Global Weekly Update March 7, 2011
It’s Time to Take Budget Concerns to the Media
Cuts to the foreign aid budget proposed in the House of Representatives are alarming. If enacted, the cuts would slow or reverse progress being made on diseases of poverty, child survival, education, and economic opportunity. There are clearly misconceptions on the part of decision makers and the U.S. public when surveys show that Americans think we spend 25 percent of our budget on foreign aid when the true amount is only about one percent. And do we really think that the American people would support cutting bed nets, or AIDS, TB, and malaria treatment if they knew it would cause many deaths?
It’s time to take our case to the media. Ask your editorial writers to write a piece using our new editorial packet, and use the March Global Monthly Action to write a letter to the editor or oped highlighting the heartbreaking and shortsighted choices being considered. Please contact staff if you need assistance making this happen.
Join Saturday’s National Conference Call with Global Fund’s Executive Director
Join us at 2:00 pm ET on Saturday, March 12, to hear from special guest Professor Michel D. Kazatchkine, executive director of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, on the RESULTS National Conference Call. Dr. Kazatchkine has spent the past 25 years fighting AIDS as a leading physician, researcher, administrator, advocate, policy maker, and diplomat.
Since its inception in 2003, the Global Fund has saved 6.5 lives, provided anti-retroviral treatment to over 3 million with HIV/AIDS, delivered anti-TB treatment to 7.7 million people, and provided over 160 million with insecticide treated bednets to fight malaria. Call in to hear how the Global Fund plays an important role in delivering life-saving health services and get ramped up for upcoming World TB Day outreach and advocacy to fight global health funding cuts. Customize and share our flyer with others to invite them to gather with you for the call. To join the call, dial (888) 409-6709.
International Conference Registration is Open! Register Early to Come to D.C. in June!
Are you looking for an inspiring and informative way to spend a few days of your summer? Registration is now open for the 2011 International Conference (IC). Come meet activists from around the world, get educated about effective solutions to poverty, and speak up on Capitol Hill. Last year we really moved the needle on Education for All, the Global Fund sign-on letter, the Muhammad Yunus Congressional Gold Medal bill, and a Senate letter to the World Bank on prioritizing microfinance. This year we will need every possible voice in Washington as life-saving programs are threatened with cuts.
Register by March 15 to receive the early bird registration fee of $199.
Visit our International Conference homepage to learn more about the conference, register, and get information on how to secure a hotel room. (Act fast, as rooms will be gone quickly!)
Latest Attacks on Prof. Yunus: You’re Too Old
After months of trying to throw every accusation at Prof. Yunus, the government of Bangladesh is now trying to force him to retire because he is too old. Read our blog to learn more about this latest round of attacks. Check out our blog again soon, as we will be updating it with the lastest developments of the trial.
We have a new, interactive online grassroots forum. The forum will enable activists to communicate and collaborate more directly. Click on My RESULTS, get your own personalized sign in name, and start collaborating.
March: Outreach Month! Organize a group outreach workshop or event.
March 8: International Women’s Day
March 12: Global Conference Call. 2:00 pm ET. (888) 409-6709
March 16: Final New Activist Orientation session for current series. 9:00 pm ET. Call (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262. To RSVP for the next series (April 13 and 27, May 11 and 25) or to get more information, contact Lisa Marchal. Join us on a future series and get better acquainted with RESULTS!
March 21–25: Congressional Recess
March 24: World TB Day
April 9: Global Conference Call. 2:00 pm ET. (888) 409-6709
June 19–21: RESULTS International Conference in Washington, D.C., Four Points Sheraton