Spring Break
Durham signs on to anti-poverty campaign
City council
By: Christine Hall
Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: News
Last update: 11/20/07 at 5:54 AM EST
Last update: 11/20/07 at 5:54 AM EST
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One billion people in the world live on less than $1 a day.
On Monday, Durham joined cities across the United States in supporting the ONE campaign to help put an end to world-wide poverty.
ONE is a nonpartisan organization that seeks to raise public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease and efforts to fight such problems in the world's poorest countries. Durham is the first city in North Carolina to endorse the campaign, and Mayor Bill Bell declared Nov. 19 to be "City of ONE Day."
Shawn Selleck, a first-year graduate student in international development policy, petitioned City Council for the proclamation several weeks ago. He said that although Duke does not have an official ONE chapter yet, having the support of the city-though little more than a symbolic gesture-will help his efforts to have a ONE chapter established on campus.
"Really, half the campaign is just about awareness," he said. "Having Durham as a city of ONE creates that awareness. This is a slow-growing campaign, but it's been getting more attention."
Duke is rated 19th nationwide in the ONE Campus Challenge, which awards points to schools for the number of students they sign up and for the level of awareness they raise for the campaign.
In addition to the announcement of Durham as a ONE campaign city, the council addressed the continued drought. Even after a few days of rainfall, City Manager Patrick Baker said the upper portion of Durham County-the location of Durham's water sources coming from the watersheds for Little River and Lake Michie-has gone back into the severe drought stage. He added that there are only 64 days left of premium water for the city, with an average demand of 21.55 million gallons per day last week-a 28-percent decrease in usage since restrictions were implemented. With the drought continuing and no sign of relief, Baker said that the low water levels may affect the city in the spring and summer of next year.
On Monday, Durham joined cities across the United States in supporting the ONE campaign to help put an end to world-wide poverty.
ONE is a nonpartisan organization that seeks to raise public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease and efforts to fight such problems in the world's poorest countries. Durham is the first city in North Carolina to endorse the campaign, and Mayor Bill Bell declared Nov. 19 to be "City of ONE Day."
Shawn Selleck, a first-year graduate student in international development policy, petitioned City Council for the proclamation several weeks ago. He said that although Duke does not have an official ONE chapter yet, having the support of the city-though little more than a symbolic gesture-will help his efforts to have a ONE chapter established on campus.
"Really, half the campaign is just about awareness," he said. "Having Durham as a city of ONE creates that awareness. This is a slow-growing campaign, but it's been getting more attention."
Duke is rated 19th nationwide in the ONE Campus Challenge, which awards points to schools for the number of students they sign up and for the level of awareness they raise for the campaign.
In addition to the announcement of Durham as a ONE campaign city, the council addressed the continued drought. Even after a few days of rainfall, City Manager Patrick Baker said the upper portion of Durham County-the location of Durham's water sources coming from the watersheds for Little River and Lake Michie-has gone back into the severe drought stage. He added that there are only 64 days left of premium water for the city, with an average demand of 21.55 million gallons per day last week-a 28-percent decrease in usage since restrictions were implemented. With the drought continuing and no sign of relief, Baker said that the low water levels may affect the city in the spring and summer of next year.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
dukeocc
Shawn
posted 11/20/07 @ 8:44 AM EST
Duke students, faculty, staff, and their friends and family who really want to support the anti-poverty ONE Campaign can sign up and affiliate with the Duke Campus Challenge at http://www. (Continued…)
Bill M
posted 11/20/07 @ 7:11 PM EST
Well we are all aware that this is just a feel good exercise, however if it was more then that it would be dangerous to world peace.
There is not enough resources to bring up any great percent of the world poplution out of poverty they are now in. (Continued…)
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