National AIDS Day.  

Posted by kw

I missed the last BloggersUnite day, November 11, due to mental illness.  Today is National AIDS Day, a day which barely causes a ripple.  I have a friend Joe, who works for the AIDS branch at the CDC.  We have talked about the struggle that exists, in terms of funding and publicity for AIDS.
See, our world has been so overwhelmed by global terrors, of fear-mongering and violence, that we have become immune to the "old" killers, the ones within and around us.  In America, poverty, ignorance, racism, homophobia, socio-economic issues, isolationism as a cultural identity, lack of separation of Church and State, etcetera, ad nauseum.
The Bush administration has trampled on the Constitution.  It has crushed the very principles that we hold dear.  Many of his actions are far more worthy of impeachment than, say, a sexual indiscretion, yet Bush will never admit to that.  I will halt here, because this post is about AIDS.
The Bush administration has funded an "abstinence only" sexual education approach.  I will not bore you with the numbers of promiscuity in the teen-age population, because if you are reading this, you are most likely aware.  However, the point for me today, is to write about AIDS.
If your children are not taught "safe sex" practices, by you, by their health teachers, by public service announcements, how will they learn?  Many crappy daytime shows will have teen-age mothers looking for the father of their baby/babies through DNA tests.  Which means that they have had multiple partners.
This only speaks to the women who have conceived, given birth and share their story on television.  Countless more are sexually active, are sharing their bodies, are at risk of or are contracting sexually transmitted diseases.  A wall of silence around this has only compounded the problem.  No child understands the real ramifications of a single night of passion.  Many adults don't either.
Church ladies are one group that has seen the rise of HIV/AIDS.  Their husbands stray, sometimes to other men and then come home to give their wives this terrible disease.  In particular, the Catholic Church condemns the use of condoms.  Shame, coupled with homophobia, social stigma and fear add to the petri dish that warms the AIDS anti-bodies.
Some people believe that AIDS is only visited on IV drug users and gay men.  Too many believe it is a punishment from God.  That it will never be part of their lives.  This has been a misconception that has had devastating results.  Our people, our country and our world need to know more, to talk more, to share more and to fight more against this preventable disease.
The succinct slogan, which resonates even today is:

SILENCE=DEATH.  SILENCE=DEATH.  SILENCE=DEATH.  SILENCE=DEATH.

BloggersUnite, has written the following, which I urge you to read.  Please take a moment to look at least one link.  It could change your life, or some one's that you know.

HIV/AIDS has been a global epidemic for more than 27 years. Most of today's youth have never known a world without it. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published national HIV incidence (new infections) that showed much higher numbers that previous estimates. The time is now. Together, we can prevent the spread of this pandemic – through awareness, care, prevention, education and research.
“HIV/AIDS has now become a pandemic that has literally put the world at risk, affecting diverse populations in different ways”. –Dr. Nora Volkow, NIDA Director
On December 1st, individuals and organizations will recognize World AIDS Day. This year’s theme is leadership – from all sectors, including government, but also leaders among individuals and families, communities, non-profits and other organizations. The question is not should you participate, but how can you? Both NIDA and AIDS.gov recognize the leadership of Bloggers Unite and invite bloggers to join them in their mission to prevent and stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

How To Participate

As a blogger, you can help lead this mission. Some of you may already be doing this, so tell your story. Write about it and share it with NIDA, AIDS.gov and the Bloggers Unite community. Even if you are not a blogger, you can be involved. Both NIDA and AIDS.gov are working to share their research and prevention resources within the social realm. Here are five ways you can further the cause and elevate the voice of HIV/AIDS awareness online:
  1. 'Be-Friend' NIDA and AIDS.gov on MySpace to stay connected to the issue and those working within it. Together, we can stay up-to-date on new efforts, research findings and activities.
  2. Learn the link about HIV/AIDS and drug abuse by viewing NIDA’s online Webisodes, a video series about how non-injection drug use can lead to increased risk behavior, and can change lives forever. Once you learn the link, be sure to send the link to friends and family.
  3. Visit the AIDS.gov blog and read how people are using new media tools in the response to HIV/AIDS.
  4. Join the AIDS.gov Facing AIDS World AIDS Day Campaign and take a picture of yourself wearing a red ribbon and use that photo on your social network, blog, or Web site to help eliminate stigma and recognize World AIDS Day online. Also, add a badge to your website or blog.
  5. Blog and read about the issue. Then be sure to share your posts with Bloggers Unite or on Twitter using the tag #WAD08.

Resources

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Drug abuse by any route can put a person at risk for getting HIV. This is because drug and alcohol intoxication affect judgment and can lead to unsafe sexual practices, which put people at risk for getting HIV or transmitting it to someone else. NIDA has developed the following resources to help educate, share and increase awareness of the AIDS issue.

NIDA’s Learn the Link Campaign

More Resources

AIDS.gov

The Federal government has developed a wealth of HIV/AIDS testing, prevention, treatment and research information. In addition, the following are some of the many resources you can use to help response to HIV/AIDS.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 1, 2008 at Monday, December 01, 2008 . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

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