Oomama screening Fire in the Blood Sunday by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 11 | Friday, April 4, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com If you had medicine that could save someone's life, would you give it to them? Oomama, the Oakville grandmothers-supportinggrandmothers-in-Africa group, invites residents to a Sunday (April 6) screening of a documentary, which conveys that, for many years, the West's answer to that question has been a definitive `no.' The documentary will be shown, followed by a panel discussion from 2-4 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School, 124 Dorval Dr., Fire in the Blood is a film by Dylan Mohan Gray that looks at how, between 1996 and 2001, generic antiretroviral (ARV) AIDS drugs, which could have saved the lives of millions in Africa and the global south, were prevented from being distributed by Western pharmaceutical companies armed with patent monopolies and aided by their governments. "It's really about the corporate crime of the century, which a lot of people have never heard of," said Lorraine Green, Oomama chair. Oomama was founded to support, through the Stephen Lewis Foundation, grandmothers in Africa who are raising grandchildren orphaned by HIV/ AIDS. "These big pharmaceutical companies believed that because they had the patents on these drugs that no other company should be selling generic ARVs to developing countries. So, this is about medicine monopoly, it's about patents on medicine and it is about the deaths of millions of people." The documentary and panel discussion will largely focus on the actions of the U.S. and American pharmaceutical companies, but Green said Canada also bears some guilt for keeping lifesaving medicine from those in need. "Canada only put its Access of Medicine regime together in 2003-04," said Green. "Up to that time, Canada was very much in the same position as the U.S. and was very much aware of what was happening." Green said Oomama wanted to show this film because large trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which involves 12 countries including Canada and the U.S., are on the horizon. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, in particular, includes some patent protection legislation that Green and others find worrisome. Green hopes that by learning about what has happened in the past and what could happen again in the future, residents will join Oomama in taking action. HALTON ECO FESTIVAL VISIT OUR WEDNESDAY, Open House on FREE to attend Free parking Free Blue Boxes April 9 14th annual: One day only! Featuring: 50 booths educational speakers eco cafe eco products solar kid's eco fun zone local environmental campaigns alternative healthcare free draw and giveaways Are you going to the environmental fair at the Glen Abbey Community Centre, 1415 Third Line at Upper Middle Road? AT HSC, LEARNING HAPPENS NATURALLY. The ability to develop at your own pace, and through your own interest and passion, is crucial in learning." - Dianne de Freitas, Montessori School Principal Saturday, April 5th 10 am to 5 pm, (905) 849-5501 oakvillepeacecentre.org/haltonecofest Hillfield Strathallan College is an independent day school for Montessori Toddler and Pre-Kindergarten students to Grade 12. Visit us at www.hsc.on.ca. Now accepting applications for September 2014. Call Scott Barton 905-389-1367 EXPERIENCE THE HALTON VACUUM DIFFERENCE Great Value Performer BEAM CLEAN YOUR HOME · 500 air watts · Powerful enough for most homes · Basic Electric Powerhead and hose · Complete set of attachments Offer ends April 19, 2014. While quantities last. Classic Power Performer · 600 Air Watts · Powerful enough for even large homes. · Beam Deluxe power head and hose kit · Complete set of attachments. · 7 year motor warranty. · GORE self-cleaning filter. Beam's Best Save on Powerhead Power Performer & Hose Sets · 640 air watts · Powerful enough for even large homes · Beam's best Q power head and hose kit · Complete set of attachments. · 7 year motor warranty. · GORE self-cleaning filter. $ 39999 Save $200 OFF M.S.R.P. $600.00 $ 500 only 49999 600 $ only Model #SC275A Model #SC200 69999 Model #099603 640 $ only 899 Save $200 ITEM Model #012281 99 Accessories on Sale M.S.R.P. $ NOW SAVE $ Save $ OFF M.S.R.P. $770.00 270 Model #099600 $ Save OFF M.S.R.P. $1210.00 510 Model #SC298A Save $700 OFF M.S.R.P. $1600.00 Model #012281 Hose Cover Garage Kit Vac Pan Combo Tool Pet Groomer 52.99 49.99 $ 49.99 $ 29.99 $ 29.99 $ 42.99 39.99 $ 39.99 $ 24.99 $ 24.99 $ $ 10.00 10.00 $ 10.00 $ 5.00 $ 5.00 $ SALES · SERVICE · SELECTION · QUALITY BRANDS · INSTALLATION Clean Starts Here! Trafalgar Ridge Shopping plaza 2379 Trafalgar Road (in the Winners/HomeSense plaza) Haltonvac.ca Voted Best Vacuum Store Voted Best Since 1999 Customer Service 905-257-6145 Beside Scotia Bank Mon.-Thur. 10-5 | Fri-Sat 10-3 Closed Sunday.