The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
August 2007

ONE Campaign Advocates for MDGs

By Kathy Horvat

The ONE Campaign was founded by rock star Bono of U2 and others to rally Americans to help eradicate poverty and fight disease in Africa by using the Internet and email to ensure that our government contributes its fair share to the effort of attaining the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

The goal of 0.7% of gross domestic product was set as a target for the wealthy nations of the world to contribute to MDG efforts, a target that has been met or exceeded by a number of nations. The U.S., on the other hand, is contributing about .013%. The hope is that by contributing one percent a year from now on, it will ultimately meet the target.

Some other well-known organizations that joined in the founding of the non-partisan ONE campaign include Bread for the World, CARE, DATA, International Medical Corps, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Save the Children and World Vision. Since then, over 100 organizations have joined the effort, including many of the nation's religious bodies.

As part of Resolution D022, passed at last summer's General Convention, the Episcopal Church has been promoting the ONE campaign. It states: "In addition to our individual and communal giving and advocacy, in this resolution our church joins our ecumenical partners in advocating that the U.S. Government spend one percent more of its annual budget to combat poverty in the world... The ONE Episcopalian Campaign begins with this convention, equipping diocese, parishes and individuals to be effective advocates for the MDGs and connecting Episcopalians with others who seek too end global poverty in our time."

Getting started is easy. As individuals, EPPN, the Episcopal Public Policy Network, is urging all of us to become ONE Episcopalians. We can sign on through the Internet by following the link on the home page of the Episcopal Church web site, www.episcopalchurch.org or by signing a pledge card, which states:

"WE BELIEVE that in the best American tradition of helping others help themselves, now is the time to join with other countries in a historic pact for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of the world overcome AIDS and extreme poverty.

WE RECOGNIZE that a pact including such measures as fair trade, debt relief, fighting corruption and directing additional resources for basic needs education, health. Clean water, food an care for orphans would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the poorest countries at a cost equal to just one percent more of the US budget,

WE COMMIT ourselves - one person, one voice, one vote at at time - to make a better, safer world for all."

ONE is the campaign to make poverty history. ONE believes that allocating more 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.

Every three seconds someone dies of extreme poverty.

The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations has also made it possible for entire parishes to make commitments. The Parish Commitment Sheet, also found on the web site, asks congregations to commit to holding a "ONE Sunday" and achieving three of the following five goals:

1. Feature the MDG's in a sermon or a rector's forum.
2. Organize and "Offering of Letters" (to elected officials) and ask participants to sign the ONE Declaration(above).
3. Use ONE resources in Christian Education classes for youth and adults.
4. Meet with members of congress to advocate for the MDG's.
5. Collect an offering once a year for the MDG programs of Episcopal Relief an Development.

ONE Congregations will receive an introductory kit containing the materials needed to achieve these steps.

Accomplishing these goals can use the talents of many members of every parish, in addition to writing letters, they will be informed of community events put on by members of ONE. As part of the email network, it is easy to know when to call or write our congressmen on pertinent issues as they arise. U2Charists are becoming a popular way to "spread the word" and raise idea is to hold a Community Forum to educate others on these issues.

With the Presidential Election on the horizon, members of ONE saw a chance to persuade the candidates to support its goals of eradicating poverty. Helped by a donation of $22 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the effort has begun in four states holding early primaries: Nevada, New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina.

This campaign was kicked off by its two honorary chairs, former Senators Bill Frist and Tom Daschle. Candidates of both parties have been asked to comment on these issues. They also set up a special web site, www.ONEvote08.org.

There is one other way that we are encouraged to show our commitment to the goals of the ONE campaign. That is by wearing a white band on our wrists. Originally, in 2005, the Millennium Campaign designated several special days, such as the opening of the G8 and the Millennium Summit held at the UN that year, for people to wear white bands. Today, they have become a symbol of these efforts to fulfill our baptismal covenants to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human being.

Kathy Horvat is diocesan coordinator for the Millennium Development Goals. She can be reached at kbhorvat@ comcast.net

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