A Good First Day

January 22nd, 2009 | by Andrea Perera

It’s a drum we bang a lot at Oxfam: Addressing poverty at home and abroad will create a better, safer world for all of us.

Well, this morning, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton started her first day on the job echoing the same sentiment.

According to today’s Washington Post, Clinton, who also oversees the US Agency for International Development, told her staff: “there are ‘three legs to the stool of national security — defense, diplomacy and development. We are responsible for two of three legs…. Robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long term tools for securing America’s future.’”

I hope the coming four years bring with them a more nuanced view of US policies, one that no longer contributes to poverty — but actually helps reduce it.

To read the full article, click here.

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Andrea Perera

Andrea Perera

Andrea Perera is a writer for Oxfam America. A former newspaper reporter, she collects stories on Oxfam’s work with local partner organizations in East Asia, as well as Oxfam's campaigning efforts around climate change and oil, gas, and mining.

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