ONE Calls on President-elect Obama to Spread Hope for World’s Poorest in Inaugural Address

ONE Calls on President-elect Obama to Spread Hope for World's Poorest in Inaugural Address

Historic moment an opportunity to reaffirm America's commitment to those struggling against poverty, disease and despair

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Kimberly Cadena
kimberly.cadena@one.org
Phone: (202) 669-0802

January 17, 2009

Washington, D.C.-In anticipation of Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44^th President of the United States, ONE called on the President-elect to spread hope and dignity in his inaugural address by reaffirming America's commitment to the millions of people struggling against poverty, hunger and diseases like AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

David Lane, President and CEO of ONE, made the following statement:

"President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration will be a historic and extraordinary moment for our country. The world will be watching, and his inaugural address will be a momentous opportunity to inspire and instill a new vision of America's strength and place in the world. ONE is calling on our new president to clearly define American values by reaffirming America's commitment to the world's poorest and most vulnerable people. Saving lives from disease and raising up communities from despair can be central to a new, more effective American foreign policy. If we hope to thwart terrorism and instability and stand for the principles that America believes in, we must do more to stand up for the human needs of the world and its poorest-needs like clean water, basic medicine and primary education. By elevating the fight against poverty and disease in his inaugural address, President-elect Obama will show the world that America is most powerful and influential when it is steadfast in support of human dignity."

This past week, more than 92,000 ONE members signed a petition calling on President-elect Obama to make a clear statement in his inaugural address on the importance of fighting poverty and preventable disease worldwide.

During the campaign, President-elect Obama committed to doubling foreign assistance and to prioritize the provision of basic medicine, food and education in areas where people are living on less than $1 per day. President-elect Obama's commitments on HIV/AIDS, hunger, and child and maternal health, basic sanitation, and primary education can be viewed at www.ONE.org.

ONE is a global advocacy and campaigning organization backed by more than 2 million people from around the world dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. For more information please visit www.ONE.org

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