PRODUCT (RED) CAMPAIGN
This is something that is very near and dear to my heart; mainly because every little thing you can do to help someone in need is definitely worth it. (PRODUCT) RED... What is it, you might ask...basically it is a campaign that was started by Bobby Shriver (as in related to the Kennedy family) and Bono of U2 as an initiative to help the American people and pretty much anyone in any of the other more globalized countries of the world do something awesome when they shop certain brands such as the following few that I can find named: Converse Chuck Taylors made with African mudcloth, RED clothing from Gap, certain Motorola cellphones or items from a special Giorgio Armani collection will automatically make a contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. Up to 50% of the revenue from RED sales will go to the Global Fund. This gives US the power to make a difference in a country that needs our help and support in the areas of education on the spread of AIDS and these other diseases. Why is it so important to me...I *am* an American and Africa is *so* far away...well,I have always believed that if you change one person's life you have then changed the world. On a global scale that sounds so ridiculous, however it is true, by changing that person's life you change how they view the world and by changing their view of the world you have therefore changed the world for them, perhaps enabling them to change someone else's world, and so on.
I also believe that it is terrible that we live in a society where sexual education is readily available and yet there are countries where there is no sexual education and STD's are thought of in the terms of a myth. The myth I am speaking of is the rumour in parts of Africa, including large portions of South Africa, that having sex witha virgin wil cleanse a male of AIDS. The Johannesburg city council conducted a three year study of 28,000 men. They found that 1 in 5 believed in the virgin- Aids cure, the fallout from that is a rise in the assaults of women and children, some of whom contract AIDS themselves. So no, I am not talking about sexual education as in "let's show people how to have sex" but obviously the lack of knowledge of the spread of sexually transmitted disease and treatment for it are a bit on the obvious side here.
It's also not a question of "well AIDS is present in America so who says that education is the key?" Well, here is a bit of the reason why education is needed: an estimated 24.5 million adults and childrenwere living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2005. During that year, an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. The epidemic has left behind some 12 million orphaned African children. In the following we have the semi-reliable statistics for America: AIDS was first identified in the USA in 1981. The epidemic has now spread to every part of the USA and to all sectors of society.It is thought that more than one million people are living with HIV in the USA and that more than half a million have died after developing AIDS.American HIV surveillance data are not comprehensive so many statistics must be based on reports of AIDS diagnoses. In interpreting such AIDS statistics, it is important to remember that they do not correspond to new HIV infections. Most people live with HIV for several years before developing AIDS.
In America we have several myths about AIDS like "You can't get AIDS if you have unprotected sex just once..." or "You can get AIDS from kissing someone who is infected" while the second one is a very very very rare posibility the first one is bologna and thanks to our education system we are able to identify that it is purely wishful thinking. Anyway, basically help Africa fight the pandemic, spend an extra few bucks and get in the fight for education and medication for a country that is literally dying to be saved.
I am also well aware of the fact that there are other sexually transmitted diseases that lead to death, however I believe that when we play the numbers game we see that the unfortunate winner is AIDS.
*packs up soap box and heads of to sleep*
P.S> Life...is sexually transmitted...coincidentally so is death.
This is something that is very near and dear to my heart; mainly because every little thing you can do to help someone in need is definitely worth it. (PRODUCT) RED... What is it, you might ask...basically it is a campaign that was started by Bobby Shriver (as in related to the Kennedy family) and Bono of U2 as an initiative to help the American people and pretty much anyone in any of the other more globalized countries of the world do something awesome when they shop certain brands such as the following few that I can find named: Converse Chuck Taylors made with African mudcloth, RED clothing from Gap, certain Motorola cellphones or items from a special Giorgio Armani collection will automatically make a contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. Up to 50% of the revenue from RED sales will go to the Global Fund. This gives US the power to make a difference in a country that needs our help and support in the areas of education on the spread of AIDS and these other diseases. Why is it so important to me...I *am* an American and Africa is *so* far away...well,I have always believed that if you change one person's life you have then changed the world. On a global scale that sounds so ridiculous, however it is true, by changing that person's life you change how they view the world and by changing their view of the world you have therefore changed the world for them, perhaps enabling them to change someone else's world, and so on.
I also believe that it is terrible that we live in a society where sexual education is readily available and yet there are countries where there is no sexual education and STD's are thought of in the terms of a myth. The myth I am speaking of is the rumour in parts of Africa, including large portions of South Africa, that having sex witha virgin wil cleanse a male of AIDS. The Johannesburg city council conducted a three year study of 28,000 men. They found that 1 in 5 believed in the virgin- Aids cure, the fallout from that is a rise in the assaults of women and children, some of whom contract AIDS themselves. So no, I am not talking about sexual education as in "let's show people how to have sex" but obviously the lack of knowledge of the spread of sexually transmitted disease and treatment for it are a bit on the obvious side here.
It's also not a question of "well AIDS is present in America so who says that education is the key?" Well, here is a bit of the reason why education is needed: an estimated 24.5 million adults and childrenwere living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2005. During that year, an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. The epidemic has left behind some 12 million orphaned African children. In the following we have the semi-reliable statistics for America: AIDS was first identified in the USA in 1981. The epidemic has now spread to every part of the USA and to all sectors of society.It is thought that more than one million people are living with HIV in the USA and that more than half a million have died after developing AIDS.American HIV surveillance data are not comprehensive so many statistics must be based on reports of AIDS diagnoses. In interpreting such AIDS statistics, it is important to remember that they do not correspond to new HIV infections. Most people live with HIV for several years before developing AIDS.
In America we have several myths about AIDS like "You can't get AIDS if you have unprotected sex just once..." or "You can get AIDS from kissing someone who is infected" while the second one is a very very very rare posibility the first one is bologna and thanks to our education system we are able to identify that it is purely wishful thinking. Anyway, basically help Africa fight the pandemic, spend an extra few bucks and get in the fight for education and medication for a country that is literally dying to be saved.
I am also well aware of the fact that there are other sexually transmitted diseases that lead to death, however I believe that when we play the numbers game we see that the unfortunate winner is AIDS.
*packs up soap box and heads of to sleep*
P.S> Life...is sexually transmitted...coincidentally so is death.
No, I doubt that money will listen to the likes of us. More's the pity.
How have you been? Something keeping you busy or just needed a break?
I don't know if those goods are on sale over here but I'll certainly look out for them. Assuming money is a little more obliging next time I go into town.
I'll have a look out for those. Oh I said that already.
Anyway now I'M off to bed. night.