Global Weekly Update March 1, 2010

Take Action! Urge Congress to Support Funding to Fight Tuberculosis

March 24 is World TB Day, a time to raise awareness of TB and build support for the tools to fight it. March is also National Women’s History Month, a time to remember and celebrate women whose accomplishments have been historically marginalized. Sadly, TB is still claiming too many women’s lives and is ravaging women and the poor of Haiti, which suffers from the highest per capita incidence of TB in the Americas. Write to your representative and senators today and ask them to support funding to figh TB. Take action today!

World TB Day Is An Opportunity to Move People

When the world designates a special day for something you care about, you have to take advantage of it. What are your group’s plans for World TB Day? Generate some media by inviting your editorial to a phone call? Have a community gathering to acknowledge the history of TB in the community? View a film together? Organize an Education and Action meeting on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria?

There are some great resources on our website to help you plan. See our World TB Day Resource page for an outreach packet, editorial packet, fact sheet, links to the CDC and Stop TB resources, and other items.

Also, there will be a media training call on March 11 at 9 pm ET (call (712) 432-3100, passcode: 887871) to prepare groups to reach out to editorial writers for a national media call on 3/23 in advance of World TB Day. The World Health Organization will be releasing its annual MDR-TB Global Monitoring Report on March 23.

Make something happen!

Austin Group Throws Incredible Fundraiser with Help of Headliners

The Austin, Texas, February fundraiser featured Julia Bolz. She kept the crowd rapt with her stories of Afghanistan schools and children. At the fundraiser, a peace organizer who has traveled often to the Middle East looked around the room and, recognizing many of the people, commented that they sure brought together a good group. How did it all come together? Read More.

Thursday Night Out: Half the Sky Documentary, March 4

On Thursday, March 4, at 7:30 pm (all time zones) in theatres nationwide, CARE will present its 2010 International Women’s Day event, Half the Sky, Live!

Inspired by moving stories from the critically-acclaimed book Half the Sky by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Half the Sky LIVE will feature an uplifting night of music, celebrity discussion and the world premiere of “Woinshet,” a powerful short film co-directed by Academy Award® winner Marisa Tomei that chronicles the struggles of an Ethiopian woman who triumphs over violence and discrimination. The event will feature appearances by India.Arie; Maria Bello; Michael Franti; Dr. Helene Gayle; Angelique Kidjo; Nicholas Kristof; Rachel Mayanja (UN); Sarah, Duchess of York; Marisa Tomei; Sheryl WuDunn; and other notables.

The exclusive two-hour event is sure to be one of the most visible International Women’s Day celebrations on the planet. Tickets are approximately $10–12.50, depending on the theatre chain, and a percentage of ticket sales will support CARE’s work in more than 70 countries. Find a theatre near you and purchase tickets today.

Unfortunately the budget did not prioritize basic education, an issue that we both have championed for many years. Education is the essential foundation for health, economic development, gender equality and long-term security. I am concerned the requested cuts of nearly $100 million for this critical priority could compromise our development goals. This Subcommittee will examine this proposal very closely. I hope you will work with us to restore funding to this program.

— Rep. Nita Lowey, chair of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations, opening statement to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding the FY11 budget.

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–May: New Activist Orientation. Four sessions: April 5, April 19, May 3, May 17. Call (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262. Contact Lisa Marchal to sign up and for more information.

April 10: Global Conference Call. 2:00 pm ET. Call in at (888) 409-6709

April 19–23: Global Campaign for Education Global Action Week

June 20–22: International Conference, Washington, DC.