Brooks Keene, policy adviser for CARE’s Water Team, makes the argument that foreign aid should benefit the poor first and foremost.
In 2005, Congress passed the overwhelmingly bipartisan Water for the Poor Act, sending a strong signal to the Administration that both parties believe that water and sanitation for the poor is a strategic priority for US foreign policy. The Administration was to come back with a strategy within 180 days.
Photo credit: Josh Estey/CARE
As we approach World Water Day on March 22, CARE, NRDC and WaterAid have published a report card on how well the Act has been implemented seven years down the line. The bad news is that a strategy has still not been released. The good news is that there are signals that it could be released soon. Leadership from Secretary Clinton and USAID Raj Shah has given new life to solving one of the world’s great crises.
Standing on the corner of Fillmore St. and Geary Blvd. in San Francisco, you can just feel the history around you. The Fillmore Theatre has provided a stage for artists and causes for over four decades — and last Friday, the majestic space once again hosted artists, activists, humanitarians and Bay Area constituents as we ignited the weekend with a festival of peace and action.
CARE’s second annual Power to the Peaceful Global Action Forum & Celebration kicked off with two short films: one on Michael Franti’s recent visit to CARE programs in East Timor and the second, an excerpt from “A Powerful Noise,” a documentary depicting a Malian girls’ education crusader who beat insurmountable odds to stand up for the rights of powerless girls in her community.
Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the CARE 2010 National Conference here in Washington, DC. It was an action packed two days of learning and then applying that knowledge on Capitol Hill as hundreds of us descended on the halls of congress for a lobby day to advocate for the world’s poorest people.
One of my favorite parts of the conference was when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave the keynote address to the group. Secretary Clinton discussed the importance of development as part of our foreign policy, and noted that a sound foreign policy focuses on the three D’s: defense, diplomacy and development. Secretary Clinton stated that, “We believe by creating conditions that families and communities can thrive we can promote stability, opportunity and progress far beyond one community or even one country.” For me it’s really exciting that the Secretary of State has prioritized development and recognizes the links it has to our overall work around the world.
Check it out:
Secretary Clinton wasn’t the only person at the conference with experience as a first lady either. The first ladies of Mozambique, Sierra Leone and the wife of the Prime Minister of Kenya all participated in the conference as well. Women are agents of change and these first ladies are using their influence to push for advances in maternal health, women’s empowerment and girls’ education in their countries.
Overall I had an amazing experience at the CARE Conference and am reminded not only of the importance of fighting extreme poverty but also that there are so many other like-minded folks across the country working for the world’s poorest people.
It’s almost summer here in Washington, DC—and you know what that means? Time to sign-up for national conferences! Several of our partners are hosting events and advocacy workshops in Washington, DC from May through July, and we hope you’ll be able to join them.
Find out more and RSVP by clicking the links below—and don’t forget to tell your family and friends to sign-up, too!
Over more than 60 years, CARE has helped countless families make lasting change in the face of extreme poverty. Join us in celebrating on May 11 and 12 at CARE’s 2010 National Conference and Celebration in Washington, DC.
Tickets for the conference package are $125 ($40 for students), but ONE will cover the registration fee for the first two people who comment on this blog post. Make sure to enter a valid email address when you leave a comment so we can notify you if you win.
Day one of CARE’s National Conference and Celebration will feature a keynote address from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; discussions with experts from the development world—from rebuilding Haiti to educating girls; a screening of Christy Turlington Burn’s new film “No Woman No Cry;” and a marketplace filled with goods made by women artisans from all over the world.
On day two, CARE will take you to Capitol Hill where you will be able to ask your members of Congress to support policies that help lift women, their families and their communities out of poverty for good.
Don’t miss this chance to learn with CARE and to meet, interact and share with hundreds of others the best ways to improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people. Register now.
To learn more, check out this video with CARE CEO and President Helene Gayle:
On Thursday, March 4 join Marisa Tomei, Maria Bello, India.Arie, Nicholas Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn and others in the largest International Women’s Day celebration on the planet.
Inspired by stories from the critically-acclaimed book “Half the Sky” by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, CARE’s Half the Sky event – in nearly 500 movie theatres for just one night – will feature an uplifting night of music, celebrity discussion and film. With performances and appearances by India.Arie, Maria Bello, Michael Franti, Dr. Helene Gayle of CARE, Angelique Kidjo, Nicholas Kristof, Marisa Tomei, Sarah, Duchess of York, Sheryl WuDunn and other notables, as well as the world premiere of “Woinshet,” a powerful short film directed by Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone, this night will move you to empower women and girls in the fight against poverty and oppression.
Check out a short video about the Half the Sky event:
CARE’s Half the Sky event will take place at 7:30 pm in all time zones in nearly 500 movie theatres in the U.S. and Canada. Tickets are approximately $10-$12.50 depending on the theatre and a portion of ticket sales goes to support CARE. To find a theatre near you and purchase tickets today visit www.halftheskylive.com.
Check out this post about an event that ONE is partnering with CARE on in NYC Feb 11th.
On Thursday, February 11 in NYC, don’t miss the chance to see an exclusive sneak peek of CARE’s 2010 International Women’s Day star-studded event, Half the Sky LIVE.
Inspired by moving stories from the critically-acclaimed book “Half the Sky” by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Half the Sky LIVE will feature an uplifting night of music, celebrity discussion and the world premiere of “Woinshet,” a powerful short film directed by Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone. The film chronicles the struggles of an Ethiopian woman who triumphs over violence and discrimination. Half the Sky LIVE will also feature appearances by India.Arie, Maria Bello, Michael Franti, Dr. Helene Gayle of CARE, Angelique Kidjo, Nicholas Kristof, Andrea Mitchell, Marisa Tomei, Sarah, Duchess of York, Melanne Verveer, Sheryl WuDunn and other notables.
Half the Sky LIVE will take place at 7:30 pm at NYU’s Skirball Center (566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South). Ticket price is $25—and tickets are limited, so click here to purchase your ticket today.
We look forward to seeing you! And if you can’t make it on February 11, Half the Sky LIVE will screen on March 4 at 7:30pm in theatres nationwide (including NYC). For more information, visit www.halftheskylive.com and check out the trailer below:
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.
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