|
About ONE
ONE is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans – ONE by ONE –
to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. ONE is
students and ministers, punk rockers and NASCAR moms, Americans of
all beliefs and every walk of life, united as ONE to help make
poverty history. ONE believes 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 in the world's poorest countries. ONE
also calls for debt cancellation, trade reform and anti–corruption
measures in a comprehensive package to help Africa and the poorest
nations beat AIDS and extreme poverty.
ONE aims to help Americans raise their voice as ONE against the
emergency of AIDS and extreme poverty, so that decision makers will
do more to save millions of lives in the poorest countries.
ONE is a broad movement of Americans from every state and walk of
life–more than 2 million people have lent their voices to ONE by
visiting ONE.ORG and signing the ONE Declaration. More than three
million Americans are also wearing white bands as a show of support
for ending extreme poverty and global AIDS. ONE is Americans
spreading the word in churches, coffee shops, on television, college
campuses and the Internet.
Americans have always been a generous people – just look at the
outpouring of support for the victims of the tsunami. Yet, most
Americans would be surprised to learn that less than ONE percent of
the federal budget is currently marked for fighting AIDS and poverty
around the world. Surveys show people think it is over 15%.
ONE percent of the U.S. budget is approximately $25 billion, and
redirecting that much more money will take time. Directed to honest
governments, private charities and faith-based organizations, this
support would provide the tools and resources they need to really
make a difference.
By directing an additional ONE percent of the
U.S. budget toward providing the most basic needs – and fighting the
corruption that wastes precious resources –we can help transform the
futures and hopes of an entire generation in the poorest countries.
If the U.S. were to devote an additional ONE percent – one cent more
for every dollar spent by the federal government–to helping the
world's poorest people help themselves, America would demonstrate a
commitment to the Millennium Goals, an internationally agreed upon
effort to halve global poverty by 2015.
One percent is not merely a
number on a balance sheet. One percent is the girl who gets to go to
school, thanks to you. One percent is the AIDS patient who gets her
medicine. One percent is the African entrepreneur who can start a
small family business. One percent is not redecorating presidential
palaces or money flowing down a hole. This one percent is digging
waterholes to provide clean water. One percent is a new partnership
with Africa and the world's poorest countries, where increased
assistance flows toward improved governance and initiatives with
proven track records.
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.
America gives less than one percent now. Were
asking for an extra one percent to change the world, to transform
millions of lives–but not just that – to also transform the way the
world sees us. One percent is national security, enlightened
economic self interest, and a better safer world for us all.
Who is
behind ONE?
ONE is a coalition of 2 million people and over 70 non-profit,
advocacy and humanitarian organizations. ONE was founded by 11 of
America's most well-known and respected aid groups: Bread for the
World, CARE, DATA, International Medical Corps, International Rescue
Committee, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Plan USA, Save the Children
US, World Concern, and World Vision. For the complete list of all
coalition partners, please visit
our partners page.
ONE is supported by Americans
from every state, different ages, many religions and all walks of
life, including such notable people as: Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Pat
Robertson, Kate Hudson, Rick Warren, Jamie Foxx, Jars of Clay,
Penelope Cruz, Dave Matthews, Salma Hayek, George Clooney, Bill
Gates and many, many others.
By joining ONE, you show our leaders that you want to do more to
respond to the emergency of AIDS and extreme poverty. As a "member"
of one of the many organizations that support ONE, you likely make
some sort of financial contribution. That money is being responsibly
and effectively spent in an effort to make the world a better place.
ONE is not asking people for their money–we are asking for their
voices. ONE aims to bring the voices of every American together with
ONE message and ONE purpose: to make poverty history.
From the heartland to Hollywood, Americans are wearing white bands
in support of ONE. Over three million Americans and millions of
people around the world are wearing the white band, the
international symbol of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty.
You might be a teacher, doctor or mother. You might wear it to
school, church or a concert. Whenever and wherever you wear a ONE
white band, you say, without even saying a word, that you want more
and better international assistance, debt cancellation and trade
reform, and that you want to be part of a movement that is calling
for America to join as ONE against this emergency.
Over 2 million people have signed the ONE Declaration – and all have
signed as a direct result of being asked by ONE friend, family
member, neighbor or colleague. All of us have a tremendous
opportunity to take action and influence those closest to us by
learning and talking about these issues. From Dr. King to Nelson
Mandela, history shows us that big changes can start with small
actions. Together as ONE, we can start to make poverty history. ONE
and the groups behind it have already campaigned effectively to
increase assistance against AIDS and also won victories against the
massive debts of the poorest countries. We are gaining momentum all
the time, and helping save lives and rebuild futures in Africa and
around the world with every victory.
Start by signing the ONE Declaration and lending your voice to the
fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty. Next, tell your
friends by sending an e-mail encouraging him/her to get involved at
ONE.org. You can also join millions of Americans and wear the white
band. Wearing a white band is something YOU can do, today, in your
neighborhood. You can also get involved with ONE locally. ONE
volunteers are active across America and are ready to use your voice
in your community and beyond. Go to ONE.org to find out the latest
actions – such as writing to the President or your local
congressman.
ONE links directly to the international effort to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals. ONE percent more of the US federal
budget would help save millions of lives and be a major commitment
towards achieving the internationally agreed upon 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, after
demonstrating the money is efficiently and ethically used, the goal
is for the US to continue to increase effective assistance until it
meets the international commitment to give 0.7% of national wealth.
This is an appropriate goals for ten years time, or 2015, the
deadline for achieving the Millennium Goals.
Development assistance reflects the best American tradition of
compassion and generosity. Americans could lead the world in saving
millions of lives and restoring stability in the poorest countries
in the world, especially Africa. The U.S. has shown bold commitment
to Africa and has roughly doubled assistance in the last four years,
yet even this funding must continue and expand if we want to make
poverty history. Current funding to fight global poverty and disease
is about $19 billion total, with about $4 billion of that going to
Africa. $19 billion sounds like a lot of money, but it represents
less that 1% of the federal budget–currently only .75%. To put this
in focus, Americans spend $42 billion on diet and health books each
year, almost three times what America gave in official development
assistance to the world's poorest people in 2003.
Effective and ethical international aid is national security, not
charity. Poverty in the developing world is a serious global
security threat, a fact acknowledged by the U.S. when President Bush
included development as a priority area of his National Security
Strategy. Much like after World War II, when President Truman and
General Marshall took a little of our money to build a world that
had more friends and fewer enemies, U.S. assistance to the poorest
people in the world is vital to our foreign policy–Americans giving
our fair share may just be the best money we ever spent.
Everyone does what they can–whether it's getting our issues on TV or
wearing the white band. From Hollywood to the heartland, Americans
are joining the fight against global AIDS and poverty. Celebrities
get media attention, attention they can uniquely focus on issues
which wouldn't get enough attention otherwise – like the AIDS
emergency in Africa. Due to the generous cooperation of some of the
biggest names in music, movies, politics and religion, ONE is able
to reach and mobilize Americans in an unprecedented manner, across
all cultural divides.
On July 6-8th, the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations met in
Scotland to discuss the major social, political and economic
conditions that contribute to poverty. ONE and the Live8 concerts
sent President Bush to the G8 on a wave of support for doing more to
fight AIDS and extreme poverty, asking for an historic compact for
compassion and justice with America doing its leadership share. At
Live 8, 1 million people stood in Philadelphia, joining with the 3.8
billion people around the world who turned up, tuned in or logged on
to show they were also determined to change the world.
Over 500,000 Americans also
signed a letter to President Bush, asking that he support four bold
commitments at the G8 summit: more and better international
assistance, 100% debt cancellation, trade reform and renewed efforts
to fight corruption for the world's poorest countries.
The G8 leaders reached an
unprecedented agreement: $50 billion more a year in international
assistance per year by 2010; AIDS drugs to all those who need it,
and care for all AIDS orphans; Primary schools for ALL children by
2015; A commitment to protect 85% of vulnerable Africans against
malaria; and 100% debt cancellation for 18 of the world's poorest
countries. These promises, if kept, are a historic opportunity to
fight global AIDS and extreme poverty and save millions of lives. As
ONE, we'll need to keep up the positive pressure and make sure they
keep them in 2006.
ONE is working in communities across the country, creating a
nationwide constituency of Americans interested in and knowledgeable
about the issues of global AIDS and extreme poverty. ONE believes
that Americans working at the local level can beat extreme poverty
and AIDS globally. From Des Moines to Chicago to Portland, you may
have met a ONE organizer in your community, handing out flyers,
asking for ONE Declaration signatures and urging you to act locally
to create change internationally.
Get involved immediately! Take
Action You can get friends to join the campaign, volunteer in
your neighborhood, wear a ONE campaign white band and ask friends to
wear a white band. Visiting ONE.org is the best way to get plugged
in locally to this unprecedented national and international effort.
ONE isn't asking for your money, we're asking for your voice.
From concert venues to church halls to voting booths, the voices of
faith communities are stronger and more relevant than ever in
America. With compassion and commitment, religious leaders have both
guided their congregations to and been spokespersons for taking
action in the fight against AIDS and poverty in Africa. The
emergency of global AIDS and poverty calls out to all of our hearts,
and these faith leaders believe that God has charged us all with
ensuring dignity for his or her neighbor.
Is ONE a partisan coalition?
ONE is a campaign in which Americans do not have to take a
side–there is only ONE side in the fight against global AIDS and
extreme poverty. ONE believes that millions of Americans agree that
we can reach across political divides to do something extraordinary,
together. It is in the best American tradition of helping others
help themselves, as well as in American long term interest, to beat
AIDS and poverty.
Americans are united across the
political spectrum: ONE's recent national survey found that 86
percent of Americans believe it is important for the United States
to put forward "a new effort to work together with other countries
to help the poorest people in the world overcome AIDS and extreme
poverty." Large majorities of those who voted for President Bush (88
percent) and Senator Kerry (87 percent) support such an effort, with
the difference within the margin of error. Among born-again
Christians, 55 percent say such an effort is very important, with
another 35 percent saying it is somewhat important.
There is an humanitarian emergency in Africa and around the world
that is unlike anything we have seen in the United States in 100
years. ONE partner organizations are at the forefront of fighting
poverty, hunger and HIV/AIDS–both at home and abroad. From South
Africa to the rural American south, we are all united in our shared
work to end AIDS and extreme poverty.
Volunteer and
Career Opportunities
If you would like to volunteer, please see
Take Action and find
your local ONE group to find
out how you can become involved in the campaign in your area.
If you would like to intern, please see
Internship Application to find out more information.
Please see Employment
Opportunities for a list of openings and information on how to
apply.
Donations and Fundraising
ONE is funded through private and public foundations, as well as
sales of ONE merchandise.
The ONE Campaign is not asking for your money, we're asking for your
voice.
ONE does not accept donations. Instead, we hope
that you'll take action with ONE by contacting Congress, the
President and other elected officials and ask them to do even more
to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty. We encourage you to sign
the ONE declaration and help by spreading the word about the ONE
Campaign by talking about it with your friends, family and
co-workers. Additionally, you can show your community that you
support ONE by purchasing ONE
merchandise on our website.
If you still want to make a
donation, most of our ONE partner organizations work in the world's
poorest countries and may have opportunities for your donations.
Please visit our partner page
where you will find a list of our partners and you can then search
for an organization that matches your interests.
ONE is an advocacy organization, and as such, doesn’t provide
funding for development projects or facilitate trips, grants, or
scholarships.
Miscellaneous
Please see our Contact Us page
and go to the corporate contact us form.
Please see the Contact Us page
to find out the best way to reach the department you need.
|
