LT. GOVERNOR QUINN TO ENDORSE REP. FRITCHEY'S RESOLUTION COMMITTING ILLINOIS TO THE ONE CAMPAIGN'S FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL POVERTY & AIDS

CHICAGO - In this week before Christmas, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn and State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) called on Illinois residents to join the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty.  Quinn and Fritchey will be joined forces with the ONE Campaign.  The ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans - ONE by ONE - to fight the crisis of global AIDS and extreme poverty. 

 

                ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History is supported by three states, 37 cities and 41 international advocacy, humanitarian and relief organizations.  "Cities of ONE" and "States of ONE" have joined the growing list of individuals and communities committed to the ONE Campaign.

 

Quinn and Rep. Fritchey signed the ONE Declaration located on the organization's website (http://www.one.org) and encouraged all Illinois residents to "commit themselves - one person, one voice, one vote at a time - to make a better, safer world for all."

 

"This past year alone, more than 3.1 million people worldwide died from AIDS, and 570,000 of them were children," said Lt. Governor Quinn. 

 

In January, Rep. Fritchey will be filing a resolution in the Illinois General Assembly declaring Illinois a "State of ONE."  Through the adoption of this legislation, Illinois will become the first state to make this commitment through its legislature. 

 

            "Historically, the greatest of struggles have been overcome when individuals come together in order to eliminate an injustice, be it social, moral or medical," said Rep. Fritchey.  "By making Illinois one of the first states is the country to join forces with the ONE Campaign in the global fight against HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty, we are signaling to the rest of the country that our state, its government and its people, are fully committed to eradicating this pandemic.  It is unacceptable to simply stand by while HIV/AIDS kills - in Africa alone - 6,600 people per day."