If only Europe had 27 Helles
They came on bicycles: 27 ONE and CONCORD Denmark activists calling on Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt to use the Danish Presidency of the EU to show leadership in the fight against extreme poverty.
At 730 this morning each volunteer donned a Helle mask and posed outside Parliament. The message was simple: if Europe had 27 Helles we would be on track to keep our aid promise to the world’s poor.
While it’s biologically unlikely to clone Helle like we did in our picture, we are calling on all 27 EU leaders to be like PM Thorning-Schmidt in one vital area: Denmark is one of only 4 EU Member States to have gone beyond its promise to spend 0.7% of gross national income on aid.
The more than 30,000 ONE members who have signed our latest petition supported the following message that will be delivered to a representative of PM Thorning-Schmidt today:
“During your negotiations on the next seven year EU budget please agree to the level of international aid proposed in 2011, to ensure the EU continues to build on the amazing progress it has achieved in the fight against extreme poverty”.
We are delivering this petition today as DANIDA (Denmark’s Government Aid Agency) has brought together European Development Ministers for an important meeting on European Aid. We’re asking Denmark to pass on the message of our members to other European leaders within ongoing talks on the EU budget where aid spending is at risk.
This matters because EU aid has made a huge difference. Between 2004 and 2009, more than 9 million children were enrolled in primary education, more than 5 million were vaccinated against measles, and more than 31 million people were connected to clean water thanks to EU aid.
It was a cold, clear morning in Copenhagen but spirits were high among the Helles. Thanks to all of them for getting up so early and a special mention to ONE member Inger Kristensen who travelled for two and a half hours by train just to be with us this morning!
And if you haven’t signed our petition yet, now is your chance!
- Previous Post ONE praises Obama, Cameron on joint alliance against global poverty
- Next Post Small Change Big Difference
 |
 |
 |
About the Blog
The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
16/03/2012 at 10:17 am
You had me at “bicycles” … Yes!