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BUSH & PHARMACEUTICALS GUILTY OF GENOCIDE ?
President George W. Bush's 2005 proposed federal budget, released earlier this month, continues to under-fund the domestic and global fight against HIV/AIDS. This is creating a growing perception that this administration is disingenuous in its commitment to stop what a Vatican spokesman called, “genocide.”
Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? The Vatican spokesman, in a press conference following the Pope’s message to Catholics at Lent, said pharmaceuticals are engaged in genocidal action because they refuse to make drugs affordable in Africa and elsewhere. Yet, the Catholic Church is a contributor to this “genocide” with its entrenched position against the use of condoms to help reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The Vatican is correct in saying, "This is a moral issue which shows the lack of social conscience by these capitalistic enterprises, which could easily save the lives of the 25 million sub-Saharan Africans who are HIV-positive and otherwise doomed,” Father D’Agostino argued.
The issue of medicines not reaching the affected is not just a problem for third world countries it’s also a problem here at home.
Adding to the woes of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is the Bush administration’s loss of touch with reality and out right misinformation. Speaking briefly before signing H.R. 1298, the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003, Bush says one thing and does another. “Today, I call for a new compact for global development, defined by new accountability for both rich and poor nations alike," states President George W. Bush in his address at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C. March 14, 2002. "Greater contributions from developed nations must be linked to greater responsibility from developing nations," explained President Bush. "The United States will lead by example. We will increase our development assistance by $5 billion over the three -- over the next three budget cycles. This new money above and beyond existing aid requests." In his usual pattern of lies, less than a year from this pronouncement Bush reduced payments by 64% to the Global Fund of HIV/AIDS.
The President’s initiative to negotiate trade-agreements with Central America that favor brand-name HIV/AIDS antiretrovirals and leaving generics out of the picture confirms the Vatican’s statement that pharmaceuticals are involved in “genocide.” Because, instead of a policy that favors the well being of humans, Bush proposes policies that favor the pharmaceuticals.
Making matters worse is Bush’s 2005 budget. On the home front or as he likes to call it the “Homeland,” Bush’s budget proposals falls $284 million short of the projected need for the much needed Aids Drug Assistance Program.
"We are disappointed in the administration's 2005 budget proposal, especially the lack of additional funds for HIV prevention," said Mark Ishaug, executive director of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC). How can we possibly reduce the 40,000 infections each year in this country without a greater financial commitment to proven prevention programs?"
"ADAP is one of our country's most important and successful AIDS programs, said David Ernesto Munar, AFC associate director. "Thousands of HIV-positive people will be denied access to care, which will simply worse our nation's AIDS crisis."
Despite an additional $3 million proposed for the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative (MHAI), people of color and all Americans affected by HIV/AIDS will be hurt by the lack of adequate funding for core programs addressing AIDS prevention, care, housing, and research, said AFC officials. The budget seeks no new funds for domestic HIV prevention services, AIDS housing, or essential medical and social services through the Ryan White CARE Act.
This type of behaviour by the Bush administration is easily condemned and rightfully so. Bush and the pharmaceuticals are laughing all the way to the bank at the expense of the millions of people worldwide who are denied life saving medicines simply because it’s not in the budget.
Mr. Bush, if there is little money to save lives from the devastation of HIV/AIDS how then do you find the money to kill people in the name of “The War on Terror?” Or will you wait until the “genocide” is complete?