How You Can Help
Advocate
IRD’s mission is to reduce the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable groups and provide tools and resources needed to increase their self-sufficiency; this often means speaking out on behalf of the people we serve. We work to educate both people here in Washington, D.C. and in the countries where we work about the real conditions they are facing on a daily basis.
IRD will be offering more opportunities for you to get involved, to advocate for the people we serve. On issues such as foreign aid, refugees and the internally displaced, and sustainable agriculture, your voice can make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Increase the International Affairs Budget
Washington, DC — Add your voice to the sign-on letters to Congress in support of the International Affairs Budget that funds programs critical to keeping America safe and to saving lives around the world. This letter will be sent to President-elect Obama to demonstrate the strong, bipartisan support for his campaign pledge to increase spending for international affairs programs. Please contact your Members of Congress and urge them to sign the letter.
Support the Global Food Security Act
Washington, DC — A dramatic rise in the cost of food in recent months has created a life-threatening crisis for millions of the world's poorest families. According to the World Food Programme, 25,000 people die every day from malnutrition-related causes. Short-term, immediate aid is critical for getting help immediately to people in need. But, short-term fixes do not get at the root causes of the global food crisis. We need a long-term strategy to prevent future crises from occurring.
Recently, Senate Republican Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana and Democratic Senator Robert Casey of Pennsylvania introduced critical legislation designed to find a long-term solution to the world food crisis. The Global Food Security Act (S. 3529) puts forward a comprehensive plan to deal with a situation facing hundreds of millions of poor people, particularly the world’s most vulnerable children, pregnant women, and those living with HIV/AIDS. Help speak for these people by sending a letter of support for the act to your decision makers in Congress.
Promoting Children's Health Worldwide
Washington, DC — Nearly 10 million children die every year from largely preventable or treatable diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia, and measles. Four million of these deaths occur to newborns less than one month old.
Urge your congressional representative or senator to become a co-sponsor of the U.S. Commitment to Global Child Survival Act (H.R. 2266, S.1418) which would strengthen America's role in saving the lives of children and mothers in the world's poorest countries by investing in low-cost, highly effective, lifesaving interventions such as vitamins, antibiotics and vaccines.
America's Forgotten First: Malnutrition in American Indian Communities
Kansas City, MO — April 14, 2008 — Malnutrition is a growing issue facing marginalized and underserved segments of the U.S. population, especially rural and reservation-based American Indians. A new study, conducted by Dr. Michele Companion of the University of Colorado and commissioned by International Relief and Development, examines the “double burden” of poverty: malnutrition along with a rapid rise in obesity and diet-related chronic diseases in American Indians. Although many Americans may not know it, in fact, malnutrition on reservations is comparable to malnutrition is some developing countries. Learn more about the study and its preliminary findings here.
As part of its commitment to vulnerable populations worldwide, IRD is working to raise awareness about malnutrition on reservations here in the United States. Your voice can help contribute to this effort. Join the Mayor of Kansas City, Mark Funkhouser, in signing the petition to raise awareness. Help make sure that all Americans have access to this country's natural resources.
