Generic Drug Exports
Canada is in the process of changing her drug-patent laws to allow exports of generics to countries experiencing epidemics. Allowed for under ``Paragraph 6'' from the Doha round of WTO negotiations, Canada is the first [developed] nation to do this, despite millions of AIDS deaths in Africa directly related to US pharmaceutical pressure from PhRMA (their lobby organisation). [Canada proposes changes, Doctor Petition, NAFTA snag?, Africa approves]
The US -- and PhRMA, naturally -- are opposing this; they want to kill more Africans in order to remain the most profitable industry Earth has ever produced. [US, PhRMA opposition]
If you still consider our ``democracy'' functional, you might consider writing your MP and asking them to please not continue their fucking over of developing nations. Maybe ask them how the slaughter in Afghanistan is going, too.
Of course, drug patents are just one example of the egregious harm that comes from limiting the sharing of ideas (as with copyrights and patents). We should also remember that the entire reason Canada has a generic drug industry in the first place is credited (by the government task force looking at this in the 1970's) to compulsory licensing provisions. This same task force recommended eliminating Canadian copyright and extending compulsory licensing to all patents. (See Copyright is dead; Long live copyright!)
Instead, we extended copyright terms, expanded what they cover, extended drug patent terms (to 23 years) and eliminated compulsory licensing altogether. Long live corporate lobby groups.