<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">The world in which we live unfortunately does not allow the poor and the powerless to “offer” anything with which to bargain. That is the reason for various human grievances and the raison d’être of the struggle. It is the meaning of “rapport de force” or class conflict, which, under neoliberal single ideology, are banned concepts. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">The poor have offered everything, their lives, their labour, the resources of their country, and of course their health and wellbeing. But under the imperative of infinite accumulation, it can never be enough.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">They are demanding their rights (and we in rich countries, are supporting that demand) and these are not amenable to bargaining chips of any kind. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Neoliberalism (probably deliberately) ignores any distinction between means and ends - both are subsumed under “cost efficiency” (itself very narrowly defined). We are appealing unashamedly to fairness and justice as absolute values. That “appeal” is being translated into political action through demands. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">We could possibly use the argument that the powerful countries have signed up to various human rights treaties and conventions but as we know, these are not enforceable (but could be made so overnight, bearing in mind that the WTO agreements are enforceable). But again, this is confusing values which are absolute with means which are not. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">So just a comment on Ted’s point which of course is valid within a certain framework. I think it is useful to <b>explicitly refuse the bargaining paradigm altogether</b>. Operating within it, is accepting the current system, and accepting failure again. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Martin Luther (I think) said “Here I stand. I can do no other”. Without any belief in the supernatural, it seems to me that statement captures the essence of the struggle.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">The poor stand with empty pockets and no weapons but with incontestably legitimate demands. Again, they could threaten revolution, (within the bargaining paradigm). But why should any more poor people die in the struggle for universally recognized human rights? </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Sadly, the confrontation with a deeply violent order, which is not amenable to peaceful appeal, is likely to produce a violent rather than a peaceful revolution. Avoiding that outcome must be central to our strategies, as set out in the People’s Health Charter for example and of course in the UN Charter. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Alison Katz</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> xxx</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d">I did not mean in any way to minimize the urgency of the issues, and in particular did not mean in any way to suggest that the current economic crisis does not constitute a health emergency. It does. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d"> However, if I “demand” a salary increase from the University of Ottawa, I will be far more credible if I have more on my side than appeals to fairness, such as the option of leaving the institution and taking students and grant money with me – or, conversely, if I can offer the institution something that it wants but can make the offer contingent on its giving me what I want.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d">In situations that do not fit this template, speaking in terms of “demands” is, unfortunately, an indication of weakness rather than of strength, especially when the language is used in conjunction with appeals to fairness or justice. Sadly, that is the world in which we live. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d">Now, back to drafting talking points for my introduction to a workshop on the health case for human rights against the global marketplace at the International Society for Equity in Health conference next month, which I hope many PHM colleagues will attend. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"></span></font></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d">Ted Schrecker </span></font></div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman">What would Ted suggest? Should we replace 'demand' by 'humbly request'?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman">PHM IS attempting to mobilise in the countries where it has affiliates and supporters around the Right to Health. The global economic crisis should be included in our campaigning. I would encourage those not active in developing a Right to Health Campaign in their countries to do so.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman">David Sanders.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break">xxxx<br style="mso-special-character: line-break">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font face="Times New Roman">I agree, we need to speak as loudly and clearly as possible.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In Tanzania, government statements on the planned response to the global financial crisis have emphasised that resource allocations </span><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">to infrastructure</span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> will not be reduced -- with the clear implication that resource allocations to social services will be reduced. In contrast, feminist and health activists and others are using every opportunity to argue that resources need to be increased to social services and social protection, while taking direct action to protect as well as enhance the sustainable livelihoods of women and men in both rural and urban areas.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Marjorie Mbilinyi</font></span></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d"><font face="Times New Roman">xxxx</font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d"><font face="Times New Roman">So, let’s move thousands of people into the streets…we ( a group of PHM , HIV and MHC activists and others) are going to start working on this…18 months from now, we want 100,000 people on the mall…</font></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: Cambria">Joia S. Mukherjee</span><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-ansi-language: FR"><font face="Times New Roman"> xxxxx</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d"><font face="Times New Roman">Although I could not agree more strongly with the substance of the communiqué below, might I add a note of caution about the language of “demands”?</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d"><font face="Times New Roman"> Social movements are most effective in articulating their objectives as “demands” when they can bring tens/hundreds of thousands of people into the streets, or can exercise some analogously strong influence within the more rarefied context of multilateral fora such as WHA. Can PHM realistically claim to be able to do this? If not, then I suggest moderating the language, although not of course the underlying ethical argument.</font></span></p>
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