[559] in peace2
MARCH 5 GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION: AIDS CRISIS
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Payal Parekh)
Wed Feb 28 13:42:47 2001
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 13:38:36 -0500 (EST)
From: Payal Parekh <parekh@pimms.mit.edu>
To: secular@mit.edu, jwest@mit.edu, peace-list@mit.edu, sbasu@mit.edu,
sangam-request@mit.edu, saas-request@mit.edu, kmurithi@mit.edu,
aid-boston@yahoogroups.com, jehinel@mit.edu, goalie44@mit.edu,
brazil@mit.edu, greens-announce@mit.edu, mitai-exec@mit.edu
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MARCH 5
Massachusetts State House
12pm
GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION ON THE AIDS CRISIS
AFFORDABLE AIDS DRUGS NOW!
Come stop the corporate greed that kills on the Global Day of Action against
multinational pharmaceutical profiteers of human suffering. Called by the
Treatment Action Campaign of South Africa, folks of all backgrounds will rally in
defense of South Africa's attempt to bring drugs to its poorest citizens and
Brazil's famously successful AIDS program. Both now stand threatened by the big
drug monopolies and US trade actions. This time, it truly is a matter of people
before profits, and above all, human life.
On March 5, we will say NO to murder by patent, to death by profit!
We will say YES to hope and to affordable medicines!
==============================
DETAILED SUMMARY
* In South Africa, subsidiaries of US and European mega-drug companies have taken
the South African government to court over its commitment to purchase cheaper
generic and/or brand name medicines for millions living with HIV/AIDS. Originally
filed in 1998 and supported by Clinton-Gore threats of trade sanctions until late
1999, the law suit is scheduled for trial in Pretoria March 5-12.
* In late 2000, the world largest and most profitable pharmaceutical company
threatened a lawsuit against an Indian generic manufacturer, CIPLA, which was
supplying cheaper medicines in Ghana. On Feb. 8 this year, pharmaceutical
representatives said they would protect their patent rights against CIPLA's new
plan to sell generic AIDS anti-virals to poor governments at a huge discount.
* This February, the U.S. lodged a complaint against the Brazil at the World Trade
Organization over its production of generic AIDS drugs. In what the New York Times
calls a model solution to the AIDS crisis, Brazil has provided free AIDS drugs to
over 60,000 citizens, and cut its death toll by over half since 1996. Now Brazil's
program is endangered by the strong-armed tactics of big Pharma acting through
their proxy, the US government.
The AIDS epidemic is the modern plague, and its impact will lay waste to the
continent of Africa, wiping out a whole generation of working men and women, and
leaving millions of orphans. However, this pandemic is treatable. The same
medicines that have kept tens of thousands alive in this country, is out of reach
for the world's poor, now making up over 95% of total AIDS cases.
Because of their monopoly patents, drug companies make mega-profits selling AIDS
medicines at huge mark-ups - as much as 4500%. For example, the Indian
manufacturer CIPLA has just offered anti-viral triple therapy costing $10,000 per
year in the U.S. for $600 to poor African countries and for $350 to Medecins Sans
Frontier.
The pharmaceutical giants, however, are working hard to keep their monopoly grip
on the market by preventing generic competitors and desperate countries from
providing cheaper alternatives. Sometimes, the industry acts directly on its own
behalf by filing lawsuits and/or threatening court action. Othertimes, it works
behind the scene at the White House, in the Congress, with the U.S. Trade
Representative, or at international agencies including the World Bank, the World
Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, and UNAIDS.
Activists around the world are protesting drug profiteering and death by monopoly
pricing. Even in our rich country, seniors fight back at price gouging by taking
buses to Canada where drug prices are far cheaper. Joining them is a growing
chorus of journalists, economists, students, religious figures, care givers,
international charities, and nobel prize winning doctors, who cannot deny the
simple truth - people are dying of AIDS because of corporate greed.
On March 5, a global day of action, timed to coincide with the South African court
case and in support of the Brazilian AIDS program, will be held marking a new
stage in the growing international solidarity movement. Called by the Treatment
Action Campaign in South Africa, solidarity demonstrations and rallies will be
held around the world. In the US, we have a special responsibility to fight the
pharmaceutical companies on their home ground, and reaffirm our moral commitment
to human values. In this case, it truly is a matter of people before profits.
Drop the Pharma lawsuit against affordable medicines in South Africa.
Drop threats against CIPLA's low-price AIDS medicines offer.
Drop the U.S. WTO action against the model Brazilian AIDS program.
Fund access to medicines now.
Stop the genocide by corporate greed.
==============================
Please contact Janet Cleveland (cleveland@bostonglobalaction.org) or Amy-Simone
Erard (erard@bostonglobalaction.org) for more information.
- Boston Global Action Network, Africa AIDS Project
- www.bostonglobalaction.org/africa-aids.html
