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Adam Handler from CARE is talking now on development assistance.

US foreign assistance programs are critical to building a stable and
secure world. The funding produces real change in the lives of children
and families living in extreme poverty, while at the same time
strengthening US economic security, defend against global health
threats and create the basis for good-will toward the United States.

By emphasizing self-reliance and sustainability, U.S. foreign
assistance programs help people help themselves. Over the past six decades, child mortality statistics have plummeted, literacy
rates have risen and household income in the developing world has
tripled.

But still- more than 1 billion people live on less than $1 a day.
One of the most important things the U.S. can do to fight global
poverty is to increase our funding of these programs. Our country
allocates less than 1% of its federal budget to poverty-focused aid for
other countries. That makes us the smallest contributor among major
donor governments when calculated as a percentage of GNP.

See
Adam’s powerpoint, and check back to the ONE Blog in the coming weeks for video of Adam’s presentation.

The first 2007 ONE member training is complete. Can’t wait to see the next crew in Denver on March 10.

Yesterday I learned that ONE is naming Yahoo! C.E.O. Dan Rosensweig and Republican strategist Jack Oliver as our two new co-chairs. Extensive experience in management, development, innovation, and political strategy between them, we look toward 2007 with strength.

“With the election of Jack Oliver and Dan Rosensweig as co-chairs, the appointment of Susan McCue as president and CEO, and the addition of Joe Cerrell of the Gates Foundation to the Board, ONE is positioned to move to the next level. I’m excited that people of their energy and talent are ready to give their all to mobilizing the political will of Americans to end extreme poverty.”
- Peter Bell, retiring Chairman of ONE’s Board of Directors

On Sunday, Professor Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Yunus’ leadership and vision in the field of microfinance has revolutionized the way the world addresses global poverty.

Microfinance means loaning very small sums of money to people, almost always women, who are living in extreme poverty. The loans are based on social collateral (rather than traditional assets) and all borrowers are expected to support each other and hold each other accountable. As each loan is repaid, the money is redistributed as loans to others, magnifying the small loans’ impact within a community.

Since its foundation 30 years ago, the Grameen Bank has loaned over four billion dollars to over three million people. As stated in the “Breaking Through” video on the Grameen Foundation’s website, almost half of all Grameen Bank members have escaped poverty.

Today, more than one billion people live on less than one dollar a day. Microfinace is one of the most powerful strategies in history to address these problems in a practical way and on a global scale. On the Grameen Foundation Website you can learn more about the Grameen Bank and microfinance and even congratulate Professor Muhammad Yunus on his world-changing work.

If you read this, Congratulations, Professor Yunus. Your innovation, compassion, and intellect is creating historic strides in the war against poverty.

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Last week, The ONE Campaign – Orlando Chapter, partnered with the University of Central Florida in recognizing World AIDS Day in Orlando. This event was coordinated by the Mu Sigma Upsillon Sorority sisters, many of whom had lost a relative or knew someone suffering from HIV/AIDS. When
we arrived, we were each given a red ribbon to wear, and filled out a memory card with the name of those family or friends we had lost to the disease.

It was very inspiring to see many of the “sisters” had purchased product (RED) shirts, another symbol of recognizing this day.

We watched a video entitled “What Is AIDS” and heard several moving testimonial readings. There was a reading of statistics, followed by Jody Miller, ONEorlando volunteer, providing information about PEPFAR. I passed around a hand-out on ONE’s World AIDS Day action: to call the 800 number to contact your members of congress. Many guests, already ONE members, had already made their call and commented how easy it was to use this system. The remainder of guests were making their calls and were looking forward to letting their representatives know how important these issues are to them.

The event ended with a tracing of hands, and the hanging of the memory cards and remembrance vigil. Thanks to Lisette Ortiz and the rest of her sisters, for a great program and continuing to provide awareness at their University about HIV/AIDS.

Today, three men began a 4,000-mile expedition across the entire length of the Sahara Desert to raise awareness about clean water and poverty in Africa. ONE supporter Matt Damon is producing and narrating a documentary about the trip called “Running The Sahara” which is due out next year.

To help put this endurance test into context – these ultra-marathoners will run an average of two marathons a day for the next 80 days…in the scorching heat of the Sahara Desert no less – a feat never accomplished by humans before. Check out the “Running The Sahara” website to learn more about the runners, the film, the route and their cause.

Damon’s trip to Africa last year with DATA and the ONE Campaign was a major inspiration for this film. In the video clip to the right (shot during the filming of the “ONE Vote” TV Spot )Matt talks about his trip to Zambia where he learned about AIDS, poverty and how the USA is helping to bring real change to Africa.

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CNN will run an interview today with Mike McCurry and Jack Oliver about the new ONE spot between 12 PM and 1 PM EST on both CNN and CNNi.