Food for thought

"ONE Vote '08 focuses on five achievable goals that are fully costed and proven and can have a rapid impact on the ground.

If the U.S. takes a leading role, in an effective partnership with other donors and poor countries, these cost effective solutions could achieve the following:

5 Achievable Goals

1. Save 15,000 lives a day by fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, three of the world's most devastating diseases.
2. Prevent 5.4 million young children from dying each year from poverty-related illnesses and 400,000 women from dying in childbirth each year.
3. Provide free access to primary education for 77 million out-of-school children with a special emphasis on girls.
4. Improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations by, for example, providing access to clean water for 450 million people and basic sanitation to more than 700 million people.
5. Reduce by half the number of people in the world who suffer from hunger, resulting in 300 million "fewer" hungry people each year.

Unlike many issues in the 2008 presidential campaign that deeply divide Republicans and Democrats, ONE Vote '08 brings both sides together. The 2008 presidential election provides a not-to-be-missed opportunity to raise awareness about global poverty and its impact on America's global reputation and future security. Through the 2008 campaign, we have a chance to shape our foreign policy for years to come.

ONE Vote '08 has developed a presidential-platform of achievable solutions that – if championed by the next U.S. president – could have a profound impact on the poorest people in the world. The platform is built on the foundation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed to in 2000 by the United States and 188 other nations to achieve poverty reduction and sustainable development by 2015."

-Taken from www.one.org

This group is really trying to make a difference in our world. Visit their website, give them your email address and zip code. It's literally that easy to lend your voice to the millions who have already let our leaders in government and business know that this must be an issue in the 2008 elections.

Just as a small tidbit: 6,500 people die in Africa each day from a preventable, treatable disease. That's more than twice the number of people who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Remember how you felt about that?

You should also check out http://www.joinred.com/manifesto/

This is the simple belief that "a consumer movement can spread faster than a deadly disease." Go to their website, sign up, and make the choice to buy (RED).

Don't worry, I'm not getting all preachy. This is just something I have to do every now and again. Look for more hilarity from our household tomorrow.

Here's a preview to tide you over: