Posted by Chad Gardner

I wish I could remember which blog I first found out about Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty so I could give the author recognition, but there are 8,000+ blogs of all different subjects – from small business to personal to technology—registered to speak out about poverty today, and each and every one deserves acknowledgement for addressing such an important worldwide issue. This is truly an extraordinary opportunity requiring minimum effort to combine thousands of individual voices and opinions in to ONE, unwavering message.

Taking the idea that the sum is greater than the parts, I wanted to profile one of my favorite non-partisan organizations, The ONE Campaign, to show how anyone can get involved by contributing only their voice to help eradicate global hunger and poverty.

I had a chance to send some questions to a good friend of mine, Libby Crimmings, who is the Regional Field Director for the Iowa and Minnesota ONE Campaign.  I wanted to get a better feel for what this campaign is all about – including getting a grasp for the current worldwide situation and how even the smallest actions can create remarkable synergy.

First off, what is The ONE Campaign?

“ONE is Americans of all beliefs and every walk of life – united as ONE – to help make poverty history. We are a campaign of over 2.4 million people and growing from all 50 states and over 100 of America’s most well-known and respected non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. As ONE, we are asking our leaders to do more to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. ONE believes that allocating more 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.

Working on the ground in communities, colleges, and churches across the United States, ONE members ask America’s leaders to increase efforts to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty, from the U.S. budget and presidential elections to specific legislation on debt cancellation, increasing effective international assistance, making trade fair, and fighting corruption.”

Who is the ONE campaign trying to reach?

“ONE is a grassroots effort – members reaching out to their friends, family and community by word of mouth and through internet groups like Facebook.

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.”

In the midst of this financial crisis, why is global poverty and hunger a key issue domestically?

“Congress and our next president will have to make smart, strategic budget choices that deal with our problems here at home while also continuing to support effective initiatives that save lives, strengthen our security, and restore America’s position in the world.  Fighting AIDS and malaria, saving lives from entirely preventable diseases, is an opportunity for us to do both – make a smart budget choice on an affordable, effective priority while making the world safer in the long-run.”

So how do I go about donating and getting involved to support the campaign?

“The ONE Campaign is funded through private and public foundations, therefore we do not raise money or take donations. Instead we encourage members to use the most powerful tool they have, their voice!

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 the people you know 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 help you use your voice in your community and beyond.”

After getting a chance to learn more about The ONE Campaign, I can’t help but to feel that my voice can have a greater impact than just on this year’s election.

According to Libby and ONE’s website: 

• The number of people who have received treatment in Africa has increased by 4100% from 2002 to 2007.
• The lives of three million children have been saved each year from preventable diseases, leading to a drop by more than 40% in child mortality because of access to simple medicines.
• 41 million children have been able to go to school for the first time.

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