News & Politics - World AIDS Day

The Survivor · 12-01-2004, 05:51 PM

Today is World AIDS Day. I don't know if this subject is too touchy for some of you but I feel this is too important of an issue that it should be discussed coming from personal experience dealing with HIV/AIDS. So I just wanted to start a discussion on this since it affects us all.

Lexis · 12-01-2004, 08:44 PM

I think it is a really important topic too. Something like 39 million people worldwide have HIV/AIDS which is far, far too many. Something just has to be done.

Tough Challenges Remain in Aids Fight (BBC)

Especially important :

Quote:

Global funding for HIV/Aids has tripled in the past four years from a little over US$2bn to $6bn. Yet it still falls far short of the $20bn UNAids estimates will be needed by 2007, just to stop the epidemic getting worse.

Scary, scary, scary. Twenty billion just to stop it getting worse - how much to try and make progress in eradicating it?

Quote:

The Bush administration in the US has committed $15 billion to fight HIV/Aids. It's an impressive sum.

But it has come in for criticism from some aid agencies for pushing programmes that use brand name anti-retroviral drugs which are more expensive than their generic counterparts.

It has also been under fire for pursuing an agenda which gives priority to projects that promote sexual abstinence over condom use.

......

Meanwhile UN Secretary General Kofi Annan ruffled feathers when he countered that the American unilateral approach was undermining the Global Fund - an international mechanism to raise cash for HIV/Aids work, which is struggling to meet its financial targets.

......

This is likely to be a key theme taken up by the British government when it assumes the presidency of the G8 and EU next year.

I really hope Britain aggressively tackle this issue - what good is all this power and wealth if we don't use it? I also feel that pressure should be put on Bush's administration to make fairer rules in funding distribution. I accept (but do not agree with) his strong moral convictions but no matter what he thinks about condoms/birth control, this problem is too huge for that to get in the way.

Clash181 · 12-01-2004, 09:41 PM

Bush needs to put aside all of his moral issues with contraception and teach every and all ways possible to stop this disease from spreading. Too many people are infected for there to be frivolous restrictions placed on who can get help and who can't.

Jadiee · 12-01-2004, 11:11 PM

What made me sad was that today, noone mentioned it anywhere I went. I was the only person wearing a red ribbon. I got a little upset that people are ready to support cancer, officers, drug prevention, but they dont show the same enthusiasm for aids and other sexually transmitted diseases.
People do have the right to support what they choose to, but I'm just a little ticked. ^^;

Rivulet027 · 12-02-2004, 03:25 AM

I wore one too.

They had pamlets sitting on tables and baskets of ribbons at different area's around the college I go to. I grabbed a ribbon, already had some pamplets and wore it at work today on my hat.

Milt Palacio · 12-02-2004, 03:37 AM

AIDS is not only a sexually transmitted disease! Many people are born with HIV (pediatric AIDS) or get it from dirty needles.

AIDS is a huge issue, especially in Africa, where it's destroying many parts of that continenet. It is also a very important issue in the U.S.

I hope the Democrats take the lead on this issue and fight for action to attack the roots of HIV and AIDS in our world.

Katis · 12-02-2004, 04:16 AM

We had a piece of the AIDS quilt on my campus today and I saw tons of people walking around with red ribbons. It was nice to see everyone pay attention and care what's going on.

I agree that information needs to be given about contraceptives and how condoms play such an integral role in the prevention of AIDS, especially in developing countries. It's something that doesn't just concern 1st world nations (although there is a problem there as well).

fetch · 12-02-2004, 10:24 AM

There was nothing at my school, either.

I think it would be a good idea if on AIDS day there was testing at work and school places. Many people can have it and not know, and then it spreads to other people.

Jadiee · 12-03-2004, 02:20 AM

I wouldnt be suprised if some places did. I wouldnt know where though. I actually wanna get tested. Not that i think i have aids, but o.O im so paranoid bout stds in general

**Quarterley** · 12-03-2004, 06:40 PM

This store got a shoe sale to support World AIDS Day.....

peacecorps2006 · 12-07-2004, 09:01 PM

There is a commercial with certain animals as members of the United Nations discussing the AIDS virus and its effect on human beings. It is a very serious commercial. It is being shown on MTV.


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