<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Dear colleagues,<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">After ten long months, text-based negotiations on the TRIPS waiver for COVID vaccines and treatments finally began today. While this is a critical and necessary step towards vaccinating the world and ending the pandemic, I am sorry to report that the European Union — led by Germany — continues to obstruct a fast and effective final agreement.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Below is information about a <b class="">demonstration in DC</b> taking place next Thursday at the European Commission offices, as well as a <b class="">national online training for activists </b>interested in increasing the pressure on Chancellor Merkel and other bad actors. We are closer than ever to seeing a TRIPS waiver adopted, but it’s going to take our concerted effort to get there! I hope you can get involved with one or both of the following efforts.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">In solidarity,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class="">Arthur Stamoulis<br class="">Citizens Trade Campaign<br class="">(202) 494-8826<br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><br class=""><br class=""><div class="">ACTIVIST TRAINING:</div><div class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9px;"><br class=""></span></div><div class=""><font size="5" class=""><b class="">Effective Birddogging for Global Access to COVID Vaccines & Treatments</b></font></div><div class=""><i class="" style="font-size: 9px;"><br class=""></i></div><div class=""><font size="4" class=""><i class="">Part of the International Campaign for a Fast & Effective TRIPS Waiver</i></font></div><div class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 14px;"><br class=""></span></div><blockquote class="" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;"><div class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 14px;"><b class="">Wednesday, June 23 • 8pm Eastern / 7pm Central / 6pm Mountain / 5pm Pacific</b></span></div><div class=""><b class="" style="font-size: 9px;"><br class=""></b></div><div class=""><a href="https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMsf-ihrTwtEtdU8q4VftnRpBBY62ne2jzt" class=""><font size="3" class=""><b class="">RSVP Online Here</b></font></a></div></blockquote><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">All activists who want to help expand access to COVID vaccines & treatments around the globe and otherwise end vaccine apartheid are invited to please join us for a free online training on effective birddogging. <a href="https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMsf-ihrTwtEtdU8q4VftnRpBBY62ne2jzt" class="">RSVP online now.</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Birddogging is the art and science of putting elected official, candidates, corporate execs and other decision makers on the spot — in person, in public and on camera — so they do the right thing. The tactic is playing an important role in the international campaign for a fast and effective TRIPS waiver that’s needed to help save millions of lives and end the COVID pandemic. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Led by Vinay Krishnam, National Field Organizer at the Center for Popular Democracy, this “how-to" training will teach you everything you need to birddog with the best of them. Organizers from Global Trade Watch, Justice Is Global and Citizens Trade Campaign will also share ways you can connect with other activists in your area as part of skilled-up and action-ready “flying squads” making a difference across the country. <b class="">This training will include discussion of actions across the country during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s upcoming visit to the United States.</b></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><a href="https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMsf-ihrTwtEtdU8q4VftnRpBBY62ne2jzt" class=""><b class="">Please RSVP here for the login information.</b></a></div><br class=""><br class=""><br class="">DC ACTION:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><font size="5" class=""><b class="">Call on Angela Merkel to Stop Germany’s COVID-19 Vaccine Apartheid</b></font></div></div><div class=""><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><blockquote class="" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;"><div class=""><b class="" style="font-size: 14px;">Thursday, June 24 • 10am Eastern</b></div><div class=""><b class="" style="font-size: 14px;"><br class=""></b></div><div class=""><b class="" style="font-size: 14px;">Outside the Delegation of the European Commission</b></div><div class=""><b class="" style="font-size: 14px;">2175 K Street NW</b></div><div class=""><b class="" style="font-size: 14px;">Washington, DC</b></div><div class=""><b class="" style="font-size: 14px;"><br class=""></b></div><div class=""><a href="https://forms.gle/a5wn6m3jKaesBo87A" class=""><font size="4" class=""><b class="">RSVP Online Here</b></font></a></div><div class=""><b class="" style="font-size: 14px;"><br class=""></b></div></blockquote><div class="">While COVID-19 vaccination rates soar in the US and Europe, only 0.3% of people in low-income countries have had their first shot. Communities across the global South are facing terrifying new waves of preventable death and sickness with virtually no protection or treatment.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">German Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of the only global leaders still blocking a plan to suspend drug companies’ intellectual property rights that’s needed to rapidly scale up vaccine production and save lives. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">JOIN US for a protest and press conference. Speakers include Rep. Jan Schakowsky, AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson, Oxfam America President Abby Hoffman and others. For more info, please email <a href="mailto:mgroch@citizen.org" class="">Mgroch@citizen.org</a>. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><a href="https://forms.gle/a5wn6m3jKaesBo87A" class=""><b class="">Please RSVP online here to receive updates about the rally.</b></a></div></div><br class=""><br class=""><div class=""><br class=""><br class=""><br class="">
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