ONE works to fight worldwide hunger

As the caucuses draw near, I would like to ask candidates to listen to Iowa's more than 15,000 ONE members.

ONE is a non-partisan organization that works to increase public awareness and support for programs that fight worldwide hunger and the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. ONE members in Iowa campaign to protect programs that are measurable and achieve results.

While domestic economic concerns are likely at the forefront of most candidates' and voters' agendas, I hope America's important role in helping those who live in extreme poverty does not get sidelined. America has a rich history of reaching out to help people pull themselves up by their bootstraps. And, while we help them, we are also helping ourselves. Helping fledgling democracies become healthier, more productive and more stable means there are fewer recruiting grounds for extremists, fewer targets for human trafficking and less chance for diseases becoming global pandemics.

Protecting less than one percent of the budget that improves and saves lives in the world's poorest places is not just the right thing to do for them - it is also right for America.

Mark Lucas

Iowa City