The fight continues
You might have seen in news from Brussels last Friday that leaders from the 27 different EU countries were unable to come to an agreement on the next seven-year budget. Negotiations will now continue into next year.
The good news is we now have a chance to reverse devastating cuts proposed to EU aid spending. These cuts would have cost lives and decimated vital funds that could have a transformative effect on people – connecting up to 51 million people to clean drinking water, vaccinating 9 million children and helping 15 million kids get an education in just 7 years.
There is now a chance to go back to the drawing board, rebalance the debate and protect the tiny proportion of the EU budget spent on life saving aid.
ONE members helped to generate real momentum. Over 166,000 people signed the petition, with 50,000 in the last two weeks alone. We delivered ONE members’ voices to all 27 leaders in the days leading up to the negotiations, and the European Parliament’s President mentioned ONE explicitly in his opening remarks. And although the Summit didn’t take the step forward we hoped for, we did avoid a disastrous step back.
So the fight to protect lifesaving EU aid continues. As the key moments become clearer over the next few weeks we will let you know what actions you can take. We’ve built real pressure on this issue so far. By continuing to join forces we can help ensure the right results are achieved to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people escape extreme poverty.
Together we can win this fight.
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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.
28/11/2012 at 10:06 am
My present state of mind leads me to ask myself and others: Why do we allow ourselves to be governed so badly? Why does the majority of voters have to choose between the bad and the worse? Why do we stand as a whole indifferent to the situation in the world, in Greece where they are on the verge of a civil war, caused by greed and ambition?
Thank you for your work, for opening a small crack of hope for those who do not conform.
28/11/2012 at 10:09 am
TOTALLY AGREE !!!
28/11/2012 at 10:09 am
This is important. However, at the moment and moments past I am trying to help locate the missing British Citizen Madeleine McCann, who as you know is only nine years old http://www.findmadeleine.com for someone I do not even know, Madeleine has become a very important person in my life, thank you.
28/11/2012 at 10:11 am
I have a quote from the late Michael Foot, which perhaps summarizes perfectly why we are campaigning. He said:-
“We are here to provide for those who are weaker and hungrier, more battered and more crippled than ourselves. That is our only certain, good and great purpose on earth and if you ask me about those insoluble economic problems that may arise if the top are deprived of their initiative, I would answer, “to hell with them”. The top are greedy and mean and they will always find a way to take care of themselves. They always do.”
Michael Foot, (1913 – 2010) British Politician and writer.
28/11/2012 at 10:15 am
We must resist even our own country’s self concern in the EU budget and see beyond ourselves to the needs of others whose privation should never be compared to our own “comfortable austerity”. We are ONE with you on the need to keep the pressure up and thank you for keeping us all alert to the wider world.
28/11/2012 at 10:34 am
Europe has received the prize for peace, to continue deserve it europe needs to act in helping those ones who have less opportunity to be listened to and those ones who are in bigger need! there won’t be peace in the world unless we do not listen to these needs…
28/11/2012 at 10:36 am
My profound respect to those behind ONE you are doing a great job.
28/11/2012 at 10:49 am
In my opinion the reason why we are governed so badly is … somehow … complicated & simple
!!!
The simple part is that on ONE side only an individual can become a genius. On the other side, mass decisions made by many (working usually in good will) are complicated, but/and very often the so called ‘lower level of decisions’ which are taken, actually represent the current stage of development and integrity existing for example within EU. Thanks to ONE and other similar organizations our awareness, particpation, ability to influence decsions is growing. Thanks ONE:)!
28/11/2012 at 10:49 am
I wonder why PEOPLE don’t know their strength!? We could be great if we weren’t so greedy…
I profoundly respect Your Work!
28/11/2012 at 11:11 am
I think people does not no how much they are able to do. Just to say their opinion and stand up for it.
It is that simple.
Because as the world look likes at the moment something has to be done to change this unjustice for us all to survive.
Thank you ONE for all you do to create a change!
28/11/2012 at 12:05 pm
I thank you ONE.. that you did such wonderfull pressure on the leaders of this planet.
I am wishfull, that it will help to make the world more consious of all the problems. Special for the poor people
in this world.
In my haert I am with you ONE.
Lucia Willems.
28/11/2012 at 12:10 pm
Lets fight with poverty,and child abuse.
28/11/2012 at 12:17 pm
Thank you!
28/11/2012 at 12:19 pm
As a person coming from a developing country I would like to see continuation of EU Aid. Cutting aid would not help the would but create more problem and poverty in the world.
28/11/2012 at 2:52 pm
I always wondered how we can accept that some people are dying of excess while another dies
from lack of everything … is such a selfish mistakea of mankind !!!
ONE, go…I will help you as i can to fight this injustice…thank you for one more oportunity to do that
28/11/2012 at 3:51 pm
Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing to ensure that the EU ” lords” do not ride roughshod over all of us. Those fatcats at the top sacrifice nothing but continue to deprive the poor at home and elsewhere. I pray that your membership will grow and show those fatcats that many people care.
28/11/2012 at 4:28 pm
THE WAY I SEE THE SITUATION WORLDWIDE? A “VIRTUAL” WAR BETWEEN CAPITALISM AND PROLETARIANS ……WHO WILL WIN IS STILL UNKNOWN….BUT FOR THE TIME BEING CAPITALISM HAS THE UPPER HAND, UNFORTUNATELY…..IT IS UP TO US TO FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS AND HAVE THE WORLD’S WEALTH “EQUALLY’ SHARED !!!! A BIG THANK YOU GOES TO ALL AT “ONE” !!!
Lydia
28/11/2012 at 4:35 pm
Quite few people own, what equally, all together of the rest billion huiman beings on the planet earth, do.
Money is the root of all evil.
It is for sure, happiness is not based on the money and the consuming, or the materials, but the warm heart .
The thing is, for many people to perceive and feel it, food and other very basic goods should be preceded.
28/11/2012 at 4:44 pm
The quote from Michael Foot (via Gus – previous comment) says it all.
28/11/2012 at 4:49 pm
Aid shoud be given in conjunction with education because only by education do people have the means to lift themselves out of poverty. Isn’t there a saying “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.” That should be the aim of aid, to enable and empower people to become self-sufficient by education and giving them the means to buy tools, livestock and whatever they need to make a living for themselves and their families. The EU should be happy to share its wealth so that poorer people are enabled to create some wealth for themselves thereby making the world a more equitable place. This does not suit everyone as some want their extreme wealth which means by that some have to live in extreme poverty. This cannot be allowed to happen.
28/11/2012 at 5:06 pm
Thank you to the dedicated team of ONE, you have done an incredible amount of work and we all benefit from it, 2 thumbs up for ONE
28/11/2012 at 6:25 pm
This is so important. More and more, our ‘rulers’ are themselves ruled by the greed principle. We need them to understand, loud and clear, that this serves no-one. Not even them.
28/11/2012 at 8:17 pm
Just to say that thogheter as “ONE” is the most beautiful thought that a person can achieve!
From PORTUGAL – CITY OF GAIA / OPORTO – a huge Kiss for every “ONE” – Miguel Gomes -THANK´S
29/11/2012 at 2:52 am
ONE is numer 1!!!
29/11/2012 at 7:48 am
I would like to thank the people that have taken this initiative to represent and support all those that are in a weaker position.
My opinion since i was a child is that money should never have exist in the first place and the earth should have been a planet that can bear and feed all of its creatures. Unfortunately, human beings are selfish and self-centered.Every creature on this planet should always have a right to live with dignity and fearless. We all should be equal.
Thank you once more
29/11/2012 at 8:15 am
Los poderosos, estan comprando los servicios publicos de los paises del primer mundo, debido a que el mercado privado ya lo han explotado.
estan esclavizando a los seres humanos en base a sus necesidades, muchas de ellas generadas y ficticias,
se inventan virus, y antivirus
enfermedades y vacunas
empezamos a tener necesidad de que nos salven de estas cosas, porque nuestra vida es tremendamente virtual , subrealista, y aburrida
29/11/2012 at 8:55 am
How fortunate we are to have an organisation like ONE which can gather all our individual voices into a shout which can reach across the world. And how encouraging it is to know that there are 165,000 other people who feel the same. ‘If good men do nothing, then evil will prevail.’ Greetings to all and never lose your compassion and resolution.
29/11/2012 at 9:30 am
how do i assist personally?r there any projects that u guys need hands with,where i can avail myself?
29/11/2012 at 1:22 pm
We are fantastic!!!
29/11/2012 at 10:43 pm
Totally agree!!!!
30/11/2012 at 12:47 am
It´s so absurd and I couldn´t have said better myself. Sometimes I remind myself that it is the people who have the power and if we are many enough we can change the world into a better place. r
01/12/2012 at 11:07 am
PODPIRAM VAS IN BLAGOSLAVLJAM!!!!! ONE IS SUPER!!!
01/12/2012 at 5:30 pm
If we were as civilized as we pretend to be the word poverty would be unknown, but unfortunately that is not the case and in many European cities there seem to be elderly citizens who after a life of hard work are now finding it extremely hard to make ends meet and depend on various aids given. Dare we add more hardship to injustice?
01/12/2012 at 5:55 pm
Thank you to ONE for supporting this campaign. We hope to reach the goal!
02/12/2012 at 12:26 pm
Thank you!!!
02/12/2012 at 10:02 pm
Ainda bem que existe ONE para dar voz ao melhor que faz um muito obrigado por existirem …
03/12/2012 at 12:46 am
Acabar com a fome é um dever imperativo!
Ending hunger is an imperative duty!
03/12/2012 at 12:48 am
Ending hunger is an imperative duty.
Acabar com a fome é um dever imperativo
04/12/2012 at 11:10 pm
Thank you ONE together we will win we are on the way to success,keep it up thanks a lot.