What is The ONE Campaign?

ONE is a new effort to rally Americans – ONE by ONE – to fight the emergency of unfair trade, extreme poverty and global AIDS. Through the ONE Campaign, a diverse coalition of faith-based and anti-poverty organizers, including Oxfam America, is engaging Americans to show the steps people can take to fight extreme poverty. ONE believes 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 in the world’s poorest countries.

Why ONE percent?

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 money toward providing the most basic needs – and fighting the corruption that wastes precious resources –– could 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.

Why is The ONE Campaign needed?

Right now, the US government is making decisions about crucial trade agreements that could help or fail the world’s poor. Leaders of the world’s 8 richest countries met at the G8 summit July 6-8 to decide on a plan to reduce global poverty. 150 ONE supporters flew to Edinburgh to show the G8 that Americans want to Make Poverty History. The leaders heard the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, and agreed to increase Africa’s aid to $50 billion by 2010. Although this was an important step in the right direction, much more must be done to eradicate extreme poverty. The ONE campaign will continue in its quest for change by demanding world leaders create fair trade rules that would allow impoverished farmers the world over to make a living for themselves and lift their families out of poverty.

Who founded The ONE Campaign?

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.

What does the white band mean?

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 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 trade reform, more and better international assistance, debt cancellation, and that you want to be part of a movement that is calling for America to join as ONE against this emergency.

What is Oxfam America’s role in the ONE Campaign?

Oxfam America, a co-founder of the ONE Campaign, is committed to changing unfair trade rules. Oxfam calls on world leaders to rewrite the rules so that millions of people in poor countries can work their way out of poverty.

What is Oxfam’s Big Noise?

The Big Noise is Oxfam’s petition to Make Trade Fair. The Big Noise asks world governments, institutions, and multinational companies to change the rules so trade can become part of the solution to poverty, rather than part of the problem.

How does ONE link to international agreements to fight poverty?

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 goal for ten years time, or 2015, the deadline for achieving the Millennium Goals.

Who has signed The ONE Campaign declaration?

ONE participants include celebrities 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 organisations such as Oxfam America, Bread for the World, World Vision, Global Health Council, The Better Safer World Coalition, DATA and many others.