2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Since 1988, the face and response to AIDS has greatly changed. While many of these changes are positive, this anniversary offers us an opportunity to highlight how much more still needs to be done.
For example:
Leaders in most countries from around the world now acknowledge the threat of AIDS, and many have committed to do something about it. As of 2007, nearly all countries have national policies on HIV. However, despite these policies, most have not been fully implemented and many lack funding allocations.
While treatment for HIV and AIDS has improved and become more widespread since 1988, many still do not have access to it – in 2007 only 31% of those in low- to middle-income countries who need treatment received it.
Despite HIV awareness now reaching nearly all areas of the globe, infection rates are still happening 2.7 times faster than the increase in number of people receiving treatment.
While the number of countries protecting people living with HIV continue to increase, one third of countries still lack legal protections and stigma and discrimination continues to be a major threat to universal access.
More broadly, real action on HIV and AIDS and human rights remains lacking. Legal barriers to HIV services still exist for groups such as women, adolescents, sex workers, people who use drugs, and men having sex with men, and programmatic responses promoting HIV-related human rights have yet to be prioritised.
World AIDS Day began in 1988 when health ministers from around the world met and agreed on the concept of the day as an opportunity for all of us to come together to demonstrate the importance of AIDS and show solidarity for the cause. In 2008, this underlining principle of solidarity and awareness remains the same.
We have only two years to go for “the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010”[1].”
To achieve this goal, leadership and action is needed now. Governments must deliver on the promises they have made. Communities must encourage leadership of its members. Individuals must feel empowered to access treatment, to know their rights and take action against stigma and discrimination, and to know and use methods of prevention against receiving and transmitting HIV.
Now, more than ever is the time to lead – empower – deliver.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A small group of Democratic House members put together an alternative to the $700 billion financial bailout measure that was defeated in the House on Monday.
Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, said they tentatively are calling their options the “no bailouts act,” which would eliminate or reduce the risks to taxpayers in bailing out financial institutions holding bad mortgage assets.
The group introduced its bill after the House on Monday rejected a $700 billion bill that would have authorized Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to buy bad mortgage-related securities and other assets that have been clogging credit markets worldwide.
DeFazio said he voted against Monday’s bill because taxpayer protection measures were “nonexistent.”
“I have very little confidence in Mr. Paulson,” DeFazio said at a news conference with several other House members, who want Wall Street, not taxpayers, to bear the burden of the bailout.
DeFazio said the crisis can be resolved with market discipline and regulatory functions, which would open up lending opportunities for banks and other institutions.
I did find this story on NPR’s “Marketplace” to be quite interesting as well:
John Dimsdale:The Federal Reserve, Treasury and the FDIC have broad powers to lend money, insure assets and inject cash into the banking system as they’ve already done for the likes of Bear Stearns, AIG and Wachovia … still, in theory, the Fed even has authority to do just what the congressional bailout authorizes — take bad debts off the hands of struggling banks.
Nigel Gault: I think there is a limit to which the Fed can do that because you’re almost trying through the back door what Congress just said yesterday the government can’t do.
Global Insight economist Nigel Gault.
Gault: The Fed could offer loans against riskier collateral, of course that is bigger and bigger risks for the taxpayer, because ultimately if the Fed makes losses, then the taxpayer would be liable.
The Fed’s other tool is to cut short-term interest rates. But they’re already so low, there’s not much power left in that tool. And using it creates a risk of inflation, says former Treasury economist Bruce Bartlett.
Bruce Bartlett:The taxpayer is going to have to pay one way or the other, and voting down this legislation didn’t do anything to protect the taxpayer. It just means he’s going to have to pay in some other way that may be more costly than the $700 billion.
As of the middle of last week, the Fed had issued emergency loans to investment banks and insurance companies worth more than $400 billion.
TURNCOAT! KILLER! LIAR! THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law!
Go!
State’s lies dressed up as evening news,
We’re tired of lies we want the truth.
Broadcast by corpses courting you,
We’re tired of lies we want the truth.
Most people they will never know,
We’re tired of lies we want the truth.
With you or against you?
Then I am against you because you’re a…
TURNCOAT! KILLER! LIAR! THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law!
TURNCOAT! KILLER! LIAR! THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law!
In your corner,
Makes me wanna,
Douse myself in gasoline!
Civil servants fall in line for you,
Too brainwashed to see the truth!
You use anyone you can!
Whoa!
Whoa
Whoa
TURNCOAT! KILLER! LIAR! THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law!
TURNCOAT! KILLER! LIAR! THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the …
KILLER!
LIAR!
A TURNCOAT! and a THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law!
A TURNCOAT! and a THIEF!
Criminal with protection of the law!
Medieval legend says that Count Ghisallo was travelling near the village of Magréglio when he was attacked by highway bandits. Spotting a image of the Virgin Mary in a roadside shrine, he broke away from his attackers and ran to it. There he took refuge, pled for Our Lady’s protection - and was miraculously saved from the robbers.
As the story spread, the Madonna del Ghisallo became known as patroness of local travellers. In more recent times, cyclists would often stop to rest and pray at the chapel, which is a local landmark, and is at the top of a steep hill. After World War II, Father Ermelindo Vigano, pastor at the shrine, proposed Ghisallo as the site of an Italian shrine for bicyclists, and she was given as patroness of cyclists on 13 October 1949 by Pope Pius XII. The chapel has become equal part religious shrine, part cycling museum, with artifacts and photos from the sport. There is an eternal flame that burns there in memory of the cyclists of are no longer with us, and services each Christmas Eve and the Feast of All Souls commemorate them.
I haven’t been wearing it too much, because apparently I’m allergic to the stainless steel chain that it came standard with. I replaced the chain with one that is supposed to be sterling, but either I’m allergic to that as well, or it’s also stainless like the original chain, but mis-packaged.
You see … I’m not Catholic; I was baptised as an Episcopalian (a.k.a. Catholic-Lite), and I’ve never been terribly religious. So some might call my wearing of a Madonna del Ghisallo medal as slightly blasphemous.
I’ve always tried to think of it this way. I’m not religious, but I do have my faith … and I certainly don’t see anything wrong with asking for a little extra protection whilst riding my bike. Even Lance Armstrong, a self-proclaimed atheist, used to wear a cross (along with a Texas charm) on a chain around his neck.
So I’ll keep looking for an appropriate chain; or I’ll deal with the allergic dermatitis until my body realizes that this is something I need to do for me.
@neilkod I do back-office operations work for a brokerage firm. Liaison between the branches and various processing depts. in reply to neilkod6 hrs ago
Back to work today ... am I looking forward to it? No, but it likely means I'll be tweeting more, so all y'all get to enjoy my presence! 8 hrs ago
