Yesterday, Former Press Secretary Dana Perino spoke at length about poverty in Africa, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and her own travels to Africa. She also talked about the success of antiretroviral medication and Africa’s perception of America’s efforts to fight AIDS in the region.

Click the link below for a clip of Perino’s remarks

-Chris Scott

On Friday we brought attention to a Gallup poll that indicated the American public considers President Bush’s work in the fight against HIV/AIDS to be his administration’s most successful accomplishment. Yesterday the Associated Press ran an article that serves as an interesting companion piece, examining this issue from an African perspective.

The article offers many different perspectives and opinions, including those in Africa who have been directly impacted by programs such as PEPFAR, to those who feel the focus on HIV/AIDS has distracted too much attention from other diseases.

Excerpts below, full piece here

Like countless Africans, [Sweetness] Mzolisa looks forward to Barack Obama becoming America’s first black president Jan 20. But — like countless Africans — Mzolisa says she will always be grateful to Bush for his war on AIDS, which has helped to treat more than 2 million Africans, support 10 million more, and revitalize the global fight against the disease.

“It has done a lot for the people of South Africa, for the whole of the African continent,” says Mzolisa, a feisty mother of seven. “It has changed so many people’s lives, saved so many people’s lives.”

Some critics, like rockers-turned-advocates Bono and Bob Geldof, have become admirers.

“The Bush regime has been divisive … created bitterness — but not here in Africa. Here, his administration has saved millions of lives,” Geldof wrote in Time Magazine as he accompanied Bush on an Africa trip last February.

“The administration and Bush himself deserve a lot more credit than they received for getting this job done,” says Josh Ruxin, assistant professor of public health at Columbia University.

-Chris Scott

Earlier this week we flagged an article that explored how the global fight against HIV/AIDS has fared under President Bush’s terms in office. Now comes word that the American public considers the Bush Administration’s efforts on this issue its biggest success, with considerably more ground gained than lost over the last 8 years.

According to the Gallup poll, “Americans are more positive than negative about the fight against AIDS, with 38% saying the country has made progress over the last eight years and 19% saying it has lost ground.” More than any other issue polled, Americans believe President Bush has gained the most ground in fighting HIV/AIDS.

You can check out the full results here.

-Chris Scott

Commentary Magazine has published a fascinating inside account of President Bush’s fight against the global HIV/AIDS epidemic during his two terms in office. As President Bush’s time in office winds down over the next couple of weeks, pundits, commentators, and the public will begin the process of evaluating his place in history. This extremely intimate and detailed look at the creation and evolution of such programs as the Global Fund and PEPFAR under the President’s leadership is definitely worth a look.

Excerpts below, full article here

Bush’s interest in AIDS as a critical global problem was evident from the very beginning of his presidency. In March 2001 he established a cabinet-level council chaired by his top foreign-policy and health aides, Colin Powell and Tommy Thompson. On May 11, he gathered in the Rose Garden with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to announce a maiden contribution of $200 million (subsequently increased to $500 million) to a new international AIDS fund now known as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. This represented a 30-percent increase over Bill Clinton’s final budget in total foreign spending on the disease (on top of the $13 billion being spent annually on the domestic crisis).

Although by autumn the President would be consumed with the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the war in Afghanistan, his interest in the AIDS issue never wavered. In early 2002, he told Josh Bolten, his deputy chief of staff for policy, that he wanted to do more.

-Chris Scott

This morning, President Bush lent his voice to a growing global call for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to step down. Bush’s statement followed similar demands made by the European Union and a call from UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown for the international community to defend human rights and democracy in Zimbabwe. This toughened rhetoric from Western leaders has been accompanied by a tightening of restrictions on the Zimbabwean government- last week the the US extended sanctions against four individuals and 20 companies who have been financially supporting Mugabe’s government.

This renewed pressure on Mugabe comes as evidence of the deteriorating situation inside Zimbabwe emerges– the country’s collapsed water and sanitation infrastructure has led to a cholera outbreak, which has already claimed the lives of nearly 600 and the World Health Organization warns might infect up to 6,000 in a worst-case scenario.> A lack of doctors, equipment and treatment (oral rehydration salts which cost as little as 50 cents per dose) means the fatality rate is much higher than usual. Aid agencies are estimating that cholera patients in Zimbabwe are ten times more likely to die than patients living elsewhere.

The outbreak is the latest update to a long list of evidence on how failed governance and gross economic mismanagement have destroyed what was once one of Africa’s most promising countries. In the years after independence, Zimbabwe was hailed as a regional breadbasket and boasted one of Africa’s highest literacy rates. Today, on top of skyrocketing inflation and an ongoing political crisis, Zimbabweans face acute food shortages and an education system in shambles: the World Food Program anticipates that half of Zimbabwe’s population (over 5 million people) will be in need of emergency food aid in January and as of October, students in Zimbabwe had only been in the classroom for a total of 23 uninterrupted days.

The question now is whether global outcry over the cholera epidemic is just the latest in a series of grievances against the Mugabe regime or the tipping point needed to inject new momentum towards a real and lasting solution. Importantly, increased pressure from Western governments has been echoed by some key African leaders- last week, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga called for Mugabe’s removal and in November, the leader of South Africa’s African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, indicated a tougher stance towards the Zimbabwean government, saying the situation had moved beyond “wait and see”, and that “We have got to act and act now.” The fact that the epidemic is spilling over into neighboring countries could mean voices like these might become stronger in the days ahead.

These African voices are vital in moving toward a lasting solution for Zimbabwe. Although emergency aid could help ease the cholera epidemic and fill food shortages, Zimbabwe’s current plight is the product of a long-term socioeconomic demise that only the establishment of a functioning and inclusive government can resolve (as noted by the Elders last week after their visit to the region). Ultimately, such a solution will depend on Zimbabwe’s neighbors. Mugabe has weathered sanctions and pressure from the West for years. Now, as his country tips towards a breaking point, the onus is on African leaders to turn rhetoric into action and renew efforts towards ending the crisis. The rest of the world should be poised and ready so that once this happens, Zimbabwe has the support it needs to stand a real chance at winning back some of the development gains it lost after 28 years of Mugabe’s rule.

-Nora Coghlan

News just broke that President George W. Bush has formally called upon Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to step down from his post, ratcheting up international pressure on Mugabe. We’ll keep you posted with further news and analysis about the situation as it develops.

Statement from President Bush:

As my Administration has made clear, it is time for Robert Mugabe to go. Across the continent, African voices are bravely speaking out to say now is the time for him to step down. These leaders share the desire of ordinary Zimbabweans for a return to peace, democracy and prosperity. We urge others from the region to step up and join the growing chorus of voices calling for an end to Mugabe’s tyranny.

-Chris Scott

UPDATE: Here’s a video of some highlights from the forum.

This morning I was lucky enough to get to go to the Saddleback Civil Forum here in DC on behalf of ONE. I only found out about this event late Sunday, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I am very glad I got to go, because today was a great day in the fight against AIDS around the globe.

The event was hosted by Pastor Rick Warren (you may know him as the man who wrote A Purpose Driven Life) and was in honor of all that President Bush has done over the course of his Administration to advance the fight against HIV/AIDS. President Bush received the first ever “International Medal of PEACE” from the Global PEACE Coalition for his unprecedented contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS and other diseases. As Pastor Warren, Ban Ki-moon, Tony Blair, Bill Gates and Bill Clinton all said today (in person or in video messages sent from around the world), President Bush has done more than any world leader on these issues, ever.

President Bush was quick to point out that the credit goes to the people who also have a heart for this work and inspired this program, among them Condoleezza Rice and Mike Gerson. The President also credited the dedicated men and women who work tirelessly to make sure PEPFAR is run well and ensure the program’s success, among them PEPFAR’s Coordinator, Mark Dybul. President Bush asked Mark Dybul to stand and be recognized at the event, and I don’t think Dybul would’ve done so if anyone but the President asked; he’s clearly happier being the man behind the scenes who makes sure everything is running right.

PEPFAR is a huge program, and a huge success. There is certainly much credit to go around, and much work left to do. Today, on the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, it’s important to celebrate the progress we’ve made in the fight against HIV/AIDS and to recommit ourselves to the challenges that still lie before us. President-elect Obama sent a video message echoing his own commitments to fight HIV/AIDS, which he often repeated on the campaign trail. In an event honoring what’s been accomplished in the current president’s Administration, it was a great end to the Saddleback Civil Forum to look to the future and see the next president pledging to continue this great program and America’s lifesaving work.

-Kimberly Cadena

President Bush will deliver remarks today at 10:05 am EST commemorating World AIDS Day. We will post the webcast and transcript shortly, if they are made available.

Shortly after delivering his remarks, Mr. Bush will be joined by Mrs. Bush and President-elect Obama (via taped remarks) at the 2008 Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health at 10:30 am EST. Pastor Rick Warren is expected to recognize President Bush for his work around PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief). You can watch a live webcast of the event here.

Also in commemoration of World AIDS Day, Ambassador Mark R. Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator of the Office of National AIDS Policy will be hosting an “Ask the White House” online forum at 2 PM EST fielding questions from readers about World AIDS Day. Click here to submit your questions now.

We’ll keep you posted throughout the day with any other developments.

-Chris Scott

I know that you have all been eagerly awaiting ONE’s analysis of the G20 economic summit that took place this past Saturday. To re-cap, in October, President Bush called for a first-ever meeting of the G20 to discuss solutions to the global financial crisis, and mechanisms to prevent future crises. The G20 is a group of finance ministers from the world’s leading economies (the G8, the European Union and Australia), as well as a group of ten emerging economies including Argentina, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa. After the summit, officials issued a communiqué detailing their resolutions. Here are a few highlights:

1. Developing Country Representation: The G20 calls for better representation of developing countries – both emerging economies and poor countries – in the Bretton Woods Institutions like the IMF and World Bank, in order to accurately reflect the world economy and increase the legitimacy and effectiveness of these institutions. The G20 calls for these reformed institutions to play a role in identifying future crises and responding to them.
2. Trade: The G20 rejects the impulse to turn to protectionist measures to stabilize their economies and promises to refrain from raising new barriers to trade or investment in the next 12 months. The G20 also calls for a successful completion to the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round trade talks.
3. Official Development Assistance (ODA): Considering the impact of the financial crisis on developing countries, and particularly on the most vulnerable in those countries, the G20 countries reaffirm the importance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and their development assistance commitments. They urge all countries to undertake commitments consistent with their capacities, and re-iterate the principles agreed upon at the UN Conference on Financing for Development that took place in Monterrey in 2002 that emphasize country ownership of and mobilizing all sources of financing for development.
4. Anti-Corruption: (more…)

Beyond Wall Street and Main Street here in the U.S., experts are also warning that the financial crisis will have repercussions on streets throughout the developing world. Growth in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to slow, inflation is on the rise, and the effects of the food and fuel crises will likely be exacerbated. These developments could have serious implications for the world’s poorest people – the World Bank estimates that the rise in food prices alone could push at least another 100 million people into poverty, equivalent to seven years lost in the fight against poverty.

This Friday, President Bush will host leaders from the G20 in Washington D.C. to address the financial crisis, with an aim to identify mechanisms to deal with the current situation and implement measures to ensure that future crises are avoided. Discussions will include the question of reshaping global financial governance and imposing greater regulation on the global financial sector. As the New York Times reports, European leaders are pushing for “…regulation, “or at least oversight,” of all financial institutions, accountability and transparency, new approaches to risk assessment…” in addition to a central role for the IMF. While some have likened this meeting to a second Bretton Woods – the post-WWII gathering of Allied Forces that created global monetary bodies like the IMF and World Bank – the adjustment of existing institutions and policies seems a more likely outcome of the summit than the establishment of new institutions.

The G20 is a group of finance ministers from the world’s leading economies (the G8, the European Union and Australia), as well as a group of ten emerging economies including Argentina, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa. Many are hoping that the attendance of some developing countries indicates that the challenges facing poor countries in light of the current crisis will be high on the agenda. Questions include how to protect poor communities from the impacts of the crisis, how countries can prevent losing recent gains made in combating poverty, and how the developing world – who is the most vulnerable – can be shielded from such crises in the future. While the inclusion of emerging economies at the meeting is an important step towards prioritizing development on the international economic agenda, many are doubtful that the G20 group will be able to establish guidelines that will benefit the developing world in the long-run.

The meeting is a precursor to the Doha international trade and development talks scheduled for the end of the month. ONE will be sending a team to Doha, so keep your eyes peeled for future posts about important outcomes from the meeting.

-Beth Adler