U.S. Commitment Sets Positive Tone for Debt Relief at G7 Meetings this Weekend

Washington, D.C.—ONE called today’s announcement by U.S. Department of Treasury to support comprehensive multilateral relief of Haiti’s debts “critical” in advancing Haiti’s recovering in the wake of the devastating earthquake in January. U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner’s announcement comes on the eve of the G7 meeting of finance ministers in Canada where relieving Haiti’s debt is reported to be on the agenda.

Anti-poverty group delivers petition to IMF asking global creditors to drop Haiti’s $1 billion debt

Washington, D.C.— ONE today delivered more than 150,000 signatures to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), calling on global creditors to immediately cancel Haiti's $1 billion debt and give the earthquake-stricken country a clean slate by ensuring that new aid comes in the form of grants, not debt-incurring loans. The petition was delivered in advance of IMF’s Board meeting tomorrow, Jan. 27.

Of Haiti’s $1 billion debt, the IMF holds a relatively small amount, $165 million, but swift action by the IMF would increase momentum and pressure on all creditors. The IMF intends to move quickly to provide immediate financial assistance on the most favorable terms that it has at its disposal, zero-interest loans.

Group calls on U.S. Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner to help secure cancelation of Haiti’s $890 million debt

Washington, D.C.—ONE today called on global creditors to immediately cancel Haiti's $890 million debt and help give the earthquake-stricken country a fresh start by ensuring that new aid comes in the form of grants, not debt-incurring loans.

In a petition email sent to the group’s more than two million members, ONE’s U.S. Executive Director Sheila Nix said:

“One way we can help Haitians build a better tomorrow is to convince global creditors to cancel Haiti’s $890 million international debt.

“Thankfully, the United States has already forgiven Haiti’s past debts and now only gives assistance in the form of grants. We need Haiti’s other creditors—the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and countries like Taiwan and Venezuela—to follow our lead and do the same.

Washington, D.C. — Today, President Obama announced Rajiv Shah as his nominee for Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

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

“I’ve been fortunate to know Raj as both a colleague and a friend for many years. His sharp intellect, creativity and experience designing and managing innovative development programs make him an outstanding candidate for this position. I know Raj believes strongly in the critical role of USAID and I’m certain he will carry forward the agency’s mission with strong leadership and integrity.

Imagine not having safe water to drink, and your only hope is for a compassionate and generous people to again rise to the occasion. You know of these people. You have heard of them and their valiant efforts in the challenge to ease the consequences of extreme poverty and disease.

"Americans" they are called.

There is excitement among your people when their name is mentioned. You hope they will not tire from the good they have been doing.

The bipartisan Durbin-Corker Water for the World Act can turn hope into reality, and many are working tirelessly to pass this bill, which will provide 100,000,000 people with first-time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015.

Largest malaria agreement ever signed by the Global Fund

Geneva – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria announced today that a newly signed agreement will provide the resources for 30 million bednets, half the number needed to meet universal coverage by December 2010. Together, the newly signed malaria grants amount to the largest single malaria initiative ever signed by the Global Fund.

As part of its efforts to eliminate malaria, Nigeria aims to place two bed nets in every household in the country by distributing 62 million bed nets by December 2010. Global Fund grants will provide half of this total. Other contributors include: the World Bank, DFiD, USAID, UNITAID, UNICEF and the Nigerian government.

More than 884 million people world wide lack access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. This is a shocking statistic for all of us accustomed to washing our hands or enjoying a glass of water when we want to.

The good news is that we know how to improve access to clean water around the world: The Durbin-Corker Water for the World Act of 2009. The bill will help provide 100 million people with sustain able access to clean water and sanitation by the year 2015. But the bill is currently stalled in the Committee on Foreign Relations and is in need of more cosponsors in order to get to the Senate floor and become a reality.

There is an old saying that true character is found in someone who “does the right thing, even when no one is looking.” Sen. Arlen Specter certainly embodies this phrase, and I, along with 80,000 other Pennsylvania members of the global anti-poverty advocacy organization, ONE.org, would like to let the senator know that we are watching him do the right thing.

No one in the world should die from hunger or dehydration. No one should die from a mere mosquito bite that causes malaria —something from which nearly 1 million people die each year, mostly children, infants and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. Americans can help mitigate the suffering and death of millions of people in the poorest nations on earth. We are a better — and safer — nation when we lead with our American principles and deep compassion.

ONE GETS LIFT-OFF ON GLOBAL RECRUITMENT DRIVE AS

U2 360° WORLD TOUR OPENS

Astronaut is the first new member to join

WASHINGTON, D.C. – ONE, the advocacy organization to fight extreme poverty, today announced that it is launching a recruitment drive for new members as part of the U2 360° world tour. It will use its presence and profile through the tour to raise awareness and let people know about the critical progress being made against extreme poverty and preventable disease in Africa. ONE, co-founded by Bono, will be present at the venues and featured in the show throughout U2’s tour, which kicked off Tuesday night in Barcelona and will be seen by over 3 million fans this year.

Right now, the world faces historic challenges. The economic downturn in our country has affected my own family with furloughs and fewer work hours, resulting in smaller wages. But I know that I am not the only Pennsylvanian, or American, who is feeling the tough times. Sadly, so too does much of the world feel the economic squeeze. But for the world’s poorest people, who live in extreme poverty, the margins are somewhat finer, and sometimes a matter of life and death.

I’m a proud member of a local chapter of ONE, an advocacy effort dedicated to fighting global diseases such as AIDS and malaria and combating extreme poverty around the world.
In the months ahead, Congress will make critical decisions on whether to support America’s international efforts that help save lives and stop the spread of diseases around the world.

Supporting our lifesaving programs abroad is about more than humanitarianism and compassion. It’s also about safety and stability. As experts from both the left and right have argued, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, saving lives and providing hope in the poorest regions of the world is a form of “smart power” that is vital to America’s security.

Washington D.C.—Bono and ONE today praised President Obama’s commitment to boost lifesaving global health spending by $459 million in his FY2010 budget, and seek a total of $63 billion over the next six years.

Bono, co-founder of ONE, issued the following statement:

"Today, 'Doctor Obama' leads the next chapter in the U.S. response to global health crises, building on the record of results from the previous administration and bipartisan support from Congress. The question is no longer whether we can fight these diseases in the poorest countries, it is how much do we want to do? The President is answering ‘a lot.’ His strategic leadership on these issues is protecting the long-term interests of the people in his own country as well as saving vulnerable lives overseas."

IMF Should Use Gold Sales to Help World’s Poor

Washington, D.C. -- As delegates to the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings come together in Washington this weekend, ONE urged them to build upon successes of the G20 Summit in London and provide African countries with the resources they need to get through the financial crisis. ONE focused particularly on the need to avoid a future debt crisis while doing so.

“The G20 made strong rhetorical commitments to Africa. But we now need to make these commitments work for the poorest on the planet,” said ONE European Director Oliver Buston.

The IMF should increase the amount of profits from its approved gold sales that is to be allotted to developing countries from about $1 billion to roughly $5 billion, ONE argues.

This week I visited with Sen. Arlen Specter’s staff at his Philadelphia office as a member of ONE, an advocacy organization dedicated to fighting global diseases and combating extreme poverty around the world. During our meeting we thanked Specter for supporting PEPFAR (President George W. Bush’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and the recent John Kerry-Richard Lugar Amendment, and we asked that he support a robust increase in the International Affairs Budget by following through on the Kerry-Lugar Amendment. The 86,000 Pennsylvania ONE members feel it is important that Specter either talk or write to the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) to provide full funding.

This week I visited with Sen. Arlen Specter’s staff at his Philadelphia office as a member of ONE, an advocacy organization dedicated to fighting global diseases and combating extreme poverty around the world. During our meeting we thanked Specter for supporting PEPFAR (President George W. Bush’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and the recent John Kerry-Richard Lugar Amendment, and we asked that he support a robust increase in the International Affairs Budget by following through on the Kerry-Lugar Amendment. The 86,000 Pennsylvania ONE members feel it is important that Specter either talk or write to the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) to provide full funding.