There is a crisis, no make that an emergency, amongst the poorest countries in the world. Africa has millions of people dying from severe starvation and things as simple as mosquito bites because there is not enough medicine for the people. There are children that never go to school because they cannot afford it. The price of a CD could pay for six months of school for one child. $19 billion is being spent by America in relief aid to Africa but more can be done because Americans spend $42 billion on health and diet books a year. Africa has Billions of dollars but they are obligated to spend the bulk of that money ($14.2 billion) paying off past debts. The ONE is asking for that debt to be cancelled in the interest of saving lives. Something can be done to help these people. But the responsibility cannot fall on the shoulders of one person. The One Organization proposes that every one can come together and make a difference one by one. What is the one? It is the latest attempt by Americans to spread the word and join forces to battle Global Aids, Hunger and Extreme poverty. The One Campaign is necessary because the US government is deciding how much money to spend on humanitarian assistance next year. As of right now we spend less than 1%. The goal is to convince the Government to increase aid by 1%. With an additional ONE percent of our budget we can help prevent 10 million children from becoming AIDS orphans; We can help get 104 million children into grade school; We can help provide water to almost 900 million people around the globe; We can save almost 6.5 million children under 5 from dying of diseases that could be prevented with low-cost measures like vaccination or a well for clean water, and We can build a better, safer world for all. What does the One hope to accomplish? The ONE Campaign seeks to give Americans a voice, to ring church bells and cell phones, on campuses and in coffee shops, for an historic pact to fight the global AIDS emergency and end extreme poverty. We believe that allocating an additional ONE percent of the U.S. budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food, would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation of the poorest countries.
How does ONE link to international agreements to fight poverty? ONE links directly to the international effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. 1% more of the US federal budget would help save millions of lives and be a major commitment towards achieving the internationally agreed upon United Nations Millennium Development Goals. If it is delivered, we would achieve 0.35% of national wealth going to Official Development Assistance - half way to the international commitment to achieve 0.7%. Longer term, so long as we can prove the money is working, the goal is for the US to continue to increase effective assistance until it meets the international commitment to give 0.7% of the national wealth. This is an appropriate goals for ten years time, or 2015, the deadline for achieving the Millennium Goals. The average American thinks that the US gives 15% to this cause. In reality it is less than 1%! You can help to by going to www.one.org and signing the One declaration. Also by reading more about the organization and asking others to get involved. The ONE Declaration “WE BELIEVE that in the best American tradition of helping others help themselves, now is the time to join with other countries in a historic pact for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of the world overcome AIDS and extreme poverty. WE RECOGNIZE that a pact including such measures as fair trade, debt relief, fighting corruption and directing additional resources for basic needs – education, health, clean water, food, and care for orphans – would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the poorest countries, at a cost equal to just one percent more of the US budget. WE COMMIT ourselves - one person, one voice, one vote at a time - to make a better, safer world for all.” They are not asking for your money. The One needs your voice to speak out for the countries that cannot be heard. Are you the One? Be the One.
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