*[Enwl-eng] All eyes on Germany

[ENWL]

      Countries are calling for the open production of COVID-19 vaccines. 
European leaders are scrambling to not be left behind. But all the dominos 
need to fall for this to succeed and still Angela Merkel is silent.

      SIGN to keep the pressure on!
Hi,

This is huge – the United States has opened the door to fight COVID-19 
everywhere. [1] Right now, people in places like India are struggling to 
cope as record rises in cases are crippling lives, opening up the production 
of vaccines could deliver millions more life saving doses. [2]

It’s the first time the US has stood up to big pharma. The question is 
whether Europe will now brave up and do the same. Already we’ve seen 
commitments from Spain and France, but crucially Angela Merkel of Germany 
has yet to weigh in. [3] She has said that "no one is safe until everyone is 
safe". And yet she still hasn't moved – nothing is a done deal yet.

Today the issue is all over the headlines but that could all change by 
Saturday when EU leaders meet with the Indian Prime Minister at the EU-India 
Summit. If thousands of us add our voices to the noise we can keep the issue 
alive and impossible to ignore.

So, will you ask Angela Merkel to put tackling COVID-19 before the profits 
of the pharma companies and join the plan to open up vaccine production?

            Yes, count me in!


The pandemic has been a boon for big pharma – with 40 new billionaires 
created so far! [4] All because they have the exclusive right to produce the 
vaccines they’ve developed.

In normal times, "intellectual property" rights keep products safe from 
competitors. Yet, these are not normal times, and they’ve done everything to 
protect corporate competition ahead of saving peoples’ lives.

With the statement from the US, the dominos are starting to fall. European 
leaders are scrambling to not be left behind. But all the dominos need to 
fall for this to succeed and still Angela Merkel is silent. [5]

As the issue fades from the headlines, the space will open up for big pharma 
to lobby politicians. Knowing they only need one country to stall the move, 
they’ll pour their money into briefings and meetings.

Luckily, we’ve got something their money can’t buy. Together we’re a 
community of a million Europeans who can all add our voice and define the 
debate. But to be heard, we have to speak up.

Vladimir, can you spare a minute to add your name to the call for Angela 
Merkel to back opening up vaccine production?

            Yes, count me in!


Thanks for being a part of this,
David (London), Annemarie (Berlin), Thomas (Brussels), Alexandre (Marseille) 
and the WeMove Europe team



PS: They'll tell us that opening production access won't be enough. That 
transferring knowledge takes too much time to scale. But know the truth: 
this pandemic isn’t going anywhere fast and acting together is our best 
chance of long-term success. Will you help us scale up the fight against 
covid and sign the petition now?



References:
[1] DW: US announces support for COVID vaccine intellectual property waiver. 
https://www.dw.com/en/us-announces-support-for-covid-vaccine-intellectual-property-waiver/a-57440500
[2] Public Health authorities are reporting on the links between vaccine 
access and lives saved. BBC: Covid-19: More than 6,000 'lives saved by 
vaccine programme. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56521415
[3] France 24: France expands vaccine program as Macron voices support for 
patent waiver. 
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210506-france-expands-vaccine-program-as-macron-voices-support-for-patent-waiver
[4] Forbes: Meet the 40 New Billionaires Who Got Rich Fighting Covid-19. 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2021/04/06/meet-the-40-new-billionaires-who-got-rich-fighting-covid-19/?sh=662a649417e5
[5] The waiver will need approval by the World Trade Organization, whose 164 
members have to unanimously agree to such a change. So far only Germany’s 
Foreign Minister has spoken out. 
https://www.thelocal.de/20210506/germany-open-to-discuss-waiving-covid-19-jab-patents/



WeMove Europe is an independent and values-based organisation that seeks to 
build people power to transform Europe in the name of our community, future 
generations and the planet.

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From: David - WeMove Europe
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2021 10:22 PM
Subject: All eyes on Germany


Joe 
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