One.org---Sign their Petition & Get Our Next President to Visit Africa!

I was surprised to find out that President Bush, in his recent visit to Africa (the second of his Presidency), became only the second United States President (the first was President Bill Clinton) to visit Africa while in office.  Only the second!  What is wrong with us?  With all of the human and environmental tragedies that have occurred on the African continent over the years, no other United States Presidents have visited Africa during their terms?  That is deplorable. 

Granted, the United States has been much improved in the past decade in their allocation of aid to Africa.  President Bush's President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has helped increase the number of HIV and AIDS infected Africans who can receive the life-saving drugs they need to survive from only 4,000 in 2003 to 34,000 in 2006.  In Zanzibar, a partnership between the government of Tanzania, the Global Fund, USAID and the Presidential Malaria Initiative have contributed to an 83% drop in malaria cases in that region since 2003. 

Still, there is no substitute for our leader having tangible and physical contact with the people of a continent  so in need of our assistance.  Having our President visit Africa gives this continent the media exposure it needs to further elevate its status as a worldwide priority for aid and assistance.  A Presidential visit to Africa helps Americans, who may be ignorant of problems outside of their present sphere of existence, to see that we are a global family and we need to reach out to our African brothers and sisters. 

So, with the help of One.org, an organization whose mission is to fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty, I urge you to check out the candidate's positions on tackling worldwide disease and extreme poverty. Then I implore you sign a petition asking the candidates to pledge to visit Africa during their first term as President.
 

If you choose to sign this pledge petition, please leave me a comment on this post and I'll send you a white band that I purchased from One.org (while supplies last).  All the proceeds of my donation will go towards supporting One.org's advocacy and lobbying efforts in the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty.