David Magnani asks RPCVs to support Kerry for President
Dear Member of the Peace Corps Community:
I know you can change the world for the better because, as a member of the Peace Corps, you already have! But the world, and particularly our beloved country, needs your help now more than ever. If we really want to help those in our country of service in a more profound and permanent way, we need to elect a new president! You know, in a special way that all you did to enhance the image of the U.S. in the eyes of many around the world is being rapidly undone by a reckless, imperialistic foreign policy which, rather than enhancing our national security, undermines it.
That is why I have taken the liberty to contact you to ask for your support for John Kerry for President. While others of the candidates would be clearly superior to the incumbent, we truly believe that Sen. Kerry is absolutely the best! We desperately need a president who will make peace-through development initiatives a much more defining part of America's foreign policy.
I know John Kerry and we trust him. You may remember me, a legislator from Massachusetts, as the RPCV speaker at the 25th and 40th Peace Corps reunions. I watched Sen. Kerry take the lead in the Senate's successful fight to pass the "Blood Diamonds" bill, which was critical to ending the brutal and genocidal war in Sierra Leone. At the time, John had no gain in spending any political capital on an issue so removed from the American consciousness. He just did it because it was right! And John's wife, Theresa Heinz, as First Lady, will be truly committed to international understanding and cooperation. She is a U.S. citizen of Portuguese and Italian descent, born in Mozambique and fluent in five languages!
Kerry's security-through-development initiative:
Global AIDS
As the author of the most comprehensive HIV/AIDS bill ever to pass the Senate and a proven fighter to expand funding for US bi-lateral and global AIDS programs, John Kerry understands that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has implications for the life and death of millions of men, women and children across the globe as well as for global security. John Kerry believes the US needs to provide at least $30 billion in the fight against global AIDS by 2008. He will also work to meet the World Health Organization's goal of putting at least three million people on treatment by 2005, seven million by 2007 and move toward universal treatment by 20012.
Debt Relief
John Kerry supports deeper and broader debt cancellation for all impoverished nations engaged in the fight against AIDS. Kerry will direct his Secretary of the Treasury to initiate negotiations with the Paris Club of Official Creditors, the World Bank, the IMF and others with the goal of modifying the Enhanced HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) initiative to provide substantially greater debt reduction to poor countries struggling with the heavy burden of HIV/AIDS.
John Kerry believes the Bush Administration has missed major opportunities to address the downside of globalization by creating its upside - relief for nations around the globe struggling against environmental degradation, global health crisis, debt relief in exchange for better development policies and improved trade relationships.
Peace Corps
Peace Corps members are the greatest ambassadors of goodwill and foot soldiers for democratization this nation has - and we need more of them. John Kerry believes we need a major expansion of the Peace Corps for this new century and in this new era. In the White House, John Kerry will push to expand the Peace Corps to 25,000 members.
Non-military Foreign Aid
John Kerry believes we must increase our investment in non-military foreign aid. Kerry believes the globalization of the last decade taught us that simple investments like books and family planning can do more to expose, rebut, isolate and defeat the apostles of hate so that children are no longer brainwashed into becoming suicide bombers and terrorists are denied the ideological swampland in which they breed.
Multinational Coalitions
As President, John Kerry will move quickly to re-build American alliances and define a global security strategy that is collective, not imperial, inclusive not exclusive, and cooperative not unilateralist.
What you can do:
No other candidate has either this broad international program or the credibility to get elected and deliver on it. So we must get John elected! But how?
1. Hit "reply" and let me know that you would like to be added to the "RPCV'S for Kerry" list.
2. Go to:
http://listmanager.edit.neptuneweb.com/bm/click.php?r=720&e=40952
to send as large a contribution as soon as you can. Credit card donations are especially helpful because of the time factor.
3. Contact the closest Kerry headquarters in your area ASAP to volunteer to help now and on Primary day in your state. For more information on how to contribute and how to help, go to
http://listmanager.edit.neptuneweb.com/bm/click.php?r=720&e=40952
The time is now and the job is ours! I thank you and millions around the world will thank you soon for putting a true international leader, John Kerry, in the White House in November!
Sincerely,
Sen. Dave Magnani, Sierra Leone,'68-'71 Kenya, '82-'83 (staff)
davemagnan AT comcast DOT net
