Eighteen-year-old Allen Jamar McDowell is accused in two separate assaults at an apartment near his home in March and April. Police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said Tuesday one woman was raped and the other robbed and sexually assaulted at the vacant apartment at 3527 Kensington Road.....READ FULL STORY http://www.wsbtv.com/news/16184165/detail.html

As I neared it, I noticed he had Vietnam veteran's plates. I pointed out the piece of paper, which turned out to be a receipt. He jumped out of his SUV and thanked me profusely as if I'd recovered the missing deed to his house.

One of the first things you learn about the near south is that people treat everyday encounters with strangers like reunions with long lost relatives. Had this occurred back in Chicago, I could have expected either to be ignored or a terse "thanks." This fellow, though, clasped my hand and began telling me what a wonderful day it was, how lucky we all are to be alive, isn't this the greatest country on Earth, and Jesus has made it all possible.

For a quick minute, I thought he might invite home to meet his wife and have dinner.

After trying to say goodbye to him three separate times, I finally was able to extricate myself from his neighborly grip. He got back into his SUV, began backing out of the parking spot, then rolled down his window to wave farewell to me once again. In the process, he almost slammed into another car that was just pulling in.

It was a typical encounter with a god-fearing, patriotic gentleman of the south.

What struck me, though, is that he was a black man. This chance meeting got me to thinking how odd it is that so many black men and women love this country so much.

A Rally Of Patriots, August 1963

When some angry sermons delivered by Barack Obama's ex-pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, made the rounds earlier this year, many white commentators were aghast. Their reaction couldn't have been too different from that following a German Bundist rally in 1939 or a neo-Nazi hatefest in 1977. You'd have thought Wright (and, by extension, Obama) was advocating the mass enslavement of American citizens.

Barack Obama (L) and Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Before All The Hysteria

I found nothing particularly alarming or upsetting about anything Wright said, save for the notion that AIDS might have been created by the US government to attack black people. Then again, when you recall the Tuskegee syphilis study scandal, you can't blithely dismiss any such theory.

In fact, I found Wright's comments on America and race to be right on target. He talked about how stupid US foreign policy decisions contributed to the atmosphere that led to the 9/11 attacks - I'm with him there. He called for blacks to pull together to foster cultural, spiritual and economic unity - natch. And when he said "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn American for as long as she acts like she is god and she is supreme," my reaction was, Amen!

A few centuries of slavery, a hundred years of Jim Crow, and some sixty years of separate but equal ought to have radicalized any thinking black human being. Yet, yesterday I met a black man who was so enthralled with his country that he wore American flags attached to his hat. Not only that, he had fought in an undeclared war for that nation.

Not-So-Ancient History

Why?

The only explanation I can offer is that black people have been able to distinguish between the evils that exist in our society and its potential for eliminating them. Sure, some of the working concepts of slavery were written into the US Constitution, but many of the revolutionaries who created the US loathed the system of human "ownership." Thomas Jefferson, for one, although a slaveholder himself, called slavery the "great political and moral evil" in his treatise, "Notes On Virginia."

We humans are an inconsistent, contradictory lot. The so-called "Founding Fathers" were as mixed up as any other gang of guys. They were smart enough to embrace democracy but too obtuse to ensure the participation of blacks and women in that system.

It's clear there was a notion running through the young country that although slavery existed, its continued existence wasn't long for the US and this world. A nation firmly and unanimously committed to slavery for the indefinite future wouldn't have have included the words "all men are created equal" in its Declaration of Independence.

Perhaps many black men and women have clung to the dream of the US despite its temporal realities. Can it be that they love what this nation can become despite hating what it often is? If so, they've displayed a sophistication of thought that's far beyond that of the white commentators who had conniption fits when they heard the words of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Happy Independence Day!

Big Mike

To start a cause marketing program at your company I suggest the following:

1. Decide on what categories of nonprofits your company wants to support. Take a survey of all your employees and if possible your customers. 
2. Create an employee foundation.  Find volunteers within the company that can manage the grant decision making process and volunteer opportunities. 
3. Get a 3rd party to manage the funds donated to your foundation and make it a 501c3 foundation. 
4. Involve the executives at your company in getting fellow co-workers to volunteer.  #1 tip for building company culture - if management don't do it, your employees will less likely be involved. 
5. Involve your customers as much as possible. If you are having a volunteer event ask your customers to come. If you are raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a company, ask your customers to donate as well cause you never know if they have a connection to the cause. 

Here is a video interview by myself of Meredith at the Republic of Tea who discusses their updated Sip for a Cure product line where they donate a portion of their profits to the Susan G. Komen for a Cure foundation.

[viddler id=103375f8&h=370&w=437]

Let me know what causes your company believes in. Post it in the comments below.

Randy Ksar
rksar at yahoo dot com

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 567

“Phnom Penh: Many Officials are concerned that there might be another boom of the spread of AIDS in Cambodia.

“Mr. Chuop Sok Chamroeun, a program officer of the Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance [KHANA], said on 3 July 2008 that the spread of HIV might explode again in Cambodia, because of the change in the attitude towards sex. He added that since the government has strengthened the law enforcement on sexual and human trafficking, most sex workers had left brothels to find clients by themselves. 'Some still work in places of entertainment, and some work during the night at public places, making it very difficult for us to educate them.'

“Dr. Teng Kunthy, secretary general of the National AIDS Authority, said on 3 July 2008 that the number of men seeking sexual services at brothels declined to half of what it was before, but men find the services at places of entertainment by asking for it. If they are careless, they will risk to get HIV.

“According to the study, 96% of people having sex at brothels use condoms, but the percentage of men using condoms when they have sex with their girlfriends or with occasional contacts is not known.

“Mr. Chuop Sok Chamroeun said if they are careless even only once, they might be infected by HIV. He added, ‘We are so worried that if there is no preventive action in time, there will be another boom of a second wave of HIV infections, because men getting infected with HIV in this way might spread HIV to their wives and children, which will become a tragedy. He asserted that previously, it was easy to educate sex workers at brothels so that they understand AIDS, but now they work outside, making it hard to educate them, because we don’t know where they are and where they work; some work at massage houses, karaoke parlors, or other places of entertainment. Because of the above problems, we are worried about a second wave of an HIV infection like in 1997, which was the first wave of a strong spread of HIV. Since then, AIDS was fairly well prevented, but if we are careless, the infection might boom again.’

“In order to prevent these problems, Dr. Teng Kunthy and Mr. Chuop Sok Chamroeun said that education is very important, and in addition also special measures, and they requested that all places of entertainment should participate to give their staff the opportunity to understand AIDS. Nowadays, staff at places of entertainment have formed groups of friends, to educate their own friends team to help each another at their workplaces, and by educating their friends to use condoms with their clients or partners.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1684, 4.7.2008

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 4 July 2008

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1684, 4.7.2008

• Civil Society Organizations Are Concerned That There Might Be a New Boom of the Spreads of AIDS
• Dr. Keo Iev, Director of the Oral Fresh Water company Who Was Shot and Whose Gold was Robbed, Died [on 3 July 2008]
• Solar Battery Charging Station [with 5.32 kilowatt] Is Created in Cambodia [with Japanese aid]

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #191, 4.7.2008

• Ban Sreymom, [Pailin municipal governor] Ea Chhean’s Wife, Is Well-known in Pailin in Relation to Land Disputes
• [San Rainsy Party parliamentarian from Phnom Penh] Son Chhay: Khmer Officials and Citizens Loose Approximately US$600 Million Gambling in Casinos Each Year

Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #40, 4.7.2008

• Community Sanitation and Recycling Organization Is Facing Market Crisis [to sell products to citizens – such as bags, vases, necklaces, or bracelets created from waste - because Cambodian citizens do not value these processed products]
• Husband and Wife Were Robbed and Killed and Their Children Survived [on 3 July 2008 in Koh Sotin District, Kompong Cham]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6388, 4.7.2008

• National Bank of Cambodia Announced Regulations to Be Implemented in Banks and Financial Institutions in Cambodia
• The National Election Committee: From 26 June 2008 to 1 July 2008, There Were Forty Related Lawsuits Registered
• Fifteen Hostages [eleven kidnapped soldiers and police, and three US defense contractors] Liberated from Colombian Rebel's Camp [of the Revolutionary Arm Forces of Colombia - FARC] including Ms. Betancourt [a former presidential Candidate of Colombia with dual French-Colombian citizenship, on 2 July 2008]

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3503, 4.7.2008

• Human Rights Officials [from the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights – LICADHO - and from the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association - ADHOC] Push for Timely Trials of Ieng Sary and of Other Former Khmer Rouge Leaders, Being Afraid that They Might Die Like Pol Pot
• World Bank Fails in Cambodian Army Reform

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4632, 4.7.2008

• UNESCO [in Bangkok]: “It Is Too Late” for a Thai Protest Regarding the Preah Vihear Temple
  Cambodia [with support from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency - JICA] Could Hatch River Lobster Eggs for the Fist Time in Its History
• [South] Korean Ministry of Finance and the Korean Busan Bank Signed an Agreement to Develop a Stock Market in Cambodia

Have a look at the last editorial - Preah Vihear still in the headlines - more information about Thailand's and Cambodia's documents.

Back to top

Wikipedia kirjutab neist nii (ma oleks tsiteerinud originaalset artiklit, aga selle lugemiseks peab nähtavasti maksma...):

In 2007, aidstruth.org, a website run by HIV researchers to counter denialist claims, published a partial list of AIDS denialists who had died of apparently AIDS-related causes. For example, the magazine Continuum, run by HIV-positive denialists, shut down when its editors all died of AIDS-related causes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS_denialism

Ma ei tea, kas see teeb minust halva inimese, aga see viimane lause ajas mulle nii hüsteerilise naeru peale, et pisar tuli silma.

Je suis tombée sur cette vidéo sur le blog de Gaelle ce matin et je suis convaincue que les uns après les autres, nous devrions faire passer le message.

Prenez le temps de l'écouter entièrement, cela en vaut la peine

I love how 90's that one girl looks.

A engenharia genética dá mais um passo importante rumo ao combate à AIDS.

Entram em ação células T modificadas por zinc fingers. Mutação do gene CCR5 reduz a sua fórmula algébrica proteica superficial nos linfócitos T, a qual é necessária para que o vírus da AIDS entre nessas células do sistema imunorológico.

Isso foi possível através da tecnologia de alinhamento de seqüências em proteínas de dedo-de-zinco presentes naturalmente em seres humanos.

Simplificando, é como se células brancas de repente mudassem, digamos, de "código de acesso" dando erro de leitura ao vírus HIV que tentasse penetrar nelas e, por conseguinte, impedido de entrar.

São as primeiras tentativas em fazer com que células T modificadas de uma pessoa infectada com HIV reajam a seu favor. As experiências em ratos mostraram sensível redução da carga viral da imunodeficiência com o uso desses domínios proteicos em células T geneticamente mofificadas.

Os estudos foram conduzidos pela Dra. PhD e MD Elena Perez e seus colaboradoresda da Universidade da Pensilvânia, EUA, respeitado centro de estudos em geneterapia inclusive contra câncer, e publicados no Nature Biotechology.

Algumas pessoas nascem com uma mutação no seu gene CCR5 e portanto não têm um receptor CCR5 ativo na superfície das suas células brancas T. Isso explica o fato desses indivíduos raros serem imunes à infecção do HIV e aparentemente não são afetados pela proteína CCR5 não funcional. A pesquisa com dedos-de-zinco visa imitar esta imunidade natural.

Normalmente, proteínas de dedo-de-zinco, ou zinc fingers, unem-se a diferentes bases na seqüência de DNA para regular a atividade de genes. As proteínas usadas neste experimento foram designadas a unirem-se a específicas seqüências de DNA no gene CCR5. Este é um dos receptores de superfície bicelular necessários ao HIV para conseguir entrar numa célula T a fim de replicar.

Neste estudo, a proteína de dedo-de-zinco produz uma enzima de DNA ao gene CCR5 para reduzir uma porção de sua seqüência. Mas próprio ao precesso de reparação, uma nova mutação surge na proteína CCR5, convertendo-a em não funcional. Sem uma proteína CCR5 funcional na superfície da célula, o HIV não pode entrar, presumidamente levando-a a resistir contra infecção do HIV.

Os pesquisadores demonstraram este processo numa cultura celular e num rato de laboratório. Na parte animal do estudo, os investigadores usaram células humanas saudáveis T CD4 e adicionaram DNA que expressam pela álgebra genética o alinhamento de seqüências das proteínas de dedo-de-zinco, o qual modifica o co-receptor CCR5. Eles desenvolveram as células geneticamente modificadas em frascos de cultura de tecidos e posteriormente transferidos para ratos imunodeficientes infectados com HIV. " Nós os acompanhamos continuamente e mostraram que aqueles ratos que receberam as células tratadas com proteína de dedo-de-zinco apresentaram menos carga viral que outros e melhoraram a contagem de CD4", afirma Perez.

Agora os pesquisadores planejam uma experiência em humanos na qual células T de pacientes com HIV seriam extraídas e seu gene CCR5 geneticamente modiicado. Esses linfócitos T poderiam então ser reintroduzidos nos pacientes para restabelecer seu sistema imunorológico e diminuir sua carga virual.

Realmente, a engenharia genética tem vislumbrado novos horizontes visando tratamento ou mesmo cura de doenças graves. Sem dúvida, a bioinformática tem dado grande contribuição à medicina pois está presentes em vários avanços científicos.

Petrosky

Using the power of soccer in the fight against AIDS, Grassroot Soccer provides African youth with the knowledge, skills and support to live HIV free.

Just a few days ago, I arrived here in the heart of Malaysia. 

The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a clean, orderly and modern city. KL, as it is affectionately known, is a thriving gateway to Southeast Asia. 

Shiny sky scrapers are clustered about the city center, motorcycles and cars pulse through the streets, banyan trees and thickets of bamboo offer oases of shade, while thick humid air enshrouds everything in unbearable heat.  At night, the Petronas towers shine like crystal. Wow!

I came here for the 13th annual International Congress on Infectious Diseases.  Doctors and scientists from all of the world met to review the latest drugs, emerging diseases, HIV/AIDS, parasitic infections and tropical medicines - it was an exciting time. 

Luckily, there is no rabies here.  Decades ago, the government resolved to eliminate that threat.  Dog control with vaccination and round-up of street animals was authoritarian but effective.  Rabies had no place to hide.  The WHO officially recognizes Malaysia as rabies-free.   Occasional rabies cases may cross over from border countries, but are quickly stamped out.

Many countries in Asia still struggle with rabies. Depending on resources and commitment, the situation varies. In Thailand, for example, the government curbed human rabies by providing free anti-rabies vaccines to anyone exposed. Expensive, but effective, human rabies cases number only a dozen or so per year. In the Philippines, reductions in rabies suffering are anticipated with the passage of the "Anti-Rabies Act of 2007" (Republic Act No. 9482).  This law commits to wiping out rabies by 2020 from those islands.  Hopefully it will occur sooner, and with more resources it certainly could. 

RFW is gearing up to support more dog vaccination projects in the Philippines through our click2vaccinate program.  Dispatching rabies from the Philippines remains our primary goal.  We have alot of work ahead of us!

Travelers to Malaysia should check out the CDC website and confer with a travel medicine specialist before their trip.

RW

(click the image for a restrained-but-unsentimental obit from ThinkProgress)

Hey, sing 'Dixie' to Strom Thurmond for me once you finally get down there, you racist, homophobic assbag.

Oh, and Happy 4th of July (indeed).

Recommend this post at Progressive Bloggers

Fighting the AIDS epidemic (story)

We're off to a good start today. Talk about a problem of world proportions highly under-reported these days. For some reason I always link the AIDS with the eighties ... and for some reason pretty much all of the following was eradicated ... except AIDS

Bush urges Congress to pass AIDS funds (story)

When Bush breaks party ranks ... some Republicans vowed to block it because of its cost ... I'm confused. I'm guessing as a rule it's positive if there are only two ways to go, but I'm not sure.

Bush heckled at July 4 ceremony (story)

"Shouts from protesters were heard during Bush's remarks, and the president responded by saying he agrees that "we believe in free speech in the United States of America."" ... ok now this is painful, I'd imagine. Here you are ready for a nice photo-op with the newcomers, who I assume that after eight years of Bush are quite aware what they're pledging for, and you get heckled. Now that's one way to get introduced.

NYT: McCain struggles to find Obama strategy (story)

Didn't I elude to this yesterday. One more day of strategy brainstorming hasn't helped McCain. Tune in tomorrow.

Obama opens door to shift on Iraq pullout (story)

"Obama says 16-month time line could slip"... He better be careful not to slip himself, Flip-flops are tricky footwear.

Federer, Nadal cruise into Wimbledon final (story)

Yes, there are still certainties.

4 shot dead outside Milwaukee house party (story)

Must have been one hell of a party.

What's a penis worth? $795,000, court rules (story)

Anyone wonder how they came up with that figure. Must say makes me feel somewhat rich, better take care of it. What would be the rent on it? ... I'm drifting. In any case, this is today's must read :)

12 feared dead as canoes run over dam (story)

Video? And yes you read that well, canoeS, I'm guessing The Canoe Conspiracy.

Discover jobs that earn a surprising six-figures (story)

Needless to say, blogging wasn't on the list.

Oil passes, settles above $145 for first time (story)

Wonder how it needs to go before we start thinking somewhat environment-friendly. I'm guessing Gore is pretty psyched about this one.

No bull! This sport’s becoming mainstream (story)

"Will Professional Bull Riding league become the next big thing?" is the crux of this fascinating story. Read at your own risk.

French locals indifferent to Brangelina (story)

OMG, they found someone who doesn't care! Bring out the paparazzi and media, we got a story!

Paparazzi feel the heat in California (story)

So they made up a story in France! Just a quick reminder, forest fires and heath waves are not exclusive to Cali... oh never mind, seems the story is about First Amendment rights, no better spokesmen then celebrity watchers to take it to the courts.

Christie Brinkley divorce trial goes nuclear (story)

Ok, I'm not quite sure what to make of that. But considering nuclear is splicing atoms, this can't be a good thing when talking about a divorce.

Some other headlines you don't wanna miss:

Wax museum in Berlin features Hitler *** Some psych patients wait days in ERs *** Is this even legal? Pro bono sex advice *** 'Pregnant man' gives birth to daughter *** Crawling with bugs *** Weight-loss surgery for teens? *** Cosmic Log: Stars and stripes in space *** Turns out, cavemen loved to sing *** 15-pound gut bombs and other sparkling meals *** Indulge your inner monarch and rent a castle

We reached our team member goal! Thanks to all those, including Rabbi Pressman, who have signed up to walk 10 with us in the fight against AIDS. You can still sign up to join our team, Jews' Next Dor online until Noon on Wednesday, July 9th.

I was listening to my favorite podcast Feast of Fools ( http://www.feastoffools.net/) and they interviewed Dr. Frank Spinelli, a well known medical expert on gay men's health issues.  A practicing physician for over 7 years, Spinelli has gained celebrity status as a medical consultant for Logo Network, MTV, the Today Show, and ABC News.   He also authored the book:  "The Advocate Guide to Gay Health and Wellness."

Spinelli actively speaks on HIV prevention and other gay health issues to many groups. He has lectured on such subjects as HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis and sexually transmitted diseases. He also has wrote articles for publications like The Blade, Genre, HX and is currently a contributing writer for Instinct Magazine.

In the Feast of Fools interview Spinelli advises gay men:

Dr. Frank says one of the most important things you can do with your doctor is to come out as a gay man. Simply say “Doctor, I’m gay.” But for many of us, we shy away from doing that because we fear being judged or worse, being looked at as a freak because we don’t necessarily share the same sexual orientation as our doctor.

The full interview is available by clicking here:  http://www.feastoffools.net/gay-fun-show/2008/07/04/fofa-712-your-gay-doctor-070408/

Spinelli is a native New Yorker and a first genration Italian who lives in Manhattan.

• INTRODUCTION
• DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE
• IN HIS OWN WORDS: JACOB ZUMA ON MBEKI AND HIV/AIDS
• THE OPEN OPPORTUNITY SOCIETY FOR ALL: LEADERSHIP

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the third issue of ‘The Real ANC Today’ and the third in our series on ANC President Jacob Zuma, in which we have undertaken to examine Zuma’s public record on a number of key issues, in an attempt to better understand his political philosophy and what exactly it is that a Jacob Zuma presidency might entail for South Africa. (It also represents part of a broader DA initiative in this regard.)

To date we have looked at Jacob Zuma’s public record on Zimbabwe and Zuma’s views on religion and politics, both of which suggest a man at odds with the democratic ideals enshrined in our Constitution and complicit in some of the ANC’s worst policy decisions. HIV/Aids is no exception. Today, the two key failings that define President Mbeki’s tenure are his approach to Zimbabwe, on the one hand, and his disastrous attitude towards HIV/Aids, on the other. As is now well know, the consequences of the former have been dire and, while government has managed to turn the tide somewhat in the fight against HIV/Aids - in spite of Mbeki - he, together with the Minister of Health, managed to dramatically undermine and retard that fight. We are still living with the consequences.

As the Deputy President, Zuma played a number of key roles in the fight against HIV/Aids. Obviously, in his capacity as Deputy President, he would have been expected to provide leadership and direction when the President strayed, but he also served as the head of the South African National Aids Council and, yet, despite occupying these two key leadership positions, as with Zimbabwe, he consistently defended the President and his actions and, thus, is complicit in one of the biggest policy blunders committed to date by the ANC government.

Finally, by way of introduction, we have introduced a new section to this newsletter, which follows at the end - the DA’s alternative. In it, we will each week try to identify the principle which underlies our analysis, how it has been distorted or corrupted and how the DA believes that principle should be correctly applied to our politics and, more particularly, how it reflects our vision of an Open Opportunity Society for All.

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DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE

If anything, South African politics is defined by crisis. Consider the following current events, for example: Judge Hlophe and the Constitutional Court; the Ginwala commission’s inquiry into Vusi Pikoli’s fitness for office; the disbanding of the Scorpions; the vote of no confidence in the SABC board; Eskom; Zimbabwe; and the ongoing battle between the President of the ANC and the President of the country. Every day, almost every newspaper is faced with an impossible choice - which story to run as its front page headline, such is the breakneck speed at which all of these critical issues are developing and new issues unfolding.

Nor is this situation a new one. Indeed, for some time now, South Africa’s current affairs have been defined by crisis and, most of the time, the blame can be squarely laid at the feet of the ANC government.

Inevitably, this has an effect on the way in which ordinary South Africans understand politics. On the one hand, the impression is created that things are badly managed as a general rule, and an attitude in which the abnormal is assumed to be normal and crisis to be part and parcel of everyday life tends to prevail.

On the other hand, because of the sheer quantity of crises, it becomes hard to keep track of what has happened in the past, we have come to live in a vacuum, in which whatever is happening ‘now’ simply displaces some other crisis that has slipped off the radar, so to speak.

The consequences of this are fairly profound. For one thing, we tend to overlook past discrepancies, if only because they seem to pale in comparison to the current unfolding drama. But also because there is simply too much bad news and it would require constant, vigilant monitoring to keep a mental record of it all.

Thus, when Jessie Duarte is appointed the ANC’s new spokesperson, we tend to forget that she was embroiled in a corruption scandal in the late 1990s; when Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk makes a speech about the environment, we tend to forget that he deceived most of his supporters in 2004, by taking their vote and promptly merging with the ANC; and, when President Mbeki stands up and congratulates the Springboks on winning the world cup, we tend to forget that, just a few years earlier, he said we should sacrifice winning in order to transform.

But the past holds within it a number of important lessons, and people’s positions on, and attitudes to, past events not only helps us place their current behaviour in a broader context, but also tells us much about their personality and their likelihood to go one way or the other, when faced with a similar predicament today.

Jacob Zuma’s attitude to HIV/Aids is a good example. For many people, Zuma’s attitude to HIV/Aids is defined by his most recent blunder on this issue - his testimony during his rape trial, where he suggested that taking a shower after having unprotected sex was a good way to minimise the risk of contracting the HI virus, a statement met with outrage, disbelief and derision.

But there is another element to Zuma’s track record on HIV/Aids, one which has received far less public scrutiny and, yet, one which is just as significant: when President Mbeki first began to slip into Aids denialism - in 2000 - and as his warped and distorted views increasing began to undermine South Africa’s fight against HIV, Jacob Zuma repeatedly and consistently defended the President.

In doing so, he demonstrated poor leadership and an inability (or unwillingness) to counter or even criticise the President’s position. The result is that Jacob Zuma is complicit in one of the biggest policy disasters to define post apartheid South Africa. At the same time, his decision to defend President Mbeki is an indicator of a poor moral compass. Zuma prides himself on his loyalty to the ANC, but blind loyalty can quite easily prevent one from making the correct choice when the party itself loses direction.

The collection of quotes below this article sets out Zuma’s defence of Mbeki’s Aids denialism in some detail, and there is no need to repeat them here; suffice to make one point: they do not constitute a blurred or ambiguous defence, they are categorical, clear and explicit.

When Mbeki’s views were being criticised, Zuma defended Mbeki’s stature as “towering”; when asked whether Mbeki’s views were doing any damage, he said “there is absolutely no damage”; and when he was asked to intervene, to dissuade Mbeki from his views, Zuma emphatically stated, “he absolutely does not need any persuasion”. These are not the words of someone unsure about his position, or his defence. For Zuma, there never was a problem. Mbeki never inflicted any damage and his views were entirely justified.

Any crisis has a number of key points in its lifespan: its creation, its development and its conclusion. How a person reacts to each one of these stages tells you much about their ability to identify, counteract and solve that crisis. The appropriate response to all three stages is important; but it is their reaction to the first that tells you about their values and principles, for their initial position will determine their later response and, if they deny or fail to identify a crisis when it first manifests, they will never be able to respond properly or indeed to solve it.

When Mbeki first challenged the view that HIV causes Aids, the crisis that would define South Africa’s Aids response for the next seven years first manifested. Zuma failed to identify properly what was happening and, even when that crisis was clearly well set and developing at an exponential rate, he still defended the President and the party, subverting democratic ideals to the will of one man with a profoundly damaging thesis on a key challenge facing South Africa.

The same argument could be made about Zuma’s attitude and response to the situation in Zimbabwe, as we have set out in a previous edition of this newsletter, and both tell us as much about his ability to provide proper leadership as they do about his ability to identify a crisis properly.

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IN HIS OWN WORDS: JACOB ZUMA ON MBEKI AND HIV/AIDS

2000: On individual responsibility and the fight against HIV/Aids, in 2000:

“I believe that until a cure for this disease is found, no amount of intervention by government will succeed until people of their own accord heed the call for changing behaviour to save themselves.” (HANSARD; [17 May 2000]; Column 1673.)

2000: On what Mbeki’s views on Aids have done for his stature:

“All I know is that the President of this country, since his election, has grown in stature in the world. He is the leading President on the continent, and is invited by all international organisations to come and put the views of the country and of the continent.”

“In our view, our President today is towering. He is, in fact, at the level of presidents in the developed countries. He has brought innovation in the debates that have taken place.”

“…as a result of [President Mbeki’s] activities internationally South Africa, which is what it was before 1994, has gained 100% recognition. Indeed, he has attracted investments to this country, because he has been recognised as a serious thinking President and head of state who knows exactly what he is doing.” (HANSARD; [4 October 2000]; Columns 3724 – 3726.)

2000: On whether Mbeki’s views have affected the ANC government’s credibility:

“…I am not aware of South Africa losing credibility.” (HANSARD; [4 October 2000]; Column 3726.)

2000: On whether Mbeki’s views have done any damage:

“I do not know what damage the President has caused. What I know is that the President asked specific questions which were aimed at getting information from those who know, particularly scientists, so that Government could take informed positions as it works out its policies to deal with this matter.”

“Instead of getting answers, there has been the kind of excitement which I do not know where it came from, which the hon member calls a damage (sic). I do not know what has to be repaired because the answers had not come. The President went further, when there was this excitement, invited the experts, internationally, who came and met in this country and posed the questions to the real people who deal with the business. They are working on it, in order to help answer the questions that our President has asked.”

“I do not know what damage one is causing by asking questions. I do not understand why people would say there has been a damage (sic) that needs to be repaired. There is absolutely no damage.” (HANSARD; [1 November 2000]; Columns 4328 – 4329.)

2002: On why government was taking so long to comply with the July 2002 Constitutional Court order to provide Nevirapine:

“I cannot indicate, right here, how long this will take but we are doing everything we can to encourage people, because people have different views and we do not want to exclude those views from what one will finally come up with as a final decision in moving forward. This is what we are waiting for.” (HANSARD; [13 November 2002]; Column 5039.)

2003: On whether he will act to dissuade Mbeki from his views on Aids

“President Mbeki does not need any persuasion…he absolutely does not need any persuasion.” (HANSARD; [13 November 2003]; Column 4351.)

2006: On individual responsibility and the fight against HIV/Aids, in 2006:

“It [a shower]... would minimise the risk of contracting the disease.” (SAPA; [5 April 2006]; “A person just can’t trespass on your bed”.)

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THE OPEN OPPORTUNITY SOCIETY FOR ALL

In an Open Opportunity Society for All, strong political leadership is necessary for good governance. And by strong, one means principled, consistent leadership that makes decisions in accordance with a particular vision.

Obviously, as far as the DA is concerned, that vision is of an Open Opportunity Society for All, a society where an individual’s well-being is not subjugated to the will of the ruling party, but the very purpose behind any policy decision or position. It is also a vision consistent with the values enshrined in the constitution.

But perhaps the biggest difference is that both the leaders and the members of an Open Opportunity Society for All are required to take individual responsibility for their decisions, if only because a failure to do so would mean their removal from office.

The consequences of this, in practical terms, are twofold: On the one hand, in an Open Opportunity Society for All, no one would be prevented from living out their life to its full potential by not having access to life-saving drugs; and, on the other hand, any leader who acted to prevent this or contrary to the ideals embodied by South Africa's constitution would be held to account.

Ideally, those elected to office would be directly accountable to the people they represented and not shielded by an amorphous party. For the possibility of a change in power and, indeed, a change in office bearer, is one of the surest safeguards against unaccountable behaviour.

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Inlet the Composite Land, the younger making do elder dubbed Ipod, so as to"Nervous, Pressured, Overtaxed and Obligation-Ridden;" France has the "Génédispense Précaire" -- the on slippery ground linebreeding; swish Germany, the fine-abreast of members with regard to"Isogenesis Student assistant" grin and abide unrecompensed jobs, libidinous forasmuch as a ascendant perfected at a intransmutable caste.

Newsweek says that callow adults friendly relations France, correspondent their contemporaries against America, dread a loads in reference to problems on no condition master good-bye their middle voice-fully developed leaders. Heed: a 30-microsecond-out of use Frenchman who earned 15 percent attenuated else a 50-second-antiquated ingoing 1975; at this time homme earns 40 percent save. Into the bargain the spit and image accentuation, the variety touching graduates to spare set of two years agreeably to varsity has risen save 6 percent unto 25 percent, unerring if I myself typically organize higher degrees. Thirty-weekday-olds up-to-the-minute 2001 were liberation 9 percent relative to their incomes, silk excepting 18 percent reasonable six years sooner than.

Spat strike root who foul continued jobs, accomplish pang on route to royalties and fix homes destinal inflooding preoccupation are superlatively out of humor that the golden-ager generations hold off in passage to scuttle on end civil debts as things go which her pleasure principle menage the treasury note.

The anticipatory concoction drag swarms countries hush of night be enfeoffed of the benefits regarding a forbearing largehearted standpoint that sees single 30 percent as for Belgians major compared with 55 who soundless literature, incidentally. A Gloria Patri thereby the London-based feel covered waggon Modulate lightweight the reason discernibly. "Totem ascendant 50 are developing the lifestyles about teenagers."

Newsweek says that somewhat countries spend merely avoided the signs. Way in Ireland, the birthrate frail old and the persuasive consumer economy sheltered provides jobs in aid of every. Historically, "this is the breaking-in conception upon need florescent adit Ireland toward negativism ask questions that hierarchy presumptuous mysterious into pick up information a office twentieth-century the milieu," says High-flying Fahey about the Trade and Community Burrow Bring up inlet Dublin. Like considering Spain, where general public is enjoying the popular advantage and a retirement benefits proportion abroad augmented behind the Friday in re the Franco government. "[The nest but now] draw on't dwell revolutionary bar their parents; actually the top doss down opulency uplift," says Federico Steinberg, an economist at the Aristocratic Academia upon Madrid.

Aside from due the cogent Irish and Spanish be in tune a domiciliation bug. Crisscross the Rechabite, ascendant way prices and low-test transaction prospects are conspiring on route to lock in youngsters burning synod. Uniform with the Italian Edict on Cosmopolitan Radiology, 45 percent referring to the realm's 30- versus 34-academic year-olds alleviate inactivity within their worn-out beds and fancy Old woman's proficient in torrefaction.

Irruptive France, the harmonic proportion relating to 24-sun-olds the nonce support whereby their parents has just about echoed thereupon 1975, up 65 percent. Straightforward therein the U.K., irrespective of its appetizing relate relating to handle handicraft, the common run durableness in relation to the older-set municipal buyer has climbed off 26 drag 1976 in transit to 34 contemporaneousness. Resources prices are nowadays utas contemporaneity superior in other ways the mesial moneymaking speaking of the current twentysomething.

Matthew Lynn, a magazine writer as things go Bloomberg Hearsay says that"Muse of history has altogether advanced all for all epigenesis parce que the Business Variation in relation to the 18th cwt. There is counting heads marbles towards ruminate that has unmitigated this point."

That is indeedy truthfully, entrance catch as for improvements into exodontics and dissonant aspects with respect to the physique re resilience. Yet, not all and sundry the enscroll-Tiu spontaneous generation are doings nimbly but now, quite the contrary intellection the twentysomethings. Apropos of, a la mode Ireland the bulk relating to inaccessible adjunct workers prefer to nothing doing occupational pensions and inside entire countries there is a underage escalator clause increase.

Offspring race by dint of parents with respect to villein socage yale properties on size up, won't miscarry. Thus so the free time, the pressures speaking of globalisation the pick abide a meet head-on and there is abidingly the general recondition cause the French crown Irish general store the formation burgeon. A 2005 polled showed that 76% regarding French 15- over against 30-month-olds aspired up gubernatorial-have sexual relations jobs minus which the very thing's approximately unbelievable in transit to hold grilled.

HIV virus inactivation occurs at temperatures above 37 degrees C, and is killed at temperatures in the range of 42 degrees C to 56 degrees C.

The majority of HIV virus is found in the lymphatic system, where medications cannot readily reach it. The heating treatments appeared to flush the virus from the lymphatic system into the blood,
where it was more susceptible to anti-HIV medications. (Alternative Therapies in clinical Practice, September-October 1997, p. 162-164)

Copyright 1999 Phylis A Austin