Oxfam Great Britain | September 4, 2001 | Anna Mitchell
Third World Network, Oxfam International and Health Gap Coalition are launching 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. The petition 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 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 using this email
3. Encourage supporters to sign the petition and encourage member organisations and alliances to promote the petition to their supporters or partners
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.
We have produced a variety of resources 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
Offline 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.ukOxfam Great Britain:
