Open Thread

September 20th, 2009 10:17 AM

For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: UN wants "rich" nations to pay for international swine flu vaccines.

The swine flu pandemic could kill millions and cause anarchy in the world's poorest nations unless £900m can be raised from rich countries to pay for vaccines and antiviral medicines, says a UN report leaked to the Observer. 

Is this just another "crisis" the UN will use to redistribute wealth, or are they right? Should "rich" nations pay for the world's vaccines in order to prevent a pandemic?