Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion

The proverb tells us "to whom much is given, much is required." However, here in the richest nation in the world, just 0.5 percent of the federal budget goes to poverty-focused development assistance. This is a startlingly low number when close to one billion people live on less than $1 per day.

President Bush's annual budget proposal requested increased funding for programs that combat global poverty, hunger and disease by $1 billion. But while this is an important step in the right direction, it falls short of the commitments and promises the United States has made to well-governed poor countries in support of the Millennium Development Goals. Fighting extreme poverty is one of the best ways to enhance our national security and reflect America's values around the world.

But what can we poor college students do about this problem? We often can't donate much money or go overseas, but we can do something. We can make our opinions heard that we want to end global poverty in our generation. We can write.

Our representatives in Wisconsin have a very powerful voice in this matter. U.S. Rep. Dave Obey is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee; I hope he will work to fill this gap left by Bush and ensure that our great nation lives up to its commitments. U.S. Sens. Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl also have important voices in increasing the funding to projects that end poverty. I encourage them to boost funding to the additional $5 billion needed to help the United State keep our commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and help millions of poor families build a better future.

I also encourage everyone to contact their representatives to remind them of the importance of this issue. Writing letters to our representatives is much easier than many people think it is. An effective letter to Congress needs three things. First, put your name and address at the end of your letter as well as on the envelope, so your members of Congress know you are one of the people they represent.

Second, ask for specific action, using the sentence below or your own words:

"Please do all you can to increase poverty-focused development assistance by at least $5 billion in fiscal year 2009, and pass the Global Poverty Act so that our assistance will have the maximum impact for those with the greatest need. Also, when writing to your senators, please ask them to cosponsor this act (S. 2433), as it has not yet passed in the Senate."

Third, give reasons why. Examples would be that in September 2000, every nation of the world, including the United States, pledged to work together to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Keeping our promises will help achieve the goals of cutting poverty and hunger, improving health care and education and protecting the environment by 2015. Nearly a billion people worldwide live on less than $1 a day. We can support their efforts to better their lives with effective poverty-focused development assistance. We can succeed in reducing extreme poverty if U.S. development policy and programs are working together effectively.

To send your letter to Congress, put each letter in a separate envelope and address it. Send your letter to Sen. Herb Kohl or Sen. Russ Feingold in the U.S. Senate at Washington, D.C. 20510, or Rep. Ron Kind (the representative for the Eau Claire district) in the U.S. House of Representatives, at Washington, D.C. 20515.

To look up the representatives for other Wisconsin districts or to find Minnesota representatives, go to www.bread.org. Your letter may take two to four weeks to get to Congress, but that's OK. It will make an important difference for people who are hungry and poor throughout our world. Here is an example of the letter you can write:

"Date

Dear Rep. ________ or Dear Sen. ______,

I ask you to do whatever you can to provide more and better aid for the world's poorest countries.

All nations agree - extreme poverty can be cut dramatically by 2015. Progress has been made in recent years, so we know it can be done. But we're not on track right now. Better-funded U.S. aid programs can help improve health, nutrition, education, and water systems, and build long-term solutions for families and communities worldwide.

Please do all in your power to increase poverty-focused development assistance by at least $5 billion in fiscal year 2009. I also want Congress to pass the Global Poverty Act so our assistance will have the maximum impact for those with the greatest need. Also, add this sentence when writing to your senators: "Please cosponsor S. 2433."

Sincerely,

Your Name

Your Address"

(Taken from www.bread.org)

While ending poverty may seem like an unattainable goal, with effective development assistance programs in place, we will see great success. Writing a letter to your representative only takes two minutes, but may sway them to vote in a way that will improve the lives of millions of people at home and abroad.

While I was in Uganda, one of my friends told me, "Wendy, Uganda is not a poor country. Uganda is a rich country, full of biodiversity, animals, oil, and all manner of useful things. We just need the tools to use our resources." Let's give them the tools they need. Take a moment to affect change.

Weimerskirch is a junior sociology major and guest columnist for The Spectator.

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