July 1, 2005 -- July 1 will see people around the world wearing their white bands and wrapping public buildings in white to send a message to the G8 world leaders that they demand action on trade justice, debt cancellation, and more and better aid. International White Band Day will prove to be one of the largest global actions ever taken.
This global event is sponsored by ONE, a new effort by Americans to rally Americans – ONE by ONE – to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. The ONE Campaign is engaging Americans through a diverse coalition of faith-based and anti-poverty organizers to show our leaders that we want them to do more to respond to the emergency of AIDS and extreme poverty.
The ONE Campaign believes that allocating an additional ONE percent of the U.S. budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food, would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation of the poorest countries.
The ONE Campaign was founded by Bread for the World, CARE, DATA, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Plan USA, Save the Children US, World Concern, and World Vision, and works closely with the National Basketball Association, Rock the Vote, and the Millennium Campaign. The ONE Campaign is also supported by Bill and Melinda Gates and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
ONE participants include celebrities such as U2's Bono; Dikembe Mutombo, NBA All-Star and advocate for Africa; Michael W. Smith Grammy Award winning Musician; Agnes Nyamayarwo, Ugandan Nurse and Global AIDS activist, and representatives of national advocacy organisations such as Bread for the World, World Vision, GLobal Health Council, The Better Safer World Coalition, DATA and many others.
Below are just some of the White Band events planned. More will be announced soon.
Massive white bands will be wrapped around buildings across the world, including:
*The Soweto township of Johannesburg, South Africa, a group of shacks will be wrapped in a white band, to symbolize perpetuating poverty in Africa.
*In Freetown, Sierra Leone, the famous cotton tree, planted by freed slaves when the nation was founded, will be draped in a white band.
*In Senegal, the slavery archway will be wrapped in a white band.
*From June 30 to July 14 the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in Australia, will be wrapped in a white band, with the Australian coalition's slogan "Make Poverty History" across it.
*The Coliseum in Italy.
*The Brandenburger Tor in Germany.
*In Paris, France, the Trocadero's buildings which sit either side of the Eiffel Tower, will be wrapped with two white bands.
*In Spain, bridges will be wrapping on the main highways of Spain.
*In Georgia all the trees along the Central Avenue of the capital, Tbilisi, will be wrapped in white bands.
For more information on International White Band Day, ONE, or Live 8, go to www.one.org
