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World AIDS Day
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| girllovingtvibe |
I am sure now-a-days everyone has someone in their life or knows of someone with HIV/AIDS. Did not see a post to reflect today's day - so I thought to share this.....
"Leaders around the world marked World AIDS Day on Thursday by calling for new action to help tackle the global pandemic. However, the calls reveal a world divided over the best strategy for dealing with the disease.
A record 40.3 million people are now living with HIV or AIDS around the world and the head of the United Nation's AIDS agency called for an unprecedented response.
"The world faces a choice in the global response to AIDS," said UNAIDS executive director Peter Piot. "We can either continue to accept that global efforts will fail to keep pace with ever increasing numbers of HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, or we can recognise the exceptional global threat posed by AIDS and embrace an equally exceptional response."
A similar sentiment was echoed by leaders across the world during the 18th international "day of action" against AIDS and HIV with many calling for new strategies to help counter the worsening pandemic.
Divisions over approach
The US urged other countries to contribute more money to the international fight against AIDS. "The US is providing about 50% of all the resources for HIV and AIDS among international governments and that fundamentally needs to change," said Mark Dybul, the US government's deputy global AIDS coordinator. "We need everyone in the world to step up to the same type of leadership."
However, the European Union signalled a split with the US over curbing the AIDS pandemic in Africa, by urging the continent's governments to ignore the US’s “ABC" programme, which promotes sexual abstinence. ABC stands for abstinence, be faithful and use a condom if necessary.
"We are profoundly concerned about the resurgence of partial or incomplete messages on HIV prevention," said a statement from the 25 member states. "Overturning the AIDS pandemic requires having the courage to do what is known to be effective."
The EU believes it is crucial to promote condom use, education and access to sexual and reproductive health services.
Civil unrest
In South Africa, which has the highest rate of HIV infection in the world, deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka called for a renewed commitment to fighting the disease.
"There are 364 other AIDS days during the year, during which we must maintain existing efforts and mount new responses to HIV and AIDS," she said. "Whatever good we do today let us repeat it tomorrow, next week and in the coming months as we look forward to the years ahead."
But protesters took to the streets in South Africa to demand more life-prolonging drugs. More than 6 million people in the country live with HIV or AIDS, but only 80,000 people have access to free anti-retrovirals (ARVs), despite estimates that as many as 500,000 vitally need them.
Sexual taboos
At a national convention, India's prime minister Manmohan Singh called for safe sex to be taught to young people in his country, which has the second highest number of people with the virus, after South Africa. The latest figures show there are 5.13 million HIV-positive people in India.
"This is particularly important given our traditional inhibitions about discussing such matters within our families and among our colleagues, quite apart from doing so in public," Singh said.
Estonia, which the highest per capita rate of infection in the European Union, unveiled an action plan and held events to dispel myths about HIV and AIDS.
"This is a highly significant plan, with very concrete actions planned for the coming years. World AIDS Day is a highly appropriate date to pass such a strategy," government spokesman Martin Jashko told AFP after the cabinet approved the plan, which covers 2006 to 2015. The Estonian commitment provides for sharply increased funding aimed at slashing new HIV infections from a current level of 55 people per 100,000 to 20 per 100,000.
China marked the day with public awareness campaigns and a vow to control HIV cases. Health minister Gao Qiang told a press conference that his government would achieve its long-term goal of keeping the number of HIV patients under 1.5 million until at least 2010.
The government says there are about 840,000 HIV-positive people in China. The UN estimates the figure could be much higher and has warned the number of infected people could rise to 10 million by 2010. Some experts say the country still faces an uphill battle in dealing with the crisis."
source: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8406 |
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| shanny |
| Tonight Deko-ze and Matt C are playing at Dundas Square in an Aids Day benefit show. |
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| girllovingtvibe |
| quote: | Originally posted by shanny
Tonight Deko-ze and Matt C are playing at Dundas Square in an Aids Day benefit show. |
yeah dood - I think i am going to head down there...cold and all - but want to support.... |
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| Allegory |
| I will definitely drop by! |
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| Crib |
| It was decent. Good music but it was VERY empty...no support :S |
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| naesean3 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Crib
It was decent. Good music but it was VERY empty...no support :S |
:(
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| Allegory |
We went at 10pm. Unfortunately the weather was very wet, and I thought they would have a tent.
Anyway, the poor turnout was probably the result of the weather. :( |
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| El Kay Dee |
| quote: | Originally posted by Crib
It was decent. Good music but it was VERY empty...no support :S |
infinity high and i were there before Matt C started, saw nobody we knew, chilled for a bit, then went for a beer around 6:30 or so, came back aroudn 7:15, still saw it empty, hung around for a bit and then went for more beers...
only person we met ther was Lauren (Tully)...i cant believe that despite there being so few people we didnt meet anyone else..lol wierd |
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| girllovingtvibe |
| I wish I could have gone but this dahum cold is grounding me to my apartment and I am not allowed to leave until I get some rest.... |
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| Crib |
| hmm I surprised I didn't see anyone else either...I was with The Highroller (Graham) and Billche (Bill) |
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| Halycon |
i popped by after work, around 10ish, empty, due to weather, or Under promotion as the only place i saw posters and for it was in the church/wellesley village.
ran into friends as well as highroller (graham). |
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| Billche |
| quote: | Originally posted by Crib
hmm I surprised I didn't see anyone else either...I was with The Highroller (Graham) and Billche (Bill) |
Im glad this event happened. It managed to bring some support and information to the public, plus had a chance to spread some good music to people that normally wouldn't hear it. The weather was actually really nice. Cold, but nice. Only at the end (after 9) did it start getting nasty. Props go to Deko-ze and Matt C for dropping some wicked tunes.
And of course, a pic from it :)
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