We are here! We are here! We are here! HEAR US!
In recent times Dr. Seuss books had a bit of a "comeback" in our lives. Our son performed in a junior version of Seussical, a musical based on Dr. Seuss material, largely inspired by the story behind Horton Hears a Who!
As it happens, the story's climax has a bunch of minuscule characters (called "the Who's") living on a speck that Horton (the elephant and hero of the story) is trying to save because only he can hear them speak. The rest of the animals are (roughly speaking) ready to roast them and, after a thunderous series of "We are here! We are here! We are here!" screams by the Who's, eventually a roaring "YOPP!" screamed by the smallest of the Who's, the rest of the animals finally hear them and they are spared a most terrible end and left to live happily ever after.
Why am I talking about Dr. Seuss on my TuDiabetes blog? Because I very much feel like we're at a crossroads not unlike the one faced by the Who's on Horton's speck in the story... we are just over a month away from a potentially life-changing moment in the lives of people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which diabetes is a part of, along with cancer, heart disease, lung disease and many other conditions. Ten years ago, it was the turn of AIDS and 2001 became a turning point for the AIDS community... we're now faced with the same potential opportunity, to get the heads of state of the world to make 2011 the turning point for NCDs so that (in the words of Ann Keeling, CEO of the International Diabetes Federation), we don't "sleepwalk into a sick future."
As things stand, the "speck" where all Who's live (that is ALL of us, living or touched by any Non-Communicable Disease, be it diabetes, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, etc.) is about to fall into pot full of boiling water. It may sound like an exaggeration but it is sadly true, because the US, Canada and the EU are strongly opposing making any kind of serious commitment to ensure that preventable deaths from NCDs are cut by 25% by 2025. Why? Ann Keeling thinks it's because they don't want to be held accountable. They are essentially acting as ostriches, burying their head in the sand.
Here is an exclusive interview I did with Ann Keeling, CEO of International Diabetes Federation (and Chair of the NCD Alliance) this morning about this whole situation:
So what's to do? All of us, as Who's that we are, need to yell out "WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE!" We really cannot afford to stay quiet.
To help you raise your voice, here are three things you can do:
- Contact your head of state/head of government. Tell them you expect them to attend the UN Summit on NCDs, Monday, September 19, 2011 and for the US, Canada and the EU to commit to these measurable outcomes:
- If you live in the US, contact President Barack Obama.
- If you live in Canada, contact Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
- If you live in the UK, contact Prime Minister David Cameron.
- Tell everyone you know offline and via social media about what's going on: there needs to be more general awareness about NCDs and where the current path we're on will take us in the very near term. If you tweet, you may want to include the Twitter accounts of the heads of state:
- If you tweet from the US, let @BarackObama and @WhiteHouse know how you feel.
- If you tweet from Canada, let @pmharper know how you feel.
- If you tweet from the UK, let @number10gov know how you feel.
- If you can make it, join us on Sunday, September 18 in New York City, as we UNITE for a healthy future. Please RSVP on the event page.
The US, Canada and the EU may be jeopardizing the success of the UN Summit, but we have a voice. Let's make it be heard!
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Comment by nel on August 21, 2011 at 1:49pm
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To help me in particular in formating a letter to my PM can I ask for assistance with a few printed sentences showing here ??
I am having difficulty with expressing the key points however I want to be heard by PM Stephen Harper .
Thank you .
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Comment by Christalyn on August 21, 2011 at 8:32pm -
Okay she is at least suggesting to contact few western leaders ....finally because none of this is in the advertisements or on their web page. After all this is GLOBAL issue that seems to have landed on American shores like the Mayflower.
Why isn't she suggesting to contact any leaders in Pacific Rim and Asia? She has direct experience with these countries per her bio. The kids in this video are mostly from non western countries but we don't send them postcards expressing outrage? this is a sympathy ploy not to mention very stereotypical. Make a video with rough looking asian and africa kids then the world is going to feel sorry..... this has been used too many time....
Why isn't she directing any of her efforts to our Health Secretary Sebelius? This is her department. Anything the president decides will be directed to her being a member of his cabinet. American civics 101.....
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Comment by Manny Hernandez on August 22, 2011 at 10:42am -
@Nel:
Here is a link to the IDF Advocacy Toolkit, so you can draft your letter based on it, in case it helps:
http://api.ning.com:80/files/GvnFxK6vqN8Zv0mrAT0Vb3WY5nZ3oxRSUdV8Ez...
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Comment by Manny Hernandez on August 22, 2011 at 10:44am
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Christalyn,
Here is a link to the conversation we are holding about this topic on LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Enough-is-enough-CEO-International-1...
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An opportunity here I won't miss : our PM , Steven Harper needs to be made aware of that neither all folks( with diabetes ) in Canada receive the care and face a healthy future....the link is most helpful !
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I understand the CDA is supporting to have PM attend .
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I sent my PM, Mr. Steven Harper a letter telling him about my expectations to attend .
With a copy to my Member of Parliament , who thanked me via e-mail for sending him a copy, which just arrived in our inbox .
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Sad to see so few comments , so few voices ...what would you recommend Manny ...Sept. 19 just around the corner ????? !!!!
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I did get a response from the PM's office ; " they " included a copy of my letter to the Honourable John Baird,Minister of Foreign Affairs.
...via the CDA : the Honourable Health Minister Leona Aglukkag will attend .
And to those Tu members, who can attend : speak loud !!
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This is what is in Canadian papers :
Canada drops objection and signs UN health pactRead more: http://www.canada.com/health/Canada+drops+objection+signs+health+pa...
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who attended the summit, said Canada was proud to endorse the UN declaration.
"Nations must take effective action to reduce their risk factors," Aglukkaq said in a statement after the declaration was adopted by the UN General Assembly.
"Chronic diseases are taking a toll on the health and well-being of Canadians, just like they do across the globe," added Aglukkaq, pointing out that three out of five Canadians older than 20 years of age have a chronic disease and four out of five people are at risk
Politicians do listen ???
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