Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Proud to be ONE!




The excerpt below was taken from the State of the Union address of Pres. Bush. While others may not believe in the same cause, it still makes me proud that an organization like ONE can move powerful people in congress and the US President himself to express continued support for the fight against hunger, poverty and diseases in poor nations like Africa. I personally believe that without ONE's members and similar organizations acting in unison and making their voices heard, the funding to fight AIDS/HIV, poverty and malaria would have been in peril.

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"American foreign policy is more than a matter of war and diplomacy. Our work in the world is also based on a timeless truth: To whom much is given, much is required. We hear the call to take on the challenges of hunger, poverty, and disease – and that is precisely what America is doing. We must continue to fight HIV/AIDS, especially on the continent of Africa – and because you funded our Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the number of people receiving life-saving drugs has grown from 50,000 to more than 800,000 in three short years.

"I ask you to continue funding our efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. I ask you to provide $1.2 billion over five years so we can combat malaria in 15 African countries. I ask that you fund the Millennium Challenge Account, so that American aid reaches the people who need it, in nations where democracy is on the rise and corruption is in retreat. And let us continue to support the expanded trade and debt relief that are the best hope for lifting lives and eliminating poverty.
"When America serves others in this way, we show the strength and generosity of our country. These deeds reflect the character of our people. The greatest strength we have is the heroic kindness, courage, and self sacrifice of the American people. You see this spirit often if you know where to look – and tonight we need only look above to the gallery."

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