No other word engenders as much fear, revulsion, despair and utter helplessness as AIDS. Despite increased AIDS awareness, the terror persists. AIDS is, in fact, rewriting medical history as humankind's deadliest scourge. With 40 million deaths forecast in this millennium, statistics tell their own sordid tale.

THE RED RIBBON   EXPRESS

The Red Ribbon Express or train itself comprised of  seven coaches, equipped with: educational material, primarily on HIV/AIDS, interactive touch screens and 3-D models, PPTCT services in the context of RCH II, HIV-TB co-infection, an LCD projector and platform for folk performances, counseling cabins and two doctors’ cabins for providing counselling and syndromic treatment for STI and RTI cases, an office, dining area and pantry.

The RRE Project was flagged off from Delhi by the Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Hon’ble Chairperson, UPA & Chairperson, at 10 AM on World AIDS Day, which is 1st December 2007. The project focuses on youth groups, women self-help group members, adolescents/student community from schools and colleges, PRI members, youth in uniformed services and out-of-school/non-student youth, particularly in the rural areas.

OUR OUTLOOK.

Well, the class was very much keen to visit the  place. It was intriguing. Everybody made their visits to the place at their respective times. The express was there in agra for two days.. 18-19 of December.

Everyone snapped photos of what they found informative. We even had to write bout the visit to the place.. so in a way we were pushed into the whole thing for our benefit. Thanks to Sir Ulrick, who hustled us.. and didn't come with us.. for our own good. :)

The trip was fantastic.

Quite knowledgeable.. i must say!!

" Your comments are welcome. "

You know it's funny, we have all of this advanced technology.  We can even land people on the moon (supposedly), yet when it comes to diseases, we can't cure ANYTHING.  We get more and more diseases every year and no one can cure anything.  We can only treat your symptoms... for the rest of your life? 

When I was young, I would always joke around with my friends saying, "You know there is a cure right?"  Little did I know, .. we were right.   But that's not all!

ENTER HERE

Sick? AIDS & HIV are related and very much apart of the greater problems in the world.  Beware when your own president says that they aren't related, it makes you wonder who his spin doctor is, perhaps he should hire that of dear Bush!  Freddy Mercury really highlighted the plight of this fast spreading disease, his death was mourned by millions around the world, here is his song It's a kind of magic.

To all those suffering and inflicted with the virus, I admire your courage to fight, I admire your courage to spread the truth about it, to change peoples and societies views on it, to you I bow, never give up the fight!

It’s a kind of magic
It’s a kind of magic
A kind of magic
One dream one soul, one prize
One goal, one golden glance of what should be
It’s a kind of magic
One shaft of light that shows the way
No mortal man can win this day
It’s a kind of magic
The bell that rings inside your mind
It’s challenging the doors of time
It's a kind of magic
The waiting seems eternity
The day will dawn of sanity
Is this a kind of magic?
It's a kind of magic
There can be only one
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be gone
This flame that burns inside of me
I’m hearing secret harmonies
It’s a kind of magic
The bell that rings inside your mind
It’s challenging the doors of time
It’s a kind of magic
It’s a kind of magic
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be, will soon be
Will soon be gone
This is a kind of magic
There can be only one
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be gone
Magic – it’s a kind of magic
It’s a kind of magic
Magic, magic, magic, magic
It’s magic
It’s a kind of magic

This baby -- with two faces, two noses, two pairs of lips and two pairs of eyes -- was born about 30 miles east of New Delhi, India. She is doing well and is being worshipped as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess. (AP PHOTO BY GURINDER OSAN) 

Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune

Just when we thought Queen would never take the throne again, the band has officially confirmed plans to get back in the studio and record a new album.

It will be the first album of new material since the Freddie Mercury era. It will also be the first Queen studio album to feature their new vocalist former Bad Company and Free singer, Paul Rodgers. The last album Queen put out was 1995’s Made in Heaven, which featured the use of Mercury’s last vocal recording before his death of AIDS in 1991.

One of the new songs, “Say It’s Not True,” was previously released as a free download on World Aids Day last year. The rest of the album was recorded late last year and early this year.

The band has also announced that a tour is also set to kick off two weeks after the September 1^st release of the album.

Queen’s last shows with Mercury were back in 1986; afterwards the band had to stop touring due to Mercury’s illness. Regardless of the loveable front man’s absence, the surviving members of Queen have gone on to reunite a hand full of times, such as the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992 and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Lead Guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor have also been hard at work as the musical directors of We Will Rock You, a musical featuring 25 Queen songs.

The inspiration to set Rodgers as the new lead vocalist came back in September of 2004. May and Rodgers performed the classic Free song “All Right Now” at the fiftieth anniversary of Fender.  May had wrote on his website, saying that they were both amazed by the chemistry.

“It seemed blindingly obvious that there was something happening here.” May said. “It’s very exciting.”

That’s all it took before the veteran rockers were playing several European dates in Spring 2005. May and the rest of Queen are looking forward to the new album and tour.

“Suddenly the Queen Phoenix is rising again from the ashes. “ 

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In every country there is rich and poor. For those who never experienced poverty in their up bringing, poverty is a tale. We hope politicians that are out to make change in the society should remember the legacy  to bring change. Zambian chronicle is here for change. Some clips below are here to show how important every child is. No matter, which environment or place they are being raised in. Poverty will never stop them, they dance, they play drums with their inborn skills and talent. 

Most of us at Zambian chronicle grew up with no resources, limited education system, walked to school, no lunch packs. That did not stop us, we made it, and grew up with hearts to reach out to other people with our limited resources. our legacy is to help kids( boys and girls) and women, By bringing out the positive side of this world. 

We expect Zambian presidential candidates to focus on  important issues like education, to help the future generation to be better leaders and reach their dreams.

Zambian Chronicle's legacy:- Next Zambian President should bring hope to the future generation. Please all Zambian leaders should address the problems below:

v=8c1ByH_oMz4&feature=related]

Tribal Zambian Party

Zambian kids dancing

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Zambian Chronicle is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microplus Holdings International, Inc.

Copyrights © 2008 Microplus Holdings Int., Inc.

Governments are urged to take action to help ease rising prices

The head of the UN World Food Programme has warned that the rise in basic food costs could continue until 2010.Josette Sheeran blamed soaring energy and grain prices, the effects of climate change and demand for biofuels.

Miss Sheeran has already warned that the WFP is considering plans to ration food aid due to a shortage of funds.

Some food prices rose 40% last year, and the WFP fears the world's poorest will buy less food, less nutritious food or be forced to rely on aid.

Speaking after briefing the European Parliament, Miss Sheeran said the agency needed an extra $375m (244m euros; £187m) for food projects this year and $125m (81m euros; £93m) to transport it.

This is not a short-term bubble and will definitely continue Josette Sheeran WFP Q&A: Rising food prices

She said she saw no quick solution to high food and fuel costs.

"The assessment is that we are facing high food prices at least for the next couple of years," she said.

Miss Sheeran said global food reserves were at their lowest level in 30 years - with enough to cover the need for emergency deliveries for 53 days, compared with 169 days in 2007.

Biofuel prices

Among the contributing factors to high food prices is biofuel production.

Miss Sheeran says demand for crops to produce biofuels is increasing prices for food stuffs such as palm oil.

Miss Sheeran said governments needed "to look more carefully at the link between the acceleration in biofuels and food supply and give more thought to it".

The WFP says countries where price rises are expected to have a most direct impact include Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Haiti, Djibouti, the Gambia, Tajikistan, Togo, Chad, Benin, Burma, Cameroon, Niger, Senegal, Yemen and Cuba.

Areas where the WFP is already seeing an impact include:

Afghanistan: 2.5 million people in Afghanistan cannot afford the price of wheat, which rose more than 60% in 2007

Bangladesh: The price of rice has risen 25% to 30% over the last three months. In 2007, the price rose about 70%.

El Salvador: Rural communities are buying 50% less food than they did 18 months ago with the same amount of money. This means their nutritional intake, on an already poor diet, is cut by half.

Anger over rising food prices have already led to riots in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Senegal and Morocco.

---

The BBC is planning a special day of coverage of this issue on Tuesday 11 March, online, on radio and on TV.

]]> http://brainsplus.wordpress.com/?p=533 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:16:01 +0000 Bilia http://brainsplus.wordpress.com/?p=533

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(CNN) -- U.S. health officials said Wednesday they have found a contaminant in a blood-thinning drug produced by Baxter Healthcare Corp. that has been linked to more than a dozen deaths in the United States.

The drug can keep potentially life-threatening blood clots from forming in the veins, arteries, and lungs.

In early February, the Food and Drug Administration launched an investigation and then a recall of some forms of the product.

The scrutiny began after a spike in reports of health problems associated with heparin, a drug made by Baxter from pig intestines at plants in China and Wisconsin.

Though the cause of the problems has not been determined, FDA investigators found "a heparin-like compound -- that is not heparin -- present in some of the active pharmaceutical ingredients" in both facilities, said Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

The contaminant, which made up 5 percent to 20 percent of each sample tested, "reacts like heparin in some of the conventional tests used for heparin," which explains why it was not picked up, she told reporters in a conference call.

No causal link between the contaminant and the adverse events has been established yet, Woodcock said.

She added that it was not clear whether the contaminant was added accidentally, as part of the processing or deliberately.

It also was not clear whether the contaminant was introduced in the company's plant in Wisconsin or the one in China, Woodcock said.

Though she said the exact structure of the contaminant has not been identified, "it is similar to heparin glycans." Glycans are polysaccharides, a complex class of carbohydrate.

She added it was unclear whether other heparin products used outside the United States might also contain the product.

Later this week, the agency will release recommendations on how manufacturers and regulators can screen for the contaminant, she said.

Last year, pet food made in China was found to be tainted with an ingredient that replaced more expensive protein and that initial tests did not identify as a contaminant. Asked if the heparin contamination could be a similar case, Woodcock said, "It's possible."

Doctors have used the blood-thinner for 60 years with "no history of any problems whatsoever," said the FDA commissioner, Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach.

Its intravenous use can keep potentially life-threatening blood clots from forming in the veins, arteries and lungs.

Von Eschenbach said it would be "disingenuous" to expect the agency would be able to inspect "every institution in every case."

Over the last fiscal year, the agency reported having inspected more than 1,000 foreign plants, a record.

Since the agency issued its report that 19 deaths had been linked to the drug since January 1, 2007, it has received word of another 27 deaths, "but many of those do not fit our definition of this type of event," Woodcock said.

In all, the FDA has received 785 heparin-linked reports of adverse events -- including difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating and plummeting blood pressure that can lead to life-threatening shock.

"They're continuing to come in fairly rapidly because there has been a lot of reporting of this," she said.

In a written statement, Baxter said its tests have suggested "that the root cause may be associated with the crude heparin, sourced from China, or from the subsequent processing of that product before it reaches Baxter."

Meanwhile, Scientific Protein Laboratories LLC, which supplies the company with the active pharmaceutical ingredients, issued a statement saying it is working with the FDA, Baxter and outside experts to identify the cause of the adverse events.

"Thus far, no conclusions have been reached about the root cause," it said.

"It is premature to conclude that the heparin active pharmaceutical ingredient sourced from China and provided by SPL to Baxter is responsible for these adverse events."

It said that its voluntary recall of suspect product was being made as a precaution. 

CNN

Debbie Thurman’s letter titled World’ AIDS Day is nothing more than a gay bashing, homophobic  waste of paper in which she spent all of 5 minutes writing. Thurman said “It enriches organizations that purport to fund useful research and effective education. It provides lip service to prevention while ignoring the failure of the most lavishly funded programs aimed at slowing the spread of the HIV retrovirus”.

World AIDS Day is much more than a way to supply funds to organizations that only “appear” to fund useful research and effective education. It is much more than supplying “lip service” to programs aimed at slowing the spread of the HIV retrovirus.

World AIDS day is a day in which people all over the world gay, straight and in-between do something constructive in an attempt to stop the deadly disease that has already claimed too many souls. It’s a day of coming together for the greater good of the World’s public health.

Thurman also asked “if we had forgotten where AIDS originates”. I would like to educate her and others about the fact that there is no evidence to suggest gay men started the pandemic. Research does suggest that it started with a chimp infected with the Ape version passing it to a man via a bite that passed it ending up in an urban area.

While Thurman was correct in saying the gay men do indeed make up the biggest percentage of those who have HIV/AIDS it is not limited to them or because of their existence. This is a global problem hence the words World AIDS Day.

She also tells us “AIDS cases soar to the stratosphere in the gay ghettos, those urban areas where most homosexuals congregate and where gay bathhouses still operate with impunity. These are also the enclaves where intravenous drug use abounds”.

However, more than one-third of all AIDS deaths in the United States have occurred among injecting drug users and their sexual partners. These folks are primarily minority Americans.  World Health Organization data indicates that in 1993, 80 countries reported the existence of injecting drug use, and 52 of these countries reported human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among IDUs. In 1999, 136 countries reported injecting drug use, and 93 of these countries reported HIV infection among IDUs.

In addition, injecting drug use and HIV infection can spread rapidly within a community. Introduction of and rapid increase in injecting drug use is believed to be responsible for dramatic increases in HIV infection in some areas. Therefore, becoming one of the primary risk factors for HIV infection.

While Thurman blames “the gay PR machine” is responsible for convincing the world that all of us are at risk she forgets yet more vital information.  About 60 percent of men and 40 percent of women will have an affair at some point in some marriage, but I guess Thurman is to blind to see straight folk contribute to the same pandemic she wants to blame on gay men.

As for James Hartline, who Thurman seems to pity for being a former homosexual and claims to be persecuted by the gay community all I can say is gay doesn’t go away. You can choose abstinence, or another way of life, but down deep I guarantee he is still gay just like the rest of us. Remember the old cliché… you can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy. Also, remember he is a big boy and put himself in the public eye and that makes it fare game. Especially, if he plans to run for city council to “counter the corruption and pro-gay politics he says are rife in San Diego’s government”.

While I must agree with Thurman’s comment that cutting funding to programs advocating abstinence is “medically assisted suicide” I have to add not practicing safe sex is the same thing as playing Russian roulette. After all, it is only human nature to have sex.

Thurman reminds us “Jesus told the adulterous woman to Go and Sin no more”. While this is true Jesus also reminds us repeatedly not to be judgmental as it is not our place and to abound in love one toward another. With this said, can the world for once put away the blame and bring out the love and solidarity, we need to take out this GLOBAL deadly disease that all walks of life have enbled.

Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today

While America is all abuzz with election coverage and now the tragic tornadoes that have claimed 52 lives, let us take a moment to remember that today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

I already shared some of the sobering statistics during my  week long series of posts for the Black Blogging to End AIDS carnival. They bear repeating.

• AIDS remains the leading cause of death for Blacks ages 25 to 44, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Blacks make up just 13% of the population of the USA, but they account for 50% of all new cases of HIV.
• Black women account for 70% of all women with HIV.
• 70% of the new cases among youth are Black

In light of the country's infatuation with the elections and who will end up with the Democratic nod (since McCain has all but secured the nomination on the other side of the aisle), I thought I would take the time to compare Obama and Clinton's platforms and records on this issue, as it is one that is personally very important to me as I've had several relatives die of the disease. Even if it hasn't yet affected you personally, take a look at those statistics again. If this epidemic isn't addressed, it soon will.

I didn't have to go very far to find a comparison of the candidates as the Black AIDS Institute has published an informative report, "We Demand Accountability : The 2008 Presidential Elections and the Black AIDS Epidemic." This report arose out of a written survey that was sent to each of the 16 candidates from both parties that were in the race in October 2007, as well as examination of their public records and their statements on this important issue.

How did we get here?

One of the reasons it's so imperative that we hold these candidates accountable is because of the inaction of previous administrations.

• By the time Reagan even mentioned "AIDS" in 1986, he was five years too late. More than 16,000 Americans had already died.
• Under Big Bush's watch, the AIDS-related fatalities had risen six fold. By the end of 1992, his last year in office, 190,687 Americans were dead. Nearly one-third of them were Black.
• Although Clinton did more than his predecessors, against the advice of his secretary of Health and Human Services and other officials, he failed to lift the ban on federal funding for needle exchange programs.
• Little Bush has cut spending on a wide range of domestic AIDS services (presumably to fund HIS war), which has resulted in Americans dying while waiting awaiting access to AIDS drugs.

Since AIDS is now a "Black disease," what should Black voters ask of the Presidential candidates to see where they stand on an agenda to combat this epidemic?

Let's see how the two remaining Democratic candidates stack up:

Do you have a national strategy?

While we may have foreign policies for the funding of AIDS programs in other countries, domestically, we are SORELY lacking. The 40,000 new infections a year and specifically the statistics above scream that fact.

Both candidates have committed to creating a national strategy for America's response to the AIDS crisis.

Obama released his national AIDS strategy in October, which specified that "in the first year of his presidency, he will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies." This platform will include "measurable goals, timelines, and accountability mechanisms."

Clinton also released her AIDS platform in November which stated, "Federal efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS are diffuse and uncoordinated today...[Hillary] will tie all of the federal efforts together into a single comprehensive national strategy."

Will you support policies that reduce Black infections?

According to the report, the most effective way the next president can impact the AIDS epidemic is by lifting the ban on federal funding for needle exchange programs. One-fifth of all HIV infections among Black men and women still come from sharing dirty needles. Among Black women infected through sexual contact, 17% of their HIV-positive male partners were infected by sharing dirty needles.

In addition, surveys have shows that Black people are more receptive to health information that is disseminated through their own Black community sources.

Where do the candidates stand on funding needle exchange programs? Will they devote substantial resources to helping the Black community get the word out about AIDS?

Obama has vowed to fund syringe exchange programs and also stressed his support for the JUSTICE Act.

His platform declares that "HIV has hit some communities harder than others" and that he will "tackle the root causes of health disparities by addressing differences in access to health coverage and promoting prevention and public health."

Clinton also agrees to fund needle exchange programs, increase funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative, while also increasing support for nontraditional public health partners, in particular clergy and faith leaders.

Of course we all remember the famous soundbite, "Let me just put this in perspective : If HIV/AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of 25 and 34 there would be outraged outcry in this country."

Will You Support Community-Based HIV Testing?

1.2 million Americans believed to be HIV positive do not know they are infected, which consequently drives the growth of the epidemic. While Blacks get tested at rates more than twice that of Whites, the CDC estimates that half of all positive Blacks don't know they are infected.

Let's see where the candidates stand on promoting testing efforts in the Black community.

It seems Obama has the strongest record on HIV testing, according to the report, because he has led by example. During a trip through Africa, he spoke about the need for personal and political leadership on AIDS. Then both he and Michelle took public tests.

The report had no information on Clinton's stance on this issue. I looked at her plan myself and I didn't find anything either. I hear some of you all talking slick about Hillary probably being scared to take a public test with Bill. Cut it out.

Will you guarantee access to adequate treatement?

Two-thirds of Blacks who are in treatment for AIDS use public insurance, yet Medicaid systems are failing because of financial pressures. It goes beyond the availability of medications. AIDS service providers are no longer able to provide counseling services, nutrition programs, drug recovery programs, and other support mechanisms. As more and more people get tested and learn their status and need public insurance, the resources will become further strained.

Let's see what our candidates plan to do to clean up this mess.

Obama co-sponsored the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which would expand Medicaid to allow poor people living with HIV to qualify for public insurance.

He's also a strong supporter of the Ryan White CARE Act, which is the primary vehicle that funds a variety of health and social programs across the country.

Clinton pledges to strengthen Medicaid and was one of the two lead sponsors on the Early Treatment for HIV Act. She has been a key player in the ongoing debate for the reform of the Ryan White CARE Act, calling for more funding overall.

Both candidates platforms speak about this issue in the context of their broader healthcare plans, which I know readers have studied because we're intelligent people here and focus on the issues when we chose which candidate to support. Right?

How will you stop the stigma?

As the Black community is well aware, this down-low phenomenon and the stigma of homosexuality/bisexuality has been a key factor in the spread of this disease, particularly among women. Since the president plays a large role in setting the national tone on a range of key issues, it is imperative that we have a leader who embraces all Americans regardless of sexual orientation or HIV status.

In addition, as some Black churches change their tune and lead the anti-stigma campaigns, faith-based funding is crucial to support their efforts.

Where do the candidates stand?

Obama supports civil unions for LGBT Americans; banning employment discrimination bases on sexual orientation and gender identity; and has committed to lifting the lifelong ban on HIV-positive travelers entering the U.S.

He also says, "One of the things we've got to overcome is a stigma that still exists in our communities. We don't talk about this. We don't talk about it in schools. Sometimes we don't talk about it in churches. It has been an aspect of sometimes a homophobia, that we don't address this issue as clearly as it needs to be."

Clinton also support civil unions for LGBT Americans and supports banning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Her platform stresses that she will work with faith leaders in the Black community on a number of issues, although fighting stigma wasn't specified.

Lastly, she would also revive public health efforts to reduce infections among gay and bisexual men, particularly Blacks.

So there you have a comparison of the two remaining Democratic candidates platforms on stopping the spread of the disease.

Lest you think I'm biased (which I am), I did not intentionally forget about the Republican party. What do you know? NONE of the candidates bothered to respond to the survey, either in the written form or by telephone interview.

They don't care about us! Hell, your Vice President didn't even know there was an epidemic in the Black community...and didn't care that he didn't know.

The report does examine each candidate's public record. At this point, you only need to look at McCain's record.

• He has not committed to creating a national strategy
• He does not support lifting the ban on funding for needle exchange programs
• He has never stated whether they would support HIV testing of any sort.
• He has not supported the Early Treatment with HIV Act.
• Although he was an original sponsor of the Ryan White CARE Act, but has not taken a meaningful role in AIDS treatment and care policymaking since.
• He has consistently backed legislation that stigmatizes or discriminates against people living with HIV.

You can read the details...or lack of details...in the report.

Moving on.

Regardless of which candidate wins the Democratic nod, it's imperative that we get these agenda items addressed.  Although I am a proud Obama Mama and am pleased with his track record and platform on this issue that is of utmost importance to me as a Black woman, I also find Hillary's plan to be one that can make an impact. I would rather support a candidate that at least recognizes there is an issue worth addressing rather than ignores it because it's not affecting people he cares anything about. That's not what a president of these UNITED States should be doing.

I also recognize that these candidates say anything on the campaign trail that sounds good to get your vote. I'm sure both Obama and Hillary would love to be able to fulfill each and every one of these platform items. However, likely that's impossible, particularly with a war to end and an economy to turn around. So it's up to us to take personal accountability for our own health and well being. If we each pledged to do that, it would far surpass any prevention resources the government could offer.

Again, here are a series of posts I did for World AIDS Day that contain numerous resources around prevention and treatment and how you can personally get involved in the fight.

Here are some more resources for general HIV/AIDS education and voter education on where the candidates stand:

AIDSVote
National AIDS Strategy
08 Stop AIDS
AIDS: 25 Years and Counting
National Black HIV/AIDS Day
Black AIDS Institute

Remember, it starts with personal accountability.

Educate yourself. Protect yourself.

"Obama's not the savior: we are. He opens a door. We push."
Laura Flanders

I believe most of us are familiar with World AIDS Day. Well, it was started in 1988 by the World Health Organization. World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1st. So yeah, I did photography for a youth geared World AIDS day event at Q'4 (Quennect 4). Q'4 is an independently run and own art gallery/event space/art space. I really like this place, the gals/guys there are great and the events held there are good. You could call it underground but what is underground anyhow? I'm there often.

The photo; as I walked around in photographer mode I noticed the teen sitting at the table. It struck me, and perhaps just me but to see him sketching with what seemed to be no direct acknowledgement of his surroundings was very interesting. Of course, he had to have noticed the items on the table but the way it looked to me, he seemed to be taken away by his work. As usual, one can say a lot about a photo but I like the juxtaposition of him and the items on the table. For me It's a reminder of how old sexual norms and mores are being re-interpreted and explored. It reminds me that sexuality is not just about sex but it also could be, and how we need to educate ourselves and others on the many things that surround us regarding it.

Titolo: Take out a condom and help the fight against AIDS.
Baseline/Tagline: Take out a condom and help the fight against AIDS.
Agency:  Escala Comunicação e Marketing - Brazil
Brand: Health Secretariat of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil).
Creative Director - Eduardo Axelrud and Alessandro Jacoby
Copywriter - Marcelo Rosa
Art Director - Diego Wortmann and Rafael Koff
Illustrator - Diego Wortmann
Strategic planner - Marcia Fernanda Sampaio and Tais Ludvig

"De aandacht en positieve commentaar van een tiental bloggers, zorgde er uiteindelijk voor dat de campagne te zien was op zo'n dertig blogs. Uiteraard zorgde dat ook voor extra bezoekers voor www.sensoa.be. Het bewijst dat als je de bloggers correct tegemoet treedt, zij een meerwaarde kunnen betekenen voor een campagne en een essentieel onderdeel van de mediamix uitmaken. Sensoa wenst hen dan ook van harte te bedanken!"

'Sensoa' op Google Blogs.
Anderen die aandacht schonken aan de campagne.

World AIDS Day was founded in 1988, and each year a campaign slogan is chosen by the World AIDS Campaign, this year's being, "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise, Leadership." The slogan serves as a reminder for all governments across the world to meet goals they have set in HIV & AIDS funding public programs for research, care, and awareness, as well as for everyday people to also do what they can to prevent the spread of the disease, raise awareness, donate money, or volunteer in the fight against HIV & AIDS. Additionally, World AIDS Day is a yearly day of reverence to mark the passing of 25 million people that have died from AIDS since 1981. Today, there are 33 million people living with HIV, and 95% of those infected live in developing countries.

How far we have come

The red ribbon is the symbol synonymous with AIDS awareness, so familiar in fact that it has blended into our cultural understanding of the disease. When the disease broke in the early 1980s, spreading like wildfire in urban populations of gay men in New York City and San Francisco, the disease was first termed "gay cancer." Since so little was known about the diseases, and it was afflicting an already stigmatized population, people generally feared even touching those infected with HIV. The Regan and Bush administrations did little to fund research and awareness of the disease, and major newspapers were silent on the topic for years, so it fell to the public sector to take action, raise funds, and get the word out about the disease. The grassroots organization Visual AIDS invented the red ribbon to mimic the yellow ribbon for soldiers overseas. Awareness and funding fell into the hands of celebrities, like activist Elizabeth Taylor, to amplify the original message of the red ribbon, in order to bring awareness and funds to the fight against HIV & AIDS.

How far we have to go

Today both private organizations, charities, and governments around the world are engaged in the fight against HIV & AIDS. To combat the spike of HIV & AIDS in developing countries, some $8 billion was spent in 2005, although close to $20 billion will be needed to maintain the fight by 2008. Differences of cultural understandings and controversies over distributing birth control for protection in developing countries, combined with inadequate funding, inhibit effective control over the pandemic. There is still no cure for AIDS, although there are antiretroviral treatments can prolong and improve the quality of life of HIV infected persons.

What to do

While wearing the red ribbon promotes solidarity, there are other things that can be done, in keeping with this year's "Leadership" slogan for World AIDS Day. The international AIDS charity Avert features a How to Help page, to donate money and offer tips on what you can do. Also check out the World AIDS Day Campaign page on Taking the Lead. Also look for events or organizations in your area that help those living with HIV & AIDS in your area, or around the world, because there is usually something you can do in your own neighborhood that can make a difference. Most importantly, if you are sexually active, make sure to get tested.

--Matthew Krajewski

"Non essere stupido. Proteggi te stesso"

Agency: Advico Young & Rubicam, Switzerland
Creative Directors: Urs Schrepfer & Daniel Comte
Copywriter: Martin Stulz
Art Director: Christian Bobst
Photographer: Roger Schneider

Via 

E poi un salto nell'archivio di Campagne Sociali qui

December 1st marked two important convergences for me: 1) World AIDS Day, declared in 1988 to observe the cross-pollination of art and political action. 2) In a Kabbalah-like twist of events, the same day the very next year n 1989 Alvin Ailey died of AIDS. In honor of Ailey and political action through art-- I went to see the William Pope.L exhibition at the Art Institute. He is the self-proclaimed "friendliest black artist in America," and humor is the essential media for his politically charged work. Afterwards, I made some notes.

Make Mistakes: I am close to World AIDS day because I work at NorthStar Medical Center, one of the largest HIV medical clinics with over 3000 patients.

Forgive: Coming out is hard, but Alvin Ailey was unapologetically gay and surprisingly self-forgiving considering the time he lived time and his southern religious upbringing.

Cheat: Alvin Ailey said "If you love it steal it but if it doesn't mean anything to you than leave it behind."

Have Fun: World AIDS Day grew out of artists getting together to declare December 1st a day "Without Art"-- which in turn spurred a lot of art and exhibitions.

The exhibit Focus: William Pope.L-Drawing Dreaming Drowning is at the Art Institute of Chicago through January 21st.

--Justin Polera

World AIDS Day 2007

Yesterday was World AIDS Day, which is observed each year on December 1st. It is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 38.6 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005, of which more than half a million (570,000) were children. The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world.

While in recent years much attention has been focused on global AIDS, it is essential that we not overlook the fact that the disease remains a significant public threat in the United States, where it has become a nearly forgotten epidemic. Consider this: every 13 minutes, an American is newly infected with HIV, and 10% of them are children and adolescents under 24 years old. More than 500,000 Americans have died from the illness in the past quarter century; moreover, in the 30 minutes it takes many people to commute to work, AIDS steals the life of another American.

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Philadelphia: The Pet Shop Boys

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The Survivors: The Pet Shop Boys

From the Lyrics:

Many words may make it sound contrived
But somehow we're alive

The survivors - Our heads bowed
The survivors - At memorials for other faces in the crowd

Teachers and artists
And Saturday girls
In suits or sequins
Or twinsets-and-pearls

If life is worth living,
It's got to be run
As a means of giving,
Not as a race to be won
Many roads will run through many lives
But somehow we'll arrive.

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Stop AIDS: unaids posi+ive

World Aids Day 2007

Technorati: World Aids Day 2007, World Aids Day, AIDS, HIV, celebrities, personalities, gay, gay life, gay issues, African-American, GLBT, culture, cultural issues, cultural, social, social issues, society, world, world news, health, health issues, medical, medical issues, mental health, psychology, art, image, picture, Pet Shop Boys, Philadelphia, The Survivors, music, songs, video, videos, music videos, WordPress video
Spread the Word:

Saturday was World AIDS day and the world took some time to educate and spread awareness.  The AIDS quilt was right around the corner from us here in Las Vegas.  It stopped in Bakersfield, CA on its tour.  In this day and age, no one should contract the disease let alone die from it.  There are so many ways to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV, however there is no cure once a person contracts the virus.

According to WebMD's Web site,

Anyone can get HIV if they engage in certain activities. You may have a higher risk of getting HIV if you:

• Have unprotected sex. This means vaginal or anal intercourse without a condom or oral sex without a latex barrier with a person infected with HIV.
• Share needles to inject drugs or steroids with an infected person. The disease can also be transmitted by dirty needles used to make a tattoo or in body piercing.
• Receive a blood transfusion from an infected person. This is very unlikely in the U.S. and Western Europe, where all blood is tested for HIV infection.
• Are born to a mother with HIV infection. A baby can also get HIV from the breast milk of an infected woman.

Recently in Chicago, there were four transplants that were performed on patients who did not have the virus. After the transplant, they tested positive for HIV. Transplants may seem safe, but they actually can be very deadly, as in this case. The donor was tested before the transplants, but the doctors explained after finding out the shocking news, that if a donor contracts the virus close to the time of the test, it will show up negative. 

Take the time today to learn more about HIV and AIDS and get tested!