But even if you don't - even if you think, I'm vaccinated, and if poor countries have to wait a few years, oh well…
⚠️ Think again.
Slow vaccination rollout globally means more time for new variants to emerge that are resistant to current vaccines. oxfam.org/en/press-relea…
One reason why global vaccination rollout has been slow is the scarcity of vaccines. Not enough doses are being produced.
Currently, the level of production is controlled by a few big pharma companies. They set production levels in their own best interest: to maximise profits.
That rich governments have allowed them to do this for months - while simultaneously hogging all the scarce doses produced - is the greatest scandal of our times.
And rich governments sided with the former over the latter for months: hrw.org/news/2021/03/0…
Now, about that, "Big Potential Ahead" part in the headline…
Yes, that is the plan. The companies make no secret that they see the global pandemic as a LONG-TERM business opportunity.
They don't want it to help end it; they want to cash in on it, with every new variant.
This is the business model...
We are unlikely to ever get off that merry-go-round of death until we can produce enough vaccines for everyone fast enough.
Yet, rich governments have for months been abetting this business model by blocking wider vaccine production globally through obstructing the #TRIPSwaiver, a proposal to temporarily waive some intellectual property (IP) rules on vaccines & other health products.
Pharma companies, seeing a threat to their business model of endless variants, hit back hard: cnbc.com/2021/06/01/big…
Sadly, however, the EU backed big pharma over Biden.
In an ugly rebuke to its US ally - not to mention the majority of countries in the world, medical experts & public health professionals - the EU stuck to its profits-first approach, rolling out a tired list of debunked arguments & lies to defend itself.
But the EU Commission (which has been driven in this by Germany chiefly) faces resistance...
France & Poland openly support patent waivers to increase vaccine production globally, as do top ministers in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands & Spain, as well as the EU Parliament.
The European Commission has had to back down and allow text-based negotiation on patent waivers to proceed the the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
Unfortunately, they are still fighting tooth-and-nail to complicate & delay those negotiations. politico.eu/article/europe…
It's hard to imagine how selfish and inhumane the EU has been on this - and how the Commission continues to be so.
They are literally still trying to block wider vaccine production globally…
While everyone knows there aren't enough vaccines…
While millions are dying…
If global vaccine rollout was everywhere like it is in the EU & UK right now, that would be good.
But it's not.
And part of the reason it's not is that the EU & UK are actively preventing it.
As a matter of policy.
Sickening.
Literally.
Both the EU & UK should reverse their position completely and energetically support wider vaccine production globally.
🌐 It is a global pandemic. It needs global solutions.
🌐 No one is safe until everyone is safe.
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Is the EU finally going to get serious this week about the long-running assaults on human rights and democracy in #Hungary & #Poland?
EU members meeting in the General Affairs Council session tomorrow will discuss the situations in Poland & Hungary under Article 7, the EU treaty mechanism to hold accountable governments whose actions threaten the bloc’s rule of law, human rights and democratic principles.
The EU must put Hungary & Poland on notice that there is no place for attacks on the rule of law in the EU & step up scrutiny of their rights-abusiving policies, say:
This makes sense when we understand the EU as one of the most successful peace projects ever created.
(Sadly, too few of the current lot of EU leaders seem to understand the idea that peace & security depend on vigorous, active defence of democracy & human rights.)
Key institutions emerged after the war to ensure peace & security through political & economic integration, based on democracy & respect for fundamental human rights.
EU leaders must always defend these values with actions, not just lofty words.
The video is horrific. It appears that the police continue to kneel on his neck for ages, even when his arms are cuffed behind his back & he’s immobilised.
The conversation of bystanders is also chilling…
Woman: “They’re smothering him.”
Man: “Yeah, so?”
Woman: “What do you mean, ‘Yeah, so?’”
Man: “That’s their job.”
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Sadly, given deeply ingrained racism in the country, many will agree with him & defend this brutality.
This bit from The Lancet article is particularly devastating:
"As of late May, COVAX had supplied about 80 million doses to low-income and middle-income countries; 22 million doses had gone to high-income countries."
Is the EU finally going to get serious next week about the long-running assaults on human rights and democracy in Hungary & Poland?
EU members meeting in the General Affairs Council session on 22 June will discuss the situations in Poland & Hungary under Article 7, the EU treaty mechanism to hold accountable governments whose actions threaten the bloc’s rule of law, human rights and democratic principles.
The EU must put Hungary & Poland on notice that there is no place for attacks on the rule of law in the EU & step up scrutiny of their rights-abusiving policies, say: