Protest "Compromise" Global Budget Cuts and Syringe Exchange Ban for DC
House Republican plans will cost the lives of over 1 million people, deny people living with HIV access to effective prevention programs
April 11, 2011, Washington, DC: People living with HIV, students, and local DC activists took over the office of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor today as Congress prepared to enact draconian budget cuts to international development programs and negated over whether to deny Washington, DC the right to fund effective syringe exchange programs.
"Majority Leader Cantor and the House Republicans are about to introduce a bill to balance the federal budget on the backs of people living with HIV in Africa," said Michael Tikili from Health GAP (Global Access Project).
Details of exactly what was in the so-called compromise remained sketchy Monday morning, but based on Republican plans are likely to include hundreds of millions in cuts to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Those plans would cost at least 1 million lives around the world to AIDS and related diseases.
There will be a fundraiser for ACT UP/NY at Familjen Andersson C/O Bistro Berns on Wednesday the 3rd of August. Check back for details
Special Global AIDS & ACT UP meeting Mo. 6/27/11 at LGBT Center
Written by John Riley
Monday, 27 June 2011 15:03
Dear Friends,
There will be a special NYC Global AIDS Coalition and ACT UP meeting tonight from 6-9pm. This public meeting is to discuss the upcoming years organizing to pressure Obama to keep his promise to provide 50 Billion over five years for global AIDS and to fully fund global AIDS to reach the 15 million on treatment by 2015. The ACT UP meeting which follows (starting around 8pm) will talk about the full range of AIDS issues including single-payer Medicare for ALL (presented by Laurie Wen, new ED of Physicians for a National Health Program PNHP).
6-9pm Monday June 27th LGBT Center 208 W. 13th St. Manhattan
See you there.
Pictures of the ACT UP and Queerocracy contingent at Pride on June 26th follow.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 July 2011 16:22
AIDS Activists Hold Marathon Die-In at G8 Missions
Written by John Riley
Thursday, 07 April 2011 02:52
ACT UP, African Services Committee, Health GAP, Student Global AIDS Campaign, VOCAL-NY
AIDS Activists Hold Marathon Die-In at G8 Missions
UN Meeting on AIDS Kick Offs with March from Missions to Sen. Schumer’s Office
April 7, 2011
Contact: Jennifer Flynn, Health GAP, +1-917-517-5202
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For Immediate Release
New York, NY: On Thursday, April 7th, 2011, AIDS activists from around the world will conduct a marathon die-in at the missions of the world’s richest countries (Germany, Netherlands, Norway, UK, Italy, U.S. and France). AIDS activists are gathering for a public hearing to provide input into the next United National Declaration at the High Level Meeting on AIDS to take place in June. Ten years ago, world leaders promised to achieve universal access to AIDS treatment. However, rich countries have been slashing funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), and their bilateral programs. AIDS activists say that the U.S. is leading the retreat from funding to fight global AIDS. (click HERE to see video clips of the demonstration)
“Every country made a promise to end the AIDS pandemic. The irony is that we now know that we can do it, if they would just keep their promises.” said Michael Tikili, a member of the Student Global AIDS Campaign. “Despite it’s wealth, Sweden has repeatedly contributed nothing to the GFATM. Their indifference is killing people,” said Staci Smith from ACT UP NY and Health GAP. Currently, the U.S. Congress is debating a budget that would result in the deaths of 1 million people in Africa.
Specifically the cuts to the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund will result in:
483,000 people likely to die without AIDS treatment
68,000 babies born with HIV because their mothers didn’t receive prevention drugs
12 million families without bed-nets to prevent malaria, and 434,000 people will risk death without TB treatment.
Following the demonstrations at each mission, the procession will end at the office of Senator Chuck Schumer. Sen. Schumer is
NEWS FLASH: AIDS Activists Arrested Taking Over Republican Leader Eric Cantor's Office
Written by John Riley
Monday, 11 April 2011 17:39
Protest "Compromise" Global Budget Cuts and Syringe Exchange Ban for DC
House Republican plans will cost the lives of over 1 million people, deny people living with HIV access to effective prevention programs
April 11, 2011, Washington, DC: People living with HIV, students, and local DC activists took over the office of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor today as Congress prepared to enact draconian budget cuts to international development programs and negated over whether to deny Washington, DC the right to fund effective syringe exchange programs.
"Majority Leader Cantor and the House Republicans are about to introduce a bill to balance the federal budget on the backs of people living with HIV in Africa," said Michael Tikili from Health GAP (Global Access Project).
Details of exactly what was in the so-called compromise remained sketchy Monday morning, but based on Republican plans are likely to include hundreds of millions in cuts to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Those plans would cost at least 1 million lives around the world to AIDS and related diseases.
In 2005 world leaders promised to support and fund universal access to AIDS treatment by 2010 at the G8 summit in Scotland. The result would have been a dramatic reduction in the AIDS related death rate, (80-85% according to many researchers) as well as a dramatic reduction in HIV transmission. New advancements in treatment and prevention are bringing us closer than ever to being able to end the AIDS pandemic, however, instead of seizing these opportunities many leaders of rich countries are currently retreating from their commitment to global AIDS treatment and prevention. The result is that million of lives will be consumed by AIDS and millions more will become infected.
In June the UN will sponsor a High Level Meeting on AIDS where world leaders will meet to discuss their commitments to fight AIDS. UNAIDS states that 'Member States are expected to adopt a new Declaration that will reaffirm current commitments and commit to actions to guide and sustain the global AIDS response.' With this in mind, it is especially important that before the meeting occurs we put pressure on the governments that have broken their promises to fully fund global AIDS treatment and prevention.
Join us on Thursday, April 7th at noon for a Marathon Die-in Against Global AIDS where we will travel from consulate to consulate demanding that the US, British, Italian, Dutch, German, Norwegian, French and Swedish governments follow through with their promises to fight AIDS. At each consulate we will perform a symbolic die-in, by lying on the ground, to dramatize the many millions who have and will continue to die because of the callous indifference of countries using the financial crisis as an excuse to retreat from their commitments to AIDS treatment and prevention.We will begin promptly at noon at the Norwegian consulate on 50th St between 3rd and 2nd Avenue (closer to 3rd).
We intend to have a legal moving picket at each stop in addition to the die-in. No permits have been secured for the event or are sought. Groups organizing for the event include: ACT UP, Health Gap, Vocal and Queerocracy.
For more information call John Riley at 917-653-7267 or e-mail
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Assemble Thu. April 7th at noon
50th Street between 2nd & 3rd Ave
Take the 6 train to 51st St. stop.
(note: the April 8th demo was changed to April 7th)
