Date: Tue, 11 Oct 1994 12:16:46 -0400 (EDT) From: David Casti Subject: ACTION ALERT: Global Summit on AIDS Submitted by: RUGA2@aol.com Submitted by Richard Urkiel Phone and fax zap approved by the floor of ACTUP/NY on Monday October 10, 1994 to run for 2 weeks. Background: The French Government and the World Health Organization Global Program on AIDS (WHO GPA) are organizing a "Heads of Government" meeting on AIDS. The purpose is to strengthen the commitment of governments to the global AIDS fight and hopefully to raise more money for global AIDS programs. Problem: During the presidential campaign candidate Bill Clinton promised to provide leadership in the fight against AIDS and to make it a top priority of his administration. During his two years in office President Clinton has done little to fulfill his campaign promises concerning AIDS or to provide vitally needed leadership. At this point President Bill Clinton has no intention of attending the Global Summit on AIDS or even of sending Vice President Al Gore. Instead Donna Shalala, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, is slated to attend. Shalala is not an appropriate representative because, aside from her relative lack of stature, the State Department, not HHS, oversees U.S. involvement in global AIDS programs The United States has failed to indicate a commitment for new funding for the global AIDS fight and is now threatening to cut the $120 million it currently gives to the United Nations to fight AIDS. Action Needed: Call Washington and demand that: 1. The U.S. send at least the same level representatives that it recently sent to Cairo for the "Population Summit." Namely, Vice President Al Gore, State Department Head for International Affairs Timothy Wirth, and Head of the United States Agency for International Development Terry Atwood. 2. That People With AIDS (PWAs) and Non-Governmental Organizations be involved with the U.S. delegation to draft the U.S. position and attend the Paris meetings on October 26, 1994 and on December 1, 1994. 3. The U.S. commit at least $3 billion in new funding to combat the global AIDS crisis. Targets: Patsy Fleming (Acting AIDS Czar)- Phone: 202-632-1090 FAX: 202-632-1096. Sharon Hrynkow, M.D. (State Department-National Coordinator) Phone: 202-647-4537 FAX:202-736-7336 ***ACTUP***FIGHT BACK***FIGHT AIDS***