German campaign focuses in on budget

Jun 5th, 2009 11:23 AM UTC
By Sergius Seebohm

Budget negotiations are about to begin in Germany for the 2010 fiscal year. It is also an election year as the country will elect a new national parliament and a new government in September.

ONE continued it’s ‘Be ONE of us campaign’ with a new video and billboards in the streets of Berlin to encourage the government to keep its promise to Africa.

Alongside other G8 members, Germany still has some way to go to deliver on its commitments from the 2005 Summit in Gleneagles. They agreed to invest 0.51% of Germany’s Gross National Income to overseas development assistance but currently stand at 0.31% and therefore need to make a big effort in the upcoming budget.

The short animation we launched called ‘Promises’ therefore asks which of the five major parties will deliver in the forthcoming budget and elections in September.

See what you think of the new spot (translation below):

The video explains how the economic crisis threatens to undermine the progress made in Africa towards fighting poverty. In order to keep supporting the efforts of the poorest countries in areas like education, good governance, education and agriculture, Germany should stick to its commitments. Chancellor Merkel and her opponent Mr Steinmeier have repeatedly stated how important they think this is (hence we quote them on their word).

We have also launched a billboard campaign in the German capital and so there are now over 1,000 posters around the city serving to remind the Germans government of the promises it made. And on the day of the launch we thought that was a good enough reason for German ONE supporters to show up wearing masks of the candidates of all five major parties at the German chancellery!

Translation below:

This is the year 2009.

Nine years ago 189 countries gave their word.

[speaker] “The Millennium Development Goals. Not to shy away from any effort to fight global poverty.”

But a threat is approaching.

The global economic crisis hits the poorest countries and threatens to cause poverty and hunger where there was just a glimpse of hope for the better.

Now courageous men and women are in demand.

Angela Merkel says [readable text / speech bubble]: “We as the Federal Government feel obliged, also now in a time of crisis and decreased tax revenue, not to scale down our ODA spending but to increase it, as this is of utmost importance for the people in the regions concerned.”

Frank-Walter Steinmeier says [readable text / speech bubble]: “If we want to prevent the crisis we have to take care of the structural causes for conflicts. Part of this is the fight against hunger and poverty and the facilitation of economic development.”

They know: This is about 0,2%. An important step between now and the promise to invest 0,51% of economic power in development by 2010. Will Germany keep her promise and support the poorest in their efforts, for more trade, good governance, education, infrastructure, agriculture, health systems and sanitation?

Millions of Germans are looking at the men and women who hold this in their hands.

[as text underneath the picture]For 67 percent of Germans the credibility of politics also depends on keeping the promises to the World’s poorest.

Time is running out. Promises have been made. But who will act as they promised?

You can obligate them. With your name. For the article ONE.

Vote already today. Until September 27th

-Sergius Seebohm

TAGS: Germany