Anti-Gore protest Oct. 6
Bush isn't the only candidate with a 'drug' problem
By John
Catalinotto
Vice President Al Gore is finding out that there's a down
side to being a friend of the drug companies. ACT UP
Philadelphia is planning a big action for Oct. 6 in Washington
to protest Gore's role stopping nations like South Africa from
getting drugs at the lowest prices to treat their people.
The demonstration will demand that Gore end sanctions and
threats against developing nations that seek to manufacture
generic versions of life-saving medicines or shop around the
world for the best available price.
These U.S. policies came to light first with regard to U.S.
legislation stopping South Africa from using these legal
practices to obtain medicines for its HIV-positive
population.
Groups in the newly formed Health GAP Coalition have been
showing up wherever Gore goes to campaign for president. This
has included a lock-down at Gore's Washington office and a
demonstration of 500 when the vice president appeared at a
Philadelphia fundraising event.
The Clinton-Gore administration has demanded that South
Africa and other nations buy medicines from the drug monopolies
that charge premium prices for their brand-name products--which
of course include a hefty profit margin. Often the price for
the drug is many times the cost of manufacture.
Currently the United States is negotiating an agreement with
South Africa that may allow the purchase of some AIDS drugs at
lower prices. But this still will not apply to India, Thailand,
Brazil or other countries in a similar position. And it won't
apply to other vital drugs in South Africa.
ACT UP Philadelphia says buses will leave that city from
Broad and Walnut on 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 6. Organizers expect that
there will be a New York bus also.
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