[mobglob-discuss] FW: [G & H] SIGN-ON: CALL FOR SOLIDARITY FROM AIDS ACTIVISTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

[Graeme Bacque]

-----Original Message-----
From: Meredith Fort [mailto:mpfort at u.washington.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 8:06 AM
To: globalizationandhealth at topica.com
Subject: [G & H] SIGN-ON: CALL FOR SOLIDARITY FROM AIDS ACTIVISTS IN
SOUTH AFRICA


Please take a look at this request for solidarity from the Treatment
Action Campaign (TAC) in South Africa.  To add your organization's
endorsement to the sign-on letter, send a message to ansadeborah at aol.com
by February 12, 2003.

The current list of signers are:

ACT-UP East Bay, Oakland, CA
Africa Action, Washington, D.C.
Artists Against AIDS Worldwide, New York, NY
Artists for a New South Africa, Los Angeles, CA
DanceSafe, Sacramento, CA
Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research (FIAR), Brooklyn, NY
Global AIDS Alliance, Washington, D.C.
Global Exchange, San Francisco, CA
HealthGAP Coalition, Philadelphia, PA
INTERSECT-Worldwide, New York, NY
Middle East Childrens Alliance, Berkeley, CA
Northeastern Law School Global AIDS Campaign, Boston,MA
Northwest Coalition for AIDS Treatment in Africa (NCATA), Seattle, WA
Physicians for Human Rights, Boston, MA
Shanti, San Francisco, CA
South Africa Development Fund, Boston, MA

Thanks,
Meredith


CALL FOR SOLIDARITY -- FROM AIDS ACTIVISTS IN SOUTH AFRICA:

-- STAND UP FOR THE LIVES OF _5 MILLION_ SOUTH AFRICANS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

-- STOP THE 600 NEEDLESS AIDS DEATHS EACH DAY IN SOUTH AFRICA

We cannot wait any longer for a visible and dynamic response from the
government, business and international community. We do not need any
more reports to tell us what we already know - HIV/AIDS is killing
600 people a day in this country and ruining lives and hopes. But
with will and commitment this does not have to happen. With
leadership from business and government, together with labour and
communities, it is still possible to save lives and restore hope.
--From Zackie Achmat, Treatment Action Campaign, South Africa

________________________________________________________________

CALL FOR SOLIDARITY--ORGANIZATIONAL SIGN-ON LETTER, VIGILS

Please send organizational endorsements by February 12, 2003, to:
ansadeborah at aol.com

Dear Friends,

We are writing to ask your organization to sign a letter and take
action in support of a major South African mobilization effort to
help save the lives of millions of South African people living with
HIV/AIDS. Please forward this request for endorsements and action to
any organizations you know that might be interested in participating.

On February 14, South Africa's Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) is
organizing a "Stand Up For Our Lives" march in Cape Town. South
African AIDS activists are calling on their government to sign and
implement a comprehensive prevention, care, and treatment plan, the
outline of which has already been negotiated between the government
and labor, business, religious, activist and NGO organizations.
They've requested support from international allies, and have asked
that actions be undertaken in a firm but friendly manner.

Please read the following letter and send authorization to list your
organization no later than February 12, 2003, to:
ansadeborah at aol.com. The names of the people to whom letters will be
sent, and their contact information, are listed below, after the
endorsement form. There is further background about TAC and this
action at the end of this email.

________________________________________________________________

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1) Sign on to the organizational letter of support; see form below.
2) Send your own letter to South African officials and consulates.
3) If you are close to Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, or New
York City, try to meet with consulate or embassy officials.
4) Write letters to the editors of local and major newspapers.
5) Organize a solidarity vigil in your area.
6) If in NYC, come to an organizing meeting tonight (Monday 2/10) at
7pm; info below.

Go to http://www.healthgap.org for:

-- updates on solidarity vigils in the U.S. and how to organize your own
vigil
-- information on where to send letters and requests for meetings
with consulate officials in the US.
-- sample letters to the editors
-- sample short letters to consulates
-- template of press release for vigils and consulate meetings
-- letter seeking international solidarity from TAC

Be sure to notify TAC of the actions you are taking and send them
copies of letters and press releases to: info at tac.org.za. And keep up
with TAC's campaign at: http://www.tac.org.za.

Please stand with TAC and all South African people living with or
affected by HIV/AIDS.

In solidarity,

Health GAP and Artists for a New South Africa
______________________________________________________________________

ORGANIZATIONAL SIGN ON LETTER

We, the undersigned organizations, are deeply concerned about South
Africa's HIV/AIDS crisis.

South Africa has been a source of hope to the world, as your nation
triumphed over apartheid, established a new democracy, adopted the
world's most inclusive Bill of Rights and underwent a
precedent-setting process of truth and reconciliation. As the country
at the very epicenter of the global AIDS pandemic, with the largest
number of people living with HIV/AIDS and one of the fastest growing
infection rates, it is essential that South Africa again demonstrate
bold and decisive leadership. We implore the South African government
to act now by introducing a treatment plan that aims to save the
lives of South African people already infected with HIV.

We join the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), the Congress of South
African Trade Unions (COSATU), the South African Medical Association
(SAMA), and numerous other South African organizations, in calling on
the South African government to implement a National HIV/AIDS
Prevention and Treatment Plan.

We endorse TAC's "Stand Up For Our Lives" march in Cape Town on
February 14, 2003, which will coincide with the opening of Parliament
by President Thabo Mbeki. We stand in solidarity with the thousands
of people who will march for their right to healthcare and treatment.
We ask the South African government to turn this march into a
celebration of life by announcing a National HIV/AIDS Prevention and
Treatment Plan that includes a clear commitment to providing
anti-retroviral therapy as a fundamental part of care and treatment
for all South Africans living with HIV/AIDS who need it.

We recognize the challenges inherent in such an effort. We urge South
Africa to exercise every available policy tool to ensure affordable
and sustainable supplies of generic anti-retroviral medicines,
including issuing compulsory licenses on patented AIDS drugs and
beginning local production of anti-retrovirals. As Americans, we will
continue to demand that our own government stops reneging on the
commitment it made to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November,
2001 when it, along with all the other WTO Member States, adopted the
WTO Ministerial Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects
of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and Public Health. We will
also continue to demand that the United States contribute its fair
share of the funds needed to combat the global AIDS pandemic
effectively.

We welcome President Bush's pledge for increased unilateral funding
for international HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and will work to
make sure that these promises are kept, that bilateral programs
coordinate with recipient prevention, care, and treatment plans, and
that the bulk of the money be channeled through the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This will help ensure that
unfair conditions are not placed on developing countries and that
bureaucracy, duplication, and delays are minimized.

Finally, we would like to respectfully inform you that if the
government fails to sign and implement a National HIV/AIDS Prevention
and Treatment Plan by the end of February 2003, we will fully support
TAC and their allies in their decision to pursue a national campaign
of non-violent civil disobedience. Using civil disobedience to call
for access to medicines should be unnecessary and is avoidable. The
world is waiting for South Africa's leadership in confronting this
epidemic and implementing a program to deliver care, support, and
medicines to those most in need. We believe that unity amongst
activists, trade unions, business, and government is possible. We
again urge the South African government to act now.


Sincerely,


______________________________________________________________________


YES, ADD OUR ORGANIZATION TO THE SIGN-ON LETTER ABOVE.

FOR LISTING PURPOSES:

Organization Name:

City where organization is headquartered:

State where organization is headquartered:

REQUIRED INFORMATION:

Name of person authorizing listing:

Title / Affiliation with endorsing org:

OPTIONAL INFORMATION:

Address:

Phone:

Fax:

E-mail:

______________________________________________________________________

HOW TO SEND YOUR OWN LETTERS:

If you or your organization would like to write you own letter in
support of TAC, please write to your local consulate as well as to
the following people before February 14, 2003:

The Honorable JG Zuma
Deputy President:
Via Fax: 011-27-12-323-3114
E-mail: Deputypresident at po.gov.za

The Honorable Dr NC Dlamini-Zuma
Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Via Fax: 011-27-12-351-0253
E-mail: media at foreign.gov.za

Ms Lakela Kaunda
Chief Director: Communication and Spokesperson
Via E-mail: lakela at po.gov.za

Deputy Chief of Mission Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo
South African Embassy
Via Fax: 202-265-1607

Consul General Thami Ngwevela
South African Consulate General - New York
Via Fax: 212-213-0102

Consul General Glaudine Mtshali
South African Consulate General - Los Angeles
Via Fax: 323-651-5969

Consul General Pat Sonjani
South African Consulate General - Chicago
Via Fax: 312-939-2588

Please CC a copy of any letters you send to TAC via E-mail at:
info at tac.org.za

______________________________________________________________________

TAC APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

TAC Appeal for International Solidarity for March to Opening of
Parliament on 14 February 2003

Dear friends, comrades and allies

On 14 February 2003, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) is
organizing a "Stand Up for Our Lives" march in Cape Town. This march
will mark the opening of Parliament by President Thabo Mbeki. This
will be one of the last opportunities for the South African
government to demonstrate goodwill and to avoid civil conflict on
HIV/AIDS.

We want this march to be the biggest national HIV/AIDS demonstration
to show the will of the people in support of an HIV/AIDS treatment
and prevention plan. The march already has the support of trade
unions, religious leaders, youth and thousands of ordinary people.
This is an appeal to our international allies to write to the South
African government requesting that they sign and implement a
treatment and prevention plan that includes anti-retroviral treatment
for people living with HIV/AIDS. The letter should also appeal to the
government to immediately apply for compulsory licences against the
drug companies to ensure an affordable and sustainable local supply
of generic anti-retroviral medicines. You can write to your local
consulate or embassy. Or, fax the Deputy President Mr. Jacob Zuma or
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Our march will also pass the US Consulate. We are saying to the South
African government: "We are standing up for our lives. Act now to
save our country and continent." We are saying to the US government:
"Stop militarism and military spending. Spend money on the real
threats to global human security: poverty, environmental degradation
and ill health. We urge the US government to fund the Global Fund for
HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment."

We cannot wait any longer for a visible and dynamic response from the
government, business and international community. We do not need any
more reports to tell us what we already know - HIV/AIDS is killing
600 people a day in this country and ruining lives and hopes. But
with will and commitment this does not have to happen. With
leadership from business and government, together with labour and
communities, it is still possible to save lives and restore hope.

On 19/20 January 2003, the TAC National Executive and more than 100
activists, trade union, religious and people re-affirmed that if
government fails to sign and implement an national treatment and
prevention plan that we will start a national campaign of civil
disobedience. We ask you to write to the South African government to
avoid unnecessary conflict and instead to save the lives of our
people.

Internationally, the work of MSF, Consumer Project on Technology,
HealthGAP, ACT-UP, OXFAM, PATAM, IGLHRC, Bread for the World, GMHC,
Action Southern Africa, Southern African Development Fund, Student
Global AIDS Campaign, ATTAC, Brazilian HIV/AIDS NGOs, all the
organisations of PATAM and others have sustained HIV/AIDS activism
and a global conscience in the epidemic. We appeal to all
organisations and individuals to write to the South African
government and to assist in saving millions of lives in our country.

Thank you for your support and solidarity. The relevant contact
addresses are pasted below. Please send your letters on or before 14
February 2003 and copy them to info at tac.org.za

Regards

Zackie Achmat, Nathan Geffen, Sindiswa Godwana, Mark Heywood, Nonkosi
Khumalo, Mandla Majola, Tsakane Mangwane, Sipho Mthathi and Theo
Steele on behalf of the Treatment Action Campaign


______________________________________________________________________

NYC PLANNING MEETING TONIGHT, MONDAY AT 7 PM:

The NYC International Working Group, comprised of members of ACT UP
and Health GAP and others, is meeting tonight to discuss solidarity
actions and support for Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) "Stand Up for
Our Lives" demonstration on February 14. TAC and its allies from
labor and other sectors are declaring time is up for the South
African government to implement a national prevention and treatment
program--including a provision to produce generic AIDS drugs in order
to provide treatment to the greatest number of people possible.

We meet weekly at the LGBT Center, 208 W 13th St (bet 7-8th Ave,
A/C/E/F, 1/2/3/9 to 14th St or L to 8th Ave).

For more information on TAC's campaign, go to:
http://www.tac.org.za
or
http://www.healthgap.org/camp/tac.html

Hope to see you there.

Sharonann Lynch
salynch at healthgap.org
Health GAP (Global Access Project)
Tel  +1 212 674-9598
Mob +1 646 645-5225
http://www.healthgap.org

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