ONE is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans - ONE by ONE - to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. The ONE Campaign is engaging Americans through a diverse coalition of faith-based and anti-poverty organizers to show the steps people can take, ONE by ONE, to fight global AIDS and poverty. [Source: ONE.org]

Right now, the US government is making decisions about how much money to spend on humanitarian assistance next year and the UK is poised to lead the world's wealthiest nations at the G8 summit next July. By joining the ONE campaign, we will show our leaders that we want to do more to respond to the emergency of AIDS and extreme poverty. [Source: ONE.org]

The ONE Campaign seeks to give Americans a voice, to ring church bells and cell phones, on campuses and in coffee shops, for an historic pact to fight the global AIDS emergency and end extreme poverty. We believe 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 of the poorest countries. [Source: ONE.org]

The ONE Campaign was founded by 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, and works closely with the National Basketball Association, Rock the Vote, and the Millennium Campaign. The ONE Campaign is supported by Bill and Melinda Gates and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. [Source: ONE.org]

ONE is a broad movement of Americans from every state and walk of life —more than half a million Americans have joined ONE since April 2005, and almost ONE million have lent their voices to ONE by visiting ONE.ORG and signing the ONE Declaration. More than ONE 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. [Source: ONE.org]

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 development assistance. Surveys show people think it is over 15%. ONE percent of the U.S. budget is $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 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. 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, and We can build a better, safer world for all. [Source: ONE.org]

Over 800,000 Americans, along with ONE supporters such as Bono, lead singer of U2 and DATA co-founder; Dikembe Mutombo, NBA All-Star and advocate for Africa; Michael W. Smith Grammy Award winning Musician; Agnes Nyamayarwo, Ugandan Nurse and Global AIDS activist, and representatives of national advocacy organizations such as Bread for the World, World Vision, Global Health Council, The Better Safer World Coalition, DATA and many others. [Source: ONE.org]

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 make up 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. [Source: ONE.org]

From the heartland to Hollywood, Americans are wearing white bands in support of ONE. Over ONE 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. [Source: ONE.org]

Over 800,000 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. [Source: ONE.org]

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. [Source: ONE.org]

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. [Source: ONE.org]

ONE links directly to the international effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. 1% more of the US federal budget would help save millions of lives and be a major commitment towards achieving the internationally agreed upon United Nations 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, so long as we can prove the money is working, the goal is for the US to continue to increase effective assistance until it meets the international commitment to give 0.7% of the national wealth. This is an appropriate goals for ten years time, or 2015, the deadline for achieving the Millennium Goals. [Source: ONE.org]

For more information, please visit: ONE.org