One.org

One.org was born of Live 8 which was phenomenally successful last summer. This is what we helped make the the leaders of the 8 most powerful countries commit to:

• $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
• big investments in peacekeeping and fighting corruption
• debt cancellation for 18 of the world's poorest countries

There is so much more needed to be done to help alleviate the toll that global AIDS and poverty is taking on the people of our planet.

The next step is to give the world's poorest people the opportunity to earn a living and create their own wealth.

At the upcoming world trade talks in Hong Kong world leaders need to hear that we all want them to do the right thing because at the moment these talks aren't going very well. Just as America grew strong and healthy by trading, together as ONE we must ensure that Africa is allowed the opportunity to prosper.

Americans must give these leaders permission to invest just a fraction more of the budget in what we know works, from $5 mosquito nets to drug treatments that cost pennies apiece.

Beating AIDS and extreme, stupid poverty, this is our moon shot. This is our generation's civil rights struggle, our anti-apartheid movement. This is what the history books will remember our generation for — or blame us for, if we fail. We can't afford to fail nor will we.

Already the money generated by Live 8 is doing good.

Over the next few weeks Bush will be making important decisions concerning next year's budget, including how America will address the issues covered in this post. Ask the U.S. to give an additional 1% of our budget over the next 5 years to help keep the promises made at the G8 Summits last year. By contributing "1 more penny" from every dollar we can prevent millions of children from becoming AIDS orphans and see that millions more are educted.

Join the ONE Campaign, sign a letter today asking President Bush to keep his promise.