HIV/AIDS

President Obama Signed HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act

EsquireUK — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:48:50 EDT

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/10/30/honoring-legacy-ryan-white

President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. It represents our ongoing commitment to ensuring access to needed HIV/AIDS care and treatment. The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worked very closely with Congress on this bipartisan legislation, and the consensus document developed by the HIV/AIDS advocacy community was an important part of the process. We were so pleased that Jeanne White-Ginder, Ryan White’s mother, was here at the bill signing.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/10/30/honoring-legacy-ryan-white

HIV AIDS

Gabriel Santiago — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:51:49 EST

Congratulations in getting the stimulus package through. However It was with sadness that I saw the compromises made by the white House. Specially the funds for Hiv Aids so desperately needed. I translated your strategy to fight this pandemia and hope you get to it as soon as possible.Lives are at stake, financial ruin to many, and lack of hope for those who impatiently see the alarming rise among latinos,afro americans the young and the old. Mental Health is as important as medicines, Rehabilitation Programs sorely needed. And involvement by all who voted for change for the Bush administration let many things slip by for this particular group.I firmly believe in you and your strategies for all the areas mentioned above. Perhaps a little impatient but that seems to be a characteristic of those burdened with the bureaucracy

Mr. President, First Lady we need your full commitment which I am sure you both have.

It makes me feel really good!

Jos� F. Col�n L�pez — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:29:45 EST

I knew that the USA had two options, two different routes to take. One, the continuation of the Bush politics, and two, the politics of Hope and change that barack offered.

Miraculously, the Nation decided for the second. It was difficult to break the stigma that historically existed for centuries in the Nation. Who could have ever thought that an African-American could reach to the White House as Pesident of the United States.

Even though I found it to be difficult, I have learned that nothing is impossible. I have lived with AIDS for sixteen years, and I have never let this disease overcome my willpower to serve and deliver help to those that need it.

When years passed and I saw the amount of money spent in a useless war, I asked myself: whu are we not fighting the real war? The war against illnesses, poverty, foreclosures, unemployment, drugs and the maany teenagers that decided to take the illegal fast tracK, and stopped going to school.

Sometimes I really felt that we were working against the impossible.

And then came Obame, change and Hope. And as i did, so did millions all over. We needed to do something and the Obama Brigades were creted by special people who also wanted to be part of change. And activities to raise money started, and like I did, many waited for their dissability cheacks or social security checks, or pensions, and we started contributing to the campaign.

And we broke records, because we had a cause and the man that would deliver it: the change and Hope that Obama offered us.

And our union in hearts and spirits made the change come true. Barack Obama is the President of the United States. he is everybodys President, and that makes me feel really good.

I would love to be in Washington DC on November 9th. It would really be a miracle. i am just waiting for it to happen...

God Bless You All!

Health Care Reform: Considerations

Ludmilla — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:35:56 EST

In my current position, in government relations and public policy, we are focusing on Health Care Reform, something we desperately need in this country. Although we work with AIDS organizations we realize that none of the strategies to combat the epidemic have worked because we lacked a "national comprehensive strategy on AIDS", while we do require PEPFAR countries to have a national strategy under the UN legislation.

Healthcare reform should include all chronic illnesses rather than exclusively designing programs for diseases which have been so politized (like HIV/AIDS) and throwing others in groups. Health Care Reform should consider HIV/AIDS funding such as Ryan White to be incorporated into the reform and get rid of the constant fights we have seen during the reauthorization of this particular Act, a fight between groups of different sexual orientation when in fact the face of this crisis is that of those who are economically marginalized, communities of color.

We have to stop creating segregation when we legislate for health care and hopefully the new health care reform team will seriously consider that.

Presidential Inauguration - Hotels still available in D.C.

Dionne Roberts — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:49:17 EST

Congratulations to all my faithful Obama supporters. We've been going for nearly two years and it feels unbelievable to know that the campaign is over, and America's future just got brighter.

I just wanted to let all of my fellow Obama campaign workers and volunteers know that if you are unable to find hotels for the Presidential Inauguration, log onto www.ukpe-robertsfoundation.org. Our Foundation was donated over 100 hotels for the inauguration many months ago and we still have 32 rooms available at coveted locations in D.C.

Military personnel, teachers, seniors, students and employees of non-profit organizations should request a 10% discount.

All reservations are 5 days/ 5 nights from January 17 - January 22, 2009, and range from $2,711 - $4,520, depending on the hotel and location. We have suites available with living rooms with pull-out beds and kitchenettes (great if you want to share the cost with others).

To call the Foundation, dial (877) 619-5936.

Hope to see many of my faithful friends there.

God Bless each of you for all your work!

Dionne

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) congratulates President-elect Barack Obam

Ludmilla — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:05:59 EST

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) congratulates President-elect Barack Obama on his historic victory in the 2008 U.S. presidential election and thanks everyone who exercised their right to vote yesterday.

“President-Elect Barack Obama's win is a truly historic occasion,” says Paul Kawata, Executive Director of NMAC. “As Corretta Scott King said to me, AIDS is a civil rights issue. The disproportionate impact of HIV in communities of color involves more than just transmission, but is a snapshot of the socio-economic-health disparities that are a reality among minorities in this country. Obama's election was a statement by the American people that we can no longer afford this status quo in any way.”
A recently-released report from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on estimates of new HIV infections in the United States amplifies the crises faced in communities of color. According to the CDC’s alarming new estimates, communities of color account for a combined total of 65% of the approximately 56,300 new HIV infections occurring in the United States. By the CDC’s own admission, this new estimate is 40% higher than the CDC’s earlier estimate of 40,000 infections per year. The startling new HIV rates are of special concern for people of color who are more likely to die from the disease than HIV-infected whites. AIDS advocates representing communities of color have long expressed dissatisfaction with the current lethargic, fragmented and unaccountable U.S. response to the epidemic, which they point out, is a direct result of the non-existent national plan.

Recognizing the severity of the epidemic and the disproportionate impact it is having in communities of color across the country, President-elect Barack Obama sent a letter expressing his support for those working on the frontlines of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, to the 2008 United States Conference on AIDS, held this past September 18-21, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Please click here to read his letter.
In a similarly historic event, over 30 national HIV/AIDS organizations and leaders representing African-American, Latino, Native American/Alaska Native, and Asian & Pacific Islander communities have joined forces in an urgent call for the development and implementation of a comprehensive national AIDS strategy. The 2008 Partnership Paper, Fighting HIV/AIDS in Communities of Color: An Action Plan for the Next President, outlines the proposed priorities that should be taken into consideration by the next president in addressing HIV/AIDS in their administration.

“The election of Barack Obama is a multi-dimensional response to many civil rights issues, such as healthcare, poverty, and education,” says Ravinia Hayes-Cozier, NMAC’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy. “The country has adopted a philosophy of change and NMAC supports a call to action to ensure these changes become reality."

“We congratulate President-Elect Barack Obama, his family and the new administration, and look forward to working together to strengthen the HIV/AIDS response nationally.”
###

Display the AIDS Quilt in your Community this World AIDS Day

Ludmilla — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:31:45 EDT

Our HIV/AIDS Epidemic is not over; it is far from over and will need a commitment from our new President and the Administration, recognizing that a country in distress is definitely a homeland security issue. We often do not recognize our own health care as our biggest threat to homeland security but let's not forget!

Display the AIDS Quilt in your Community this World AIDS Day

To kick off the 2008 USCA, twelve AIDS quilt panels were on display at Miami International Airport to greet this year's participants. The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a poignant memorial, a powerful tool for use in preventing new HIV infections, and the largest ongoing community arts project in the world. This World AIDS Day, December 1, 2008, you are invited to host a display to bring the Quilt and its message to your community.

Hosting a Quilt display is easy and affordable. The display deadline has been extended to USCA participants to ensure that you have the Quilt you need to make your World AIDS Day programming as powerful and meaningful as possible. You can begin the process right now by completing the short display application available at aidsquilt.org. Be sure to mention USCA 2008 on your application.

Celebrities on Health Care

Ludmilla — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:56:12 EDT

http://www.americansforhealthcare.org/

Watch this video " urging women voters to do to call attention to chronic disease concerns as the clock winds down on the election.

Watch the ad now which is on the airwaves on MSNBC, CNN, and other major news stations as of yesterday.

With 6 days left until Election Day, we've got to press the issue of preventive care. Watch our new ad and share with friends and family: Click here

Thanks for doing all that you can,

Lynda Tran
Americans for Health Care"

Key Facts on Health Care Costs

Ludmilla — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:39:19 EDT

KEY FACTS ON HEALTH CARE COSTS

Health spending in the United States is an estimated $2.4 trillion in 2008, an average of $7,868 per person
The share of the economy (GDP) devoted to national health spending has increased from 7.2% in 1970 to an estimated 16.6% in 2008
Eighteen percent of the nonelderly were in families that spent over 10% of their disposable on out-of-pocket health care premiums and cost sharing in 2004.
Almost one-in-four respondents in a recent Kaiser Poll reported experiencing a serious problem paying for health care and health insurance as a result of the recent economic turndown

The high and rapidly rising cost of health care affects the financial security of families and the economic health of the nation. Thirty percent of respondents in a recent Kaiser Poll reported that they had experienced a serious problem paying for health care and health insurance as a result of recent changes in the economy, and a recent study found that 10% of people with problems paying medical bills were denied care because of medical bills.1 In 2004, 18% of the nonelderly population had out-of-pocket health costs that exceeded 10% of their disposable income.

At a national level, health care accounts for a large and growing slice of the overall U.S. economic pie. The growth in health expenditures routinely outpaces growth in income, making health insurance less affordable for all Americans and making it more costly to extend coverage to the over 45 million Americans who are uninsured. These rising health costs also make public health programs more difficult to sustain, straining federal and state budgets.

Finding a way to address high costs and cost growth without unreasonably reducing access to new and needed services is a significant challenge. How the candidates for the upcoming election propose to address the challenges posed by the increasing costs of health care is a critical component of the current political debates (Read More......).

Information provided by the Health Care Marketplace Project
Publication Number: 7828
Publish Date: 2008-10-17

Do Not Forget the Need for a National AIDS Strategy

Ludmilla — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:28:57 EDT

As stated before, there is a need for a national AIDS Strategy, now more than ever. With rates of HIV increasing in communities of color, and particularly among women of color and men having sex with men, it is imperative that the new President not ignore our nation in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Rather than concentrating on international HIV/AIDS, our candiate, Senator Obama realizes that taking care of home is important in providing an example from a leading nation on HIV/AIDS. PEPFAR is not enough. While communities of color on their own could easily qualify for PEPFAR, they are not outside but rather inside the United States, wherefore they have never gotten the type of attention given to nationials qualifying for PEPFAR. Let's not forget that those nationals have to have an National Strategy in order to qualify. Is it not a shame that we, the U.S. do not require that of ourselves? Let's help to make sure that Senator Obama is informed and that his cabinet stays informed on the issue, that we demand a national strategy which includes consistent and culturally relevant prevention interventions, culturally appropriate sex education, accurate HIV data collection, routine HIV testing available to everyone and better strategies for leadership on HIV in communities of color who continue to represent 60% of the epidemic while they only make up 30% of the population.From the Natinal Minority AIDS Council: Re-evaluation of HIV incidence data at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that over 55,500 new HIV cases occurred each year from 2003-2006, with 56,300 cases in 2006 alone. These numbers are approximately 40% higher than the CDC’s previous estimate of 40,000 new HIV cases annually, an estimate that had remained the same for over ten years.

Read NMAC's response to these new numbers, and visit the CDC website for the estimated rates by race/ethnicity and transmission category and for resources on the new HIV incidence estimates.

These findings, published in a special HIV/AIDS issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that was released August 3, 2008.

Click on the links below to find out more about the National Response to the reported increase in HIV incidence in the United States:
Elected Officials' Commitment to the HIV Crisis
Local and National Organizations Respond
Media Coverage

America's Forgotten Epidemic on CBS

Ludmilla — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:20:18 EDT

Watch this video:America's Forgotten Epidemic on (CBS) To help you make an informed decision in the presidential election, CBS News is devoting a large part of our broadcasts until Nov. 4 to telling you where the candidates stand on major issues - from the war in Iraq to health insurance to education … and a lot more. Each piece will be an in-depth look at the issues facing the 44th president. In this installment, CNN's Sanjay Gupta, a CBS News contributor, reports on how the proposed HIV/AIDS policies of Barack Obama and John McCain would affect your community.

The Issue

It was a sight seldom seen in Washington - bi-partisan praise for President Bush's re-authorization of a plan for global AIDS relief. It's called PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), and it's the largest international health initiative ever for a single disease.

"The legacy of this administration will certainly be the work that this president has done regarding the global AIDS epidemic," said Phill Wilson, executive director of the Black AIDS Institute.

But while we as a nation spend almost $10 billion annually to fight AIDS abroad, we spend less than 10 percent of that here at home.

"There's tremendous irony that while we're showing leadership on the global epidemic, we're showing complete neglect on the domestic epidemic," Wilson said.

And, estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal African Americans in particular are disproportionately affected. In the year 2006, blacks accounted for 45 percent of new HIV infections - more than 22,000.

The reasons why?

"One of them is shame - people are ashamed to have the infection. The other is stigma - they're punished if someone else finds out they have it," said Dr. Julie Geberding of the CDC, in testimony. "And then the third is ignorance."

It's a pandemic that's spreading right under our nation's nose.

The CDC estimates that one in 20 people living in Washington, D.C., is HIV positive. Astoundingly, in the capital of the world's wealthiest country, the incidence of HIV/AIDS is two-and-a-half times that of Port au Prince, the capital of Haiti, one of the world's poorest countries.

C. Russell, 31, is HIV-positive, having been diagnosed nine years ago after having unprotected sex.

"Eighty percent of the HIV cases in this city - your city - are in blacks," Gupta said.

"They are," Russell said.

"What is going on here?" Gupta said.

"Apathy in our community. Apathy possibly maybe from the government," he said. "People not going and getting tested and getting treatment once they're diagnosed."

Luckily, Russell's been able to keep the virus at bay, without the need for medication. But if he did get sick, care and treatment costs over his lifetime could easily top $275,000.

"If it came to that, I'd want to know that I'd be taken care of. I'd want to know that I'd be able to get health care," he said.

But it's not just men.

The incidence rate for black women like Danielle, who is 42 and HIV-positive, is nearly 15 times that of whites - making AIDS a leading killer of African-American women ages 25 to 34.

Danielle contracted HIV through sexual intercourse 15 years ago, and passed the virus onto one of her five children during pregnancy.

"A lot of people are in the mindset that well, because we have medication we can take, it's OK if I become HIV positive," she said.

But Danielle has no health insurance. So she'll be in trouble should she ever develop AIDS.

"You couldn't get all the medications that you need, you couldn't get the sub-specialty care that you need. What would happen to someone like you?" Gupta said.

"I'd probably get sicker. And possibly even die," she said.

The Candidates

So where do the candidates stand? For starters, they both fully support President Bush's PREFAR program - but that's focused on the epidemic overseas. So, what if you're one of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS?

"We have to have a more effective AIDS policy. Studies have shown we may have undercounted the incidence of AIDS in this country," Barack Obama said.

Obama's plan begins with his promise to sign universal health care legislation by the end of his first term as president.

He wants to prevent HIV through sex education and by promoting HIV testing in minority communities.

But the cornerstone of the Obama plan calls for a national HIV/AIDS strategy involving all federal agencies.

"When we give money to developing countries to fight AIDS, we demand they have a national strategy. And yet we don't have a national AIDS strategy in this country," Wilson said.

"I think we need a domestic plan," Sen. John McCain said.

McCain's prescription to prevent HIV: Emphasize abstinence programs. For those with pre-existing conditions such as AIDS, he wants to establish "guaranteed access plans" for affordable insurance.

His prescription for rising drug costs? Greater competition among drug companies. But the centerpiece of the McCain blueprint? A $2,500 tax credit for individuals to purchase the health care coverage of their choice.

The Impact

"How does that affect you?" Gupta asked Russell.

"It sounds like I'd get a tax credit for money that I would spend on health care, which is okay, but I'd rather have the health care," he said.

"You also have to have to have a health insurance company that accepts you," Gupta said.

"Exactly," Russell said.

For now, Russell may not benefit more from either candidate's plan, because he already has health insurance through his employer. On the other hand, Danielle would have a better chance with either candidate than she does now to find affordable coverage. But there was one thing that Obama said that captured her attention.

"Especially in the African-American and Latino communities, it is skyrocketing," Obama said.

"Just the fact that, I guess Senator Obama speaks specifically to the community of which I belong," she said. "It makes me know that he cares about the African-American community."

Nevertheless, both Danielle and Russell are hopeful that the leadership America has shown overseas will inspire the next president to show leadership on the AIDS epidemic here at home.

© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Unaffordable health care in the U.S.

Ludmilla — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:00:34 EDT

After last night's debate, McCain's concept of providing health care for all does showed to be completely off base and out of touch with the realities of todays U.S. healthcarecrisis. He has never had to worry about deductibles and all members of Congress are able to just walk down some stairs, get immediate access to a doctor, and immediate access to prescription drugs which they do not have to negotiate. A report by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows the detrimental healthcare disparities currently facing the nation, while we are only worried about bailing out the top and leaving the bottom and in between hanging with no real solutions to solve our health care crisis........I wonder what the tax savings for the rich will do for our corrupted health care system which profits off disease, rather than prevention of disease.

Family Health Coverage Premiums Rise to $12,680 Annually, With More Workers Facing High Deductibles, Benchmark Study Finds
Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose to $12,680 annually for family coverage this year, with employees on average paying $3,354 out of their paychecks to cover their share of the cost, according to the benchmark 2008 Employer Health Benefits Survey released by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust. In addition, the scope of coverage has changed, with many more workers now enrolled in high-deductible plans, only some of which support a tax-preferred savings option such as a Health Savings Account.

Letter submitted by Senator Barack Obama to the 2008 United States Conference on AIDS

Ludmilla — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 09:43:03 EDT

Below is the letter submitted by Senator Barack Obama to the 2008 United States Conference on AIDS in which he declares his support for those working on the frontlines of the AIDS epidemic, as well as for those living with ad affected by HIV/AIDS.
To download a PDF of this letter, please click here.

Urge Senate to Pass the Stop AIDS in Prison Act

Ludmilla — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:04:07 EDT

Encourage Senator Obama and Senator Biden to vote on this important legislation!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Circe J. Gray Le Compte, Director of Communications
National Minority AIDS Council, 1931 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Telephone: (202) 234-5120 ext. 309; (202) 352-7240
E-mail: communications@nmac.org * Web: http://www.nmac.org/

Congresswoman Waters Urges Senate to Pass the Stop AIDS in Prison ActSeptember 16, 2008 Washington, D.C. Yesterday, Rep. Maxine Waters (D CA) sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, urging them to pass H.R. 1943, the Stop AIDS in Prison Act, before Congress adjourns. The Stop AIDS in Prison Act was passed by the House of Representatives last year by voice vote under suspension of the rules. The bill was then referred to the Senate where it remains pending in the Judiciary Committee.“The Stop AIDS in Prison Act is a bold step to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in our nation’s prisons and to prevent inmates from infecting other persons in the community following their release from prison,” said Congresswoman Waters. The Congresswoman’s letter was signed by Rep. John Conyers, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee; Rep. Lamar S. Smith, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee; Rep. Robert C. Scott, Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over federal prisons; and Rep. Randy Forbes, former Ranking Member of that subcommittee.“The Stop AIDS in Prison Act has the strong support of House Judiciary leaders, and it is critical that the Senate pass this bill before Congress adjourns,” said the Congresswoman.The Stop AIDS in Prison Act requires the Federal Bureau of Prisons to develop a comprehensive policy to provide HIV testing, treatment and prevention for inmates in Federal prisons. This bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to test all Federal prison inmates for HIV upon entering prison and again prior to release from prison, unless the inmate opts out of taking the test. The bill also requires HIV/AIDS prevention education for all inmates and comprehensive treatment for those inmates who test positive. “AIDS is spreading in our nation’s jails and prisons. In 2005, the Department of Justice reported that the rate of confirmed AIDS cases in prisons was three times higher than in the general population. We need to take the threat of HIV/AIDS seriously and confront it in every institution of our society. That includes our nation’s prison system,” said the Congresswoman.The Stop AIDS in Prison Act was endorsed by several prominent HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations, including AIDS Action, The AIDS Institute, the National Minority AIDS Council, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the HIV Medicine Association, AIDS Project Los Angeles, and BIENESTAR (a Latino community service and advocacy organization), as well as the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles Times.Congresswoman Waters is the Co-Chair of the AIDS Task Force of the Congressional Black Caucus. She has sponsored four initiatives in the 110th Congress to promote HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, testing and treatment. 1. She introduced H.R. 822, the Routine HIV/AIDS Screening Coverage Act. This bill would require health insurance plans to cover routine HIV tests under the same terms and conditions as other routine health screenings and therefore encourage and enable more Americans to be tested for HIV/AIDS. This bill has over 40 cosponsors.2. She is continuing her efforts to expand the Minority AIDS Initiative, which she established back in 1998 to expand HIV testing, treatment and prevention among racial and ethnic minorities. HIV/AIDS is more prevalent in minority communities. On March 19, 2008, she sent a letter to House appropriators requesting $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 2009, and 79 Members of Congress signed her letter. 3. She introduced H.R. 1943, the Stop AIDS in Prison Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives on September 25, 2007, and now awaits consideration in the Senate. 4. She introduced H. Res. 1359, a resolution to honor the first annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day. A total of 29 Members of Congress cosponsored this resolution.We encourage everyone to contact the Senate Judiciary Committee at (202) 224-7703. Specific members to contact are: Chair, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Telephone: (202) 224-4242
433 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 Ranking Member, Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Telephone: (202) 224-4254
711 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)
Tel: (202) 224-6542313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510##------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ About NMAC in Action
Much of the information distributed through the NMAC in Action and on the NMAC website is drawn from secondary sources. It is not meant to constitute or convey medical advice or diagnostic information. People living with HIV/AIDS should share information of interest with their primary care provider before making treatment choices. The presence of the name or image of any person on the NMAC website, or within this message, should not be construed as an indication of their HIV status, unless specifically stated. About NMACThe National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) honored its twentieth year developing leadership within communities of color to address challenges of HIV/AIDS, in 2007. NMAC has responded to the needs of communities of color by developing programs aimed at enhancing the skills necessary to confront this health crisis, including a public policy education program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment and research program and numerous publications. Today, NMAC is an association of AIDS service organizations providing valuable information to community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the AIDS epidemic. NMAC's advocacy efforts are funded through private funders and donors only. For more information, call: (202) 234-5120; e-mail: communications@nmac.org; or visit: http://www.nmac.org/. Subscription Information
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OBAMA CHANT

Paul Zeitz — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:56:00 EDT

--please circulate--

OBAMA CHANT

http://www.rabbishefagold.com/ObamaChant.html

My teacher Rabbi Shefa Gold offers this new chant weaving together both Christian and Hebrew Scripture for our use. If you are so drawn, learn it, teach it, chant it vocally and sub-vocally wherever you may go. Let the vowels open your throat; keep the prophetic fires burning.

Overcoming Premature Capitulation Syndrome

Paul Zeitz — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:19:18 EDT

Overcoming Premature Capitulation Syndrome
by P. Zeitz
14 September 2008
Washington, D.C.

In the course of American citizenry there are few defining moments with such historic repercussions, as the US Presidential election that is upon us now. Truth, justice, and human rights may potentially be restored to our nation and to our World. If we fail to act now with boldness and righteousness, then we may in part be responsible for the terminal state of decline with which we may find ourselves encumbered.

After two failed election cycles where our hopes were dashed and our idealism crushed, we painfully are living through a government dominated by a culture of fear and a relentless stream of lies. The apparent normalcy of these past years sometimes may fool us into complacency, into an endless cycle of solicitude. We somehow lose faith in the possibility of those sacred ideals pursued by our ancestors who spilled their blood and sweat. They struggled so that we--in all of our diversity--may pursue our fundamental American right to live life individually and collectively with liberty and happiness.

In this desolation, many of us have moments when we assume that our ideals will never be realized and that failure will be the most likely outcome. Our minds and hearts succumb to this paralyzing ailment, which I call, "premature capitulation syndrome (PCS)." It is the greatest desire of our opponents that we all will remain calcified. Fortunately, however, despite the severe risks of this affliction, PCS is highly treatable.

By renewing and reawakening our inner yearnings, we can transform ourselves. We can strive together to build a nation that stands for hope, freedom, and peace. As people living in this awesome moment of human history, we can stand up, we can move our hands, our feet, our mouths and we can reach out to others. As the currents of time unfold, may we each consider the sacred phrase invoked by Senator Barack Obama in his historic acceptance speech when he quoted Hebrews 10:23, "Hold firmly to the hope that we confess." May we march together towards victory with fierce determination and the certitude of our dreams. Yes we can!

In peace and solidarity for bold action now,

P. Zeitz
pzeitz@earthlink.net
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"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Gandhi

Who will be their advocate?

Ludmilla — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:38:59 EDT

Unfortunately, the media has (somewhat) successfully allowed the GOP to use their old tactics to divert our attention away from the realities of this presidential campaign: This campaign is about the issues, not personalities.Rather than looking at the superficial appearance of the GOP VP candidate, we as women should take a deeper look into the reality of such a candidate and the underlying social and health disparities of such a choice.Let’s be clear: this female Vice President who claims that “special needs moms will have an advocate in the White House” does not represent women in America: To date, she is against sex education, birth control, the pro-choice platform, environmental protection, and alternative energy development among the many issues to be considered high on the list of priorities for constituents across the country. Someone needs to educate her and all the candidates for that matter on the fact that an advocate for special needs moms needs to include ALL women: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Women of color are especially affected by HIV infection and AIDS. In 2004, HIV infection was the leading cause of death for black women (including African American women) aged 25–34 years; the 3rd leading cause of death for black women aged 35–44 years; the 4th leading cause of death for black women aged 45–54 years; the 4th leading cause of death for Hispanic women aged 35–44 years. And by the way, please tell her that there is NO CURE for HIV! This means that these women are still living with HIV and or AIDS, some of them young, some of them old. Does their mom have an advocate in the White House? Do they have an advocate in the White House?Sarah Palin does not represent women if special needs moms are considered only those who have given birth to a child with genetic, physical challenges.” She certainly does not demonstrate or uphold our interests as women, particularly, women of color, who are American, either by choice or by default. It is presumed that the inclusion of a woman on the Republican ticket could win over women voters. Well, with all due respect Sarah has missed the boat on what “special needs mothers are” because: for those women who have to choose between going to work or taking care of their child because there they lack resources for child care, for those women who cannot find a job because they are unable to juggle the responsibilities of multiple children with a non-mother friendly work schedule, for those mothers who have to help their children with their daily HIV medicines including their own to adhere to complicated treatment regimen and avoid developing AIDS, for those mothers who had to choose between buying medication or buying food, for those mothers who wanted to leave their cocaine habits but found no support in the community due to funding cuts for substance abuse prevention programs, for those mothers who were physically abused because they could not find a shelter to stay at and ended up going back to their violent husbands (I wonder how many were forced to marry their baby’s father simply because they made a mistake), for those women whose children were taken from them and placed into foster care because they committed a misdemeanor and ended up in jail, rather than in a support program, for those mothers who were raped and had no recourse when they found out they were HIV positive, for those women who ended up in jail because the law enforcement was too slow and they took matters into their own hands to protect themselves and their (special needs) children (by the way, most of those kids did not even have the luxury of a myspace page to express their distress with life), for mothers who want to go back to school but cannot do so due to the ungodly high rates of tuition in our colleges to date (I don’t think it will take most of them 5 schools to finish a college degree so it will not be a hassle, trust me), for those mothers who want to improve their careers but are unable to do so because that would mean they have to quit their job due to lack of on the job training (so many are so talented, they too would qualify for VP, I bet), for those women who want to have a seat at the policy table when decisions are made for their health care but have to succumb to the male dominated policy making system (and they like wearing lipstick too), for those women who cannot go back home after Hurricane Katrina devastated their community and they are left in a trailer filled with poisonous chemicals or in another state where they have no family support, for those older women who are forced to go into nursing homes to be able to get some decent care, for those older women who relied on the Medicare system to pay for their prescriptions but end up paying more out of pocket expenses than ever, for those women who cannot afford their prescriptions and end up traveling to Canada where they can afford their drugs (does their travel count for experience in foreign affairs?), for those women who develop diseases such as breast cancer in spite of their screening, for those women who die earlier than their white counterparts due to racial and ethnic differences in treatment, resulting in unequal quality of care, for those women whose husbands had to leave town due to outsourcing of jobs, leaving them no opportunities at home (snowmobiling was not an option for most) for those women whose sons and daughters defend our country against war, go to Iraq only to find that the system is not equipped to support them when they return with one leg, one arm, post traumatic stress disorder, and no other skills than to pick up a rifle, for those women who return from Iraq and in spite of their heroic actions are unrecognized based on the color of their skin, for those black women who represent the 64% of the 126,964 women living with HIV/AIDS in 2005, for those more than one fourth of African-American women and Hispanic women, as well as 21% of Native American women and 13% of Asian/Pacific Islander women, who currently live in poverty, compared to only 9% of white females, for those more than one third of Hispanic women (37%) and nearly one quarter of black and Asian/Pacific Islander women (23% and 24%, respectively) who lack health insurance coverage in contrast to their 13% of Caucasian women who are uninsured who will be their advocate? According to the VP speech, there is no room for them in the White House. Michelle Obama, however, gave them plenty of space in her First Lady’s office. Now you tell me, who will be the true advocate? The writing is on the wall. We cannot afford another disaster, if not for yourselves, think about our children, our future, they are no f…n rednecks and they actually want a family AFTER they have been given a chance to finish high school, learn about sexual behavior in a comprehensive way, and afford college to become a productive part of this United States of America.

Candidates need to attend the U.S. Conference on AIDS

Ludmilla — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:17:31 EDT

According to an article in the New York Times (August 3, 2008), the United States has significantly underreported the number of new H.I.V. infections occurring nationally each year, with a study released here on Saturday showing that the annual infection rate is 40 percent higher than previously estimated.

In order to effectively reform the U.S. healthcare system we have to help our candidates to stay on top of the issues, rather than divert to glorifying teen pregnancy and worrying about "lipstick statements" so that our real issues do not get addressed, as has been shown in the past failures of our Administration. An important conference is coming up, one which will address one of the greatest disasters in the U.S. healthcare system: the failure to address HIV/AIDS.

The 2008 United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) will take place September 18-21, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. Since 1997, USCA, the largest annual HIV/AIDS meeting in the United States, has strengthened the domestic community-based response to HIV/AIDS by bringing together professionals from across the country to learn new skills and build partnerships and collaborations. The conference’s extensive selection of over 200 institutes, seminars, workshops and roundtables sessions addressing every aspect of the AIDS epidemic from nutrition and treatment to prevention and international issues enables participants to customize their training and networking experiences according to their unique professional needs.

To learn more about USCA, visit: http://www.2008usca.org/; call: (202) 483-NMAC (6622); or e-mail: conferences@nmac.org.

About USCA’s Sponsor, NMAC The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) has developed leadership within communities of color to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS since 1987. NMAC has furthered this mission by providing a public policy education program; national and regional trainings and conferences; treatment and research programs and trainings; numerous publications; and a website: www.nmac.org. The agency also serves an association of AIDS service organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics, health departments and other groups assisting people and families. NMAC's advocacy efforts are funded through private funders and donors only.

For more information, contact NMAC directly at (202) 483-NMAC (6622) or visit: http://www.nmac.org/.

A national strategy for HIV/AIDS; Which candidate is better equipped?

Ludmilla — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:09:16 EDT

In the era where HIV has become a major health disparity for communities of color, and has cost many lives in each of the States we call our United States of America, the Republican National Convention concluded with no mention of the domestic AIDS epidemic in the United States and only passing reference to the epidemic overseas. Neither Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain nor Vice Presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin mentioned AIDS in their remarks to Convention delegates.This Convention was held only one month after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new estimates indicating that the HIV infection rate in the United States is 40% higher than previously thought. Every year, more than 56,000 Americans become infected with HIV, a rate that has not fallen in eight years and is higher than it was for most of the 1990s, according to CDC. The absence of discussion about the domestic AIDS epidemic at the Convention was in contrast to the Democratic Convention held the previous week. At that Convention, former President Bill Clinton called for "a renewal of the battle against HIV and AIDS here at home." Several members of Congress voiced support for development of a National AIDS Strategy. When they spoke to Democratic delegates on the first day of the Convention, both Michelle Obama and actor and activist Danny Glover said that a National AIDS Strategy is needed. The Democratic Party Platform includes a call for a National AIDS Strategy, and Senator Obama has pledged to develop a National AIDS Strategy if elected.

Leadership on Teen Pregnancy and Early Teen Marriages

Ludmilla — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:45:48 EDT

As part of the leadership on Women's issues, our teenages must understand that it is not necessarily healthy to force a marriage due to pregnancy. I am sure that Levi Johnston is completely out of sorts and never thought that he would have to take down his website expressing his true feelings. He was not ready for a family, and he was not ready for a constructive future. Somewhere, this boy did not get the guidance he needed to see himself as a productive part of society, rather her enjoyed drinking and referred to himself as a f....redneck, not such a pleasant description. He was very clear in his desire not to have children.

This is the type of person you want to marry your daughter, mothers? Just because she made a mistake? Why would anyone force their daughter into marriage like this? For the sake of the media? To appear perfect when no family is perfect?

So why not allow the boy to get some counseling into future educational pursuits that may benefit him so that his selfesteem may grow before he gets forced into marriage?

Is this the type of women's leadership we can expect from a VP? This is the type of leadership you want for your children? Is this what they do in small towns? I thought they had grassroots community efforts to decrease teen pregnancy, increase high school graduations and improve sex education in schools. Those efforts usually come from the community, not the mayor's office so I can see why these types of efforts do not show themselves even in the governor's mansion.

Then why is it so hard for anyone to address these issues with our VP without being blamed for being sexist, too hard or unfair? When you place your children on stage with all the inadequacies that relate directly to our failed policies for teen and women's health how can one not ask these questions?

Changing the face of the HIV Epidemic

Ludmilla — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:34:01 EDT

Although CDC Reported higher incidence of HIV cases than previously reported in 2006, there is no real effort in this Administration to change the face of the HIV epidemic, at home, only in Africa! That is a shame! This article is another example of why we need to change from the "same old" budget cuts which are detrimental to our citizens to a "change" in approach. Our health should be of utmost importance in the next Administrations to come. We can no longer neglect our U.S. health care crisis!
Eight States, Puerto Rico Will Not Receive CDC Funding For Advanced HIV Monitoring System26 Aug 2008

CDC on Friday announced that it will no longer fund an advanced HIV/AIDS monitoring system in eight states and Puerto Rico, the New York Times reports. The eight states are Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. According to the Times, the system uses a new test that distinguishes recent HIV infections from old ones, which helps "epidemiologists track [infections] in something much closer to real time than was previously possible."

Data from the advanced system were used in a recent report on new HIV infections in the U.S. based on 22 of the 34 states using the test, Terry Butler -- spokesperson at the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention -- said. Butler added that future monitoring will include data from all 25 jurisdictions. The change in CDC funding will reduce the number of states using the advanced system from 34 to 25. Total funding for the advanced testing method will remain the same but the 25 states will receive a larger portion of funding, Butler said.

Butler added that the 25 states that will continue using the advanced test have the most reliable systems and could help CDC produce the most accurate estimate of HIV infections in the U.S. Julie Scofield, executive director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, said that more extrapolations would be necessary to estimate HIV infections nationwide if fewer states use the advanced test.

Scofield added that federal funding for HIV surveillance has decreased and that many states are struggling to meet CDC standards for HIV monitoring. She estimated that the eight states and Puerto Rico lost about $3 million in CDC funding with the announcement. "Surveillance funding is starving at the CDC," Scofield said, adding, "Their ability to say that they're going to have ongoing reliable reports of [HIV] incidence is somewhat questionable unless you have funding for that." NASTAD has called for a $35 million increase in funding for HIV surveillance efforts, the Times reports (Dewan, New York Times, 8/22).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/119293.php

AIDS CRISIS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR PROMPTS DEMAND FOR NATIONAL PLAN TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS

Ludmilla — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:01:10 EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 25, 2008

Contact: Circe J. Gray Le Compte
Director of Communications, National Minority AIDS Council
Telephone: (202) 234-5120 ext. 309; (202) 352-7240
E-mail: communications@nmac.org * Web: http://www.nmac.org/

AIDS CRISIS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR PROMPTS DEMAND FOR NATIONAL PLAN TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS

Public Health Advocates Deliver Demand during the Democratic National Convention Calling on Senators Barack Obama and John McCain to Support a Comprehensive National AIDS Strategy

Los Angeles, CA -- In a historically unprecedented move, over 30 national HIV/AIDS organizations and leaders representing African-American, Latino, Native American/Alaska Native, and Asian & Pacific Islander communities have joined forces in an urgent call for the development and implementation of a comprehensive national AIDS strategy. The demands to the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees come in response to long standing concerns about unmet needs for targeted HIV research, treatment access, medical care and prevention in communities of color. A recently-released report from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on estimates of new HIV infections in the United States amplifies the crises faced in communities of color.

According to the CDC’s alarming new estimates, communities of color account for a combined total of 65% of the approximately 56,300 new HIV infections occurring in the United States. By the CDC’s own admission, this new estimate is 40% higher than the CDC’s earlier estimate of 40,000 infections per year. The startling new HIV rates are of special concern for people of color who are more likely to die from the disease than HIV-infected whites. AIDS advocates representing communities of color have long expressed dissatisfaction with the current lethargic, fragmented and unaccountable U.S. response to the epidemic, which they point out, is a direct result of the non-existent national plan.

Leading national HIV organizations and leaders representing communities of color convened at the Ford Foundation in New York City in August 2008 to formulate a national HIV response to the new administration that will take office in January 2009. Pledging to work together to strengthen the HIV/AIDS response nationally, and in their own communities these organizations agreed on an urgent seven-point action plan.

The action points stipulate first and foremost the urgent need for the next administration to rapidly initiate a National AIDS Strategy that engages the entire federal government in the fight against HIV and holds each department accountable for improved results in communities of color. Ironically, the U.S. government requires foreign countries receiving American HIV/AIDS assistance to have a national strategy for addressing the epidemic, where there is none in place in our own country. The action plan also demands that the federal government improve its inadequate data gathering methods, currently accounting for only 33 out of the 50 states and 5 dependent territories, excluding other states and territories severely impacted by the epidemic. This flawed process results in the underestimation of HIV rates and impedes efforts to allocate adequate resources to address HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care for all at-risk Americans.

Public health advocates also stress that the socio-economic drivers of the epidemic disproportionately impact communities of color. Such factors include poverty, limited educational opportunities, gender inequities, homophobia, HIV stigma and inadequate health access. The needs of communities of color are further compromised by the current administration’s response to the epidemic including a derisory allocation of only 4% of HIV-related domestic spending towards HIV prevention efforts and the flat-funding of the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative for the past six years despite increasing rates of transmission in people of color communities during that time.

The partnering organizations and leaders stand together to demand concrete action from the new President and his administration. The organizations and leaders represent various individuals, including health service providers, policy makers, physicians, medical schools and people living with HIV/AIDS. The representatives come together from across the country including Hawaii. Together, they bring a voice to the needs of people in urban, rural and native reservation communities.

The time has come for all American leaders, regardless of political affiliation, to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive national plan focused on prevention, treatment, and care for communities of color.

Partnering organizations include: Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, BIENESTAR, Black AIDS Institute, Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc., National Minority AIDS Council, National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, The Balm In Gilead and National Association of People with AIDS.

About NMAC
The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) has developed leadership within communities of color to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS since 1987. NMAC has furthered this mission by providing a public policy education program; national and regional trainings and conferences; treatment and research programs and trainings; numerous publications; and a website: www.nmac.org. The agency also serves an association of AIDS service organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics, health departments and other groups assisting people and families. NMAC's advocacy efforts are funded through private funders and donors only.

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About NMAC in Action
Much of the information distributed through the NMAC in Action and on the NMAC website is drawn from secondary sources. It is not meant to constitute or convey medical advice or diagnostic information. People living with HIV/AIDS should share information of interest with their primary care provider before making treatment choices. The presence of the name or image of any person on the NMAC website, or within this message, should not be construed as an indication of their HIV status, unless specifically stated.

About NMAC

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) honored its twentieth year developing leadership within communities of color to address challenges of HIV/AIDS, in 2007. NMAC has responded to the needs of communities of color by developing programs aimed at enhancing the skills necessary to confront this health crisis, including a public policy education program, national andregional training conferences, a treatment and research program and numerous publications. Today, NMAC is an association of AIDS service organizations providing valuable information to community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the AIDS epidemic. NMAC's advocacy efforts are funded through private funders and donors only. For more information, call: (202) 234-5120; e-mail: communications@nmac.org; or visit: http://www.nmac.org/.

Subscription Information
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EDUCATIONAL FORUM: The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States

Ludmilla — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:03:13 EDT

Check this out if you are attending the DNC!

EDUCATIONAL FORUM: The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States
Monday, August 25, 2008
1:00 to 3:00 pm
Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway, Denver, Co.

Sponsors
Epworth & Scott United Methodist Churches
Street Smarts
Delta Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Denver Chapter of The 100 Black Men
Denver & Africa Working Against AIDS (DAWA)

DNC Delegates and Denver Community Invited

Reception to Follow

Gene Copello, Moderator
Executive Director, The AIDS Institute, Washington, DC

Oscar D La O
President and Chief Executive Officer, Bienestar, Los Angeles, CA

Warren Jimenez
Executive Director, National Native American AIDS
Prevention Center, Denver, CO

Paul Kawata
Executive Director, National Minority AIDS Council, Washington, DC

Donald E. Messer
Director, United Methodist Church Global AIDS Fund, Denver, Co

Julie Scofield
Executive Director, National Alliance of State and Territorial
AIDS Directors, Washington, DC

Jeanne White-Ginder
Mother of Ryan White, Leesburg, FL

Phill Wilson
Chief Executive Officer, Black AIDS Institute, Los Angeles, CA

Let us not forget........that HIV has not disappeared from our Communities of Color!

Ludmilla — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:57:04 EDT

In the words of Congresswoman Maxine Waters, this message cannot be made clearer:"“HIV/AIDS has continued to ravage communities throughout our country. Meanwhile, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs remain woefully underfunded. Funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative has remained virtually stagnant since fiscal year 2003. It is long past time for the United States to take this disease seriously and to provide sufficient funding to fight this killer.”

Congresswoman Waters Calls for National Strategy to Stop the Spread of HIV/AIDS; Says Epidemic is Worse Than We Thought

Ludmilla — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:44:38 EDT

Congresswoman Waters Calls for National Strategy to Stop the Spread of HIV/AIDS; Says Epidemic is Worse Than We Thought

August 5, 2008

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) today reiterated her call for a national strategy to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, in light of new estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicating the epidemic is even more severe than previously believed.

“The CDC’s new estimates of HIV infections in the United States prove that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is even worse than we thought. We need a comprehensive national strategy to stop the spread of this disease in communities throughout the United States,” said Congresswoman Waters.

The CDC released new estimates of HIV infection in the United States over the weekend. The new estimates indicate that approximately 56,300 new infections occurred in the United States in 2006. This figure is approximately 40% higher than CDC’s previous estimates of 40,000 new infections per year. The estimates are based on new technology that allows the CDC to distinguish new HIV infections from long-standing HIV infections and track the spread of the disease more effectively.

The CDC noted that the new estimates do not represent an actual increase in the annual number of new HIV infections. Instead, they indicate that the number of new infections per year has remained relatively stable since the late 1990’s, but at a level that is much higher than previously thought. The CDC calculated that there have been 55,000 to 58,500 new infections per year since 1997. According to the CDC, the data confirm that the most severe impact is among gay and bisexual men of all races, and black men and women. The rate of new infections among blacks was seven times the rate among whites in 2006.

“HIV/AIDS has continued to ravage communities throughout our country. Meanwhile, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs remain woefully underfunded. Funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative has remained virtually stagnant since fiscal year 2003. It is long past time for the United States to take this disease seriously and to provide sufficient funding to fight this killer,” said the Congresswoman.

A diverse coalition of HIV/AIDS service and advocacy organizations are calling for a comprehensive national strategy to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Such a strategy would bring together government agencies, political leaders, the private sector, and the HIV/AIDS community to confront the epidemic in a coordinated way. Congresswoman Waters announced her support for a such comprehensive national strategy on April 29, 2008, at a rally on Capitol Hill organized by the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA).

“In spite of all of the hard work by Members of Congress and HIV/AIDS activists, it is clear that there hasn’t been a decrease in the rate of new infections. We need to double our efforts, and we need to work together. We need to develop and implement a comprehensive national strategy to stop the spread of this disease,” said the Congresswoman.

Congresswoman Waters is the Co-Chair of the AIDS Task Force of the Congressional Black Caucus. She has sponsored four initiatives in the 110th Congress to promote HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, testing and treatment.

1. She introduced H.R. 822, the Routine HIV/AIDS Screening Coverage Act. This bill would require health insurance plans to cover routine HIV tests under the same terms and conditions as other routine health screenings and therefore encourage and enable more Americans to be tested for HIV/AIDS. This bill has over 40 cosponsors.

2. She is continuing her efforts to expand the Minority AIDS Initiative, which she established back in 1998 to expand HIV testing, treatment and prevention among racial and ethnic minorities. HIV/AIDS is more prevalent in minority communities. On March 19, 2008, she sent a letter to House appropriators requesting $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 2009, and 79 Members of Congress signed her letter.

3. She introduced H.R. 1943, the Stop AIDS in Prison Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives on September 25, 2007, and now awaits consideration in the Senate. This bill requires the Federal Bureau of Prisons to test all prison inmates for HIV, unless the inmate opts out of taking the test. The bill also requires HIV/AIDS prevention education for all inmates and comprehensive treatment for those who test positive.

4. She introduced H.Res. 1359, a resolution to honor the first annual National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day. A total of 29 Members of Congress cosponsored this resolution.

###

Contact: Michael Levin
202-225-2201

XVII International AIDS Conference: CDC’s Kevin Fenton Discusses HIV Incidence in the United States

Ludmilla — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:05:11 EDT

XVII International AIDS Conference: CDC’s Kevin Fenton Discusses HIV Incidence in the United States
August 3, 2008
XVII International AIDS Conference
8/03/08

kaisernetwork.org makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of written transcripts, but due to the nature of transcribing recorded

material and the deadlines involved, they may contain errors or incomplete content. We apologize for any inaccuracies.

[START RECORDING]

LARRY LEVITT: Kevin Fenton thanks for joining us.
KEVIN FENTON: Thank you.
LARRY LEVITT: The CDC just released new numbers on HIV

incidence, the number of new infections each year, give us a

sense of what the main findings are from this new report.

KEVIN FENTON: Sure. Well, this recent report in JAMA

really reports on breakthrough technology which is really

giving us the clearest picture of the HIV epidemic in the U.S.

to date. Essentially one of the key findings of the study is

the level of new HIV infections in the United States, also

called HIV incidence.

And the report indicates that the level of new HIV

infections in the United States is higher than had been

previously known, in fact approximately 40-percent higher than

early estimates in the ‘90s and in the early 2000’s.

The data also confirmed that HIV incidence really is

taking its toll on some of the subpopulations in the United

States; for example, gay and bisexual men of all races and

African American men and women. These data really are a wakeup

call for all of us in the United States to really begin our

thoughts on where we need to be going for prevention and how we

need to be enhancing prevention moving forward.

LARRY LEVITT: You talked about the infection numbers

being higher than were previously thought. What does the new

XVII International AIDS Conference
8/03/08

kaisernetwork.org makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of written transcripts, but due to the nature of transcribing recorded

material and the deadlines involved, they may contain errors or incomplete content. We apologize for any inaccuracies.

report say about the course of the epidemic over recent years?

Is it getting worse, better?

KEVIN FENTON: Well one of the fantastic things aboutthe JAMA paper is that we have combined two different

methodologies to give a sense of not only what incidence is

i.e., in 2006 but how incidence has actually changed over time

and we used an extended back calculation method, which is a

mathematical method of imputing HIV seroconversion based on

knowledge of AIDS diagnoses or HIV diagnoses and patterns of

HIV testing in the U.S.

And what the extended back calculation method shows is

that HIV incidence in the United States peaked in the mid to

early 1980’s and had declined subsequently. It also shows that

HIV incidence has in fact remained relatively stable in the

U.S. since the late 1990’s.

LARRY LEVITT: And any sense why the declines stalled?

I mean why have we not seen continuing declines in new

infections?

KEVIN FENTON: Well I think we also need to think more

generally about explanations for various trends that we are

seeing since 1977. Clearly the dramatic declines in incidence

that we saw during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s were really

a reflection both of population wide efforts to stem the tide

of the disease as well as widespread individual changes in

behaviors, increasing awareness about HIV and a population

response to HIV.

XVII International AIDS Conference
8/03/08

kaisernetwork.org makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of written transcripts, but due to the nature of transcribing recorded

material and the deadlines involved, they may contain errors or incomplete content. We apologize for any inaccuracies.

The stability in HIV incidence since the late 1990’s is

in a simple sense some sign of progress. Remember that there

are more people living with HIV in the United States today than

ever before. These people are living longer and healthier

lives with HIV yet HIV incidence has remained relatively stable

since that time so the key challenge moving forward is what do

we need to do to get ahead of the curve?

How do we need to enhance and intensify our prevention

efforts to ensure that we are meeting some of the unmet need

which still exists in the society today.

LARRY LEVITT: And you talked about the decreases in

incidence and the stabilization being in some sense a sign of

success of prevention efforts. On the other hand, you are now

reporting a higher number of infections than you previously

thought, does that have implications for the current level of

effort for prevention or where your targeting prevention is

more needed?

KEVIN FENTON: Well these data are clearly a wake-up

call. Having more than 56,000 new HIV infections occurring

each year in the United States is not acceptable and we as a

society need to think about what we all need to be doing at the

individual level, in communities, and as a society to bring

this epidemic to an end within our lifetimes.

The data also confirmed that HIV incidence is quite

marked among gay and bisexual men of all races. There are many

reasons to explain why we are seeing some of these high trends

XVII International AIDS Conference
8/03/08

kaisernetwork.org makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of written transcripts, but due to the nature of transcribing recorded

material and the deadlines involved, they may contain errors or incomplete content. We apologize for any inaccuracies.

and in fact we have some inkling of this from the higher rates

of sexually transmitted diseases as well as some of the

coterminous epidemics of drug use and substance abuse,

homophobia, stigma among the gay community.

These are all highlighting to us the importance of

targeting our efforts, of meeting some of the unmet need which

still exists in our society today and of intensifying our

efforts, whether for gay and bisexual men, for minority

communities, or even for young people where we know we are

seeing high numbers of new infections occurring each year.

LARRY LEVITT: So when looking at these high risk

groups, men who have sex with men, African Americans, injection

drug users, give some examples of what an intensified effort

might look like. What are some of the things we could be doing

to improve prevention among those groups?

KEVIN FENTON: That is such a great question. The key

thing that we must remember is that prevention works and there

are effective prevention interventions that can be applied

either at the individual level, for example encouraging

reductions in sexual partners, practicing abstinence, using

condoms consistently and correctly every time, knowing one’s

HIV status, these are effective strategies which can help

individual awareness of serostatus and therefore ensure that

individuals make effective choices about their risk of onward

transmission or acquisition of HIV.

XVII International AIDS Conference
8/03/08

kaisernetwork.org makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of written transcripts, but due to the nature of transcribing recorded

material and the deadlines involved, they may contain errors or incomplete content. We apologize for any inaccuracies.

For communities, there are some effective strategies

that need to be put in place; for example, insuring that there

is adequate access to effective prevention services, looking at

ways of providing HIV testing services within communities.

Communities can also play a very strong role in

tackling stigma, discrimination, homophobia, and communities

also have a role to play in addressing some of the social

determinants of disease transmission in the United States today

which can really have an upstream effect on reducing HIV

transmission rates downstream, so there are interventions that

we all can put in place whether as individuals, whether in our

communities or as a society to stem the tide of this disease.

LARRY LEVITT: And was there anything in this report

that surprised you that really stuck out as something you did

not realize before that causes you to rethink CDC strategy?

KEVIN FENTON: No. You know, although the numbers are

somewhat higher than had been previously known, the trends

themselves as well as the burden of HIV incidence really

confirmed what we had known from other surveillance sources,

for example our AIDS diagnoses as well as our HIV diagnoses

surveillance. Perhaps what is most marked are these three

features.

First, that HIV incidence among gay and bisexual men

really has been on the increase since the early 1990’s and our

data suggests that we are seeing sustained increased in HIV

incidence in men who have sex with men. Now HIV incidence is

XVII International AIDS Conference
8/03/08

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material and the deadlines involved, they may contain errors or incomplete content. We apologize for any inaccuracies.

nowhere near as high as it was in the ‘80s but nevertheless

these are worrying trends and really call for us to really

focus on intensifying our efforts with men who have sex with

men.

Another key finding was the proportion of new diagnoses

which are current among young people. About a third of new

diagnoses are occurring among young people aged less than 30

years and this suggests that we are losing the battle somewhat

in getting an AIDS free generation.

So we need to intensify our efforts with young people,

whether in the schools, in home, at universities and

communities to ensure that we are reiterating messages on HIV

prevention for another generation of Americans who are becoming

sexually active and who are developing new partnerships in the

field so there is more of a confirmation of things that we

knew, providing a clearer picture of where we need to go and a

call for us all to really enhance our prevention efforts moving

forward.

LARRY LEVITT: You talked about the number of people

living with HIV and AIDS increasing over time, are there

implications from these numbers for those estimates, the number

of people in the U.S. who are living with HIV and AIDS?

KEVIN FENTON: Well the last time CDC released

prevalence estimates for HIV in the United States was data for

2003 so we are planning to release new prevalence data on HIV

in the United States later this year. Now it will be very

XVII International AIDS Conference
8/03/08

kaisernetwork.org makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of written transcripts, but due to the nature of transcribing recorded

material and the deadlines involved, they may contain errors or incomplete content. We apologize for any inaccuracies.

premature for me to speculate what that new prevalence estimate

would be.

But most importantly, what I would like to reassure

listeners is that the new methods that we have used to

calculate incidence are very different to the methods that we

use to calculate prevalence and we should not try necessarily

to impute one for another. We will really have to look at what

the new prevalence estimates are later this year.

LARRY LEVITT: Aside from those new prevalence

estimates, what are the next steps that we can expect in terms

of prevention strategies or new directions?

KEVIN FENTON: Well first of all let me just give you a

heads up no ways in which we will be enhancing our data moving

forward. The data in the JAMA paper really are the first cut

at incidence in the United States and really in the paper we

have looked at broad demographic categories.

For example, HIV incidence for men and women or across

the racial and ethnic groups or across transmission categories.

Later on this year, we will be producing data at a more

granular level, in other words looking at population subgroups

and especially focusing on some of those subgroups that we are

particularly concerned about.

For example young gay men or black gay and bisexual men

or for example African American women or Latino women so these

data will really give us some greater focus on where new

XVII International AIDS Conference
8/03/08

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infections are occurring and how we need to enhance our

efforts.

As far as our prevention strategies are concerned, CDC

has already begun to look at our prevention portfolio and to

respond to these data. We are focusing our efforts to mobilize

communities whether it is the African American or working with

our Latino community partners.

We are looking more critically at the research that

needs to be done so that we have new prevention tools to use to

enhance and to target our prevention efforts. We are also

working with our state and local health department partners to

ensure we are holding both accountable for using the prevention

dollars wisely and effectively.

And we are also working with our partners to look more

critically at what more needs to be done as we think about

enhancing our efforts with men who have sex with men. There

are many things that CDC will be doing as we move forward but I

also want to reiterate that this is not only CDC’s

responsibility.

This is everyone’s responsibility as a nation and we

all need to think about what more we can do moving forward to

bring an end to this disease.

LARRY LEVITT: That is certainly part of what we will

be doing over the next week at the conference here in Mexico

City. Kevin thanks for speaking with us.

KEVIN FENTON: Great, thank you so much.
XVII International AIDS Conference
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[END RECORDING]

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material and the deadlines involved, they may contain errors or incomplete content. We apologize for any inaccuracies.

Transcript provided by kaisernetwork.org, a free service of the Kaiser Family

Foundation1

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Health Care Priorities for the New Administration: NMAC Calls for Comprehensive Health Response to Reported Increase in HIV Incidence in the U.S.

Ludmilla — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:56:37 EDT

Health Care Priorities for the New Administration: NMAC Calls for Comprehensive Health Response to Reported Increase in HIV Incidence in the U.S.

August 4, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Circe J. Gray Le Compte, Director of Communications

National Minority AIDS Council, 1931 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Telephone: (202) 234-5120 ext. 309; (202) 352-7240

E-mail: communications@nmac.org

“And all the centuries passed and they survived and became a kind of people that the world had never known. In the center of themselves they alone bore their suffering while the world theorized about their humanity or gazed on them with icy dismay. Now nothing. No gestures, no greetings, no embraces. What’s gone and past help, should be past action.”

NMAC Calls for Comprehensive Health Response to
Reported Increase in HIV Incidence in the U.S.

August 3, 2008 – Washington, DC – Re-evaluation of HIV incidence data at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that over 55,500 new HIV cases occurred each year from 2003-2006, with 56,300 cases in 2006 alone. These numbers are approximately 40% higher than the CDC’s previous estimate of 40,000 new HIV cases annually, an estimate that had remained the same for over ten years.

“We applaud the CDC’s efforts to provide a clearer picture of the AIDS epidemic,” says Paul Kawata, Executive Director of the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC). “While the Federal government’s focus in recent years on testing, care and treatment has saved the lives of many people living with HIV/AIDS, these new numbers clearly indicate that this approach has done little to prevent new infections.”

NMAC supports the formation of a comprehensive national strategy to address HIV/AIDS in this country that includes input from all people vested in the fight against AIDS – from elected officials and health care workers, to vaccine researchers and people living with HIV/AIDS. Ravinia Hayes-Cozier, NMAC’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy explains, “These numbers are unacceptable for all of America. At NMAC, we consider HIV/AIDS just one symptom of an overall health emergency in this country – particularly in communities of color, which have been disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS since the epidemic began three decades ago.

“Ethnicity is not a risk factor for HIV/AIDS, which, of course, can impact anyone, regardless of age, gender or race. However, the limited access to support services – such as education and health care – and high rates of homelessness, malnutrition, substance use, incarceration and poverty – unfortunately found in many minority communities has left their members immuno-suppressed and more susceptible to HIV/AIDS and its co-morbidities, like diabetes, tuberculosis, heart disease, hypertension and hepatitis A, B and C.”

Indeed, the distribution of HIV in communities of color has remained relatively the same, despite the new numbers from the CDC. Nearly half – 45% - of all new HIV cases occur among African Americans, followed by Latinos at 17%; Asian and Pacific Islanders at 2%, and Native Americans at 1%. African American women and men who have sex with men (MSM) of color also are testing positive for HIV in shockingly high numbers.

In addition to a comprehensive, national health strategy that includes HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, treatment and care, NMAC calls on federal and state government agencies, faith- and community-based organizations, AIDS service organizations and other stakeholders in the epidemic to increase their support for the following:

Comprehensive sex education for all young people – and their families. We need to ensure that all generations in this country can protect themselves and others from HIV transmission, and can serve as peer educators for others.

HIV vaccine research. We must support the development of an HIV vaccine that works for everyone – and the only way any viral epidemic has been stopped in recent history is through the development of a vaccine.

Expanded programs for low-income housing, utility bill relief and food stamp initiatives for those living with HIV/AIDS and its co-morbidities. We cannot build the health of a nation without ensuring access to the basic necessities of life.

Programs addressing the unique health needs of girls and women. In many families, the primary caretakers are women, many of whom sacrifice their health for their children and are not aware of their own susceptibility to HIV and other diseases.

Initiatives addressing stigma around HIV and homosexuality. These will empower young MSM of color to learn and experience their sexuality safely, in a society that understands and accepts them.

Expansion of harm reduction and substance use programs. Harm reduction offers many people access to drug rehabilitation and care. These programs, however, must not only treat addicts, but their families as well, particularly when children may be separated from their parents/guardians entering care.

Providing incarcerated persons living with HIV/AIDS access to discharge planning and treatment, as well as delivering comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention education in correctional facilities. Prisoners who have access to condoms, voluntary testing and comprehensive health care will be less likely to contract or transmit HIV while incarcerated and when returning to their communities.

Programs that support, and increase the visibility of, HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programs at the grassroots level. We need to continue to build the infrastructure of faith- and community-based organizations delivering services to those hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic.

“We cannot worry about assigning blame around HIV/AIDS, nor should any elected U.S. official claim ignorance about, and remain complacent on, the AIDS epidemic in this country,” says Kawata. "Having a clearer picture of HIV incidence in the U.S. offers us yet another opportunity to work and speak out together in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The very future of our communities depends on it.”

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Do we really want to question Patriotism??

Ludmilla — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:48:37 EDT

Again on CNN the talk about Barack's patriotism, well if the current Administration was so patriotic, then why are all our jobs going overseas and why was there ever talk of handing over our port security to the Arabs? Are they out of their mind? Those who question Barack's patriotism really need to look at how patriotic our Administration has been in: leaving every child behind, refusing to focus on prevention and cutting the budget for health care in every way, ignoring the 46million uninsured and blaming them for their lack of insurance, providing a universal health care system in emergency rooms only, ignoring the HIV/AIDS Crisis at home and throwing millions of dollars at other countries, sending our jobs overseas and providing no (sustainable) solution for the subsequently unemployed, giving us an insulting stimulus check while watching the oil giants get rich on our backs? Is that patriotic? How loyal has this administration been to its own citizens? Are we supposed to be proud of that?

I think Barack Obama is redefining patriotism and because we have completely misconstrued the meaning of patriotism, his actions and words come as a surprise to the opposition but it truly is patriotic the way in which he is going about business!

Race against HIV/AIDS: alarming news to share with the campaign

Ludmilla — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:02:58 EDT

Over the past two decades we have heard numbers and numbers of HIV and AIDS statistics in communities of color and among men who have sex with men. Most of the time when you hear about those numbers it is somewhere in the public health or grassroots HIV/AIDS arena but most people are still oblivious to the fact that HIV/AIDS is completely out of control in America. I was at a radio show the other day when an agent said to me "isn't it getting better, aren't numbers going down for gays and blacks?" and all I could do was look for a minute to realize that people really do not know.

If any of you have seen the dvd "Out of control: AIDS in Black America" a documentary produced in 2006 and still very relevant today, you will see that to the contrary, we are getting worse. For African-Americans this seems like a slow genocide and the government continues to cut funding in every aspect of health care. The stigma surrounding the most politized disease of the century limits succesful attempts towars prevention and only allows failing programs based on nothing but old school thinking; not on scientific evidence. The information below will come out this week and I hope that everyone will share this with their local campaign to urge the Senator to make the issue of HEALTH DISPARITIES Issue #1.

Yes, Issue #1. How can we function in a country where the population continues to live in bad health conditions, while we send more money overseas? How can we talk about economic sustainability when we send jobs overseas, cut benefits when people loose their jobs, cut funding for Medicaid and Medicare, and provide no solutions to the housing crisis? I would say that is something to get stressed out about or should I say, mentally depressed? And this is not even considering one's health, one's ability to manage his or her own health and then you get to hear that no health care benefits are available unless you go to the emergency room.

I ask you all to not go through this campaign and ignore the issue of health care, the health care crisis and the HIV/AIDS crisis which is hitting communities of color the hardest, particularly African-American communities. No matter what anyone says, African-American communities are hardest hit but funding for prevention programs remains scarce.

SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FELLOW CAMPAIGN MEMBERS:

"At 11:00 AM on Aug 3rd, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) will release an article from the CDC that will show the new annual HIV infection rates. According to CHAMP

It estimates that in 2006, the incidence rate was about 56,000, which is a 40% increase over the previous estimate of 40,000
It also "back-calculates" that from 1991 - 2006 (a 15-year period), the incidence of HIV was also higher than the 40,000 estimate -- approximately 25-50% higher at different times.
They also estimate that incidence increased in the mid 1990s, declined slightly around 1999 and OVERALL has been stable since then.
However, rates are GOING UP in gay men and other men who have sex with men
Rates remain very high in both African Americans and "Hispanics," with African Americans remaining the racial or ethnic group with the highest rates of infection."

To get a copy of the formal announcement, please go to the CDC’s Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/announcement.htm on Sunday, August 3, 2008 after 11:30 AM EDT to view the podcast, fact sheets, and other materials.

The Kaiser Family Foundation will broadcast CDC’s press conference about the announcement live from Mexico City. Visit Kaiser Family Foundation’s Web site at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=2876 <http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=2876> on Sunday August 3 at 1:30 PM EDT.

CDC will conduct a tele-briefing regarding this announcement on Monday, August 4, 2008 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT. To participate in the tele-briefing, dial 1-800-762-7948. When prompted, you should provide the title of the call, “Important Announcement from the CDC”.

A recording of the tele-briefing will be available from Aug. 4, 2008, at 4:00 pm until Aug. 11, 2008, at 11:59 pm. Recording call in number: 1-800-406-7325, Access Code: 3907949

Please let us ask Obama to go to the United States Conference on AIDS in Miami

Jos� F. Col�n L�pez — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:28:40 EDT

The National Minority AIDS Council, (NMAC), based in Washington DC, will hold its annual conference in Miami, Florida from September 18-21, 2008.

Our presidential candidate has been invited and I truly believe his presence in this important Conference will enhance the efforts made by so many hands all over the World to end this pandemic which started twenty-eight years ago.

President Clinton promised that by 2005 his effort to contain the epidemic would cut the amount of new HIV infection in half from the new 40,000 cases infected each year. Now the number is higher: 42,000 new cases yearly.

if we had gotten two weeks of what is being spent in the Irak war a tremendous amount of services, treatments and investigations would have undoubtedly improved the spread of his deadly disease. please let us get out of this false complacency that the HIV/AIDS problem is over. Let us convince our candidate to take a day and go to Miami...

HOPE, CHANGE, LET US SAVE FUTURE GENERATIONS!!!

IMMIGRATION BAN AGAINST HIV/AIDS CONFERENCES

Jos� F. Col�n L�pez — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:50:44 EDT

July 10th, 2008

An important provision which repeals the HIV travel and immigration ban is part of the Senate’s PEPFAR legislation. Unfortunately, there may be an amendment to strip out the repeal when the legislation is on the Senate floor.

Below is an organizational sign-on letter opposing any attempt to remove this critical provision from the Senate’s PEFPAR legislation. Please join this important effort to reject discrimination and stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS and add your organization’s name to the letter by emailing adamf@immigrationequality.org by Friday, July 11th at 12pm (noon) EST.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Adam Francoeur via email at adamf@immigrationequality.org or call 917.573.3773 x 21. Or contact Dena Wigder Feldman at dena.feldman@hrc.org or 202.216.1574.

Dear Senator:
We, the undersigned organizations, write to voice our strong support for Section 305 of the Tom Lantos & Henry J. Hyde U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (S. 2731). This important provision removes the statute which permanently bans people living with HIV/AIDS from entering the U.S. or obtaining legal permanent residency and restores authority to HHS to determine, based on sound medical and public health reasoning, whether HIV status should be grounds for inadmissibility. We strongly urge you to oppose any attempt to remove this critical provision from the legislation.
Congress first adopted this policy in 1987 through an amendment directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to add HIV to the list of medical conditions barring visitors and immigrants to the United States. In the early 1990’s, when, after careful consideration of the public health consequences, HHS sought to loosen these restrictions, Congress reacted by codifying the ban in our nation’s immigration laws. To this day, HIV is the only medical condition listed in the Immigration and Nationality Act as a basis for inadmissibility. By contrast, the admissibility status for any other disease is left to the discretion of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, based upon the risk the illness poses to the public health.
This draconian policy has negative consequences for our nation. Medical professionals, researchers, and other exceptionally talented people have been blocked from the United States. Since 1993, the International Conference on AIDS has not been held on U.S. soil due to this policy.
In addition, the United States is out of step with the international community and most other countries. The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, produced jointly by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNAIDS, state that “there is no public health rationale for restricting liberty of movement or choice of residence on the grounds of HIV status.” In June of this year, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an end to discriminatory travel restrictions based on HIV status. The U.S. is one of only 12 countries in addition to Armenia, Colombia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sudan, and Yemen to have such harsh travel restrictions on people living with HIV/AIDS.
Removing this discriminatory ban from our nation’s statutes is a crucial step towards strengthening our nation’s leadership in the global fight against HIV/AIDS an important goal of the PEPFAR program. We understand that the manager’s amendment includes an offset for this provision ensuring that no additional costs will be associated with its inclusion in the legislation.
We strongly urge you to reject discrimination and stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS by ensuring that this important provision survives Senate consideration of PEPFAR reauthorization fully intact.
Sincerely,
(List in Formation)
AIDS Action Council
The AIDS Institute
Gay Men’s Health Crisis
HIV Medicine Association
Human Rights Campaign
Immigration Equality
National Immigrant Justice Center
National Minority AIDS Council
Pacientes de SIDA pro Política Sana
San Juan, Puerto Rico

LGBT youth organizer

Duane...a bitter michigander for Obama! — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:25:47 EDT

I am happy to annouce that I have been names the youth organizer for the Washtenaw County LGBT Democrats. I will be working my best to get the LGBT community involved and voting in the upcoming election, as well as hosting events and voter registration drives.

If you would like to join the group, please join the link below. We are look for members of the LGBT community or Allies...anyone interested in getting involved

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18057276167

The LGBT Interest Group of the Washtenaw County Democratic Party located in Washtenaw County Michigan is committed to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families. The Interest Group seeks to improve the lives of LGBT individuals both in Washtenaw County and throughout this great State of Michigan through educational programming, social activities, public service, get out the vote 2008, and outreach

Buying into the Federal Employees Health Plan

Jay — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:11:34 EDT

Here is a paper that discusses the issue of opening up the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) to the public.

Obviously it may cost more to insure a federal worker vs a non-federal worker due to various factors. However why not allow non-federal workers to pay a 'premium' to cover any additional costs? Some things to consider:

* Businesses (especially single-person small businesses) are already burdned. Why not allow them to buy into the FEHBP program so they can at least guarantee coverage that is as good as their elected representative

* Allow the general public to buy into the program at Cost + X % so the additional 'premium' can go into managing larger pools of people or cover the portion subsidized for Federal employees. If we pay the 'true' cost of the federal plan, there is NO excuse not to offer it to the general public

* Opening the federal health plan doesn't have to mean it becomes 'the' universal health plan! People need a choice, even if it costs slightly more

* Families who can't get coverage elsewhere are sometimes forced into bankruptcy, even middle-class families. Why not offer the general public a choice especially when their alternatives are none or few? Wouldn't you rather pay a little more to have peace of mind of having health coverage than going into bankruptcy?

* For those who cannot afford the premium, states could offer voucher or some form of subsidy to allow those on the lower economic scale to buy into the federal health plan. Uninsured people cost the system more. Why not offer some assistance by subsidising, but not giving it away for free?

Why are Republicans scared to offer the federal health plan to the public even if the public is willing to foot the bill for it? It wouldn't be 'mandatory', but just one more option until we have some sort of health care reform.

I am a single person business and I'm relying on my wife for coverage, but even that plan is marginally good. I'd prefer to have my business buy into the federal plan or allow me to buy into the plan directly.

Perhaps I'll write to my elected representatives and ask when/how/if I'll be able to buy into the federal plan.

National HIV Testing Day/Dia nacional de hacer preubas de VIH (EEUU)

Carrie Rheingans — Sat, 24 May 2008 15:48:09 EDT

Hello all/Hola a todos,

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day - encourage people in your area to get tested, and get tested yourself! El 27 de junio es el dia nacional de hacer preubas de VIH - anime a la gente en su area a hacerles la preuba, y hazle a usted tambien!

English: http://www.hivtest.org/

espanol: http://www.hivtest.org/index_sp.cfm

Thank you all/gracias a todos,

Carrie

Kahlil Gibran

Gabriel Santiago — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:05:43 EDT

"The bird has an honor that man does not have. Man lives in the traps of his fabricated laws and traditions but the birds live according to the natural law of God who causes the earth to turn around the sun" Lets say today Happy Mother,s Day to Truth the mother of Hope,Hope the mother of Change. May all this be blessed with Peace to the one Human Family. To all volunteers who are making Change Possible, To all whose Hopes and Dreams and Labor make life worth living. May Peace Bless All.

Exhortation to Michelle and Barack Obama

Gabriel Santiago — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:26:40 EDT

Translating from Baracks Strategies to Spanish for the benefit of non-committed political parties indepent thinkers in Puerto Rico and after listening to Baracks as well as Micehelle`s speeches on different strategies for particular issues I find that the heart as well as the down to earth reasons for your particulaer request for Hope and Change are not being adequately represented by those you have chosen as your particular spokespersons for your message of Hope,Freedom and a new order of doing politics in Washington for the benefit of the Nation, the World and Humanity as a whole. Your larks fail to sing your song of refreshing newness your uncompromising Tenacity to Fight Poverty,Discrimination,Mental Health,Disease,lack of Opportunities for the middlle and low income communities,your honest search of dialogue and peace amongst men of Good Willl. Your enlightening rays of the role to be played by religion. politics, and science and which are already being playied in the new order. Simple hearts understand this. Men whose hearts and minds have found their balance. Th temptation to go back to old and used ways which have proven their failure is too hard to resist for those who seek power for power's sake. That is no the way for those who in the bottom of their hearts and in the inner dwellings of their conciences are aware that dreams are not to be stockpile of status quo, but rather the vibrant hymns of those willing to march to the mountaintops. Renew your dreams renew your song of Hope and Change for the marginalized, for they want to contribute to Humanity"s Ode Of Joy.

Spanish Materials

Gabriel Santiago — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:04:59 EDT

Queridos hermanos en la naciòn si alguno de ustedes tiene de sus campañas en español los puntos sobresalientes sobre el programa de OBAMA para combatir la pandemia del HIV/sida les agradecere me la hagan llegar.

Reconocimiento

Gabriel Santiago — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:11:26 EDT

Reconocimiento a Alexandra Carbone por auspiciar evento

Unidos al cambio

Gabriel Santiago — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:07:16 EDT

Unidos al Cambio La Brigada de Obama Apoyo a Barack Obama en P.R. El 19 de abril del 2008, justo antes de las primarias en el estado de Pennsylvania, millones de personas que han decidido estar junto a Obama para así lograr un cambio en los Estados Unidos, Puerto Rico y en el mundo entero se estarán reuniendo en ciudades y pueblos a través de la nación, y Puerto Rico en apoyo a un cambio en el Gobierno. Esto es mucho más que una reunión” nos dice Tammy Leffall, Organizadora Nacional. Esto es un movimiento de multitudes de ciudadanos sencillos tratando de dar forma y ser partícipes de un evento extraordinario. Las personas han sido inspiradas y apoderadas(fortalecidas) por el Senador Obama y se han dado cuenta que pueden contribuir de manera poderosa y significativa a un cambio que los Estados Unidos, Puerto Rico y el mundo entero necesita desesperadamente. lograr un cambio en los Estados Unidos, Puerto Rico y en el mundo lograr un cambio en los Estados Unidos, Puerto Rico y en el mundo lograr un cambio en los Estados Unidos, Puerto Rico y en el mundo lograr un cambio en los Estados Unidos, Puerto Rico y en el mundo Estas reuniones son verdaderamente históricas en que no están apoyadas por ninguna campaña, negocio, organización, o entidad particular, sino que surgen espontáneamente de los ciudadanos. Siguiendo el estilo de organización desde las raíces, del Senador Obama, que promueven el cambio desde abajo, así han sido organizadas estas reuniones. Estas no responden a ningún comité de campaña, son simplemente ciudadanos inspirados por el mensaje del Senador Obama de Esperanza y Cambio. Por esta razón, las manifestaciones toman todo tipo de formas, desde marchas, reuniones, paradas, proyectos comunitarios incluyendo artistas, conciertos, entre otros. Lo que une a todos estos grupos es su compromiso para unidos propiciar el cambio a nivel individual y nacional. Todos unidos para el cambio, el mismo día, el l9 de Abril del 2008; un día que marcara la historia. Es en este espíritu que una multitud de organizadores de diferentes ciudades y estados, voluntarios o sencillamente manifestantes se han comprometido a demostrar el poder de la unidad que ha constituido el sello de excelencia de la campaña de Barack Obama. Millones se proponen asistir o participar en algún acto o evento y decir presente ese día a nivel nacional e internacional. Finalmente estamos estableciendo las bases para una red con raíces en el pueblo, para las primarias, las elecciones y el futuro. PARQUE LUIS MUÑOZ RIVERAAVE. LUIS MUÑOZ RIVERA & CALLE SAN AGUSTINSABADO ABRIL 19 2008-04-15FROM 3:OO PM

WE HAVE TO FIGHT THE REAL WAR: HIV/AIDS ALL OVER THE WORLD

Jos� F. Col�n L�pez — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:23:27 EDT

Millions of human beings have HIV or AIDS in every corner of the World. Complete societies have lost a whole generation due to the epidemic, which has struck Africa the most.

Meanwhile, George W. Bush, Jr. and the present candidate of the GOP, McCain, says that if we have to, we will stay in the wrong war for one hundred years more. They simply ignore those who do not have the resources needed to survive the illness.

I truly believe that Obama knows what I am talking about and that he WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Thank you.

Apoya a Barack Obama en Puerto Rico

Jos� F. Col�n L�pez — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:46:07 EDT

Apoya a Barack Obama en Puerto Rico. Este miércoles, 16 de abril a las 5 p.m., acompáñanos a celebrar la gran inauguración de la sede de Puerto Rico, Citi Towers, 250 Avenida Ponce De León, Hato Rey.

Ven conoce las facilidades y al personal e infórmate sobre cómo puedes ayudar a lograr el triunfo de Obama en tu comunidad.

Esperanza, Cambio Los albores de una nueva era.

Gabriel Santiago — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:38:03 EDT

Es increible el entusiasmo que la aspiraciòn de Obama està generando a nìvel mundial, la humanidad entera como que percibe por su carisma que de salir electo no solamente america sino que el mundo sebeneficiarà grandemente. Es con ojos llenos de làgrimas que escucho el mensaje de este hombre donde se combinan la inteligencia y el corazòn en una sabidurìa genial. Protegèlo no el dios de los hombres y las religiones pequeñas sino El Dios que ES Ha Sido y Serà el de los verdaderos hombres religiosos que para serlo muchas veces miran con recelo y suspicacia las religiones formales que empequeñecen a Dios. Es el momento de los marginados porque es el momento de la Misericordia,algo de lo que està impregnado el mensaje de este hombre bajo el lema de la Esperanza y el cambio. La polìtica a nìvel local nacional,mundial ya no serà lo mismo,porque la comunicaciòn nos ha unido irremediablemente. Este hombre tiene su esperanza puesta en cada ser humano y cree en èl y esa es su esperanza en que el cambio comienza en cada uno de nosotros. Es un cambio revolucianario porque nos pide que lo comencemos desde abajo, de la gente sencilla,de los excluidos,de los marginados,de los sufrientes a quienes los embates le han mostrado su fragilidad y la necesidad de ceer,esperar,soñar pero soñar en grande con el alma yla inteligencia y el coràzon. No estèriles sueños de solo oro y plata. Las economìas no crecen por los soñadores de oro y plata; sino para aquellos para quienes son medios para expresar su humanidad. Huyamos de los profetas del desastre,de los cìnicos, de los que critican sin brindar soluciones unamosno a los que creen que el CAMBIO ES POSIBLE,QUE LA ESPERANZA Y los sueños son la base de todo progreso y que quièn realmente no tiene los pies en la tierra es el que ha olvidado esto. Miremos la historia y veremos que estos han sido los ingredientes de los avances a todos los nìveles,derechos humanos,ciencia tecnologìa,Los gobiernos son legìtimos si cumplen con su deber de traer el mayor binestar posible a sus gobernados. De nada valen Cartas de Derechos si solo ocupan papel,nos hacen lucir civilizados y al salir a la calle vemos la miseria de tantos. La riqueza jamàs podrà ser un fin en si solo. Afortunadamente cada dìa son màs los filantropos, que caen en la conciencia de que su bendiciòn es para bendecir a los menos afortunados. Que la Misericordia no juzga,porque es un valor superior a la Justicia.

Hermanos puertorriqueñoa y latinoamericanos que no se mofen de nuestro !AY BENDITO! que representa uno de, sino nuestro mayor valor,y nada tiene que ver con ese vulgar eufemismo con elcual negamos nuestra herencia. Dèmosle un recibimiento digno a este mensajero de esperanzas y dejèmosno de nuestras puequeñeces tribales. Nuestra cultura popular hace tiempo resumiò el discurso sobre la raza que diera Barack Obama con nuestro ingenio popular. Y tu abuela donde està? Cargar un inocente que comienza su camino con las decisiones de su predecesor de quien tiene el valor de denunciar sus errores y prometer un cambio, no solamente es injusto sino que repugna a nuestra idiosincracia.

Nos pide la oportunidad del Cambio pero a la vez nos pide dar nuestro cambio para ser agentes y artìfices de ese cambio. Las Revoluciones ,los Cambios comienzan en el corazòn de cada individuo y solo asì se harà realidad en el colectivo.

Dame soñadores llenos de ilusiones,pròpositos y esperanzas y no cìnicos que apocan nuestras posibilidades.

juzga poque es un valor superior a la Justicia. A mis hermanos puertorriqueños, y latinos Nuestro !

nation for change

Gabriel Santiago — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:12 EDT

Para mas informaciòn sobre actividad N4C organizada por Obamas brigade momento històrico y fecha històrica para los seguidores de obama y EL CAMBIO

Visita http://nationforchange.com

Obamas brigade organiza la actividad pero visita el link del HEADQUARTERS Oficial de Obama dondellevaràn contabilidad de los simpatizantes.

Oraciòn traducida a varios idiomas Unidos al Cambio

Gabriel Santiago — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:37:56 EDT

Oraciòn en uniòn al cambio que espera una naciòn y el mundo "Te estoy pidiendo que creas no solo en mi capacidad para traer un verdadero cambio a Washington. Te estoy pidiendo que creas en tu capacidad de comenzarlo en ti mismo" Senator Barack Obama

Oraciòn por el cambio. Circulo Mundial de Oraciòn para Sanar a America.

"VEAN A DIOS EN CADA UNO'

Gracias Señor por todas las bienaventuranzas y bendiciones que nos has dado. Por favor quìtanos de nuestras mentes,cuerpos y corazones,nuestros temores, corajes,odios y envidias. Te invito a queVengas a mi vida yla vida de todos los Americanos para sanar esta gran naciòn.

Sana nuestros pensamientos con amor y compasiòn para nuestros hermanos cada uno y todos los dìas. Ayùdanos a nunca juzgar a nadie;por raza,origen nacional,color,creencias religiosas y estilo de vida. Ayùdanos a que veamos a Dios en cada uno. Por favor concèdenos el valor de ver en nuestros corazones,trabajar con nuestra comunidad y ser el cambio que queremos ver en el Mundo.

Señor bendice a Barack y Michelle Obama y su familia. Rodeàlos de Tù Lùz Protectora segùn trabajan para traer un cambio positivo en Amèrica,unificando al pueblo Americano en reconciliaciòn y sanaciòn con la gente del Mundo. Escucha nuestra oraciòn Señor y da tus bendiciones en Barack Obama para que sea el quadragèsimocuarto Presidente de los Estados Unidos.

Sana a la gente de Irak Señor y a todos quienes han perdido seres amados en esta guerra sin sentido. Por favor guìa a nuestros lìderes para que encuentren el camino para acabar esta guerra y traer a nuestros soldados a casa. .

Re favor dejarme saber si han recibido el mensaje

Gabriel Santiago — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:33:27 EDT

Please let me know if you have received the links and the message

Invitacion y explicaciòn del 19 de abril y N4C Rally

Gabriel Santiago — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:28:46 EDT

Primero les invito a visitar los sguientes sites y decidan por ustedes mismo, luego una breve explicaciòn y mi rol en esto pues ahì demasiada desinformaciòn.

visita www.obamabrigade .com y toma tu decisiòn

luego visitahttp://nationforchange.com aqui te divertiras veras que es un movimiento de base y no del Comitè oficial de Obama ni allà ni en P,R.

Si quieres formar parte de ese rally visita nuestra pàgina web para dicha actividad y haz algo muy

sencillo decide si te unes o no pero es la forma màs sencilla de unirse a esta actividad y decir presente como puertorriqueño y amigo de OBAMA.

http://www.obamabrigade.com/n4cnationwiderallypr

veras que es una actividad nacional e internacional.

Apoyanos

Gabriel Santiago — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:48:55 EDT

ve a http://www.obamabrigade.com/group/n4cnationwiderallypr

OBAMA FOR Change

N$C NTIONWIDE RALLY :PR

Gabriel Santiago — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:40:52 EDT

este es el sitio oficialdel comite en web para unirnos a los raalies nacionales e internacionales a celebrarse el 19 de diciembre hasta ahora hay 5 miembros solo 2 de P.R.

el comite nacional ya tiene toda la infromaciòn. Les invito nos unamos sin colores a este esfurerzo

maravilloso de un mundo que necesita Cambio SI SE PUEDE

Websitehttp:http://www.obamabrigade.com/group/n4cnationwiderallypr Se me pidio cooperar y eso he hecho Vamos a llenar esa pagina de amigos solidarios por obama dejen saber a todos sus grupos e inviten pronto habrà màs informaciòn. OBAM'2008 Gabriel Santiago

Hillary Clinton's establishment machinery

Jos� F. Col�n L�pez — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:15:49 EDT

Senator Clinton keeps on repeating the fact that she has worked as a public servant for thirty years now. I guess that she might have had good intentions, but we all know where we are right now. Her work did not give us neither change nor hope. Senator Clinton represents the status quo when Senator Obama claims for change. You choose. I know where I stand. Join in...

No more establishment machineries!

The PEOPLE have the voice and the power to create a better World!

La Senadora Clinton no representa un cambio. Ha estado treinta años en el gobierno y miren donde estamos. Démosle una oportunidad al Senador Barack Obama para que sea el presidente entrante en el 2009.

Muchísimas gracias.

Mr. José F. Colón

Stop!

swimmer — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:15:27 EDT

When will this insanity stop? Will Hill ever get the REAL message that the majority of the people in America do NOT want her? Barack is being kind when he says she should continue in this race. After all, he is a nice guy.

So much to learn Tanto que aprender

Gabriel Santiago — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:46:35 EDT

El hobre negro le dijo al hombre blanco,si fueses gris serìa màs condescendiente contigo"Gibran

Hoy desgraciadamente me dejaron saber que no soy blanco ni negro nigris

ni transparente sino que tengo color ,transparente,burbujeante ,colorido

VIVO tu quedate entre tus tonalidades que poco pdràs servir ni a Dios ni

alos hombres, porque para acercarse a Dios hay que acercarse a los hombres,

que son coloridos creados como el universo, la flora la fauna COLORIDOS.

People abhor what they cannot comprehend

Gabriel Santiago — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:18:03 EDT

"When people abhor what they cannot comprehend,they are like those burning with fever,to whom the choiciest food is impalatable"Gibran

This is particularly true for the Withering Trees whose dreams can only materialize in gold and silver,they cannot comprehend we are all in this trip together trying to give it meaning for ouselves which is the only value possible for we are all manifestations of humanity.

This is why gold and silver canot continue to be the road if we are to arrive at true freedom for all. When we realize there is nothing particularly special in our innerness that we do not share with others. That we do share certain basic needs in order to grow and have as primary responsibility to move to fulfill them for all.

Then we are on the road to personal fullfillment;for there is not a single action we carrry out that does not impact others. That is why cooperation is a greater value than consummerism and personal withdrawal.

Seeing men like Barack Obama standing up peacefully amidst all that is hurled at them is seeing our possibilities in our own personal search for peace. It is not cowardice,nor cynicism or weakness but the gratest source of strengh for anyone.

Our likeness are grater than our differences, let's make this trip,this space in our liberty, which is life, the best it can be. Herein lies true peace andf freedom.

Hillary Clinton and PEPFAR / Obama's View on it.

Jos� F. Col�n L�pez — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:48:21 EDT

"The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS and its devastating consequences poses a threat not only to the United States, but also to the interests of peace and prosperity throughout the world. In the past two decades nearly 60 million people have been infected by HIV and more than 20 million women, men and children have died of AIDS worldwide. As a member of the Senate Global AIDS Taskforce, I am committed to increasing the resources available to fight this epidemic in the rest of the world. I support allocating full funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and have worked with my colleagues in the Senate to provide additional funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria." Hillary Clinton

http://clinton.senate.gov/issues/health/index.cfm?topic=hiv

>>>>>

No Room for Orthodoxy in HIV Prevention

"The danger with bills like the PEPFAR is that they do find support amidst the more conservative policy planners in the country -- which is a dangerous trend when it comes to dealing with issues like HIV/AIDS. For instance, an earlier administration in India actually followed a deliberate policy of shifting focus of AIDS prevention campaigns to sexual abstinence and marital fidelity, relegating condoms to a distant third going so far as even removing condom advertisements from state-run television networks in the name of decency and to keep in line with their own orthodox policies. The irony is that in India the virus has confined itself to a sexual triangle of poor, male migrant workers, the sex workers they visit and the wives they leave back home. So any bill carrying provisions like the PEPFAR in effect excludes from its group of beneficiaries a substantial portion of the high risk populations in the country."

"If HIV has been taken up as one of the most serious concerns of the 21st century, then to deny certain groups access to treatment and funds for treatment is an infringement on basic human rights. Universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment is the immediate need. Access to all kinds of healthcare invariably suffers from bureaucratic hiccups and to have an additional set of prerequisites before the treatment and care can be made available to the target groups is both inhuman and criminal. In its current stage the epidemic calls for streamlining not just government but extra national processes to be able to achieve universal access to lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment, including access to second-line therapies if the fight against HIV has to be won both in terms of time and the number of people it reaches."
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/03/24/no-room-for-orthodoxy-in-hiv-prevention-in-india

>>>>>

Ignoring Facts, Biden, Lugar Proceed on PEPFAR

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/tag/pepfar

Scott Swenson, RH Reality Check on March 13, 2008 - 12:29pm

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee ignored sound public health strategies and passed their version of PEPFAR with little debate -- so $50 billion will be spent without any attention to the facts. Some in DC will toast this as a political success while more African women and girls die.

>>>>>

PEPFAR: Beware of Americans Bearing Gifts Rupert Walder, RH Reality Check, Europe on March 12, 2008 - 8:36am

What do European AIDS advocates have to say about PEPFAR? "The ab-only earmarked funding in PEPFAR goes against modern principles of effective aid... ab-only approaches have no effect in the developing world where a significant percentage of sexual initiation among young girls is coerced or forced."

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/tag/pepfar

>>>>>

PEPFAR Introduced in the House and Senate
The "Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008" was introduced in the House on February 27, 2008 by Congressman Howard Berman and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (H.R. 5501) and in the Senate on March 7, 2008 by Senators Joe Biden, Richard Lugar, Edward Kennedy, and John Sununu (S. 2731).

Both PEPFAR reauthorization bills would authorize $50 billion over 5 years for HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria efforts and provide support for health workforce and systems strengthening. Only the House reauthorization bill, however, includes a strategy to address the vulnerabilities of women, girls, and youth--drawn largely from the PATHWAY Act of 2007, H.R. 1713.

Prevention Compromised

Both bills in their current form contain problematic prevention provisions. This includes funding directives around abstinence and be faithful prevention programs, the continued incorporation of the anti-prostitution pledge, and problematic language around family planning.

http://www.pepfarwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127

>>>>>

I have presented some opinions regarding PEPFAR because Seantor Hillary Clinton voted for this bill. I want to also present Senator Obama's opinion on this plan.

Senator Barack Obama has said:

Reauthorize and Revise PEPFAR: The U.S. has dramatically increased funding for global HIV and AIDS programs through the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), but the program has faced controversy. Obama believes that our first priority should be to reauthorize PEPFAR when it expires in 2008 and rewrite much of the bill to allow best practices – not ideology – to drive funding for HIV/AIDS programs.

http://outfordemocracy.org/arch/000688.html

I prefer to be a dreamer with visions to be realized

Gabriel Santiago — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:16:33 EDT

" I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest,with visions to be realized,than lord amon those

without dreams or desires" Kahlil Gibran

"To be closer to God,be closer to people""Kahlil Gibran

These cites have been my inspiration to change as asked

by Obama, They describe him so well and the phrase "A singer cannot delight you with his singing

unless he himself delights to sing" Here his resons for HOPE, Chnge, and his asking us to sing

along by changing ourselves. This is his song and it cannot be copied. Do ask him not to be distracted by those who do not publicly thank him or praise him to express their gratitude but to make public the perception of his talent in ordeer to be admired themselves. Keep on singing your

song loud and clear for those with enlightened spirits will follow. This is not a classist remark for this spirit is more common than you might think ,in my country inyour country, in my race, in my religion in the Newq Era I talk about. Stand up tall my friend for we heart the message and the singer. %Those who cannot sing like you mockyou or envy you which br9ings about cynicism and desesperation. You are not ALONE there is a Country, A World behind you, not one step back to try to explain to those who will never understand the withering trees. SI SE PUEDE

Larry KIng

Gabriel Santiago — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:24:57 EDT

send a question on Obamas points for Puerto Rico hope it's asked on tonight show

Help to create a powerful network for a better world

denise — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:40:59 EDT

Please spread around my message-The World needs Obama!
Obama means Hope
Germany needs this hope as the next President as well
Please join and help to build the most powerful community of Helping Hands around the World.
Inform People about Organisations-for a better world
Search for missing children
make the world as clean and save as it was lent to us- please help me to make this worldwide community come true
A Website will be online withhin the next days as well- called
yes-we-can-change.de
Please help me to cry out our message for Change-join my communities and let us grow fast!

http://yes-we-can-change.sixgroups.com/content/

http://vorsicht-autor-mind-the-author.sixgroups.com/
Change

Don’t you hear the drum of time?
Don’t you feel the beat?
Will you hear the warning?
Come on move your feet!

Don’t you feel the touch of time?
Don’t you clean the mirror?
Will you see the truth?
Come on think and choose!

Don’t you want to live?
Don’t you want to give?
Will you help the poor?
Come on love much more!

Don’t you have a mouth?
Don’t you feel the pain?
Will you end the night?
Come on let us fight!

For a better world
Where we both can live
Where no war exists
Be a pacifist

Thank you all and bless you
Best wishes from Germany-We need him as well!-The World needs a Change and Obama!

Denise

Queridos Hermanos de toda raza y color

Gabriel Santiago — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:37:28 EDT

Veo el umbral de una nueva era y veo los residuos de la que queda atràs.Esta nueva era es para los jovenes de espiritu que no nos rendimos y reconocemos que todos estamos enesta barca llamada vida y que la familia humana es una. Lo dice la antropologìa gènetica. Si el dinero gastado en tantas superficialidades y luchas sin sentido antitolerantes se hubiese usado correctamente cuantas enfermedades ya hubiesemos vencido.Cuanta violencia apagada,cuantas vidas encaminadas en lugar de marginadas. Tengo fè sobre todo en la familia humana pues el unico monopolio de la verdad lo es la humildad y el amor.Cuanto sueño con ver levantarse los pinos nuevos que han y estan preparados para esta nueva ere. Prohibido Rendise

Le'ts not be divided by gender or race.

Gabriel Santiago — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:24:13 EDT

Let us not at this juncture allow for racism and gender split us there are battles to be won by all. As a Hispanic from Puerto Rico I hope we have enough sense not to be pulled by other interests than justice and see our real enemies are the special interests. our culture and population will grow and our hispanic feelings and values demand justice for all.

LA ESPERANZA / HOPE

Jos� F. Col�n L�pez — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:57:26 EST

LA ESPERANZA / HOPE

Vamos a abrazarla / Let us embrace it
Vamos a que nos sirva como bandera / Let it serve us like a flag
Vamos a unirnos a través de ella / Lrt us unite through her
Vamos a construir un futuro brillante con su fulgor / Let us build a brilliant future with its brightness
Vamos a convencer a otros de que sí existe / Let us convince others that it really exists
Vamos a forrar el planeta Tierra con su luz / Let us cover the whole Planet with its light
Unidos de su manos, unidos de la mano vamos a mejorar la calidad de vida de los pobres y la clase media / Holding hands with her, let us unite our hands to improve the quality of life of the poor and the middle class
Déjemos atrás las guerras innecesarias / Let us leave behind unnecessary wars
Vamos a honrar a nuestros envejecientes / Let us honor our elderly
Vamos a ayudar a los incapacitados / Let us aide the handicapped
Vamos a mejorar el sistema de salud, el de educación, el de vivienda y el de los empleos / Let us improve our health system. Our education system, living conditios and employments
Vamos a construir un futuro excelente para nuestros niños comenzando y cuidarlos bien desde ahora / Let us construct an excellent future for our children taking care of them well
De ahora en adlante vamos a encarar en futuro llenos de un compromiso de envolvernos en todo tipo de esfuerzo para mejorar todos aquellos problemas que han llenado nuestros ojos de lágrimas de pena y convertirlas en lágrimas de alegría / From now on let us face the future filled with a compromise to engage in every effort to improve all those problems that have filled our eyes with tears, and change them to tears of joy
Dejémos atrás lo frívolo y dediquémonos a lo importante, por más sencillo o difícil que sea / Let us leave behind all that is frivolous and let us dedicate ourselves to what is important, for as simple or difficult as it may seem
Vamos a trabajar siempre de buena fe / Let us alwaays work in good faith.
Vamos a votar por Barack Obama / Let us vote for barack Obama
Vamos a ganar / We will win

La gran Familia Humana es una

Gabriel Santiago — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:07:51 EST

La guerra que sì estamos perdiendo es la guerra contra el Sida Gen. Colin Powell

TENEMOS QUE LEVANTAR NUESTRAS CONCIENCIAS / WE HAVE TO RAISE OUR CONSCIENCES

Jos� F. Col�n L�pez — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:22:21 EST

TENEMOS QUE LEVANTAR NUESTRAS CONCIENCIAS

Hermanos y hermanas Latinoamericanos:

Ha llegado el momento de levantar nuestra a quienes no quieren oir, que los hispano parlantes hemos contribuído mucha energía vital para mantener la Nación Americana.

Hemos hecho todo tipo de trabajo, desde concejeros escolares, hasta investigadores en agencias tan importante como la “Pan American Health Association”, (PAHO) o la “World Health Organization”, (WHO).

Tenemos representantes en el Congreso que trabajan para mejorar sus constituyentes en ciudades como Chicago o Nueva York.

Todo este trabajo debe ser un incentivo para hacer que nuestra presencia se sienta en la Convención Demócrata. Hay posibilidades de tratar de ser delegados en la convención.

No podemos dejar pasar este giro histórico originado por el Senador Barack Obama de lograr un cambio real para salir de la pesadilla que hemos vivido estos pasados ocho años.

Hay que mobilizarnos y m over a la comunidad a votar por un candidato que nos ofrece un futuro mejor, más estable, más pacífico. Tenemos que votar por Barack.

Muchas gracias.

José F. Colón López

San Juan, Puerto Rico

>>>>>

We HAVE TO RAISE OUR CONSCIENCES

LATIN AMERICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS:

The moment of raising our voices has come for those that do not want to hear that Spanish speaking people have contributed weith a lot of vital energy to keep the American nation standing.

We have performed in every type of work, from school counselors to investigators in important agencies such as the Pan American Health Association, (PAHO) or the World Health Organization, (WHO).

We have representatives in Congress that work to improve their constituents quality of life in cities such as Chicago or New York.

All this work must serve as an incentive so our presence is felt at the democratic Convention. We have possibilities of becoming delagates at the Convention. We must not let this historic turn originated by Senator Orack Obama to be able to get out of the nightmare that we have lived these past eight years.

We have to mobilize our community to vote for a candidate that offers us a better future, more stable, more peaceful. We have to vote for Barack...

Thank you.

José F. Colón López

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Yes we can see the end of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Jos� F. Col�n L�pez — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:56:22 EST

Yes we can see the end of the HIV/AIDS epidemic if we really fight a real war against the disease using tools as prevention, diagnosis and treatments. It is very important to let our candidate know the importance of this problem. Human lives are at stake. Whole generations have died. Orphans need care. We must cover the 50+ group and send prevention messages to them, specially women. The increase of cases in this group is lethal, so we can not let them think that their symptoms are because of their age. They need to be tested. Housewives need to get tested. Please spread the wordd...

Thank you.

José F. Colón

San Juan, puerto Rico

jfcl211@aol.com

A Fresh Perspective

Mickey — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 10:35:18 EST

During the debate between Senators Obama and Clinton on Thursday, February 21st in Austin, TX, Senator Obama demonstrated his skills as an orator, his understanding of world and national issues, and an ability to approach difficult situations with a fresh approach. Although the two Senators did not vary widely on many of the topics discussed during the debate, there were some clear distinctions that indicate that Senator Obama is the right person for the Presidency today.

One of the issues that raised a lot of disagreement between the two Senators was universal health care. The discussion about this topic became a bit tedious (in my humble opinion) and lead to comments being made that may have resulted some confusion about their subtle differences. However, on the point of taking a different (or fresh) approach, it was clear that Senator Obama is willing to do so. As history has documented, the first time Hillary Clinton attempted to overhaul the health care system resulted in a dismal failure due to her unwillingness or inability to bring everyone to the table--even people with opposing opinions. This would not be so with President Obama.

When the discussion turned to Cuba and how each individual would approach the new leader, it was clear that there were major differences between these two candidates. Senator Clinton indicated that she would not talk with the new leader of Cuba until certain conditions were met: freeing political prisoners, opening up the press, and indications that free and open elections would take place. Simply put, this is more of the same--business as usual. The foreign policy as it relates to Cuba (as well as many other countries) has failed for nearly 50 years. Senator Clinton demonstrated that she wants to continue down such a path. However, Senator Obama indicated that he would meet with the new leader but that there would have to be a clear and specific agenda; conditions would not need to be mandated.

The two differences that I presented in this blog may be minor; however, they are telling of what an Obama Presidency would be like. It is clear to me that Senator Obama is willing to take risks and to try new approaches to politics and leading this country. Onward and upward...

Peace,

Mickey

The Time is Now

Mickey — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:43:16 EST

To say that there is vibrant energy within the Democratic primary elections--and by extension the 2008 Presidential race--would be a massive understatement. It is clear that the Democratic primary voters are excited about this year's election and the two presidential hopefuls, particularly Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). There are many reasons that this is so.

First (the obvious), this is the first time in history that the two front-runners in a major political party's primary are an African-American male and a woman. The simple fact that this is happening at this time should not be lost on any voter--Democrat or Republican. Whomever becomes the Democratic nominee will be setting an historical precedent that can not be denied or down-played. THE TIME IS NOW that racial and gender barriers finally be shattered in presidential politics.

Second, which is an extension of the first, there are two well-qualified and powerful candidates competing for the Democratic nomination. The first being a strong woman who has experience, initiative, moral authority, and drive to potentially be a good President. The second being a man who combines experience, energy & enthusiasm, motivation, hope, moral authority and drive to bring this country together and to be a truly great President. (Yes, I am a bit biased.) Simply put, the energy, enthusiasm, motivation and message of hope are powerful assets that can not be dismissed easily. A true leader must have these qualities to rally the people. THE TIME IS NOW for a man who can bring this country hope, motivate all of us to great things, and who will bring all his political skills to the Office of President with energy and enthusiasm.

Last (I am sure there are many other reasons I can discuss), this country is in dire need of a President who can bring fresh ideas to the political process. The other Democratic nominee and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) are candidates who represent "business as usual." Senator Clinton (D-NY) has been in Federal politics for 16 years and has demonstrated that she is part of the good-ole-boy system of politics. This is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself. However, this approach of governance has resulted in the economical and political fiasco that we have been witnessing and plodding through. The Republican candidate may be a moderate who is trying to get the "religious conservative" vote within his respective party. (Can we say, "A wolf in sheep's clothing?") Senator McCain has been part of the problem for far too long and is not the "straight talker" as he claims to be. All one needs to do is watch Mr. McCain on the campaign trail and speeches to see and understand that he is past his time to be an effective and energetic President. THE TIME IS NOW for someone who comes from outside of this good-ole-boy system and who has the necessary skills and experience to make things happen.

THE TIME IS NOW for Barack Obama. Period!!!

Peace,

Mickey

Inspired into Action

Mickey — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:47:58 EST

As I have previously written, I have not actively participated in a Presidential campaign or election other than using my right to vote prior to this election year. Although I participated in a variety of demonstrations and civil disobedience activities in the 1980s opposing certain policies under the Reagan and Bush administrations, I have never been inspired or motivated to participate in the nomination and election process of a president (or any other elected official). Yes, I was enthusiastic about previous Democratic Presidential hopefuls and nominees, but not to the extent that lead me to want to support them beyond casting my vote.

This is different in the 2008 Presidential campaign. Like many citizens in the United States, I am disgusted by the policies, decisions and actions of the current Bush administration and the resulting affects within the U.S. and the world at large. This President has lead this country down a path that may be too difficult to repair. The long-term impact of the policies, decisions and actions of the Bush administration are yet to be fully understood by a great deal of Americans and are most likely not appreciated by many of the elected officials within the Executive and Legislative branches of the U.S. government. (This may sound somewhat cynical, but I will stand by this opinion until proven otherwise.) However, hope springs eternal...

I find myself being inspired and believing that there is one candidate that may be able to stop and reverse the negative affects of the current administration's actions on U.S. citizens and our standing in the world. The more that I listen to Senator Barack Obama and his message of hope, the more I am moved to get involved. The more I see him on the television and various news reports and discussions, the more I am encouraged that change is possible. The more I "see" the contrast between Senator Obama and other nominees (both Democratic and Republican), the more I believe that now is the time for a fresh outlook and approach to the Presidency.

Yes, Senator Obama may be considered a junior member of the Legislative branch of the U.S. government and may lack the experience of Senators Clinton and McCain in this arena. Yes, he may be young, both in age and experience, compared to other candidates. Yes, he may be an idealist and be the "poetic" candidate. Yes, he may even appear to be vague on issues to some people. However, I do not see any of these concerns--concerns being raised by other candidates and some talking heads--as being problematic or potentially having a negative affect on his Presidency.

Senator Obama may not have the years of experience in the Federal government as others, yet he has served in elected government positions for quite some time. He may be young in age, but so was John F. Kennedy when he was elected President. (Do I really need to draw any comparisons between these two men at this time?) Being an idealist and poetic are both honorable and powerful characteristics to have. Idealism can lead to many great policies and actions; poeticism can be used to inspire, instill pride, and result in motivation. It can be said that vagueness may be an indication that someone is giving more thought to, and wants to discuss, topics in greater detail before making policy. Let's face it, we have seen the results of making policies and jumping into action without thorough and thoughtful reflection and discussion.

I recently listened to--although I have read the text many times--JFK's inaugural address from January 20, 1961. The speeches of Senator Obama remind me a great deal of the spirit, energy and thoughts of this great address. President Kennedy said a great deal of things that were viewed as idealism and was able to inspire a new generation. Let us not forget that famous line, "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." When I listen to Senator Obamas "Yes We Can" speech I am reminded of JFK's words and the impact that it had on many of that generation.

Not since JFK has a nominee been as inspirational and been able to motivate people to the extent that Senator Obama has. (At least in my opinion.) It is clear that this candidate has the energy and power to encourage people to vote, to promote enthusiasm, to inspire, and potentially bring people together. No other candidate has demonstrated this ability during this campaign yet. Clearly this candidate can unite the Democratic party, bring new voters into the fold, and ultimately win the Presidency.

Peace,

Mickey

Proud to be Gay and Supporting Obama

Mickey — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:21:52 EST

I am a gay male living in Chester County, PA who has been out as a gay male since my late-teens. I came out to some of my friends in high school, family after graduating high school, and was openly gay (for the most part) while active duty military in the mid-1980s. I am also living with HIV disease and have been HIV positive for nearly 23 years and am open about this fact with everyone in my life and have always been so. I believe that these two facts play an important role in my life and have shaped my political views. However, I have to admit that I was raised by two liberal Democrats in the SF Bay Area, which certainly helped provide me a framework for such political views.

Prior to moving to Chester County, PA in August 2007, I lived in Washington, DC from spring 1984 until the time I moved here; except for 1 year when I lived in Olympia, WA to care for my dying father. During the years of being in Washington, DC I was a part of the Government industry (as it were) under many different administrations. (See personal blog titled "Hope" that was posted on 2/13/08 for more details.)

As a gay man living with HIV, I have witnessed a great deal of inequality and inequity within the various social, political, and cultural groups and/or environments within the U.S. I witnessed the lack of compassion and support from the Reagan administration of people living with HIV disease. I witnessed and experienced the discrimination toward people living with HIV disease by both the heterosexual and GLBT communities. I have witnessed the inequities of health care for people living with HIV disease. I have witnessed and experienced the inequality and discrimination of GLBT people within the military and in the larger social context. (Although I personally have never experienced discrimination because of being gay outside of the military.) Even with all these experiences, I remain a proud and open gay man and open about my HIV status.

The reason I am supporting Senator Barack Obama is simple: His message of hope. I am a firm believer that hope is an important element to life. It is hope that gives me the ability to continue to fight and thrive. It is hope that gives me the strength to survive a few near-death experiences. It is hope that gives me the motivation to continue to believe in the democratic process that we hold so dear in these United States. It is hope that allows me to see that change can happen. It is hope that underlies everything.

This is the first time in my 44 years of living that I have been involved in a political campaign. This is the first time in my life that I have ever contributed money to a presidential candidate. Quite simply, this is the first time that I feel a presidential candidate is concerned about me, my issues, my concerns, etc. This is the first time that a presidential candidate has inspired me and touched me at the mental, emotional and spiritual levels.

Peace,

Mickey