Poverty

Australia’s Commitment to Foreign Aid

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Both major political parties in Australia have promised to help lift more people, particularly children, out of poverty by increasing Australia’s foreign aid program to 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income by 2015. At the moment it’s just 0.35 per cent.

However, over the last few weeks, various statements by Prime Minister Gillard and news reports have suggested that this commitment may be postponed. With over a billion people still living in poverty and 21,000 children still dying every day, Compassion Australia is just one of the aid agencies calling on the government to keep their promise. Their Executive Director of Advocacy, DJ Konz, joined me on my Morning Cafe radio program to discuss the issue this week.

We all know that when we have to tighten our financial belts at home we have to decide what’s essential and what extras we can live without. The Australian government’s in a similar position as they try to bring the budget back in to surplus. I asked DJ why it’s essential for Australia that we keep sending money overseas.

You can hear our discussion by clicking the play button on the audio player below.

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Great Ocean Road Challenge 2013

Mar 22nd, 2012

by Rodney Olsen.

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It’s now over a month since I cycled in the 25000Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge for Compassion Australia. I’m already thinking of taking part next year and hoping that you might join me.

Check out the video above, which was released today, to get a better idea of what’s involved. If you’re a cyclist looking for an amazing adventure while you help release children from poverty, sign up now for the 2013 ride. You will not be disappointed.

I am so thankful for all those who contributed so generously towards my fundraising goal of $3000. I fell just $180 short. Of course, the fundraising page is still open for a short while so I’m still hopeful that a couple more people will chip in to get me over the line.

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World Water Day

Mar 22nd, 2012

by Rodney Olsen.

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Did you know that today is World Water Day?

Water is the most important ingredient to life — we’re dependent on it for everything — so it makes sense to take one day a year to focus on the importance of fresh water and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

While there are still more than 780 million people around the world who lack access to improved water sources, there’s some good news. It seems that the clean drinking water target of Millennium Development Goal seven has been recently achieved.

Adopted by world leaders in 2000 with a 15-year timeline, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are concrete, numerical benchmarks for tackling extreme poverty in its many dimensions. MDG 7 is to halve by 2015 (from 1990 levels) the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. And we’ve done it.
In 1990, only 76 per cent of the world’s population had access to clean drinking water facilities. By 2010, this had increased to 89 per cent. This means that over two billion people gained access to improved water sources from 1990 to 2010. At this rate, there will be universal access to clean drinking water by 2027.

So with a major Millennium Development Goal now being met is the job of providing safe, clean water for everyone on the planet in reach? This morning on my radio program, the Morning Cafe, I spoke to DJ Konz – Executive Director – Advocacy with Compassion Australia.

Compassion’s child development programs place access to clean, safe water at a priority. Through a program called Critical Interventions, Compassion tackles issues like clean water (wells and water purification systems), toilets and hygiene to provide solutions that enhance and improve living conditions for children in Compassion programs.

If you want to hear our conversation and find out what you can do to help provide clean water for more people on our planet, just click the play button of the audio player below.

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Scenes from the Great Ocean Road

Feb 18th, 2012

by Rodney Olsen.

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A week ago I was getting ready for the amazing experience of cycling the 25000Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge. The ride raised money for ADRA, Compassion and Botswana Orphan Project. My chosen charity was Compassion and I’m extremely grateful for everyone who donated and helped me release children from poverty.

It’s not too late to contribute. You can still donate online right now by going to my online fundraising page.

Here is a handful of photos from the ride including my bike in pieces after traveling across the country in a box. After that you’ll see some of the amazing scenery along the Great Ocean Road. Unfortunately they don’t even begin to capture the beauty of what we saw and experienced as we rode from Geelong to Warrnambool. You can click on each of the photos and have a closer look.

I’ll write more about the ride soon.

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A Super Fast Start to 2012

Jan 31st, 2012

by Rodney Olsen.

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Can we slow things down a little? I don’t know about you but I reckon this year has started way too fast. My head is spinning with all that’s going on. So much is happening and in less than two weeks I’ll be cycling the Great Ocean Road in Victoria to release children from poverty.

If you want to find out more about my big adventure just watch the video below. In it I tell the story of escaping Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, as rioting escalated and smoke from burning barricades filled the air.

Haiti is just one country where Compassion is working. All over the world, often in difficult circumstances, Compassion is working to release children from poverty. They can only do their job if we’re prepared to get involved.

Having seen first hand, both in Haiti and Dominican Republic, how effective Compassion’s work is, I am determined to do more to help. That’s why from the 12th to the 14th of February I’ll be taking part in the 25000 Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge.

I’ll be riding 290 kilometres in three days and I need your support. By sponsoring my efforts on the challenge you’ll be releasing children from poverty. You’ll be giving children a real chance at life. Please visit my fundraising page and make a contribution. Maybe you can afford to sponsor me for a dollar a kilometre, maybe 50 cents a kilometre, or perhaps you’d just like to donate $10, $20, $50 or any other amount.

The other thing I’d ask you to do is to spread the video as far and as wide as you can so that it make the biggest impact in releasing children from poverty. Please put it on your blog, share it on Facebook, use the sharing buttons below and do whatever else you can do to help raise much needed funding to support the work of Compassion.