Frequently Asked Questions
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Where does ONE get its name from?
Contrary to popular belief, ONE is not named after the song of the same name by the band U2, of which ONE’s co-founder Bono is a member. The name was inspired by the belief that one voice, coming together with many others – the political left and right, business leaders, activists, faith leaders and students - can change the world for the better. The name was also influenced by ONE’s first US campaign in 2004, which called on the US government to allocate an additional 1% of its budget towards the fight against extreme poverty.
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What is ONE’s mission?
ONE's mission is to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease in the poorest places on the planet, particularly in Africa. We hold world leaders to account for the commitments they've made to fight extreme poverty, and we campaign for better policies, increased and more effective aid, and trade reform. We also work closely with leaders in Africa to support greater democracy, accountability and transparency in how these resources are deployed.
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How does ONE work with leaders and hold them accountable?
ONE works to harness the strength and energy of its membership to press government officials and policy makers to deliver results in the fight against extreme poverty and disease.
ONE's members mobilise at key moments - when a critical global meeting takes place, when a piece of legislation is being developed or when an emergency occurs, such as the global food crisis. ONE members take action to draw attention to the plight of millions of people living in extreme poverty and dying of preventable, treatable diseases. While ONE's membership presses from the outside, ONE's policy and government relations teams work on the inside, sharing ideas and on-the-ground intelligence from Africa and across the G8 with policymakers and providing their staff with the in-depth research necessary to strengthen our arguments.
We also work with leaders of developed countries to ensure the fight against poverty is on the agenda at key international summits, including the G8, G20 and other international gatherings.
In anticipation of the 2005 G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, for example, ONE and DATA (now part of ONE) worked with other leading organisations to push the G8 to approve a concrete proposal to attack extreme poverty in Africa. ONE employed online actions, ad campaigns and the Live 8 concerts as part of a multi-faceted campaign. At that summit, participating countries pledged to direct an additional $25 billion in effective assistance to Africa by 2010. -
Who are ONE’s members?
ONE is a broad movement of more than 3 million people from around the world and every walk of life who have lent their voices to call for a more effective, focused and determined response to help those struggling against extreme poverty and preventable diseases like AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. ONE's members are from left, right and centre. They're artists and activists, faith and business leaders, students and sportspeople, all walks of life coming together because something can and should be done about poverty and injustice. To learn more, visit www.one.org/about
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Why should I join ONE?
By joining ONE, you have the opportunity to take action to support effective, proven initiatives that are delivering results in the poorest places on the planet: protecting families from preventable diseases like AIDS and malaria, putting kids in school, providing economic opportunity and stabilising communities. When you join ONE you are joining with millions of people from the left, right and centre who believe that where you live shouldn't determine whether you live. ONE is asking for your voice to help in the movement of people and organisations working to end poverty throughout the world.
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Can I donate to ONE?
At ONE, we aren't asking for your money, we're asking for your voice. If you want to make a financial contribution to help fight extreme poverty and preventable disease, we encourage you to consider one of our partner organizations, the vast majority of which are providing direct services on the ground in Africa and around the world.
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Is ONE a celebrity campaign?
No. ONE is a grassroots campaign of more than two million people from around the world, but we are very fortunate to have the support of a number of leading artists and athletes who have the capacity to mobilise activists and bring attention to the issue of global poverty in an unprecedented manner. Cofounded by Bono, ONE also works very closely with Bob Geldof, and we have hosted a number of low-profile listening and learning trips to Africa with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt and Tom Brady. We've worked with these individuals and many others, including George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Angelique Kidjo, Chris Daughtry, Penelope Cruz and Julia Roberts, on creative campaigns.
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Does ONE work with other organisations?
ONE works closely with some of the top organisations providing development assistance and relief to millions of people in Africa and around the world. Together we work to raise awareness, recruit more people to the effort and take action to end extreme global poverty and disease. Currently, ONE works in partnership with a number of organisations on specific projects or actions, relating to clean water, education, hunger, trade and preventable diseases. ONE is proud to be part of a movement that encompasses so many organisations and individuals around the world.
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Does ONE fund programmes on the ground in Africa?
No. ONE does not provide aid directly to individuals, governments or organisations in Africa. As an advocacy and campaigning organisation, we raise awareness about the importance of fighting poverty and press governments from the developed world to honor their commitments to invest in effective aid and trade reform. To learn more visit www.one.org/international/about.
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Do petitions really work?
It’s a fair question, and after years of working on different campaigns, we can say without a doubt that the answer is yes.
