Urgency, Action, and Hope: From the Amazon and Foreign Aid Cuts to Global Citizen NOW, Global Health, and SF Climate Week
I share insights from the Amazon on foreign aid cuts, preview Global Citizen NOW, the Global Disability Summit, and SF Climate Week, and reflect on why From Ideas to Impact is resonating now.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
I’ve just returned from deep in the Brazilian Amazon — in Pará, where the rainforest meets the Tapajós River, one of the Amazon’s great tributaries — and the impact of foreign aid cuts is undeniable. But here’s the thing: the local leaders I met aren’t resigned. They see an opportunity — and their determination left me hopeful. With bold philanthropy and smart investment, they believe the Amazon can become a proving ground for new partnerships that grow economies without destroying nature.
This November, the Global Citizen Festival Amazonia will spotlight those rising to the challenge — more on that very soon! In the meantime, I wrote more about my trip here for those interested in learning more.
On the Road: Why is the Book’s Message Resonating?
From recent book talks I’ve delivered at SXSW in Austin to packed rooms of engineering students in North Carolina, one thing is clear: people are hungry for connection and collective purpose. And the data backs it up.
According to recent findings from More in Common US, 74% of Americans say they want to work with others on a shared goal that improves their community — but only 17% have done so in the past year. We crave connection and purpose but often hesitate to act, especially when it means working with people who think differently.
I wrote about this exact challenge - and how to overcome it - in From Ideas to Impact (and spoke about it in this TEDx talk): real progress comes when we step outside our comfort zones, sit down with those who challenge us, and still find common ground.
The recently released World Happiness Report reinforces why this matters. In communities where people trust others to do the right thing — even small acts like returning a lost wallet — happiness and resilience are higher. But that trust doesn’t happen by accident; it’s built through shared action and proof that others will show up (the very thing that happens when we work together toward a shared goal).
In short, we know people want to come together. When they do, it doesn’t just change outcomes—it changes how we feel about each other and what’s possible. That’s the fuel for real, lasting impact—and, dare I say it, for rebuilding a torn social fabric.
I think that’s exactly why the message of From Ideas to Impact is resonating so strongly right now. People are looking not just for inspiration but for practical ways HOW to turn bold ideas into action — and to do so with others, even across divides.
And what is the next public moment to talk with me about this? I’ll be in San Francisco for SF Climate Week, giving the Global Climate Solutions Summit keynote on Friday, April 25th! Register here if you, or anyone you know, will be in the Bay Area.
Global Citizen NOW Returns to New York City — April 30th
Global Citizen NOW, the action summit to end extreme poverty, is back in New York City for its fourth year on April 30. This summit brings together leaders from government, business, and philanthropy alongside frontline advocates, artists, and innovators—all focused on turning bold ideas into real action. We’ll tackle what’s working, call out what isn’t, and focus on the urgent steps needed now to build a fairer, more sustainable future for all. Learn more, get involved here, and buy tickets here: Global Citizen NOW 2024
Building Momentum for Brazil Hosted Climate Talks — and Why It Matters for All of Us
On the subject of Brazil, earlier this month, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago — who will lead COP30, the major UN climate summit coming to Brazil in 2025 — sent his first message to the world. He called for a mutirão — a Brazilian tradition of everyone rolling up their sleeves and working together — urging countries to unite and take bold action this November.
This couldn’t come at a more urgent time. 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded. The Amazon — one of the world’s greatest natural defenses against climate change — is dangerously close to a tipping point. Continued destruction threatens not just the rainforest but the lives of millions of Indigenous and local communities and the climate stability we all depend on. As one community leader told us last week, here’s why this matters:
At Global Citizen, we’re standing with leaders in Brazil, grassroots movements, and communities worldwide through our Protect the Amazon campaign. Here’s what we’re fighting for:
👉 Stop deforestation: At least $1 billion in new funding to protect and restore the Amazon, led by Indigenous and local communities.
👉 Accelerate the switch to clean energy: Strong national plans to move away from fossil fuels and invest in renewables.
👉 Support communities on the frontlines: Real financial commitments so those hardest hit by climate change can adapt and thrive — and making sure polluters are held accountable. The Amazon’s future, and ours, depends on what we do now.
Global Disability Summit in Berlin — Join Global Citizen in Demanding Action
Next week, world leaders will gather in Berlin for the Global Disability Summit (April 2–3), hosted by the International Disability Alliance and the governments of Germany and Jordan. This summit is a key moment to push for real commitments on disability rights and inclusion.
The numbers are stark: 1 in 6 people — more than 1 billion worldwide — live with a significant disability. And far too often, disability goes hand-in-hand with poverty, exclusion, and vulnerability to crises like climate change. That has to change.
Since launching the campaign in September at the Global Citizen Festival — with Paralympic champion Tatyana McFadden and disability rights leader Cara Yar Khan on stage — Global Citizen has been working to advocate, challenge ableism, and amplify the voices of people with disabilities around the world.
The Global Citizen team will be on the ground in Berlin, pushing governments and businesses to make bold commitments. If you’re attending, let us know, and whether you’re there or not, join us in taking action during these final critical days before the summit.
Global Health Week of Action in the European Parliament
Last week, Global Citizen and our partners took over the European Parliament with Healthy Lives: The Power of the EU’s Investments — a powerful photo exhibition showcasing how EU funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has saved millions of lives and strengthened health systems around the world.
The exhibition wasn’t just about photos. It included interactive experiences — from an educational game to a virtual assistant — all showing how EU investment builds resilience in vulnerable communities. Over 100 leaders from EU institutions and the global health community joined the launch.
All week long, activists, civil society, and Gavi and the Global Fund representatives met with dozens of parliamentarians, pushing for renewed investment. As MEP Goerens put it: “Renewed investment in Gavi and the Global Fund would mean the EU could demonstrate its commitment to global health and secure its future. This is an investment in health security, pandemic preparedness, and economic growth for our partners — and for ourselves.”
I’ve written before that now, more than ever, it’s critical to thank the leaders who advocate for these issues and show them there’s a real constituency that cares. The best way to do that is by going where power gathers, making our presence felt, and leaving no doubt that support for global health and cooperation runs deep. Read more in our press release and on our socials—and help us keep the pressure on.
Speak Up: Call Your Representatives and Protect Foreign Aid
If you’re in the U.S., we’ve made it easy for you to act and contact your Congress representatives. Every call you make is tracked, counted, and reported, which shows lawmakers that people care. Without that pressure, they’ll assume no one’s paying attention. Check out our quick-action toolkit here and call your representatives here.
Foreign aid is a wise investment that fights diseases, prevents crises, and strengthens global stability — all of which keep America safer and stronger. For a powerful example of life-saving impact, check out this piece I recently co-wrote with my friend Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
Taking Over Politico Playbook for Gavi
Earlier this month, Global Citizen took over Politico Playbook to push for a strong UK pledge to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Our message reached over 100,000 UK decision-makers every morning and afternoon for an entire week, underscoring the life-saving impact of Gavi’s work. A full UK pledge of financial support could help immunize 500 million children over the next five years, saving up to 9 million lives and protecting everyone from future disease outbreaks.
The numbers back it up: Research shows Gavi’s vaccine programs have already saved 1.6 million lives between 2000 and 2019, at a cost of just $8,750 per life saved—one of the most effective health investments we can make. Stay tuned and take action to help secure this vital commitment.
My Reading List
Firstly, my friend Busie Matsiko is launching her book Create the Life of Your Dreams on March 31 — which promises to be a thoughtful, practical roadmap for anyone ready to take bold ideas and turn them into reality. Pre-orders are open now!
Secondly, Nestlé and UNESCO have launched Youth Impact: Because You Matter, which will support 100 young innovators tackling climate change and sustainable food systems. Do you know someone aged 18–30 with bold ideas? Applications are open now until April 8th!
Till next week,
Mick
P.S. A friend who runs a leading social impact advisory wants to add two new advisory board members with legal and/or consulting experience. If you know someone who might be a great fit, please email or message me!