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Hello again members from Europe, and others interested, As you know we are only a (few) week(s) away from the decision about appropriating the Udall Bill. If we want the same amount of money for research in Europe for the next five years, we will have to show the same amount of dedication and persistance as the Americans have! In Europe a few PWP have now taken the initiative to try and realise the same in Europe: 100,000,000,00 Euro (= $ 100,000,000,00) financied by the European Community for the next five years for Parkinson's research. BUT: This money has to be implicated in the new 5th Frame program of the EC. The Europarliament has made plans for 14 billion Euro, but the European Council of Finance Ministers only want to make 12 billion Euro available. You can guess what program is part of the being discussed missing 2 billion Euro: Parkinson's Research!!!! So if we don't make ourselves heard and visible and make our needs clear, others will take the money!!! At this moment we are representing 2,000-2,500 PWP from four countries: Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Already letters have been written and representatives approached. Initial contacts have been made. But as once with the Udall Bill, we are still at the beginning of a long fight before the money will be appropriated. The more people support us, the more impact and value our actions will have and the more influence these actions will have on eventually acquiring the necessary funds. SO WE ALSO NEED YOU!!!! What do we want?: Get support from ALL countries in the European Community, from as much individual PWP, supportgroups and associations as possible. (until now most of the associations are not responding, also the EPDA is in the dark and fast asleep. Meanwhile the money is devided without anyone standing for our cause: more research!!) ARE YOU ALSO ASLEEP OR DO YOU WANT TO HELP AND FIGHT FOR THE MONEY??!! What can YOU do to help?: - Let us know you support us. - Co-sign the letters that are being sent to the EC. - Co-sign on behalf of your supportgroup. - Co-sign on behalf of your association. - Make other PWP and supportgroups and associations aware of what is going on in the EC and about our action so they can join us too. - Supply us with ideas, comments, etc. - Etc., etc., etc.... How can you let us know you want to support us or join our "task force"? Where can you get more information? Send an email to: [log in to unmask] You can write in English, French, Spanish, German and Dutch. Thanks, Hans. Also on behalf of: Ana Mari del Arco (Spain) Benedicte Bouttet (France) Dietmar Wessel (Germany)