The following appeared in the LA Times and is a great example of how ordinary people can get involved in effecting policy.

Natalie Sugira usually reserves Friday nights for family. But recently, she abandoned her husband and three children for the evening and drove 120 miles to spend less than two minutes with presidential hopeful John Edwards. She wanted to discuss world hunger and Africa and its miseries, subjects that Sugira -- a political refugee from Rwanda -- knows well. "It's simple," Sugira said, her eyes steady on Route 150. "I speak out because I can."

In August, she quit her job at the University of Northern Iowa and took a pay cut to join the One campaign, a group co-founded by U2 rock star Bono to press lawmakers to fight poverty, and promote education and healthcare around the world. In doing so, Sugira joined a small army of activists swarming Iowa and New Hampshire this election season, representing causes as varied as the White House contenders they court: taxation, education, Darfur, gay rights, global warming, defense spending, chronic illness.

Holding placards and wearing T-shirts promoting their cause, issue advocates are easy to spot as they trail the White House hopefuls from one event to the next. They scour the crowds for recruits, and compete to quiz the candidates or encourage their supporters to do so: "How would your administration work to reduce the number of people without adequate food and water?" "How would your administration make children's health a priority?" The aim is to get attention, build a public following and have candidates promise action, so that whoever wins the race feels obliged to follow through once in the White House. "When candidates go to events and people everywhere are asking about global poverty, they understand it's not just the same five people who care," said Libby Crimmings, Iowa director of the One campaign.

Save the Children launched a new global initiative, chaired by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, to save the lives of millions of children who die each year from treatable or preventable causes in developing countries.  

 The new initiative- Survive to 5- addresses the almost 10 million children who die every year before their fifth birthday, the subject of MDG 4 on child mortality. Most of these deaths are preventable with a package of low-cost health interventions such as immunizations, insecticide-treated bednets, oral rehydration therapy, and by making health care available to the poorest and most vulnerable mothers and children.  

In addition to raising funds, the initiative seeks to public support for the importance of child survival and other global poverty issues. Senator Frist is also a co-chair of the ONE Vote 08 initiative. 

My wife and I recently traveled to Mamelodi, South Africa (30 minutes outside Pretoria) with 300 other volunteers from Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, OH. I wasn’t sure what to expect, since I had never been to Africa before, but I was very excited to experience the culture and develop relationships with the people there. I was amazed at the love, joy and hope that seemed to radiate from the townships despite the fact that most people we met were either unemployed (80%), had HIV/AIDS (40%) or did not know where their next meal would come from.

While we were there we built 10 homes, planted over 250 sustainable vegetable gardens, provided a library full of 7,000 donated books and had a children’s camp each day for over 1,000 kids! While all that is definitely an accomplishment, the most fulfilling part of our trip was the amazing friendships we developed with the South Africans. I was so encouraged by their ambition and hope for the future — something that we, as Americans, have in common.