Dear all

yesterday we had a nice meeting with the highest spokesperson at the EPO (Luis Berenguer Giménez, Principal Director Communication) to hand over the signatures. Nice pictures on our website with the screaming veggies.

we also had some media coverage: new agencies, online, prints, radio and I guess Bavarian TV.

Thanks for Johanna to organize our outreach on media, social media and CSOs. Thank to all which participated (such as Ruth and Martha).

With the 180.000 signatures we had some significant results from public mobilisation,  with the report we had some backing of our arguments.

very good for the moment!

But were are we now in regard to our goals?

we are better than expected in terms of public outreach and in making contacts with governments

but we not as successful as we should be in terms of political success.

Especially in Germany, we missed the chance to get the expected political decision making. We are now heading to a conference on 8 of July which is not likely to bring us forward.

Worst case scenario (not unlikely): There will be be well orchestrated backfire from industry and patent lobby during the conference. They now know our arguments and will target them with their counter arguments (which we do not know so far, but I guess there will be several). The results from the conference will not be binding. At the end of the year, there will be another 'wait and see' decision making of the Admin Council.

So for me, after our current activities, it is the same situation as before: What is the crucial element we now have to work on, to bring things forward? We have a lot of support, but how to turn it in the necessary decision making?

Relevant questions are for example: what possibilities do we have, to move national governments, to cooperate which other allies, to bring up further news and arguments, to mobilize public?

I guess this discussion should also take place in our next phone conference.

Cheers

Christoph