11 MARCH 2005, LONDON
Will 2005 produce G8 leaders that are all mouth and no trousers?
Or, will 2005 see G8 leaders Make AIDS History?
3 million people are dying to find out.
(London) As the 1st Global Replenishment Conference got under way in Stockholm today Make AIDS History campaigners and activists from across the UK converged in London to turn the heat up on Number 10 and the London based embassies of G8 countries to urge them to find the $2bn needed to fund the WHO initiative to get 3 million people on urgently needed HIV/AIDS treatment by 2005. Charging G8 leaders with being "all mouth and no trousers", activists hidden behind G7 leader facemasks arrived at each embassy suited and booted (but without trousers) under the banner of the WHO 3x5 logo to deliver letters demanding that each government commit to its fair share to fill the funding gap.
Whilst they met with a matched turn out of police in front of the American and Canadian Embassies responses from others were more positive. Francoise Croquette, Minister Consular for French Embassy, said they were committed to the 3 by 5 target, the Japanese Secretary for Economics, Sachiko Ishibashi confirmed announcement of a contributions to the Global Fund this April and the German Ambassador expressed his full support for the campaign. Letters were delivered to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown in Downing Street. It remains to be seen whether governments will follow through on their alleged commitment to the 3 by 5 initiative or fall foul of the activists cry. 3 million people's lives hang in the balance.
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