step-by-step instructions for writing an LTE
Our #StopTheDeadlyDivide campaign focuses on the urgent need to work together to find ways to prevent the world’s progress from backsliding during the COVID-19 crisis. Over the course of the past year, we have seen nation states engage in a race to the bottom to get their hands on precious COVID-19 vaccines first. This “me first” approach will prolong the pandemic, resulting in more lives lost and catastrophic impacts in economic and social disruption. People who live in the poorest and most vulnerable situations in low-income countries are most at risk.
With global demand surging and supply limited, a deadly divide in access to vaccines is widening by the day. While immunization campaigns are rolling out in many high-income countries, low-income countries are predicted to not see mass immunization against COVID-19 for years to come.
letter to the editor (LTE)
: a letter written to a newspaper, magazine or other periodical about issues of concern to readers, usually intended to be published in the paper/periodical
Write a letter to the editor about why Canada must support the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver currently tabled at the World Trade Organization (WTO). As a hook, use World Immunization Week (April 24-30) to elevate the issue of vaccine equity, making the case for how our best chance of ending COVID-19 everywhere is to ensure a vaccine is available for all as a global common good.
The ask: Canada must support the TRIPS intellectual property waiver tabled at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and put people’s lives ahead of publicly-subsidized pharmaceutical company profits.
Use our step-by-step instructions below and get your LTE published in the media.
Keep it short - around 3 paragraphs or 150-200 words. You want your LTE to be concise and succinct to increase your chances of grabbing the reader's attention, getting published, and getting your message out.
COVID-19: A salutary tale?
Dear Editor,
The pandemic is not yet over but we are beginning to see some light through the cracks in our world. I am proud to say that Canada has taken a leadership role and contributed ever-increasing amounts to end COVID everywhere. More Canadians should be made aware that the experts estimate a return of $5.60 for every $1 of aid we invest. Indeed, it means the pandemic world-wide will end sooner which is good for our economy.
My greater hope is that we learn from our pandemic experience that contributing to better public health abroad is also the right thing to do. The best example is the TB epidemic which continues to ravage many countries and regions, including Canada’s North. TB is both preventable and curable yet has been the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. In 2019, it resulted in the deaths of 1.4 million people. COVID deaths will be higher in 2020 as we are already over 1.6 million deaths. But the COVID vaccines were not available until this month.
We have seen how quickly governments and communities react when disease hits richer nations such as our own. Many people have been working for a very long time to combat TB in the Global South. Let’s make sure that the community health workers or “front-line heroes” in those nations have the resources they need post-COVID to wipe out epidemics like TB.
Sherry Moran, Publication date: Dec 15, 2020, Oshawa Express
Don’t give up. If your letter hasn’t been published, email the editors and ask them for feedback.
Track your letter by doing an internet search of your name and following up with the publication to find out if/when it is getting published.
See all our resources to help you write your LTE, along with key dates, hashtags, tags and keywords found on our campaigns page here.
