Today marks the official launch of the Charter for Compassion. The Charter is the result of Karen Armstrong’s 2008 TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Prize wish. TED is an annual conference which brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).The TED Prize is awarded annually to three exceptional individuals who each receive $100,000 and the granting of “One Wish to Change the World.”

In a world where religion is often seen as a way to divide us, 2008 TED Prize winner Karen Armstrong will remind us today that religion can be a force to unite us. Karen Armstrong’s TED Prize wish to change the world emphasizes that the core beliefs in all religions point squarely to the Golden Rule—do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This idea to deliberately live your life with compassion for others has been embraced by people around the world who, led by Karen, contributed their thoughts on compassion to a document that evolved into the Charter For Compassion.

Please participate in the Charter launch today by sharing it with your friends and family and posting the Charter widget on your website or Facebook page.

-Amy Novogratz, TED Prize Director

Written with Mike Drachkovitch

Last weekend, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt hosted the 4th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), a triennial summit viewed by some as the centerpiece of China’s Africa aid program. Launched in 2000, the FOCAC acts as the institutional body through which China establishes its terms of engagement with Africa.

The biggest news to come out of this year’s FOCAC summit was the announcement that China will give US $10 billion in low-interest loans to African nations over three years. China also pledged to help African countries adapt to the impacts of climate change by helping to build 100 new clean energy projects on the continent. In addition, China stated their commitment to help African countries become viable trading partners by implementing a zero-tariff policy on 95% of all goods from the poorest African countries.

This year’s summit made clear that China is indeed becoming a vital partner for African development. However, China’s engagement in African countries would be more effective if a few changes were made, namely working with other donor governments to streamline aid within existing architecture. China would also benefit by looking at South Korea’s imminent membership of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). For example, the DAC could help improve its development policy practices, making them more effective and transparent.

The $10 billion loan commitment is a good first step for China to effectively engage in Africa, as is its commitment to expand market access for African products and assist African countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. However, African countries, as well as other donor nations, would welcome further specification on exactly how China plans to assist Africa in coping with the effects of global warming. Additionally, issuing loans rather than aid raises some concerns that African countries will re-accumulate crippling debt, reversing many gains recently won through debt relief efforts.

Furthermore, although China has made clear its intention to support African development, some critics have noted that its support of oppressive regimes, such as in Guinea, is counterproductive.

Lastly, China is set to receive significant funding from the cash-strapped Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – more than nearly any African country. This large sum has raised eyebrows of those who have admired China’s rapid economic success of late. Foregoing this assistance would send a powerful message to African countries desperately in need by freeing up scarce resources.

In August 2004 I was deployed to Iraq. Working as a combat medic with a FRSS attached to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, I witnessed a little bit of everything. Most of the time our battalion was hit with indirect fire, mortar rounds and if someone was hurt during night ambushes, including civilians, we were the first call.

Although providing medical care to numerous Iraqis was part of our mission, it was the compassion and care we exchanged that I believe had a lasting impact. In one situation, my medical team performed life saving surgery on a young Iraqi woman, who was hit by shrapnel. Along with treating several more wounded. Sleep was never an option, nor was leaving her side. In those dark moments, when your main focus is caring for another human being, camaraderie is established.

That same camaraderie carried through as members of our battalion worked to rebuild schools and construct water filtration systems, which provided clean water for drinking and cooking. The things we easily take for granted were often life changing for the Iraqi people.

Our human acts and good deeds significantly supported our progress in Iraq. By helping these impoverished people with such basic needs, we were able to foster stability and create trust. It was a language we all spoke, an action we all responded to.

-Hunter Hayes

The Obama administration today nominated Rajiv Shah, a medical doctor and current under secretary for research, education and economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to become the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The announcement ends months of speculation and frustration about the still-vacant development post and comes on the heels of a Senate resolution introduced by Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) to empower and strengthen USAID that passed last night by unanimous consent.

Senator Durbin said of the Increasing America’s Global Development Capacity Act (S.355), “Foreign development assistance is as critical to America’s standing in the world as diplomacy and defense.” He added that “as our development assistance grows, so does the need for an influential and transformative administrator at USAID.” Dr. Shah’s nomination helps answer who may at long last lead USAID. Nearly 300 days into the new administration, members of the development community had grown impatient that the White House had yet to appoint an administrator for USAID despite strong campaign commitments from Obama to “elevate, streamline and empower a 21st century U.S. development agency.”

Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Lugar (R-IN), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had also sent a letter to President Obama in September underscoring the need to appoint a USAID administrator expeditiously. Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter to the entire House of Representatives calling for the naming of an United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator immediately. Members of the development community had even taken to voting on polls see here on who could fill the vacancy. Dr. Shah’s was confirmed by the Senate in May for his current position at USDA, which should help avoid further vetting or other delays on his way to being confirmed as USAID administrator.

Suffice to say, there is much applause for the long-awaited nomination of a USAID administrator. We are now eager to ensure there is a swift confirmation process so that the new administrator is in place as quickly as possible and able to inform and shape the host of global development and foreign aid policy efforts currently underway at the White House, State Department and in Congress. Senator Dodd, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has said:

If U.S. development policy and, by extension, U.S. foreign policy is to succeed in the long run, USAID must be an independent body that can advocate for what it knows best—how to effectively deliver and implement U.S. foreign assistance. It must have a meaningful seat at the table…It has long been understood that international development is a critically important aspect of our foreign policy. It was high time we matched this reality with a real and meaningful commitment.

Having a USAID administrator in place is obviously a huge step in the right direction. Making sure that he has the tools, authority, and resources to meaningfully engage in the Presidential Study Directive on U.S. Global Development Policy, the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, the bipartisan Senate Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009, and the promised rewrite of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act by House Foreign Affairs Committee becomes the next task at hand.

See ONE’s press release with more reactions to the nomination.

Recently, Twin Cities ONE volunteers Leah Sedler, Tzviatko Chiderov and I became radio personnel for a day. A local radio station, KFAI, allowed us to create an hour long program to raise awareness for ONE.

When the idea first came up, we were very excited. We spent months planning and rehearsing, but nothing could prepare us for the thrill that came when the microphone lights came on and it was actually happening: we were live on the radio!

Although we were nervous, we acted like pros and as the host of the show. I interviewed my on-air colleagues about the issues that ONE tackles and what it means to be a volunteer advocate. We were even treated to a call-in interview with Tom Hart, ONE’s Senior Director of US Government Relations, who discussed investment in development assistance and the successes we have seen and challenges we still face.

We knew that our broadcast would reach a new audience and being able to share our experiences and discuss these important issues with them was very exciting. We hope that listeners were touched by our message and are inspired to become advocates for change with ONE.

If you would like to listen, check out our show on KFAI’s website.

-Reena Dhake, Twin Cities ONE Member

We’ve just received word that markup of the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act (S.1524) which was scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed due to tomorrow’s memorial service in Fort Hood, Texas. The hope is to hold the markup next Tuesday, November 17.

We’ll keep you posted with any new developments.

This evening at 9pm EST, Oprah and CNN are joining for a special program about “Say You’re One of Them”, a collection of 5 short stories, each told from the perspective of a child from a different African country. The book’s author, Uwem Akpan, will also participate.

The event will be broadcast live on CNN.com and Oprah.com. You can find more details here, and if you’ve read the book, let us know what you thought in the comments thread.

Last week, ONE member Dianna Grobstein wrote about an event hosted by TOMS Shoes in Whittier, California.

TOMS Shoes, which aims to provide shoes for children in need, was also profiled on the CBS Evening News recently. You can check out the segment below, and learn more about TOMS Shoes here.

Over the weekend, CNN ran this interesting segment about an effort to bringing more solar light installations to East Africa. The organization spotlighted is called Solar Light for Africa and was founded by Retired Episcopal Bishop Alden Hathaway in 1997.

Clip below:

This weekend I had the opportunity to join Pittsburgh PA ONE Members for their monthly meeting. It was really inspiring to listen to the ideas flowing out of this group! We discussed many different topics including the upcoming screening in Pittsburgh of the award-winning film Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love. The film chronicles the remarkable story of Youssou N’dour, Grammy-award winning artist and social activist who also serves as a member of ONE’s Policy Advisory Board.

We also discussed the importance of ONE Members engaging their elected officials. This group of PA ONE Members understands the importance of showing them how many of their constituents support them in their efforts to fight poverty and preventable disease around the world. Future plans for the group include more “Call Parties” and scheduling in-district meetings with their Representatives which is easy and very important. I was also able to help explain where we are in the legislative calendar and that ONE has already submitted its request to the Obama administration for 2011.

We will certainly need all ONE Members’ enthusiasm and advocacy to help secure the goals in the budget and thus continue to transform the lives of the world’s most vulnerable!