My first Sunday leading worship services at Queen Anne was July 10. I want to thank you for a warm and loving welcome. I also want to thank Derek and Andrea for joining 100 other PNW United Methodists, including me, to promote the Nothing But Nets campaign at the Seattle Storm game on July 9. A big weekend!
Read ArticleJune 16 is the International Day of the African Child — called “Youth Day” in South Africa. Thirty-five years ago today, hundreds of young black children were killed or injured by police as they peacefully marched through the streets of Soweto, South Africa to demand improved education standards and the right to be taught in their own language.
Read ArticleThis month, Congress is expected to consider spending bills with sweeping budget cuts. Over my 22 years in Congress, programs that support child survival around the world have enjoyed bipartisan support and have saved millions of young lives worldwide. Unfortunately, funding for these lifesaving programs is at risk now.
Read ArticleIn 2004, I travelled with my band to Gabon for a concert. When we returned to our home in South Africa, my dear friend and fellow band member, Phumzile Ntuli, became very ill. We didn’t quite know what was wrong. No one knew that Phumzile had contracted malaria while traveling on tour. A short time later, on June 23, 2004, Phumzile fell into a coma and tragically died from the disease.
Read ArticleThese are six of the 26 “Champions to End Malaria” whose photos from the acclaimed portrait artist Platon are going on display in the UN lobby today. If you are in New York, stop by the UN to check it out — the Champions to End Malaria Exhibit will be open to the public now through May 22. If you can’t make it, visit our friends at Nothing But Nets to view the photos there.
Read ArticleEveryone can contribute in the fight against malaria. “From students, to CEOs, to YOU.” That’s the message of the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign. Tonight, in honor of World Malaria Day, the campaign will launch a two-week Champions to End Malaria photo exhibition at the UN, in collaboration with the Roll Back Malaria Partnership.
Read ArticleI flopped down on the bed, flipped on the T.V. and saw a BBC documentary that would change my life. One sentence spun my brain: “Did you know that every day 3,000 children in Africa die of malaria, needlessly?” Turns out if sub-Saharan African kids six and under could just sleep under bed nets, they’d be almost entirely protected from malaria-carrying mosquitos. They might die of something else, but not malaria. And a net is only $10, the announcer said.
Read ArticleApril 25th is World Malaria Day. Normally, we commemorate these days, in recognition of those suffering worldwide from diseases like malaria. This year, however, I’m part of a group celebrating the day instead and calling on others to do the same.
Read ArticleYour wife's new trainer is Greg Anderson. Your team wants to draft Cam Newton. Frank McCourt is your financial adviser. How about some good news instead? We are kicking malaria's butt in Africa.
Read ArticleElizabeth McKee Gore works at Ted Turner’s UN Foundation and oversees Global Partnerships there. She told me the cool story about creating Nothing But Nets five years ago. The UN Foundation wanted to help cure the world of malaria. Her bosses charged her to develop a strategy to build a public campaign.
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