On July 24th, I did something I never dreamed possible. As a representative of the world’s poorest of the poor, I lobbied on Capital Hill.
If you asked me two years ago if I would ever find myself here as an advocate for global and human rights, I would have laughed it all away saying “you’re dreaming”. Yet, there I was. On July 24th, I did it. I gave a voice to the millions of voiceless people who were dying and suffering around the world. Â And it was amazing.
For three full days in late July, I was in our nation’s capital attending the RESULTS International Conference on behalf of the UN Foundation’s Shot@Life initiative. (The Shot@Life initiative program that provides life-saving vaccines to the most impoverished countries in the world).
Shot@Life has partnered with RESULTS, as their missions are the same. We are fighting to end world hunger and poverty that is making millions of people die each year and live in needless suffering.
So many people have asked me why do I care? They’ve said, “of course, world poverty is a terrible, tragic problem that impacts so many… but do you really think that YOU can make a difference?” After the last three days and especially my big day on Capital Hill, my answer is yes. We can.
Photo of the Shot@Life champions attending the RESULTS conference before our big day lobbying on Capital Hill.
We all have a voice. We all have a stake. So let’s use it! So many people around the world do not live in a free country where they have the power to meet with their Members of Congress and let their voices and message be heard. Yet we in America do. So why aren’t more people doing it?
On the last day of the RESULTS International Conference, I met my idol. Jeffrey Sachs, a world-renowned economist and tireless worker on the end of global poverty and suffering spoke at our conference at RESULTS.
What Jeffrey Sachs continued to say — as with a handful of extremely passionate, inspirational speakers and workers on global poverty — was that we are at a pivotal point in American foreign policy, a crossroads in the world today. We have the knowledge and tools for how to effectively end poverty and the countless, needless deaths and suffering of millions of people around the world. We just need the means.
What astonished me is that so many Americans do not know that our total spending on ALL Foreign Aid is less than 1% of our GDP. Less than 1%! It is astounding!
The United States government has been instrumental in providing amazing leadership and funding for several key areas that help end the misery of the poorest of the poor by developing critical antiretroviral treatments for HIV/AIDS. It has also reduced preventable childhood deaths from 40,000 children A DAY (back in the 1980s) to 20,000 children a day at present time. As nation, we’ve helped lift millions of people (predominately in Sub-Saharan Africa) out of the brink of poverty. And, we’ve kept them alive so there are not so many orphans, or victims of the curse of HIV/AIDS.
Yet, as Jeffrey Sachs said, “We can’t stop now”. Providing the required funding to end poverty and unnecessary deaths in the world’s poorest countries is “The right thing to do. The moral thing to do”.
Why so many people in this world just say “Yes, that is so terrible” and then look the other way represents the dehumanization of mankind itself. Don’t we want a world for all? Don’t we want everyone on this planet to live in dignity and have access to safe drinking water, life-saving vaccines, food, health services and life-saving medications?
As Jeffrey Sachs eloquently pointed out, so many Americans fail to understand that everything in this world is connected. The economy, our safety, the war on terror and the environment: Everything we fund or do not fund in terms of global health impacts everything else, including ourselves. If we loose this moment in time and do not receive adequate funding to fulfill our promises to the Global Fund, we will face an enormous setback in the spectacular progress we’ve made towards fighting needless suffering around the world. Not only is this the right thing to do, it is the moral thing to do.
We cannot live in a dehumanized worth that doesn’t respect the basic right of mankind’s right to life.
We are at a profound point in time in American politics and the world. Real, amazing change can be made. An end of the HIV/AIDS pandemic IS possible. The end of unnecessary childhood deaths is real. But, if we don’t stand up and use our voice so that these critical issues be heard, then we may lose the opportunity to create a more peaceful world with less suffering.
Still, there is always hope. We just need to ensure it continues.
This post was originally posted on thirdeyemom. Â
I think you’re amazing and inspirational, Nicole! If everyone does their part, who knows what mountains we can move?
Thanks Alison! It may be small baby steps, but I’ll keep taking them! 🙂
I agree with Alison, what you are doing is truly inspirational!
Thanks Ruth and thanks to Jen Burden who lead me on this path to Results and Shot@Life! 🙂
WOW!! You make me even more proud of my country and motivated for the US to help more in terms of global health. I’m proud of what you are doing!
Jen 🙂
Thanks Jen for helping me find this opportunity! I can’t wait to do more!!!
Brilliant and inspirational! Now I feel like I have to show up on Parliament Hill!
Sure thing! Every voice counts!
Fantastic post!!!
Thanks Jeannine!
Nicole, I think you can be an inspiration to others in proving that by taking action, we can make a difference together or one by one, but it is a matter of just jumping in and standing up for what you believe in. When you write “so many Americans fail to understand that everything in this world is connected. The economy, our safety, the war on terror and the environment: Everything we fund or do not fund in terms of global health impacts everything else, including ourselves.” It is such a powerful statement! Great post & great job with the Shot@life campaign! Congratulations.
Thanks Elizabeth! I have really enjoyed advocacy work. I never thought I’d do it or enjoy it, but every time I do I feel so empowered. I look forward to using my voice even more! A voice that will be heard! 🙂
Such an inspiration Nicole!
Thank you! Anyone can use their voice! It is just finding it and taking a chance…:)
Big big huge kudos to you Nicole! You are doing fantastic job 😀 So inspiring. Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks Maureen for your supportive comment! I’ll keep on going at it! :)There is much to do!
Awesome Nicole. You are one of my inspirations along with Jen.
Thanks Purnima! I am trying yet so much more to do!
Fantastic post! Love your story here, it’s inspired leadership in action! Doing “what you never dreamed possible” because you moved beyond old thinking (what can YOU do to make a difference? or I don’t know HOW to make a difference)
Love what you’re up to and hope to meet you at the Social Good Summit!
Thanks Carrie! I agree. Every step counts no matter how small or how big. I hope to meet you too! I’ll be there hanging out with Jen and taking in all the amazing conversations going on! I can hardly wait! 🙂
What a beautiful and inspiring use of our civil liberties to aid those without. You seem so energized and boundless! Keep it up!