US unveils $15 billion AIDS package

[Fencer128]

Hi,

I thought that this link (I'm sure there are others) was worthy of some praise. It is good to see the US making such a donation towards fighting the effects and spread of AIDS, especially in Africa.

I hope that the EU can get it's act together and start pulling it's weight on this issue too. (UNaids estimates a total of $10 billion dollars a year is now required to get this under control).

I only have a couple of small reservations on this:

1. The money will be gradually phased in - with a little more being added to the yearly donation ($2 billion in 2004 rising to $3.8 billion in 2008). This is an exponentially increasing problem so I would have thought it better to push the most money initially.

2. I believe there have been lobbyist concessions such that one third of the total money put forward for prevention work must be used to preach sexual abstinence prior to marriage as a method of HIV control. Whilst this may have honorable intent I think the majority of experts in this area would rather see that money go towards educating people as to the correct use of contraception - such as condoms - which have a more realistic chance of having an effect. (ie people will still want to have sex).

All in all though a very positive step forward.

Cheers,

Andy

 

[Tiger]

I believe there have been lobbyist concessions such that one third of the total money put forward for prevention work must be used to preach sexual abstinence prior to marriage as a method of HIV control. Whilst this may have honorable intent I think the majority of experts in this area would rather see that money go towards educating people as to the correct use of contraception

The only proven way to keep from getting HIV is abstinence, period. Our money, our rules.
The US government spends more on AIDS than any other disease in our own country and more, by a long shot, than any other country on the planet. Yet we get criticized for not spending enough. The rest of the world needs to learn when to shut up and take the money.

 

[EXman]

$15 billion waste of money. I am dissapointed.

 

[jackschmittusa]

The only proven way to keep from getting HIV is abstinence, period. Our money, our rules.

Yea, my tax dollars! $5b on a program for abstinance! What a damn joke. There are actually people in the world that like to get laid.

 

[sMiLeYz]

The money should be used towards education, treatment, and prevention of AIDS.

Kudos to Bush for his part in recognizing the situation in Africa, as well as doing something about it.

 

[Czar]

sortof related
http://www.msnbc.com/news/919032.asp?0cv=CB20

Condoms not linked to more sex

Distribution to students didn?t increase activity, study says

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: sMiLeYz
The money should be used towards education, treatment, and prevention of AIDS.

Kudos to Bush for his part in recognizing the situation in Africa, as well as doing something about it.

Wow a compliment from sMiLeYz to Prez Bush. The planets must be aligned just right today.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Tiger

I believe there have been lobbyist concessions such that one third of the total money put forward for prevention work must be used to preach sexual abstinence prior to marriage as a method of HIV control. Whilst this may have honorable intent I think the majority of experts in this area would rather see that money go towards educating people as to the correct use of contraception

The only proven way to keep from getting HIV is abstinence, period. Our money, our rules.
The US government spends more on AIDS than any other disease in our own country and more, by a long shot, than any other country on the planet. Yet we get criticized for not spending enough. The rest of the world needs to learn when to shut up and take the money.

That mindset has not, and will never, work, for any human population. How many years have they preached abstinence? How about "D.A.R.E Say No To Drugs?"

What are you going to do, tell an entire contiennt that they're not supposed to have sex?

Think these things through. For an elite you surely have a very limited thought process. That, or hopelessly close-minded.

 

[Tiger]

Think these things through. For an elite you surely have a very limited thought process. That, or hopelessly close-minded.

I have thought it through. It' a simple fact. I can't help it if you don't like it.
Take a look at the statistics for STD's from the mid 60's to now. A steady increase in reported cases every year.
Now we've got one that will kill you and the people who advocate the only proven way to keep from getting it are villified as moral fascists. Who's the irresponsible party?

 

[konichiwa]

Originally posted by: Tiger

I believe there have been lobbyist concessions such that one third of the total money put forward for prevention work must be used to preach sexual abstinence prior to marriage as a method of HIV control. Whilst this may have honorable intent I think the majority of experts in this area would rather see that money go towards educating people as to the correct use of contraception

The only proven way to keep from getting HIV is abstinence, period. Our money, our rules.
The US government spends more on AIDS than any other disease in our own country and more, by a long shot, than any other country on the planet. Yet we get criticized for not spending enough. The rest of the world needs to learn when to shut up and take the money.

That's a pretty obtuse way to look at the situation. I agree with the "our money, our rules" sentiment, however, even though our values (or at least those of Bush) may be firmly seeded in abstinence education, by continuing to propogate the alarmist scare-tactics in schools, etc (in abstinence education as well as DARE and other drug programs) you are just banging your head against the wall.

Link 1 references... Link 2

"Federally funded abstinence-only programs, in keeping with their federal mandate, deny children basic information that could protect them from HIV/AIDS infection and discriminate against gay and lesbian children."

It's futility at its finest.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Tiger

Think these things through. For an elite you surely have a very limited thought process. That, or hopelessly close-minded.

I have thought it through. It' a simple fact. I can't help it if you don't like it.
Take a look at the statistics for STD's from the mid 60's to now. A steady increase in reported cases every year.
Now we've got one that will kill you and the people who advocate the only proven way to keep from getting it are villified as moral fascists. Who's the irresponsible party?

How would you enforce abstinence?
What if a couple is married, is it OK then? What about more than one partner? How would you ever begin to enforce it?

What you are talking about sounds a lot like trying to enforce a sodomy law. You can't do it. What goes on behind walls and doors is unenforcable. You are saying that it is the *only proven way* but what the hell does that have to do with AIDS? It's like saying, "the way to avoid food posioning is to not eat" Both sustinence and sex are basic human needs.

Granted, you can go longer without one than the other, but over enough time, not having either does harm to you.