for President. That is why I’m determined to reach out - not just to Democrats, but to Independents and Republicans who want to move in a new direction. And that is why I won’t just ask for your vote as a candidate - I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am President of the United States.”
His plan on voluntary public service, according to the campaign website, includes, among other things:
Expanding Americorps from 75,000 to 250,000 and Peace Corps to 16,000 slots.
Extending opportunities for professionals and senior citizens to serve overseas.
A $4000 American Opportunity Tax credit for college students who volunteer 100 hours of community service.
Creating an agency within the Corporation for National and Community Service to promote the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations.
The senator noted:
“This will not be a call issued in one speech or one program - this will be a central cause of my presidency.”
June 30th, 2008 at 10:50 am | posted by Matthew Bartlett, ONE Regional Organizer
On Friday, Sen. Obama returned to the Granite State to campaign for President with Sen. Clinton. Some ONE members and I made it out to the event as early as possible to try and reach the two senators and make sure that the world’s poorest people were not forgotten in Unity, NH.
Waiting in the crowd, I was amazed by the number of ONE bands I saw on people everywhere! As New Hampshire Rep. Paul Hodes made his way to the stage, ONE member Tucker Jadczak was able to reach out to him and offer him a ONE band, which he immediately put on.
Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama finally made their way down to the stage and even through the large crowd, we were able to slip them ONE bands to remind them of the world’s bottom people.
You can see us with Sen. Clinton here:
And with Sen. Obama here, when Tucker thanks him for his efforts to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa:
In much of the media coverage and in many newspapers in New Hampshire and across the nation, you could prominently see Sen. Clinton’s ONE band on her left wrist!
As we move forward in the general election it can be tougher and tougher to have direct engagement with the candidates - but ONE members everywhere are helping to advocate for the world’s poorest people by wearing a ONE shirt, passing a ONE band to a candidate, and finding ways to make our voices heard like writing letters to the editor, and calling their own congressional representatives.
“Today, an estimated 40 million people around the world are living with HIV/AIDS, with over 4 million new infections in 2006 alone. HIV/AIDS is a global health crisis that demands a comprehensive and immediate response. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to bring this important bill to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as possible.”
This weekend, ONE members spoke with delegates from all over Minnesota at a booth during the Democratic Farmer Labor Party, State Convention in Rochester, MN. There were about 2,000 delegates and alternates present at the convention plus media, campaign staff and volunteers.
ONE hosted a booth in the exhibitor section and members spoke to people about the campaign, our successes, what our goals are, and of course how they can get involved! We were thrilled to meet many people who were already ONE members, and wearing their ONE bands! People were excited to hear about efforts and of course that their Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, as well as Republican presidential candidate John McCain, have both been supportive and participated in ONE’s On the Record challenge.
During the event, US Congressman Tim Walz stopped by the booth to thank ONE members for being at the convention as well as for the work they are doing. Congressman Walz said he has been a supporter of the campaign for years and is glad we could be there to spread the word about the campaign. He put on a band and took a photo with ONE members.
ONE members also took a photo with Democratic Presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, or at least his cardboard cutout counterpart!
Overall the event was great and many of the delegates were very supportive, wore ONE stickers, bands and signed the ONE declaration!
June 9th, 2008 at 10:02 am | posted by Virginia Simmons
ONE Vote ‘08 staff and volunteers continue to trail the presidential candidates as they campaign around the country. Last Tuesday night, when Senator Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination, ONE volunteer Tzviatko Chiderov was at the Minnesota rally to make sure that fight to end extreme poverty remains a part of this election.
“After nearly 3 hours of waiting on the slowly advancing 15-block-long line of human anticipation I barely made it inside the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, MN on the evening of June 3, 2008. The feeling inside the arena was fantastic.
As Obama spoke of the need for America to address the common global threats of the 21st century, specifically mentioning poverty, genocide and disease, it immediately brought to my mind that this is what ONE fights for.
He spoke of restoring our global image as the best hope for the world and I knew that Americans involved in the ONE Campaign are already engaged in this effort by raising awareness and encouraging their local leaders to take action in helping poor and struggling countries.
As Barack Obama was concluding his speech, I realized that our country’s next leader - and Americans - must have a dedication to the global issues our generation faces and commitment to true change for the better. When Americans get involved with the ONE Campaign they can do exactly that - help shape local and national change to positively affect global issues.
The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, volunteers, members and coalition partners.
The content of each post and each comment represent the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ONE Campaign or ONE Action. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any posts expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
