Global Weekly Update February 22, 2010
Top Action: Submit Our Appropriations Requests
Decisions on foreign aid for next year (Fiscal Year 2011) are being made now. Every representative and senator has the opportunity to submit their key requests to the chair and ranking members of the House and Senate State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. But if they don’t hear from you, they are unlikely to include money for TB, the Global Fund, education, and microfinance in their requests, and the more requests received by the subcommittee, the greater chance they will include more funding for our issues. In addition to asking them to include our requests in their written communications to the subcommittee, also ask them to speak directly with the chair and ranking member.
For more information, check out the February Action Sheet, and send our Wish List Memo directly to your reps and senators.
Don’t Be Alone on World TB Day!
World TB Day is March 24 — what are your plans? A resource packet containing ideas and materials to make the most of World TB Day will be available this week. Consider reaching out to your communities to acknowledge the history of TB in your community, the current state of TB in your state and community, and how we are all linked to the global crisis of TB. This day is a great opportunity to identify people who care about global health issues and bond them with each other for change.
When Will You Meet with Your Reps and Senators?
Meeting face-to-face with your reps and senators are key to having them learn who you are and what local constituents care about, and then spurring them to take action in Congress.
They are normally in the district Friday through Monday, and there are also congressional recesses when they are in town for longer periods of time. The current recess is now until February 22. The spring recess is March 27–April 13. Call the local office today and schedule a meeting time. Also, find out when they are hosting town hall events, open forums, and making other local appearances by asking their local office, checking out their website, and signing up for their e-mail list (on their website).
For tips on scheduling a meeting, read Activist Milestone #7.
Listen to the RESULTS Website Tour Online
Last Thursday, RESULTS staff did a conference call tour of the new RESULTS website. Participants found it very helpful and encouraged us to make it available to listen to online, which we have now done. Listen to the call from the RESULTS website; you can also find the link to the call on our Multimedia Resources page.
Even before the onset of the current global financial and economic crisis, the world had not been on track to meet MDG 1 by 2015. Now the crisis is making attainment of that goal even more elusive.
— UN Report, Rethinking Poverty, February 2010
February: Group Planning
February 9–19: Congressional recess
March 11: Media Training Call to help prepare you to get media coverage of World TB Day (March 24) and have your local papers join a World TB Day call with the World Health Organizatio on March 23. 9:00 pm ET. Call in at (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262
March 13: Global Conference Call. 2:00 pm ET. Call in at (888) 409-6709
March 24: World TB Day
March 27–April 13: Congressional recess
April 10: Global Conference Call. 2:00 pm ET. Call in at (888) 409-6709
April 19–April 23: Global Campaign for Education Global Action Week
June 20–June 22: International Conference, Washington, DC.