Oxfam and other groups call for global
petition to change WTO patent rules to provide cheaper medicine for
people in poor countries
[9-10-01]
YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE - U.S. TRADE POLICY ROBS POOR
PEOPLE OF THEIR HEALTH!
Third World Network, Oxfam International and Health
Gap Coalition have launched a global online petition which we hope will
demonstrate the strength of global public concern about World Trade
Organisation patent rules that put the profits of powerful drug
companies before public health in poor countries.
The petition is addressed to George Bush as a leading
international figure whose government is blocking changes and
clarifications to the TRIPS Agreement that would mean cheaper medicines
for people in developing countries.
The petition will run from September 1st through to
the WTO Ministerial in Quatar in November where it will be handed over
to the US Government and can be viewed now at http://oxfam.org.uk/unclesam
In order for it to be successful the petition needs to
attract mass support - we estimate that we have to gain at least 250,000
individual signatures before Doha to have impact! This in turn requires
the support of organisations across the world.
Would your organisation be able to support the global
petition in one or more of the following ways?
1. Advertise and put a link to the petition on your
website - the petition page is at http://www.oxfam.org.uk/unclesam/
2. Circulate details of the petition to member
organisations, alliances and networks
3. Encourage your supporters to sign the petition and
encourage member organisations and alliances to promote the petition to
their supporters
4. Endorse the petition by sending your organisations
name and contact details to amitchell@oxfam.org.uk.
We will display the names of all organisations that endorse the petition
on the petition site.
A variety of resources have been produced to help
organisations promote the petition including:
An 'Uncle Sam' banner advert or campaign logo is
available if you want make your website link more visual. The adverts
can be downloaded from the petition site. To access the banner advert
and for further information on how to download it onto your own website
go to: http://oxfam.org.uk/e-campaigns/unclesam/download.html
Materials including posters and A4 petition sheets are
also available. Posters can be ordered from amitchell@oxfam.org.uk
and the petition sheets can be downloaded from the website at: http://oxfam.org.uk/e-campaigns/unclesam/download.html
I hope your organisation will be able to support the
petition. If you have any queries please contact Anna Mitchell at Oxfam
GB on +44 1865 313198 or at amitchell@oxfam.org.uk
Anna Mitchell
Oxfam Great Britain
Oxfam works with others to find lasting solutions to
poverty and suffering.
Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International, a company
limited by guarantee and registered in England No. 612172. Registered
office: 274 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DZ. Registered charity No. 202918.
Visit the web site at http://www.oxfam.org.uk
WTO patent rules are pushing the price of essential
medicines out of the reach of poor people. Find out more and sign our
on-line petition calling for cheaper medicines on http://www.oxfam.org.uk/unclesam
