Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Obama bird-dogged in Iowa: Q:$50B? A:"Maybe”

Obama: Spoke to a crowd of about 250 people during the day in a townhall setting. I went with some friends and got seats right next to where he made his entrance, so I got to shake his hand before he began, and told him I looked forward to hearing about his AIDS policy. He gave a stump speech about domestic issues including healthcare, employment, taxes, etc. During Q&A he saw my hand, but knew what I would ask, so he didn’t call on me. At one point he stacked me in the question line for right after the last question, but said “I already know what you’re going to ask.” Just when it looked like he was done, someone piped up and said he wanted to know what I was going to ask, so it forced Obama to take my question. Me: There are 40 million people in the world living with AIDS, but only about one quarter of those in need of treatment have acess to them. $50 billion is needed in the next five years to begin more thoroughly addressing the issue. Can you commit $50 billion in the next five years to AIDS? Obama: Maybe. I… (more)

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

OBAMA HIV/AIDS PLAN—THE DETAILS

BARACK OBAMA: FIGHTING HIV/AIDS WORLDWIDE “We are all sick because of AIDS - and we are all tested by this crisis. It is a test not only of our willingness to respond, but of our ability to look past the artificial divisions and debates that have often shaped that response. When you go to places like Africa and you see this problem up close, you realize that it’s not a question of either treatment or prevention – or even what kind of prevention – it is all of the above. It is not an issue of either science or values – it is both. Yes, there must be more money spent on this disease. But there must also be a change in hearts and minds, in cultures and attitudes. Neither philanthropist nor scientist, neither government nor church, can solve this problem on their own - AIDS must be an all-hands-on-deck effort.” [Barack Obama, World AIDS Day Speech, Lake Forest, CA, 12/1/06] BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN TO COMBAT GLOBAL HIV/AIDS There are 40 million people across the planet infected with HIV/AIDS, including more than 1 million people in the… (more)

Monday, October 08, 2007

POZ Magazine on the Presidential Candidates and HIV/AIDS

The Great Debate

Will the 2008 U.S. presidential hopefuls commit to fighting HIV/AIDS? (And how you can encourage them to care.)

http://www.poz.com/articles/edwards_hiv_election_401_13153.shtml

On September 18, former Senator John Edwards became the first 2008 presidential candidate to announce a plan to fight HIV/AIDS in the United States and abroad. Activists and people living with HIV applauded Edwards’s plan—which would provide universal access to health care for HIV-positive Americans by 2012. It would also create a national strategy to fight AIDS that offers all people equal access to care and bases prevention efforts on science rather than political ideology. The HIV community has long awaited any sign of support from those vying to become this country’s future leader. “We’re hoping that all the candidates put out as detailed a plan as Edwards has,” says Christine Campbell, director of national advocacy and organizing at Housing Works, a New York-based AIDS service group. In an election year when national health care is a front-burner issue, one would think that addressing the AIDS pandemic would be a priority on every candidate’s platform. But the topic has… (more)

Friday, October 05, 2007

Student activists plus Obama equals $50B pledge at Luther College in Iowa!

Here’s the word from awesome SGACer Steph in Iowa: Just got out of Obama Rally at Luther. He spoke about health insurance and just mentioned how he would work with people to fight many many things including HIV AIDS. Then asked only 3 students for questions. I was the lucky third person. And i was very overwhelmed.. thank him for coming to luther and here was what I said: (i had this all written on a piece of paper of course:P) There are 40 million people infected with HIV/AIDS worldwide. As you know, the Global Fund is the most effective funding mechanisms available that address world health issues in more than 127 countries. As a prominent global leader in the fight against AIDS, what is your commitment towards the Global Fund? He said that he is committed to giving $50billion dollars to the Global Fund. He wants to double the Foreign AIDS policy to 2% of the federal budget(instead of the current at 1%) and he went on the list of what he would do under foreign policy. This is my first time asking in a big crowd so it was a little… (more)

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

The Politics of AIDS

Independent Online reports: Commercialisation of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, where huge benefits are enjoyed while people are dying in Africa, is a cause for concern, said Jacob Zuma (Chancellor of University of Zululand) at the Global-World HIV and Aids Alliance Conference in Richards Bay on Tuesday night. Zuma talked candidly about the greed of drug companies and how many people with HIV and AIDS are used as guinea pigs for clinical trials. KwaZulu-Natal Minister of Health, Peggy Nkonyeni, cited the Tuskeegee Study to make her point about exploitation. Link

Monday, October 01, 2007

South Africa To Hold AIDS Awareness Concert

REUTERS reports: Former South African President Nelson Mandela announced on Monday a group of local and international musicians would perform at a concert in Johannesburg to raise money for his 46664 AIDS charity. Profits for the event will help fund HIV/AIDS awareness and outreach programmes throughout southern Africa, the epicentre of the worldwide AIDS epidemic. About 1,000 South Africans die each day from AIDS and another 1,500 contract the virus. An estimated 12 percent of South Africa’s 47 million people are infected. Link

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Hillary rocks the 50B

Yeah, baby—go New Hampshire students, voters, PLWHAs and bird-doggers! Here’s the report from the Hillary Clinton afterparty after last night’s Democratic debate at Dartmouth: WHO: Hillary Clinton + St. Mike’s amazing students + Steph + Erin WHERE: Hanover, NH WHAT: At Hillary Clinton’s afterparty, got in some handshakes: Kate: Senator Clinton, will you support $50 billion over 5 years for global AIDS? Hillary: I’m sure going to try to. a few minutes later, as she headed to her car… Madison: John Edwards committed $50 billion to global AIDS over 5 years, will you as well? Hillary: Yes.

Madison: $50 billion for 5 years for global AIDS?  Hillary: Absolutely, I support it.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

NPR Story on Edwards AIDS Plan