<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">PHM Global Secretariat</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:globalsecretariat@phmovement.org">globalsecretariat@phmovement.org</a>></span><br>
Date: Tue, May 20, 2014 at 9:26 PM<br>Subject: PHM news: Press release: Melinda Gates addresses the World Health Assembly: Civil Society registers its protest<br>To: Global Secretariat <<a href="mailto:secretariat@phmovement.org">secretariat@phmovement.org</a>><br>
<br><br><div dir="ltr"><div>Dear PHM activists, </div><div><br></div><div>Please find below the press statement just released by Civil Society Organisations in Geneva during the World Health Assembly, in protest of Melinda Gates being invited to address the World Health Organisation. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Please do circulate this through reposts, websites, tweets etc. It would also be great if this could be send out to the Press in different countries.</div><div><br></div><div>For more information on the WHO watch visit: <a href="http://www.ghwatch.org" target="_blank">www.ghwatch.org</a></div>
<div>The press release is also to <a href="http://www.phmovement.org/en/node/9397" target="_blank">download in PDF</a>.</div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:center" align="center">
<b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(84,141,212)" lang="EN-US">Melinda Gates addresses
the World Health Assembly:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:center" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(84,141,212)" lang="EN-US">Civil Society registers
its protest</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">We
the undersigned organizations express our strong protest against the decision
of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to invite Melinda Gates (of the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation – BMGF) as the keynote speaker at the 67<sup>th</sup>
World Health Assembly, that begun in Geneva on 19<sup>th</sup> May. This is the
third time in the last 10 years that someone from the BMGF and of the family has
been an invited speaker at the WHA (Melinda Gates was preceded by her husband
Bill Gates, in 2005 and 2011). Ms.Melinda Gates’ credentials as a leader in
public health are unclear.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">It
is unacceptable that the WHO, supposedly governed by sovereign nation states,
should countenance that at its annual global conference, the keynote address
would be delivered thrice in ten years by individuals from the same private organization,
and from the same family.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">The
BMGF is the second largest funder of the WHO. It has come to occupy this place
over the past two decades, because of the freeze on assessed contributions by
member states. Currently, 80% of WHO’s finances come from voluntary
contributions (including from countries and from private sources) and BMGF’s
funding is ‘tied’ to projects that the foundation has an interest in funding.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">BMGF’s
munificence towards the WHO as well as towards many other global health causes
is w</span><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:115%">ell known. Less well known is the Foundation’s investment policies that are
clearly in conflict with global health.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><br></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">BMGF’s
policies and practices are in conflict with global health</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">Despite the strong influence the BMGF
exerts on global health policies, the effect of the policies it promotes has
never been evaluated. This lack of accountability is based on the false premise
that private foundations are not publicly accountable. This overlooks the fact
that these foundations intervene in public life through political power they
exert as a result of their financial clout; are publicly subsidized through tax
exemptions; and reinforce the notion that inequity can be addressed through
charity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">The Foundation’s corporate stock endowment
is heavily invested in food industry (many of them under scrutiny for promoting
unhealthy lifestyles), directly and indirectly. The Foundation holds
significant shares in McDonald’s (10 million shares -- about 4% of the Gates’
portfolio), and Coca-Cola (0.34 million shares, 14% of the Foundation’s
portfolio).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">Previously it invested heavily in
pharmaceutical companies. In 2009 it sold extensive pharmaceutical holdings in
Johnson & Johnson (2.5 million shares), Schering-Plough Corporation (14.9
million shares), Eli Lilly and Company (about 1 million shares), Merck &
Co. (8.1 million shares), and Wyeth (3.7 million shares)<a name="1461a06ed4ce0c86__ednref1" title=""><span><sup><span><sup><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US">[i]</span></sup></span></sup></span></a><sup>
<a name="1461a06ed4ce0c86__ednref2" title=""><span><span><sup><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US">[ii]</span></sup></span></span></a></sup>.
Several people associated with the Foundation are currently or were previously
members of the boards or executive branches of several major food and
pharmaceutical companies, including Coca-Cola, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, General
Mills and Kraft<a name="1461a06ed4ce0c86__ednref3" title=""><span><span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US">[iii]</span></span></span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">The blurring of the boundaries between the
Foundation’s objectives and its portfolio investment is evident in Foundation
grants that encourage communities in developing countries to become business
affiliates of Coca-Cola, in which the Foundation has substantial holdings. The
Foundation held stock in Merck at a time when it developed partnerships with
the African Comprehensive AIDS and Malaria Partnership and the Merck Company
Foundation to test Merck products.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><br></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">CSOs
Demands Accountability from WHO</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">It is not possible, given the numerous
conflict of interest issues that are at stake, to view the invitation to Ms. Melinda
Gates as a routine move. It would appear that the WHO Secretariat is more
beholden to private donors than to the member states, that it is
constitutionally mandated to serve.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">We demand that: </span></p>
<p></p><ul><li><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol" lang="EN-US">·</span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">The
WHO to draw up a transparent mechanism for inviting speakers to the WHA in
future.</span><br></li><li><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol" lang="EN-US">·<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">The
WHO clarify the criteria based on which Melinda Gates has been invited to speak
at the WHA.</span></li></ul>
<p style="margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">We also urge Member States to take the lead in
developing transparent and clear norms regarding such issues, and not leave the
same to the discretion of the Secretariat.</span><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US"> </span></b></p>
<p style="margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US">Sd/- sd/-</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(192,80,77)" lang="EN-US">Peoples’ Health Movement Third World Network</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US"> </span></b></p>
<p style="margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US">Sd/- sd/-</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(192,80,77)" lang="EN-US">Wemos (Netherlands) Health
Innovation in Practice (Geneva)</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(192,80,77)" lang="EN-US"> </span></b></p>
<p style="margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US">Sd/- </span></b></p>
<p style="margin-left:0cm"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(192,80,77)" lang="EN-US">International Baby Food
Action Network (IBFAN)</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US"> </span></b></p>
<div><br clear="all">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%">
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<p style="margin-bottom:6pt"><a name="1461a06ed4ce0c86__edn1" title=""><span><sup><span lang="EN-US"><span><sup><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US">[i]</span></sup></span></span></sup></span></a><sup><span lang="EN-US"> </span></sup><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.nasdaq.com/quotes/institutional-portfolio/bill--melinda-gates-foundation-trust-98131" target="_blank">http://www.nasdaq.com/quotes/institutional-portfolio/bill--melinda-gates-foundation-trust-98131</a></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p style="margin-bottom:6pt"><a name="1461a06ed4ce0c86__edn2" title=""><span><sup><span lang="EN-US"><span><sup><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US">[ii]</span></sup></span></span></sup></span></a><sup><span lang="EN-US"> </span></sup><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif" lang="EN-US">DAVID
STUCKLER, SANJAY BASU & MCKEE., M. (2011) Global Health Philanthropy and
Institutional Relationships: How Should Conflicts of Interest Be Addressed? <i>PLoS Medicine,</i> 8</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p style="margin-bottom:6pt"><a name="1461a06ed4ce0c86__edn3" title=""><span><sup><span lang="EN-US"><span><sup><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%" lang="EN-US">[iii]</span></sup></span></span></sup></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> ibid</span></p>
</div>
</div></div><div><br></div><br clear="all"><div>--<br>Global Secretariat<br>People's Health Movement (PHM)<br>Email: <a href="mailto:globalsecretariat@phmovement.org" target="_blank">globalsecretariat@phmovement.org</a><br>
Web: <a href="http://www.phmovement.org" target="_blank">www.phmovement.org</a><input type="hidden"><input type="hidden"><div></div><input type="hidden"><input type="hidden"><div></div></div>
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