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Hey AMSA folks,

Thanks to those who emailed or showed up to make yesterday's =
organizational meeting a very productive one. =20

We described some of the AMSA positions that are up for the taking, =
which Celia typed up and will soon distribue via email.  For those =
interested, check out the descriptions and reply to Celia by November 1. =
 [log in to unmask]

We did some brainstorming of upcoming activities, the most notable being =
World AIDS Day, which is coming up on Sunday, December 1.  Last year, =
nothing was really done for World AIDS Day.  We will change that this =
year (with a vengeance).  We talked about bringing in a few lunch =
lecturers on Dec. 2 and possibly Dec. 3 and to invite various AIDS =
organizations in the area to come to setup booths.  We also want to work =
with other student and campus organizatoins, SIHC, SNMA, SCOB, IMER, =
INTREPIDE, PHRM, etc.,.. to create a collection of activities to make it =
a BIG, MONSTROUS World AIDS Day event.  We have already began contacting =
outside groups and other student groups. =20

Senor Todd See-gel is leading the charge like a bat out of hell.  The =
first World AIDS Day Action Group meeting will be next Tuesday, Oct. 29 =
during lunch at Espresso Expose (corner of Harvard and Washington).  =
Hope to see many of you there.

Below is a speech which gives a great summary of some international =
health and social justice issues given at WHO a few years ago by a =
notable world leader.  See if you can guess who it is.  You may be a =
little suprised at who is speaking and why, or perhaps not. =20

To find out who it is, come to the Phi Rho Halloween Party and my place =
tonight to see the world leader in person.

Everybody is invited to stop by my place (628 Erie Street, top floor, =
between the haunted house and the main party house) at around 10pm for a =
spiked smoothie (the healthy way to get drunk), a flaming banana flambe =
(redundant) and some halloween candy, before shaking your groove thing.

Hope to see you there.

Quy
cell: 612-670-4163

 =20

The Speech=20


-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------

=20

Your excellencies, officials of the WHO, distinguished delegates.=20

All praise to the World Health Organization, which together with UNICEF, =
has helped to save the lives of hundreds of millions of children and =
millions of mothers, which has relieved the suffering and saved the =
lives of many more millions of human beings.=20

These two institutions -- together with the Food and Agriculture =
Organization, the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations =
Conference on Trade and Development, the World Food Program, the United =
Nations Population Fund, UNESCO, and other organizations so bitterly =
opposed by those who would like to erase from the face of the earth the =
noble ideas which inspired the creation of the United Nations - - have =
made a decisive contribution to the establishment of a universal =
awareness of the serious problems of the world today and the great =
challenges which we have before us.=20

According to the calculations of renowned economists, the world economy =
grew six-fold and the production of wealth and services grew from less =
than five trillion to more than twenty-nine trillion dollars between =
1950 and 1997. Why then is it still the case that each year, 12 million =
children under five years of age die -- that is to say 33,000 per day -- =
of whom the overwhelming majority could be saved?=20

Nowhere in the world, in no act of genocide, in no war, are so many =
people killed per minute, per hour and per day as those who are killed =
by hunger and poverty on our planet -- 53 years after the creation of =
the United Nations.=20

The children who die and could be saved are almost 100% poor and of =
those who survive, we must ask why 500,000 are left blind every year for =
lack of a simple vitamin which costs less than a pack of cigarettes per =
year? Why are 200 million children under five years of age =
undernourished? Why are there 250 million children and adolescents =
working? Why do 110 million not attend primary school and 275 million =
fail to attend secondary school? Why do two million girls become =
prostitutes each year? Why in this world -- which already produces =
almost 30 trillion dollars worth of goods and services per year -- do =
one billion 300 million human beings live in absolute poverty, receiving =
less than a dollar a day -- when there are those who receive more than a =
million dollars a day? Why do 800 million lack the most basic health =
services? Why is it that of the 50 million people who die each year in =
the world, whether adults or children, 17 million -- that is =
approximately 50,000 per day -- die of infectious diseases which could =
almost all be cured -- or, even better, be prevented -- at a cost which =
is sometimes no more than one dollar per person?=20

How much is a human life worth? What is the cost to humanity of the =
unjust and intolerable order which prevails in the world? 585,000 women =
died during pregnancy or in childbirth in 1996, 99% of them in the Third =
World, 70,000 due to abortions carried out in poor conditions, 69,000 of =
them in Latin America, Africa and Asia? Apart from the huge differences =
in the quality of life between rich and poor countries, people in rich =
countries live an average of 12 years longer than people in poor =
countries. And even within some nations, the difference in life =
expectancy between the richest and poorest is between 20 and 35 years. =
It is really sad to think that just in the area of maternal and =
post-natal services, in spite of the efforts of the WHO and UNICEF over =
the last 50 years, the number of deaths from lack of medical services =
has been 600 million children and 25 million mothers who could have =
survived. That would have required a more rational and more just world.=20

In that same post-war period, in the area of military expenditure, 30 =
trillion dollars were spent. According to UN estimates, the cost of =
providing universal access to basic health care services would be 25 =
billion dollars per year -- just three percent of the 800 billion =
dollars which are currently devoted to military expenditure -- and this =
after the end of the Cold War.=20

There is no let up in arms sales, which have the sole purpose of =
killing, while the medicines which should be provided to save lives =
become increasingly expensive. The market in medicines in 1995 reached =
280 billion dollars. The developed countries, with 14.6% of the world's =
population -- 824 million inhabitants -- consume 82% of the medicines. =
The rest of the world -- 4 billion 815 million people -- consume only =
18%.=20

Prices of medicines are prohibitive for the Third World, where only the =
privileged sectors can afford them. The control of patents and markets =
by the large transnational companies enables them to raise those prices =
as much as ten times above their production costs. Some of the latest =
antibiotics are priced at 50 times their production cost.=20

And the world's population continues to grow. We are now almost six =
billion and growing at a rate of 80 million per year. It took two =
million years to reach the first billion people, a hundred years to =
reach the second billion, and 11 years to reach the last billion. In 50 =
years, there will be four billion new inhabitants on the planet.=20

Old illnesses have returned and new ones are appearing: AIDS, the Ebola =
virus, Anthrax, BSE or mad cow disease -- more than thirty according to =
the specialists. Either we defeat AIDS or AIDS will destroy many Third =
World countries. No poor person can pay the 10,000 dollars per person =
each year that current treatments cost -- which merely prolong life =
without actually curing the disease.=20

The climate is changing. The seas and the atmosphere are heating up. The =
air and water are becoming contaminated. Soil is eroding, deserts are =
growing, forests are disappearing and water is becoming scarce. Who can =
save our species? The blind, uncontrollable law of the market? =
Neo-liberal globalization, alone and for its own sake, like a cancer =
which devours human beings and destroys nature? That cannot be the way =
forward or at least it can only last for a brief period in history. The =
WHO is fighting heroically against these realities and it also has the =
duty of being optimistic.=20

As a ______ and a revolutionary, I share their optimism. With a current =
infant mortality rate of 7.2 per thousand live births during the first =
year; a doctor for every 176 inhabitants -- which is the highest level =
in the world -- and a life expectancy of more than 75 years of age, =
______ has fulfilled the WHO Health for All program for the year 2000 =
since 1983 -- in spite of the cruel blockade it has suffered for almost =
40 years, in spite of being a poor, Third World country. The attempt to =
commit genocide against our country has only made us redouble our =
efforts and increased our will to survive. The world can also fight and =
win.=20

Thank you very much.=20

The above is the full text of the speech delivered by _____________ at =
the Palace of Nations in Geneva on the occasion of the presentation to =
him of the Health for All Medal by the World Health Organization, =
Thursday, May 14, 1998.






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<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hey AMSA folks,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks to those who emailed or showed =
up to make=20
yesterday's organizational meeting a very productive one.&nbsp; =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We described some of the AMSA positions =
that are up=20
for the taking, which Celia typed up and will soon distribue via =
email.&nbsp;=20
For those interested, check out the descriptions and reply to Celia by =
November=20
1.&nbsp; <A =
href=3D"mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We did some brainstorming of upcoming =
activities,=20
the&nbsp;most notable&nbsp;being&nbsp;World AIDS Day,&nbsp;which is =
coming up on=20
Sunday, December 1.&nbsp; Last year, nothing was really done for World =
AIDS=20
Day.&nbsp; We will change that this year (with a vengeance).&nbsp; We =
talked=20
about bringing in a few lunch lecturers on Dec. 2 and possibly Dec. 3 =
and to=20
invite various AIDS organizations in the area to come to setup =
booths.&nbsp; We=20
also want to work with other student and campus&nbsp;organizatoins, =
SIHC, SNMA,=20
SCOB, IMER, INTREPIDE,&nbsp;PHRM, etc.,.. to create a collection of =
activities=20
to make it a BIG, MONSTROUS World AIDS Day event.&nbsp; We have already =
began=20
contacting outside groups and other student groups.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Senor Todd See-gel&nbsp;is leading the =
charge like=20
a bat out of hell.&nbsp;&nbsp;The first&nbsp;World AIDS Day Action Group =
meeting=20
will be next Tuesday, Oct. 29 during lunch at Espresso Expose (corner of =
Harvard=20
and Washington).&nbsp; Hope to see many of you there.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Below is a speech which gives a great =
summary of=20
some international health and social justice issues given at WHO a few =
years ago=20
by a&nbsp;notable world leader.&nbsp; See if you can guess who it =
is.&nbsp; You=20
may be a little suprised at who is speaking and why, or perhaps =
not.&nbsp;=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>To find out who it is, come to the Phi =
Rho=20
Halloween Party and my place tonight to see the world leader in=20
person.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Everybody is invited to stop by my =
place (628 Erie=20
Street, top floor, between the haunted house and the main party house) =
at around=20
10pm for a spiked smoothie (the healthy way to get drunk), a flaming =
banana=20
flambe (redundant) and some halloween candy, before shaking your groove=20
thing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hope to see you there.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Quy</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>cell: 612-670-4163</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"=20
align=3Dcenter><B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 26pt; COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The=20
Speech</SPAN></B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 26pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">=20
<?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"=20
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" =

align=3Dcenter><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">
<HR align=3Dcenter width=3D"60%" SIZE=3D2>
</SPAN></DIV>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Your=20
excellencies, officials of the WHO, distinguished delegates.=20
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">All=20
praise to the World Health Organization, which together with UNICEF, has =
helped=20
to save the lives of hundreds of millions of children and millions of =
mothers,=20
which has relieved the suffering and saved the lives of many more =
millions of=20
human beings. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">These=20
two institutions -- together with the Food and Agriculture Organization, =
the=20
United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Conference on =
Trade and=20
Development, the World Food Program, the United Nations Population Fund, =
UNESCO,=20
and other organizations so bitterly opposed by those who would like to =
erase=20
from the face of the earth the noble ideas which inspired the creation =
of the=20
United Nations - - have made a decisive contribution to the =
establishment of a=20
universal awareness of the serious problems of the world today and the =
great=20
challenges which we have before us. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">According=20
to the calculations of renowned economists, the world economy grew =
six-fold and=20
the production of wealth and services grew from less than five trillion =
to more=20
than twenty-nine trillion dollars between 1950 and 1997. Why then is it =
still=20
the case that each year, 12 million children under five years of age die =
-- that=20
is to say 33,000 per day -- of whom the overwhelming majority could be =
saved?=20
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Nowhere=20
in the world, in no act of genocide, in no war, are so many people =
killed per=20
minute, per hour and per day as those who are killed by hunger and =
poverty on=20
our planet -- 53 years after the creation of the United Nations.=20
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The=20
children who die and could be saved are almost 100% poor and of those =
who=20
survive, we must ask why 500,000 are left blind every year for lack of a =
simple=20
vitamin which costs less than a pack of cigarettes per year? Why are 200 =
million=20
children under five years of age undernourished? Why are there 250 =
million=20
children and adolescents working? Why do 110 million not attend primary =
school=20
and 275 million fail to attend secondary school? Why do two million =
girls become=20
prostitutes each year? Why in this world -- which already produces =
almost 30=20
trillion dollars worth of goods and services per year -- do one billion =
300=20
million human beings live in absolute poverty, receiving less than a =
dollar a=20
day -- when there are those who receive more than a million dollars a =
day? Why=20
do 800 million lack the most basic health services? Why is it that of =
the 50=20
million people who die each year in the world, whether adults or =
children, 17=20
million -- that is approximately 50,000 per day -- die of infectious =
diseases=20
which could almost all be cured -- or, even better, be prevented -- at a =
cost=20
which is sometimes no more than one dollar per person? =
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">How=20
much is a human life worth? What is the cost to humanity of the unjust =
and=20
intolerable order which prevails in the world? 585,000 women died during =

pregnancy or in childbirth in 1996, 99% of them in the Third World, =
70,000 due=20
to abortions carried out in poor conditions, 69,000 of them in Latin =
America,=20
Africa and Asia? Apart from the huge differences in the quality of life =
between=20
rich and poor countries, people in rich countries live an average of 12 =
years=20
longer than people in poor countries. And even within some nations, the=20
difference in life expectancy between the richest and poorest is between =
20 and=20
35 years. It is really sad to think that just in the area of maternal =
and=20
post-natal services, in spite of the efforts of the WHO and UNICEF over =
the last=20
50 years, the number of deaths from lack of medical services has been =
600=20
million children and 25 million mothers who could have survived. That =
would have=20
required a more rational and more just world. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">In=20
that same post-war period, in the area of military expenditure, 30 =
trillion=20
dollars were spent. According to UN estimates, the cost of providing =
universal=20
access to basic health care services would be 25 billion dollars per =
year --=20
just three percent of the 800 billion dollars which are currently =
devoted to=20
military expenditure -- and this after the end of the Cold War.=20
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">There=20
is no let up in arms sales, which have the sole purpose of killing, =
while the=20
medicines which should be provided to save lives become increasingly =
expensive.=20
The market in medicines in 1995 reached 280 billion dollars. The =
developed=20
countries, with 14.6% of the world's population -- 824 million =
inhabitants --=20
consume 82% of the medicines. The rest of the world -- 4 billion 815 =
million=20
people -- consume only 18%. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Prices=20
of medicines are prohibitive for the Third World, where only the =
privileged=20
sectors can afford them. The control of patents and markets by the large =

transnational companies enables them to raise those prices as much as =
ten times=20
above their production costs. Some of the latest antibiotics are priced =
at 50=20
times their production cost. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">And=20
the world's population continues to grow. We are now almost six billion =
and=20
growing at a rate of 80 million per year. It took two million years to =
reach the=20
first billion people, a hundred years to reach the second billion, and =
11 years=20
to reach the last billion. In 50 years, there will be four billion new=20
inhabitants on the planet. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Old=20
illnesses have returned and new ones are appearing: AIDS, the Ebola =
virus,=20
Anthrax, BSE or mad cow disease -- more than thirty according to the=20
specialists. Either we defeat AIDS or AIDS will destroy many Third World =

countries. No poor person can pay the 10,000 dollars per person each =
year that=20
current treatments cost -- which merely prolong life without actually =
curing the=20
disease. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The=20
climate is changing. The seas and the atmosphere are heating up. The air =
and=20
water are becoming contaminated. Soil is eroding, deserts are growing, =
forests=20
are disappearing and water is becoming scarce. Who can save our species? =
The=20
blind, uncontrollable law of the market? Neo-liberal globalization, =
alone and=20
for its own sake, like a cancer which devours human beings and destroys =
nature?=20
That cannot be the way forward or at least it can only last for a brief =
period=20
in history. The WHO is fighting heroically against these realities and =
it also=20
has the duty of being optimistic. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">As=20
a&nbsp;______ and a revolutionary, I share their optimism. With a =
current infant=20
mortality rate of 7.2 per thousand live births during the first year; a =
doctor=20
for every 176 inhabitants -- which is the highest level in the world -- =
and a=20
life expectancy of more than 75 years of age,&nbsp;______ has fulfilled =
the WHO=20
Health for All program for the year 2000 since 1983 -- in spite of the =
cruel=20
blockade it has suffered for almost 40 years, in spite of being a poor, =
Third=20
World country. The attempt to commit genocide against our country has =
only made=20
us redouble our efforts and increased our will to survive. The world can =
also=20
fight and win. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Thank=20
you very much. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Comic =
Sans MS">The=20
above is the full text of the speech delivered by _____________ at the =
Palace of=20
Nations in Geneva on the occasion of the presentation to him of the =
Health for=20
All Medal by the World Health Organization, Thursday, May 14,=20
1998.</FONT></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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