Korea FTA
Earlier this week, I met in Seoul with civil society fighting the Korus FTA. They are generally opposed to reopening negotiations at this point, but if they do, they hope to have the intellectual property and access to medicines provisions reopened. Continue Reading
H-Prize passes U.S. House, 408-8
According to this GQ story, the H-Prize (HR 632, 110th Congress) passed the House today by a vote of 408 to 8.
Every two years, H-Prizes worth $1 million would be given in four categories: production, storage, distribution and utilization. One $4 million prize would be awarded for hydrogen vehicles. At the end of 10 years, a $10 million grand prize would be given for a “transformational advance in hydrogen energy technology.”
PAHO to meet on IGWG on June 18, 2007, in Washington, DC
The first American regional meeting on the WHO Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property (IGWG) is scheduled for June 18, 2007 in Washington, DC. This first meeting is organized by PAHO, at the request of the Bolivian Government.
More meetings and working groups are going to be organized this summer and fall in preparation for the II IGWG next November 2007.
KEI Report on the IGWG, in Spanish
To facilitate Latin American governments and civil society effective participation in the WHO IGWG process and their better understanding of some of the proposals, KEI has prepared a report in Spanish.
To access an electronic copy of the report, visit: https://www.keionline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49
Bush sends Bob Zoellick to World Bank, doubles AIDS funding
I think these are two positive steps for Bush. This was my take on this in the Huffington Post on the Zoellick pick for the World Bank. Bush could have done worse (and did with Wolfowitz). Continue Reading
May 30, 2007 Brownbag Lunch: Discussion on New U.S. Trade Policy and Access to Medicine
On May 30, KEI hosted a brown bag lunch discussion on guidelines for the new U.S. trade policy recently released by the Congressional Ways and Means Committee and the Bush Administration. The event began with brief statements by panelists Fabiana… Continue Reading
H-Prize Act Passes House Committee on May 23
According to this May 23 press release, the bill creating the H-Prize Act unanimously passed the House Committee on Science and Technology. The bill creates prizes for scientific breakthroughs in the use of hydrogen as an energy source for transportation.
Views on the 60th World Health Assembly IGWG resolution
On 23 May 2007, the 60th World Health Assembly, the World Health Organization’s highest governing body, adopted resolution WHA60.30 on Public health, innovation and intellectual property. This resolution bolstered the work program of WHO’s Intergovernmental Working Group on Public health, innovation and intellectual property (IGWG/PHI). This is the key operative section of the resolution, and the reactions by several key persons.