AIDS initiative

[Skaman]

I had the great privilege of attending a seminar regarding the Aids pandemic in Africa held by UN secretary General of HIV/Aids-Stephen Lewis. Much of the campus turned out to hear his plea, and the message was with-out doubt, profound and emotionally compelling. His words opened up sentiment and an emotion of disheartening tragedy, if not shocking. Progress can come forward, and the outlook could be promising if adjustments and substantial effort is put forward. The suffering and social fragmentation and human injustices are unfathomable. More have died from the epidemic of aids then the combined total of all civilian and military causalities in both world wars. Children are left without family care as their caregivers die on foetid mats covered in soars and abrasions. The children are in-turn left to care for their very birth givers, in a world dominated by lawlessness, suffering, and malcontent. Children as young as eleven must take up the responsibility as head of the household. Each generation is thinned out by the ruthlessness of aids, leaving behind it an absence of education, family values, or life skills. Those infected by the disease lack the capacity to work and maintain a life of subsistence agriculture, sequentially drawing the entire contingent of the inner family unit down with it. Consequently, children resort to prostitution, gangs, or employment under corrupt government factions. When a mother dies, they leave their children behind. Over 20 million children will be without one or both parents, due to aids in Sub-Sahara Africa by 2010. There is rarely food for even one meal a day. There is little money for school fess, books or uniforms, preventing those who require a much needed education. When Kenya waved these fees, an inconceivable amount of 1.2 million children arrived the following year for schooling. The will is there, we need to provide the assistance so we can overcome this cyclical trend of suffering and hardship. By doing nothing we are stealing the most basic human rights from these children:a right to life, a chance to enjoy the meaning of childhood. I was shocked to learn that the western world has provided loans to these nations, yet in-turn expects economically devastated nations to repay such exuberant amounts. To do so, nations through the African continent must resort to tuition costs. Lewis brings up important concerns we need to address:


1. Foremost, write your local political representative, and voice your plea. If you are a citizen of the United Sates of America, demand President Bush pay the 50 million to the Aids pandemic in Africa he promised in the prior state of the union address. None of which has seen its target.

2. Urge a rethinking or foreign policy throughout the western world. Why do we pour hundreds of billions of dollars into the Middle East when a mere fraction of those costs could have untold and profound affects on the African continent. The suffering and social injustice in Africa is paramount; urge our nations to help these impoverished peoples. Millions have died from the brutality of this virus, and millions will continue to do so unless we act.

3. Contribute the little you can, if you wish to make a donation, send to the address below:


9 Manchester Ave, Toronto, Ontario M6G 1V4 Canada

416.533.9292 . fax 416.533.8866
www.stephenlewisfoundation.org


Thanks Everyone,

Ducimus



http://www.avert.org/graphics/aidsorphans4.JPG

http://www.avert.org/graphics/hivaidschild.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/340000/images/_341288_aidswoman300.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/225000/images/_225503_kenya_300.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/440000/images/_444974_africa300.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/375000/images/_377159_international_aids_150.jpg Thanks for taking the time to read this...

[Trigger]

Off topic. :roll:

My heart goes out to the victims. However, a blank check will not solve the problem.
A change in behavior and education about abstinence would be a good start though.
The U.S. pays roughly 50% of the global cost for AIDS relief already. How about WE DEMAND that the rest of the caring nations of the world do their fair share too?

[rokus2595]

A change in behavior and education about abstinence would be a good start though.

Now there is a great idea..:roll: ....that simply doesn't work.

[Skaman]

Trigger Said:
A change in behavior and education about abstinence would be a good start though

This cannot occur without significant funding. The Western World must step up to the plate and take this tragedy seriously. US, Canada, UK, Aus, Ger etc.

The chain must be broken before education can take place, and foremost, how can students go to school if they cannot AFFORD it.

Trigger, is your Sig. really necessary? It is very juvenile.


Is anyone SERIOUS about helping out? I am going to be making a contribution and it would be great if others followed suit...

[hood]

Here's a good fact sheet on what Bush proposed:

http://usinfo.state.gov/gi/Archive/2003/Jul/03-85849.html

I'm not seeing a timeframe in particular though. It doesn't say when and where the money will be distributed.

[California Joe]

I agree with Ducimus.

[EvanL]

Its a ****ing shame that the AIDS epidemic doesnt get more attention in the world. I mean just look at the replies this post has gotten? Not much. People just think that because its not an airborne virus or anything like that that it wont affect them unless they get it.

[Trigger]

A change in behavior and education about abstinence would be a good start though.

Now there is a great idea..:roll: ....that simply doesn't work.
It doesn't work if you don't actually try it.
You're right, just let 'em keep screwing themsleves into oblivion and we'll keep shelling out the cash. Why make things challenging, right? :roll:

[Skaman]

A change in behavior and education about abstinence would be a good start though.

Now there is a great idea..:roll: ....that simply doesn't work.
It doesn't work if you don't actually try it.
You're right, just let 'em keep screwing themsleves into oblivion and we'll keep shelling out the cash. Why make things challenging, right? :roll:


Its very sad you think in this way Trigger. Its people like you that keep the cycle going.....

[EvanL]

A change in behavior and education about abstinence would be a good start though.

Now there is a great idea..:roll: ....that simply doesn't work.
It doesn't work if you don't actually try it.
You're right, just let 'em keep screwing themsleves into oblivion and we'll keep shelling out the cash. Why make things challenging, right? :roll:
A brain is for thinking. If you use it, you can achieve many things. By using it, you can actually make logical points. Try dusting it off and putting it to work.
You too can succeed! woot

[Trigger]

Trigger Said:
A change in behavior and education about abstinence would be a good start though

This cannot occur without significant funding. The Western World must step up to the plate and take this tragedy seriously. US, Canada, UK, Aus, Ger etc.

The chain must be broken before education can take place, and foremost, how can students go to school if they cannot AFFORD it.

Trigger, is your Sig. really necessary? It is very juvenile.


Is anyone SERIOUS about helping out? I am going to be making a contribution and it would be great if others followed suit...
1. Uh, hello: U.S. pays 50% of global AIDS funding already. The REST of the world needs to step up.
2. 'The chain'? Do you mean the chain that says the African people don't play a role in deciding their own future by making the effort to change their behavior? I agree.
3. The Sig: In light of the vast majority of your posts, yes it's absolutely necessary. I made it juvenile so you would understand it completely.
What was it you were saying not too long ago...oh, here it is:

Its a testement I stand by and rightly want to profess as a sig identifying my belief.

[Trigger]

ducimus19 wrote:

Its very sad you think in this war Trigger. Its people like you that keep the cycle going.....
Say again please. 'It's very sad you think in this war'? What are you trying to say?
Is english your second language?

EvanLloyd wrote:

A brain is for thinking. If you use it, you can achieve many things. By using it, you can actually make logical points. Try dusting it off and putting it to work.
You too can succeed!
Same question to you. WTF are you trying to say?
And furthermore what was your logical point? If you don't actually have one, then STFU. Donate your brain to science while you're at it. You're obviously not using it.

[Skaman]

Trigger Said:
A change in behavior and education about abstinence would be a good start though

This cannot occur without significant funding. The Western World must step up to the plate and take this tragedy seriously. US, Canada, UK, Aus, Ger etc.

The chain must be broken before education can take place, and foremost, how can students go to school if they cannot AFFORD it.

Trigger, is your Sig. really necessary? It is very juvenile.


Is anyone SERIOUS about helping out? I am going to be making a contribution and it would be great if others followed suit...
1. Uh, hello: U.S. pays 50% of global AIDS funding already. The REST of the world needs to step up.
2. 'The chain'? Do you mean the chain that says the African people don't play a role in deciding their own future by making the effort to change their behavior? I agree.
3. The Sig: In light of the vast majority of your posts, yes it's absolutely necessary. I made it juvenile so you would understand it completely.
What was it you were saying not too long ago...oh, here it is:

Its a testement I stand by and rightly want to profess as a sig identifying my belief.


Well, the way you put it, 50% sounds like a vast amount, but 50% of what? 50% of the hundred dollars sent to Botswana? Be specific, and in case you haven’t seen, it’s not nearly enough, hence the reason for pleas of help by such great men like Stephan Lewis.

Your Sig...Yes it is your right. You just look like an idiot, and I could care less if that’s the persona you want to embody for yourself.

[EvanL]

ducimus19 wrote:

Its very sad you think in this war Trigger. Its people like you that keep the cycle going.....
Say again please. 'It's very sad you think in this war'? What are you trying to say?
Is english your second language?

EvanLloyd wrote:

A brain is for thinking. If you use it, you can achieve many things. By using it, you can actually make logical points. Try dusting it off and putting it to work.
You too can succeed!
Same question to you. WTF are you trying to say?
And furthermore what was your logical point? If you don't actually have one, then STFU. Donate your brain to science while you're at it. You're obviously not using it.
Maybe i should donate it to you. But i have no idea how they will manage to fit it into your ass, considering that thats where you seem to think from.

[Trigger]

ducimus19 wrote:

...but 50% of what? 50% of the hundred dollars sent to Botswana? Be specific
What part of 50% of global f**king funding do you not understand?
That means 50% of all money that is going to fight AIDS comes from the U.S.
Is that specific enough?
Read it again and again if it's not making sense.

[Trigger]

EvanLloyd wrote:

Maybe i should donate it to you. But i have no idea how they will manage to fit it into your ass, considering that thats where you seem to think from.
Oh, gosh! he made a 'head up the ass' joke.
Did I hurt your feewings wittle Evan?
Save your anal fantasies for your boyfriends at the hockey rink.

[Skaman]

ducimus19 wrote:

...but 50% of what? 50% of the hundred dollars sent to Botswana? Be specific
What part of 50% of global f**king funding do you not understand?
That means 50% of all money that is going to fight AIDS comes from the U.S.
Is that specific enough?
Read it again and again if it's not making sense.


Again, and one more time, HOW MUCH IS THE GLOBAL AIDS FUND accumulate to which the USA supplies to Africa? For all ones knows, it could be that the global funding is no more than 100 dollars and they give 50 within their 50% funding budget. Nonetheless, with hypothetical scenarios and examples aside, the funding is not enough to alleviate the problem. I hope you can see this!

Trigger, my my, you certainly are bitter. Even you could interpret the slip of a finger on a keyboard, differentiating the word "war" from "way" in a sentence. Use your head

[Skaman]

I must admit Evan, I laughed pretty damn hard, pretty swift man!

[Seiyuuki]

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he will feed himself for an entire lifetime.

[Trigger]

Your the college boy around here. You look up the global AIDS dollar amount. If you think it's 100 dollars then you got robbed if you paid for your education up to this point.
Don't waste my time with ridiculous questions like this.

I must admit Evan, I laughed pretty damn hard, pretty swift man!
Little things amuse little minds.
Just because he's on your side doesn't mean you have to kiss his ass duc.

[Skaman]

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he will feed himself for an entire lifetime.

Agreed, we need to educate these people. Education takes money and a healthy population. Aids only impede this process that is absolutely pivotal to progress. Thus, we must address this pandemic before we can tackle education.

[stateofequilibrium]

Heh, NOW they want the US to step up to the plate?

As it's been said, it's much more than signing a check for a rather paltry 50 million dollars. What you're looking at it trying to go in there, and within (hopefully) a few generations, education a population that's censuring is shady at best. Just look at all the other disease affiliated with Africa and you'll get just a TASTE of the job you're up against.

AIDs isn't spreading because a bug is spreading it around, but people.. hell, even in enlightened America AIDS is still spreading and yet can be relatively "contained" with the proper motivation, awareness, and education. But in the 20+ some years since it's been identified has it? Sure, it's not an "epidemic" anymore but it's still there.

I'm all for helping Africa, but Ducimus, your writing REALLY just rubs me the WRONG way. Stop blaming the US for everything. We don't have ANY obligations to help them but we still pour millions. Don't tell us about "stealing" someone's "right" to live.

[EvanL]

Your the college boy around here. You look up the global AIDS dollar amount. If you think it's 100 dollars then you got robbed if you paid for your education up to this point.
Don't waste my time with ridiculous questions like this.

I must admit Evan, I laughed pretty damn hard, pretty swift man!
Little things amuse little minds.
Just because he's on your side doesn't mean you have to kiss his ass duc.
Im not on anyones side. I just think your an idiot.

[Trigger]

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he will feed himself for an entire lifetime.

Agreed, we need to educate these people. Education takes money and a healthy population. Aids only impede this process that is absolutely pivotal to progress. Thus, we must address this pandemic before we can tackle education.
The other half of your equation is a populace willing to accept and act on the education provided.

Tell me, what's the fastest way to stop a virus from spreading?
Answer: quarantine.
Contain/Seperate those responsible for the spread. Educate those not afflicted on how to avoid transmission.
Make those beyond help comfortable.

[Trigger]

EvanLloyd wrote:

Im not on anyones side. I just think your an idiot.
Tell someone who gives a ****.

[Skaman]

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he will feed himself for an entire lifetime.

Agreed, we need to educate these people. Education takes money and a healthy population. Aids only impede this process that is absolutely pivotal to progress. Thus, we must address this pandemic before we can tackle education.
The other half of your equation is a populace willing to accept and act on the education provided.

Tell me, what's the fastest way to stop a virus from spreading?
Answer: quarantine.
Contain/Seperate those responsible for the spread. Educate those not afflicted on how to avoid transmission.
Make those beyond help comfortable.


The proposal sounds cruel, yet containment is likely the only effective course of action. I think you have come to something there Trigger. I suppose Triggers idea is reasonable in realistic retrospective. Now is the time to act, the epidemic only spreads by the day!

[stateofequilibrium]

The proposal sounds cruel, yet containment is likely the only effective course of action. I think you have come to something there Trigger. I suppose Triggers idea is reasonable in realistic retrospective. Now is the time to act, the epidemic only spreads by the day!

Please tell me you were just joking.. :bash:

[Skaman]

The proposal sounds cruel, yet containment is likely the only effective course of action. I think you have come to something there Trigger. I suppose Triggers idea is reasonable in realistic retrospective. Now is the time to act, the epidemic only spreads by the day!

Please tell me you were just joking.. :bash:


It’s so sad, what can we possibly do? Help those that are infected, and educate those who have a chance. Prevent the spread from moving forward. I really don’t know, to contain the infected one would have to break up the family unit, and that would be so sad to see. I just don’t know, it is such a complicated and daunting task..... So many variables must be considered with so much at stake.

[Jack Mehoff]

Well, the way you put it, 50% sounds like a vast amount, but 50% of what? 50% of the hundred dollars sent to Botswana? Be specific, and in case you haven’t seen, it’s not nearly enough, hence the reason for pleas of help by such great men like Stephan Lewis.

Your Sig...Yes it is your right. You just look like an idiot, and I could care less if that’s the persona you want to embody for yourself.


What are you smoking duci? U.S. paid half the amount(globally) to fight aids and you still bitching? Why don't you take your whining and bitching and go ask Russia or China for more money

[stateofequilibrium]

It’s so sad, what can we possibly do? Help those that are infected, and educate those who have a chance. Prevent the spread from moving forward. I really don’t know, to contain the infected one would have to break up the family unit, and that would be so sad to see. I just don’t know, it is such a complicated and daunting task..... So many variables must be considered with so much at stake.

:fork:

I applaud your enthusiasm but you REALLY need to think before speaking, eeer, typing. Just THINK about the implications of what would happen if you TRIED to implement that suggestion? Two words come to mind: concentration camps. And it's not going to be a temporary isolative measure either, more than likely they'll be in there until they die.

[Trigger]

@stateofequilibrium:
When I suggested quarantine I also said 'keep those beyond help comfortable'. Not 'starve them and gas them'.
I understand your reaction. It would no doubt be a hellish situation, but the question you have to ask is what happens if we don't do something drastic?
Those people are still going to die slow pitiful deaths, but a quarantine would most likely save millions who would otherwise join them. :(

[Skaman]

It’s so sad, what can we possibly do? Help those that are infected, and educate those who have a chance. Prevent the spread from moving forward. I really don’t know, to contain the infected one would have to break up the family unit, and that would be so sad to see. I just don’t know, it is such a complicated and daunting task..... So many variables must be considered with so much at stake.

:fork:

I applaud your enthusiasm but you REALLY need to think before speaking, eeer, typing. Just THINK about the implications of what would happen if you TRIED to implement that suggestion? Two words come to mind: concentration camps. And it's not going to be a temporary isolative measure either, more than likely they'll be in there until they die.


Interesting, what would you suggest to adress the issue?

[stateofequilibrium]

Interesting, what would you suggest to adress the issue?

If I knew, I would have gotten the nobel prize and been able to score with any lady I wished. The best I can say is either

a) A vaccine is miraculously found that wouldn't become ineffective due to the fast evolutionary/adaptive process of viruses
b) A slow painful extremely costly program of education and preventive measures.

B seems the most likely. Though the problem is again:
a) Footing the large bill
b) Finding the trained personnel to implement it
c) Getting the entire population to comply with them

- C by far actually is probably the hardest. Not getting the billions or finding volunteers.. but getting people to comply. It's just like AIDs and some cancer treatments.. if you miss one dose.. you're f**ked.

[hood]

Here are my thoughts on this thing:

1. Logo by Trigger.

2. I used to work in an AIDS clinic. I handled the technical creation, maintenance, and data entry for a database of AIDS patients that went through the clinic. I knew first hand what kind of people were going through there and the numbers that were getting sick and dying. I got to record people's decreasing T-cell counts on a weekly basis until they stopped coming in, usually because of death. I'm seeing the same thing with those patients as I am with the people in Africa.

One thing that's true about poor people no matter what part of the world they're in, is that they take part in one of life's greatest activities that doesn't cost them a dime: ***. There's not a snowball's chance in hell that you're going to be able to tell them not to do it and have them listen. You could tell them endlessly about the dangers of promiscuity and they just won't listen. I've seen countless shows where they've tried to teach people in AIDS ravaged Africa to use condoms and other forms of protection to prevent AIDS and they just laugh at the aid people and throw the condoms away because if it takes all the fun out of one of the few activities they can afford, it must be evil. This is not just something that's all going to change because you throw countless dollars at the problem. This is a cultural thing that has to change from within. Spending more and more money so that more and more people can get the AIDS cocktail and live longer while having endless *** spreading the disease further isn't an answer.


Ducimus said: I really don’t know, to contain the infected one would have to break up the family unit, and that would be so sad to see.

Familes are already being ravaged by this. Millions upon millions of children are ophaned every year because their parents are dying off. It's not something we have to do, it's already happening.

Apart from Africa, China is becoming the 2nd largest outbreak spot for AIDS. It again falls back to one thing. People with little money have tons of ***. Telling them to cut it out isn't gonna happen.

I see only one solution that's worth a damn in all of this. A vaccine. You're not going to be able to change the behavior of 1/4 of the worlds population before most of them die out. I think they should take all of this funding and put it into research for the vaccine and focus on the real solution.

[Midtown]

Typical Cumbucket19 thread.

cumbucket19 "Blah blah blah"
Someone Opposing "We already do that"
cumbucket19 "topic dodge, assnine counter arguement"
Opposing "wtf mate"
Hood "blah blah blah" <----only person to make sense

I volunteered at a camp down south for kids who have aids. We built them cabins at the camp and whatnot. twas a heartbreaker.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

I think it's pretty f'in nervy for doofus19 to come on here and tell Americans what we need to do. Why isn't he addressing his countrymen?

Of course America needs to fix this. I'm sure that this is somehow our fault - no doubt a result of our hegemony, oppression of foreign peoples, imperial machinations, and the raping of the wilderness. I just raped the wilderness this morning, as a matter of fact. I made that wilderness my bee-ach.

Throwing truckloads of cash at these people will not solve the problem. It has however created an enormous AIDS "industry" that thrives on these people's plight. These "experts", who's livelihood is AIDS money, will tell you that money is the answer. It is not.

In the "West", we adhere to social systems which place great restrictions on individual conduct. Of course, we are criticized for being oppressive. Others choose a different way of life, enjoy the freedoms & pay the consequences. Hell, I could screw everything in sight if I wanted AIDS, 20 illegitimate fatherless kids, and a raging case of herpes.

Putting my opinion bluntly - Africa is a $hithole. Underdeveloped, backward, full of superstitious uneducated people - stuff straight out of the middle ages. Yes, many have cars, TVs etc, but the also believe that having *** with 12 year old virgin will rid them of AIDS. Unbelievable.

So, what do you do when you're confronted with a horrible disease like AIDS, in an intractable mess like Africa? Do what has been proven to work. Isolate, or basically "imprison" those with AIDS. Obviously you don't put them in a jail cell, but it is woefully clear that these people are presently incapable of conducting themselves in an acceptable manner. The stakes are too high to sit around conducting @#$^ seminars for these people.

There's too much at stake to treat the problem as you would in Europe, N. America etc. These are socially backward areas, and must be treated appropriately. Applying liberal egalitarianist principles to this problem is a death sentence for Africa.

I don't mind putting my tax dollars towards helping, but I don't want it wasted on the AIDS industry. It should be spent on something that will work.

But in this touchy-feely world of today, that's seen as cruel. Personally, I can justify it to myself every time I see some poor kid who's just been born into a death sentence.

[duck]

Apart from Sub-Saharan Africa and China, also India and Russia & the former Soviet Republics are going to have infections running in millions in a few years time.

[California Joe]

Um, when I said I agreed with Ducimus previously I meant I agreed something should be done. Just sayin.

[Trigger]

rrriiiiiiiiight.
*shiftyeyes* :D

[budanski]

More people die from cancer than Aids, more die in Africa from Malaria than Aids yet it never fails to see protestor du jours as ducimus, to jump on the bangwagon... Seems things have been over exaggerated...

Aids in Africa 'overestimated' (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/01/09/waids09.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/01/09/ixportaltop.html) - telegraph.co.uk
Africa isn’t dying of Aids (http://www.lewrockwell.com/spectator/spec192.html) - spectator
UK charities exaggerated Africa crisis, says report (http://society.guardian.co.uk/disasterresponse/story/0,1321,1124456,00.html) - guardian

[Skaman]

More people die from cancer than Aids, more die in Africa from Malaria than Aids yet it never fails to see protestor du jours as ducimus, to jump on the bangwagon... Seems things have been over exaggerated...

Aids in Africa 'overestimated' (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/01/09/waids09.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/01/09/ixportaltop.html) - telegraph.co.uk
Africa isn’t dying of Aids (http://www.lewrockwell.com/spectator/spec192.html) - spectator
UK charities exaggerated Africa crisis, says report (http://society.guardian.co.uk/disasterresponse/story/0,1321,1124456,00.html) - guardian


Oh no, I suppose Budanski was right, and the UN secretary General was wrong all along. After all, Budanski has traveled all through Africa and seen the pandemic up close. How foolish of me, Africa isn’t affected by aids and we should just ignore the problem as its overated. I truly mean this Budanski, you are an absolute idiot.
:cantbeli:

[Trigger]

Uh oh budanski... he truly means it.
And of course he has your resumé, passport and medical records, your latest MRI, naked pictures of your dog and a letter from Ms. Cleo among other things in front of him, so he knows exactly where you've been, what you saw and who you know...and he has ways of making you talk!
BWAAHAHAHAHA!

[budanski]

Oh no, I suppose Budanski was right, and the UN secretary General was wrong all along. After all, Budanski has traveled all through Africa and seen the pandemic up close. How foolish of me, Africa isn’t affected by aids and we should just ignore the problem as its overated. I truly mean this Budanski, you are an absolute idiot.
:cantbeli:

You poor bastard, Aids is a problem. Disease is a problem, everywhere not just africa. The whole "crisis" has been blown up by embeciles like yourself and your championed UN secretary general. AIDS in Africa is not of a different strain, it just has a different definition there. It is assumed that people who die of TB, malaria, or any other disease related to poverty/malnutrition died of AIDS. Keeps the gravy train rolling...

This kind of research will just cut into the revenue stream of the African dictators and UN royalty. Gee, where is Kofi Annan from again?

The next time you try to preach to me about not knowing whats really going on in Africa, I suggest you do the same with topics on Iraq.

[budanski]

To hear them talk, Aids is the only problem in Africa, and the only solution is to continue the agitprop until free access to Aids drugs is defined as a ‘basic human right’ for everyone. They are saying, in effect, that because Mr Mhlangu of rural Zambia has a disease they find more compelling than any other, someone must spend upwards of $400 a year to provide Mr Mhlangu with life-extending Aids medication — a noble idea, on its face, but completely demented when you consider that Mr Mhlangu’s neighbours are likely to be dying in much larger numbers of diseases that could be cured for a few cents if medicines were only available. About 350 million Africans — nearly half the population — get malaria every year, but malaria medication is not a basic human right. Two million get TB, but last time I checked, spending on Aids research exceeded spending on TB by a crushing factor of 90 to one. As for pneumonia, cancer, dysentery or diabetes, let them take aspirin, or grub in the bush for medicinal herbs.

This is a great example where billions are spent on AIDS, but not one cent for DDT? Why? enviromentalists here have made it politically incorrect to use DDT. Another example of rich priveledged enviromentalist who think they know whats best for the world.

John Stossel on 20/20 ran a one hour special tonight on Lies, Myths and Downright Stupidity. (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/2020/myths_john_stossel_040123.html) read myth #4

[hood]

Stop the dog and kitty ****!

http://www.kitty****.org/kitty****.jpg

[marktigger]

having worked in the GU med field I am well aware of the aids epiemic in africa. The poblem isn't only a medical problem to deal with it needs a cultural change in africa. For which the certain groups would complain about us imposing our values on them. It is alot more complicated issue than alot of the campaigners actually let on. There are simple solutions but they want huge ammounts of money for treatmeant without looking at prevention.