Forum Post: What can we do about the poorest among us?

President Obama:

Last December, on World AIDS Day, I addressed a ONE Campaign event called "The Beginning of the End of AIDS." I spoke about building on President Bush's historic work with the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. I announced new commitments to fight the pandemic at home and abroad. I urged our allies to join us as we work toward a once seemingly impossible goal - an AIDS-free generation. Thanks to the work of organizations like the ONE Campaign, this goal is now within our reach.

Some of the policies I announced that day were new. But the values behind them were ones I've held my entire life. My mother was an anthropologist who worked to improve the lives of poor people around the world. She taught me that no matter who we are or where we come from, we have an obligation to not only embrace our shared humanity but also our shared responsibilities. I ran for president in part because I believe our country should reflect a common creed that says, "I am my brother's keeper. I am my sister's keeper."

That's why, even as we faced the worst financial crisis in generations, we didn't forget those who live in the shadow of disease, hunger and poverty. We stayed true to our commitments and our values. We rebuilt our alliances. And millions of people are better off because we did.

Living up to these ideals and obligations is in our national security interest. Hunger, disease and poverty can lead to global instability and leave a vacuum for extremism to fill. So instead of just managing poverty, we must offer nations and people a pathway out of poverty. And as president I've made development a pillar of our foreign policy, alongside diplomacy and defense.

It starts with the fight against global hunger. Spikes in food prices are dangerous, and will grow if a surging global population isn't matched by surging food production. I've announced a new alliance to lift 50 million people out of poverty by supporting locally directed food security programs. We're recognizing the important role played by smallholder farmers, especially women, in building thriving economies. And we're focusing on maternal and child nutrition.

We're also working with Africa's people and leaders to responsibly invest in agriculture and increase productivity. Together, we're mobilizing private capital to fast-track new agricultural projects. We'll speed up innovations such as better seeds and better storage. We're helping African farmers gain access to agricultural data, from satellite imagery to weather forecasts to market prices, right on their mobile phones.

And we will continue the fight against HIV/AIDs and other pandemics. My administration increased our commitments to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria to record levels. We're on track to help 6 million people get HIV/AIDS treatment by the end of 2013 - 2 million more than our original goal. Over the next five years, we aim to reduce vaccine costs, immunize more than 250 million children, and prevent 4 million premature deaths. We've lifted the so-called global gag rule that restricted women's access to family planning services abroad. And we're doing more than ever to combat human trafficking, which threatens public health across borders.

The next four years will be full of tough choices. Some will argue that as we continue to grow our economy by investing in a strong middle class we must put our other commitments on hold. That choice is false - and it's not one we have to accept. As long as I am your president, I will not write off "the least of these." What makes us strong is reflecting our most cherished values - making sure America remains not only the place where if you work hard, you can get ahead, but also that last, best hope of Earth.

That's how we'll move forward, and build a better future together.