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University of Michigan, having a ball
The University of Michigan’s ONE chapter has had some trouble this year navigating through the bureaucracy of our administration.After awhile we came to the realization that the larger scale projects we’d been hoping to implement were not going to happen any time soon. Instead of getting discouraged we tried to think outside the box and put together some fun, small actions that would get the ONE name out to students.
Since football is one of the greatest traditions here,we thought it would be a great place to start. With that, one of the favorite things students like to do at games here (and many other places) is blow up beach balls and send them flying throughout the crowd. Piggy-backing on this idea – we got together and spray painted beach balls all black and then painted the ONE logo in white on them. We did this at an awesome pre-game tailgate with our ONE members.
When we launched the balls in the air we got a lot of questions about what the logo meant and why we were doing it. It made for a fun picture and was definitely a great way to get the word out. Just because the administration or faculty are being difficult doesn’t mean there is nothing left to try – think outside the box a little and it can end up being the best action you take.
-Stephanie Parrish, University of Michigan ‘11
ONE is Running through NH
ONE member Sarah Archer of Mont Vernon, NH held a ONE Run yesterday to raise awareness of the plight of the world’s poorest people. Sarah organized a 5K run, a 5K walk, and a 1 mile walk, that attracted over 70 local New Hampshire residents at her high school.
The weather in New Hampshire was beautiful and although we were a continent away, participants wore ONE bands and some wore ONE shirts to show support for ONE and the world’s poorest people. Sarah created a fun and healthy way for people to spread the word about ONE and draw attention to the emergency crisis of global poverty.
Over a billion people in the world live in extreme poverty and die by the millions from preventable and treatable disease, or lack of clean water. But our nation is taking new and great steps to fight extreme poverty and save lives. By joining ONE and taking action by writing letters, sending emails and making phone calls to your leaders, and by building local awareness events like this ONE Run, we can raise our voices and make sure that our country is taking even bigger are greater steps to make poverty history!
Way to go Sarah!
-Matthew Bartlett
Football, the IMFs and an Editorial
Britain and France will today announce a joint initiative to help send 16 million African children to school in the next two years, in partnership with international football authorities.
The Guardian: Plan to put 16m African children into school
At the East African Health and Scientific Conference in Kenya on Wednesday, experts testified that constraints in the health sector are exacerbating health problems in rural communities. Some blamed conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund in the early 1990s.
Daily Nation: Shortage of health staff hits East African states
An editorial by Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, appeared in today’s Washington Times. The piece praises President Bush’s work in Africa, noting that this story hasn’t made headlines in the United States but is making headlines around the world.
Washington Times: Bush’s Africa legacy
-Chandler Smith
World Water Day 2008 (T- 3 days)
Our friends at Water Advocates compiled this list of upcoming World Water Day events.
Beginning Sunday, March 16 through Saturday, March 22, restaurants will invite their customers to donate a minimum of $1 for the tap water they would normally get for free. These donations to UNICEF will go towards improving access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, while promoting safe hygiene practices in more than 90 countries around the world. Plug in your zip code to find restaurants in your city.
World Water Day 2008 will be celebrated by the UN on Thursday, March 20. In New York you can help bring awareness to the sanitation crisis by “standing up for those that can’t sit down.”
PSI will host a World Water Day discussion about their Safe Water Programs, the successes and challenges, and the way forward on March 20 from 3:30-5:00 PM. If interested, please RSVP to akhanna@psi.org.
Celebrate World Water Day with Water For People on Friday, March 21. Raffles and speakers-including Amy Hart - Filmmaker, WATER FIRST-will make the evening one to remember.
If in Louisville, KY, join Edge Outreach on March 21, 2008 for a night of music, water and film. Join speakers and hear stories of what is being done for those without water and sanitation.
The DC Environmental Film Festival will have several water movies showing on World Water Day March 22. There is also a panel of water experts at 4:00 PM that day from Water Advocates, the Global Water Challenge, Natural Resources Defense Council and ConservationStrategy.
Join the Global Water Challenge, Water Advocates and others at the Student Movement for Real Change event on March 22: “Water is Life: Youth Leading Change on World Water Day”.
In 2007, 69 cities across the United States passed resolutions acknowledging March 22 as World Water Day. Join those interested in promoting World Water Day in a variety of events across the country.
WaterAid America in conjunction with the American Museum of Natural History present a panel discussion exploring the burden unsafe water and sanitation place on women, and the role women can play in water and sanitation development interventions. The discussion will be held on World Water Day, March 22.
Attention runners: join in an effort to raise awareness about the global water and sanitation challenge and help build a borehole well in the Azawak Valley, Niger - sign up for a Run for Water on March 22.
The Global Health Council will hold a briefing on Capitol Hill called “The Link Between Clean Water and Health.” The briefing will be on March 26 at 12:30 PM on Capitol Hill.
White Band Storms 3,000 Meter
World champion Ethiopian runner Meseret Defar continued her 5-year undefeated streak by winning the 3000 meter at the World Indoor Championships on Saturday. All through the race, Meseret Defar wore her white band. (Getty Images)
From the IAAF:
“It was somewhat inevitable the multi-talented Defar would prevail, and so it proved as she simply destroyed the field by winding up the pace from 400m out and unleashing her legendary kick-finish over the final lap.
And even Defar herself conceded in a post-race interview victory here at the Palau Velodromo Luis Puig was not the most testing of her career. “Today it was an easy race for me, because of that I didn’t have to run too fast,” she explained. “I feel that I’m ready for Beijing (Olympic Games) now.”
Taylor Reports In
(Taylor works on the ONE Communications team and is currently traveling with President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and Live Aid and Live 8 organizer Bob Geldof. Read all her posts so far from the trip here.)
A lot happened in Accra, Ghana today. First, President Bush met with President Kufuor of Ghana and they held a joint press conference. They about talked about, among other things, the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). Ghana has received a compact from MCA to build roads and improve infrastructure. MCA compacts go to well-governed countries, countries who fight corruption and invest in health and education for their citizens.
Then it was on to a lunch with Peace Corps workers in Ghana. Ghana was the first country in the world to welcome the Peace Corps. The first 52 Peace Corps workers arrived here on August 30, 1961. Since that time, more than 3,700 volunteers have served in this country (including two of my good friends Monica and Alex Smith - who met when they both served as Peace Corps workers in Ghana and the Cote d’Ivoire and later married. Monica was a water and sanitation specialist and Alex educated people about HIV/AIDS).
The Ghanians have a special bond with Americans who serve in the Peace Corps and gave them a big welcome at lunch. The lunch guests, including President Bush and Bob Geldof, heard harrowing tales of Peace Corps life in rural Africa, including one woman who was bitten by a cobra and then discovered that the local clinics had run out of both poison anecdote and pain medication! (Don’t worry - she survived and told her tale to the President in person today.)
After lunch was my personal favorite part of the day: a tee ball game! We watched some Ghanian youngsters play ball - the Little Dragons vs. the Little Saints. I;m not sure my travelling companion, Sir Bob Geldof, understood the intracacies of the game, having grown up in Ireland, deprived of the World Series…but we all enjoyed it, nonetheless.
We also (more…)
Hole in ONE
-Libby Crimmings
ONE giant step for man…
ONE member Dan Robinson made it to the top of Mt. Aconcagua today where he planted a ONE flag! (We hope to get a photo of that soon.) Just 6 summits left to go…
You can read about the day-to-day journey on Dan’s blog at: http://www.dan-robinson.com/. His post for today:
Monday, January 28, 2008
At the top!
Today at 10:45 EST we finally reached the summit! Our original plan was to attempt the summit yesterday but a terrible storm kept us pinned down at 19,200 feet. The storm forced us to stay in our tents the entire day and we also had to endure temperatures of 50 below zero. The winds were absolutely brutal and made the most routine tasks incredibly difficult to do.
All the time and effort that went into this climb was justified when we got to the top of the mountain. Being able to experience the view from the highest point in South America was an emotional time for the entire group. It was a serene moment for each individual, and I was reminded of the reason for my climb to the top.
The ONE flag was proudly displayed at the top of Aconcagua and I know this is only the beginning of my journey to raise awareness. I want to thank everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers and for all the support I have received over the past few weeks. Please continue to spread the message and support this important cause!
-Dan Robinson
More From Anne in Nigeria
When I left the ONE Campaign last fall, I had ONE bands everywhere that you could imagine: piles in every bag that I own, strewn about my car, and at my apartment. As I packed up for Nigeria, I piled all of those ONE bands and brought them with me.
This month, the Gwaimen Center (where I work) has had football and basketball matches to bring the young people of Kwoi together and we’ve used the opportunity to educate on those present on AIDS prevention. What better tool to use than the ONE bands?
While I enjoy watching football, seeing people from all around the area come together and talk about AIDS and how people can protect themselves was powerful. I told those gathered about ONE and the millions of people in the US who spend their free time and their energy fighting poverty and AIDS. This is a global effort and, in partnership, we’re going to end extreme poverty and global disease.
My friend who organized the match spoke about how these teenagers are examples to the children that were gathered to watch the match. I found his words inspiring. The next generation, whether we’re teenagers or elderly, is watching and learning from our example. We have an opportunity to change the course of history.
-Anne Batchelder
Anne is a ONE member, as well as the former ONE Deputy Field Director, and co-founder of the Gwaimen Center in Kwoi, Nigeria
ONE Member Continues Climb Up Mt. Aconcagua
Here’s the latest from ONE member Dan Robinson as he progresses up Mt. Aconcagua. There’s been some illness among the group, and breathing gets harder and harder. Once they reach Camp 4, they’ll tackle the summit. For those of you just tuning in, Dan is voluntarily climbing each of the Seven Summits and planting the ONE flag on top of each. Check out his blog at: http://www.dan-robinson.com/.
-Chandler Smith
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Moving on to camp 2….
We spent most of today carrying equipment and supplies from 17,500 feet to 19,200 feet. It was a grueling process but I felt really strong climbing up the mountain. The air up here is really thin and with every step it is getting harder to breathe. We will spend another night at 17,500 feet then climb up to Camp 2 tomorrow. The storm seems to be passing and there might be a chance to summit sometime next week. The views up here are absolutely breathtaking! We are just above the clouds and you can see a magnificent view of the Andes. I can’t wait to share my pictures with everyone when I get back!
8:48 pm est-Dan Robinson
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Leaving Camp 1
Today we climbed from 15,500 feet to 17,500 feet. It is extremely windy at this altitude and there seems to be a really bad storm coming in. We will stay here for the night then return to Camp 1 tomorrow to haul equipment and supplies to the higher camp. I’m still recovering from a bad stomach bug and I have been having headaches during most of the day. This is getting extremely tough but all the encouraging messages and support has definitely kept me motivated. Thank you for taking the time to spread the message and support the cause!
-Dan Robinson
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The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with frequent contributions from volunteers, members and partner organizations.
The ONE Blog updates readers daily with the latest in global development news and analysis and what ONE members and our partners are doing around the world to influence world leaders in the fight against global poverty.
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TAGS: Football, Michigan, ONE Members, Sports