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"We are proud to stand in solidarity with all people of the Global South to have access to safe and effective vaccines." — Larry Brown NUPGE President.
Ottawa (04 March 2020) — The National Union of Public and General Employees is very pleased to participate in an online Global Assembly on the topic of "Safe and Effective Vaccines for All" to take place on Sunday March 14, 2021.
Organizations and speakers participating in the event
The online event is co-sponsored by a coalition of global labour unions, such as Public Services International, and global civil society organizations such as Oxfam, and The Co-operative and Policy Alternative Center (COPAC), a not for profit grassroots development organization that emerged in post-Apartheid South Africa (https://copac.org.za/about-us). Guest speakers include many notable human rights champions and labour activists such as Baba Aye, (PSI Health and Social Sector Officer), Anna Marriott (Oxfam International), and Jeremy Corbyn, former UK Labour Leader and long-time anti-racist activist.
Why is it important that we all participate in this event?
"Expanding vaccine access to developing nations is a moral obligation," said Larry Brown. "It is unacceptable that countries n the Global South are being denied vaccines, or worse, are being forced to pay more for their vaccines than people in the Global North."
Oxfam International reveals that wealthier countries have already purchased more than 53% of the supply of the most promising vaccines [https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/campaigners-warn-9-out-10-peopl…;
As countries worldwide compete for limited supplies, countries in the Global South will have to pay monopoly prices for access. Furthermore, as The Guardian reports, this harsh reality is already unfolding before our eyes with reports of South Africa paying more than double the price paid by the European Union for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
"We are proud to stand in solidarity with all people of the Global South to have access to safe and effective vaccines," said Larry Brown NUPGE President.
How to Participate in this Event
Date: March 14, 2021
Time: 3 PM (Johannesburg)
Register at the link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F2j8U6u4Tgm4ZUxeu3VIvA
After registering, receive an email with your unique link to join the webinar. The link will be resent one hour before the event:
If Zoom is full, join us on Facebook, where we will be live streaming the event: https://www.facebook.com/COPACSA/