I’m going to be traveling the next 2 weeks, so blogging will be a bit lighter. But my wonderful colleagues will be covering for me, continuing the daily “What We’re Reading” and any other big updates. So keep checking back at the ONE Blog, and I’ll see you again soon!
Exciting news out of Canada today. Jim Flaherty (the Minister of Finance) just announced that the Canadian government will forgive nearly $24 million owed by the Republic of Congo. This means that Canada has now cancelled close to $1 billion of debt owed by the world’s poorest countries.
“Canada’s debt relief program continues to support nations that have demonstrated a commitment to invest in the current needs of their citizens, even as they struggle with the debt burdens of their past,” said Minister Flaherty. “Today’s debt relief announcement will free up more resources that can be better invested in the health and education of the Republic of Congo’s citizens.”
To read the full release put out by the Canadian Department of Finance, click here.
CNN just posted a great story out of Zimbabwe about four new publications recently awarded licenses in the country. This is a big deal freedom of press in the country:
The papers granted licenses include the previously banned “Daily News,” which was shut down by Robert Mugabe’s government in 2002. The papers will be the first privately owned newspapers to go on sale in six years.
Trevor Ncube, who is one of southern Africa’s most powerful publishers, told CNN that approval of the newspaper license was wonderful news and was an opportunity for Zimbabweans to celebrate.
“This is very exciting and it’s a huge time for Zimbabweans and it’s an opportunity for change,” Ncube told Becky Anderson on Connect the World.
“We’re clearly in a period of transition and this newspaper will play a role to empower Zimbabweans.”
Ncube already owns and runs two weekly newspapers in the country including the “Independent” and “Standard.”
The announcement is in stark contrast to the Mugabe government’s previous policy of allowing only government-controlled daily newspapers in the country.
“Small but might”. That was the theme for my first ONE volunteer effort Tuesday evening at the Daughtry concert at the Sprint Center in my hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. I met up with Libby, our Regional Field Director, and two other volunteers to spread the word about ONE to excited Daughtry fans. As we were getting ready the band walked by and waved hello to ONE members and thanked us for being there! We were lucky enough to get a picture with the guys before the show and each band member demonstrated his appreciation of ONE and the volunteers for the evening with a big hug for each of us and a sincere thank you for all that ONE does on behalf of the world’s poorest people.
The importance of Daughtry’s support of ONE’s vision was obvious as we began interacting with the concert goers, too. Before long, another several hundred members had eagerly pledged their support, with the majority coming from fellow ONE newbie, Cory.
It was so rewarding to be a part of engaging others in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable diseases. It’s proof, once again, that a small group of dedicated individuals can make a difference. If you haven’t joined ONE yet, I definitely recommend looking for a volunteer opportunity in your area. I promise you’ll be hooked. I know I am!
Failing to deliver on aid to Africa – The Economist highlights ONE’s Data Report, saying that aid would have to rise from its 2004 level of $18 billion to $40 billion by the end of this year for those promises to be kept. And even if the rich countries fulfill their 2010 plans, they will have provided only 61 percent of the increase promised in 2005. “It is difficult for Western countries to have any credibility with African governments if they promise one thing and do another,” argues one Oxford professor.
G8 warned of ‘moral betrayal’ over AIDS funding – Critics argue that the G8 Summit’s emphasis on maternal health will mean little without funding for treatment of one of the world’s leading killers of women: AIDS. Many of the biggest Western donors are freezing or reducing their budgets for AIDS treatment, leaving nine million people at growing risk of death because they cannot get medicine, including six million in Africa alone, activists say. (Geoffrey York)
New report argues a lower infant mortality rate than previously thought – A new provocative report argues that there are around one million fewer deaths each year of children under the age of five than previous work had indicated. The report uses advanced statistical techniques that appear to be better than earlier approaches and the author also suggests a more robust way of analyzing data that may help to make more effective decisions in global health.
World Cup offers hope of new perception for Africa – With the World Cup less than a month away, many Africans hope stereotypes of their continent as an incubator of AIDS, corruption and wars will be shattered at the sight of an African nation staging the world’s most-watched sporting event. “It is time for the whole world to know that disease, conflict, the negative stuff do not define Africa today,” said one Cameroonian. (Sudarsan Raghavan)
Mobile banking has potential to close poverty gap – With one billion people owning mobile phones in the developing world, mobile money services are quickly springing up in an effort to cover some of the 2.7 billion who lack access to any financial services. These companies, such as Kenya’s successful M-PESA, offer basic services including money transfers, which are incredibly important for migrant workers who need to send cash back to their families. (Jane Wakefield)
US tells Senegal aid depends on anti-corruption effort – The United States told Senegal on Thursday that a recently awarded $540 million aid grant given as part of a good governance program depended on it fighting corruption, after a series of local media reports alleging graft at high levels. “The American people insist that their development dollars need to meaningfully improve the lives of the people of Senegal,” said the U.S. ambassador to Senegal.
This week Ethiopia held elections to determine who will hold power in Ethiopia’s parliament. The country’s official results indicate a big victory for Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his ruling party—capturing at least 499 of the 547 parliamentary seats, according to The Globe and Mail.
But observers who have been following the election are crying foul, accusing the election of being tainted by “a narrowing of political space and an uneven playing field”. And other groups like Human Rights Watch have accused the government of resorting to voter intimidation and threats to capture the landslide victory.
This is a complex situation. Over the years, Prime Minister Zenawi has delivered real development results for millions of Ethiopians. But the people of Ethiopia deserve to be able to participate in real, meaningful democratic elections that meet international standards. An open and democratic process is a daily process delivered by a free media, free civil society, accountable public institutions and transparent budgets.
We’ll be closely watching the situation as it develops and will keep you abreast of any significant updates.
President Barack Obama lauded the “heroism” of Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Thursday, saying her commitment to democracy stood as an example for other troubled African nations.
Obama met Sirleaf in the Oval Office, and pledged the United States would stand with Liberia at every step of the way of its democratic development.
“I have been an extraordinary admirer of her work for many years now…. The United States and Liberia are close friends, longstanding partners, and Liberia is now emerging from a very difficult period,” Obama said.
“Part of the reason it has been able to emerge is because of the heroism and courage of President Sirleaf.”
“She is committed to the rule of law, made strides in reforming the judiciary and in all these endeavors I want to make sure the people of Liberia understand… that the United States is a constant friend and partner.”
Obama said Sirleaf’s example should be taken as inspiration to other African nations including, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Niger.
Sirleaf said her country had made important progress, and she thanked Obama for his and America’s support.
Africa’s first elected female head of state, Sirleaf said that she would not hide the fact that Liberia had challenges, but added that all basic freedoms were alive in her country today.
“We said that we were going to make Liberia rise again. I come today on behalf of the Liberian people to say that we have made a lot of progress,” she said.
ONE is campaigning to ensure that the Congressional budget does not cut foreign assistance programs like Feed the Future that help people break the cycle of poverty and hunger.
The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in 60 years. More than 11 million people, mostly nomadic pastoralists and farmers in south-central Somalia, north-eastern Kenya, and south-eastern Ethiopia, are severely lacking access to food.
2011 marks 30 years since the first cases of AIDS were documented. Take a closer look at the specific, achievable goals we must hit by 2015 to make this year the beginning of the end of AIDS.
As aid agencies warn more than 9 million people could be affected by a food crisis in East Africa, world leaders are failing to keep their 2009 promises to tackle the causes of chronic hunger and support farmers in the world's poorest countries.
Exciting news out of Canada today. Jim Flaherty (the Minister of Finance) just announced that the Canadian government will forgive nearly $24 million owed by the Republic of Congo. This means that Canada has now cancelled close to $1 billion of debt owed by the world’s poorest countries.
