95 per cent of the world's 36 million people with HIV have no access to the HIV drugs that are available to people with HIV in the U.S. and other wealthy countries. There are 8,000 people with AIDS dying preventable deaths each day-most of them in sub Saharan Africa.

Super profitable drug companies-most of them based in the U.S.-keep the price of medications too high to be affordable for the majority of the world's people with AIDS. People with HIV who live in poor countries face a death sentence, while people with HIV who live in rich countries have a "treatable condition." When poor countries try to manufacture low-cost generic versions of overpriced AIDS drugs, the U.S. is the first government the big companies call on for help in stopping it.

The U.S. government-the richest on the planet-refuses to give more than a fraction of the $10 billion in new money needed each year to fight the greatest plague humans have experienced in modern times. In fact, the U.S. and the pharmaceutical companies fight every day for trade and economic policies that are making access to life extending drugs more difficult in poor countries.

U.S. POLICY: FANNING THE FLAMES

U.S. Policy on Global AIDS is Racist: the U.S. typically funds about 25% of the cost of UN health and development projects. When the UN announced a new $9-10 billion Global AIDS Fund-the first ever that would fund AIDS treatment in poor countries-the U.S. was eager to take all the credit for being the first donor, but refused to give more than $200 million. $200 million is nothing for the U.S. government-the Bush Administration wants a $26 billion increase in the military spending budget for 2002 but is refusing to cough up its fair share in the fight against AIDS. The Administration priorities are clear: the lives of millions of primarily Black people are simply unimportant.

- and Deadly: poor countries owe billions in debt that can never be repaid to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. These international institutions lend money to poor countries with deadly strings attached: countries are forced to revamp their economies so spending on health and education disappears. These policies worsen the AIDS epidemic and cripple the ability of poor countries to fight back. The U.S. is the largest player in the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, and a big believer in its deadly policies.

The U.S. also dominates the World Trade Organization (WTO) where it fights side by side with drug companies for agreements that require poor countries to re-write their patent rules and adopt strict patents on drugs, sending prices through the roof on life extending AIDS medication.