Things That I Believe In...

An ongoing list:

Swiss Army Knives (Basic: Tinker, etc.)

PBS

Apple Computers

Anthropology

Toyota Pickups

Moleskine notebooks

The American Medicical Student Association (AMSA)

Manual Medicine

The US Constitution

Neighborhoods & Community

Education

The Bicycle

Patagonia Stand-Up Shorts

Wikipedia

Osteopathic Medicine (the practice, not the institution)

Primary Care

Family Medicine

Bill Bryson

The National Geographic Society

Free Eric Volz

Eric Volz is a U.S. Citizen who has been sentenced to 30 years in a Nicaraguan prison for crimes he did not commit. He was working as the publisher for El Puente Magazine in Nicaragua when he was accused, convicted, and sentenced for murder.

He is suffering a slow and debilitating existence under conditions beyond your comprehension. Fighting starvation and under the constant threat of violent attacks...... his life is on the line everyday!

This is not a joke, this not a game, this is his struggle. The facts of his situation speak for themselves and can be found at the website indicated. If you think you can help him in anyway do not hesitate, we are begging you....his survival could depend on it.

Find more info here:

http://www.friendsofericvolz.com/

Boycott Abbot Laboratories:

US MEDICAL STUDENTS STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THAIS IN REPONSE TO ABBOTT LABORATORIES' WITHHOLDING ESSENTIAL MEDICATIONS

Prevention of access to essential medications leads to national boycott of Abbott Laboratories' representatives

Reston, VA - The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) calls for widespread support of Thai patients, physicians and activists in response to Abbott Laboratories’ recent refusal to provide life-saving medications in Thailand. Abbott’s unprecedented decision abandons patients with life-threatening illnesses and violates the right to health. AMSA believes that Abbott should provide universal access to its essential medicines rather than prevent vital treatment.

Today, March 26, 2007, AMSA stands in solidarity with Thai colleagues in their national day of action protesting Abbott's alarming decision. AMSA encourages future and current US healthcare professionals to boycott visits and telephone calls from representatives of Abbott until the company supplies all withdrawn medicines to Thai markets. AMSA calls on its physician colleagues to shut the door on Abbott as Abbott has shut the door on patients in Thailand.

"Abbott’s actions threaten patient lives and to our knowledge, no pharmaceutical company has withdrawn AIDS medicines in retaliation to a movement toward universal access to healthcare," said Laura Frye, AMSA Global AIDS Fellow. "AMSA strongly supports the legal rights of the Thai government to protect their citizens and their access to affordable medicines, and we condemn Abbott for refusing to provide life-saving medications." Medical students across the nation are uniting in support of the Thai government. Representing over 68,000 physicians-in-training, AMSA sends the message to Abbott that patients’ welfare is the priority of healthcare professionals. "We must send a clear message to Abbott and other pharmaceutical companies that access to affordable medications is a human right and that patients deserve the opportunity to receive the same treatment available in developed countries," said Frye.

Last year, in an effort to offset the prohibitive costs of AIDS medicines, Thailand issued a compulsory license in an attempt to manufacture an inexpensive generic version of Abbott’s Kaletra. In response, Abbott prevented access in Thailand to the heat-stable version of Kaletra that is available to US patients as well as to other life-saving medication, including antibiotics. AMSA strongly affirms the Thai government's right to issue compulsory licenses within international trade agreements.

"Abbot is putting the profits before the people," said AMSA National President Jay Bhatt. "It’s time the bottom line doesn't come before the health of our patients and their access to essential medicines."

Popular Abbott products: Similac, Isomil, Omnicef, Pediasure, Pedialyte, SevoFlo, and more. Please boycott responsibly while maintaining the highest level of patient care. Let your drug reps know why you are boycotting.

-Aaron