Don't you know the real story behind HIV/AIDS? Nature has a way to design viruses to weed out undesirables.

The world would be a better place if everybody would listen to me!

Later Losers!

1500 Rally and March to Demand World Action on HIV & AIDS

ACTUP - African Services Committee - American Jewish World Service

Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project - Gay Men‚s Health Crisis

Health GAP - Housing Works - New York City AIDS Housing Network

Positive Health Project - Student Global AIDS Campaign

OVER 1,500 AIDS ACTIVISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE

UN SPECIAL SESSION

Activists Converge on Meeting of World Leaders to Denounce Failed

Promises and Demand Universal Access to HIV Treatment and

Comprehensive Prevention

NEW YORK CITY, May 31 ˆ On the 25th anniversary of the AIDS

pandemic, thousands of

people living with HIV/AIDS and activists from around the world

marched and protested outside high-level United Nations meetings on

HIV/AIDS. Expressing outrage and disappointment that 15 million

people have died from AIDS since the UN meetings in 2001 where

leaders made commitments to fight the pandemic, activists demanded

leaders implement science-based HIV prevention and universal access

to AIDS treatment. In addition, 25 million more people have been

newly infected since 2001.

Activists from 5 Continents Take to the Streets

The diverse crowd of protesters, including members of civil society

delegations attending the UN meetings and many east coast AIDS

service organizations, participated in a rally emceed by actress

Rosie Perez, also an AIDS activist. Perez commented that, „People

living with HIV have a right to the treatment they need and all

communities have a right to effective prevention. It is enraging

that despite leaders‚ promises to provide this, we still have to

take to the streets to demand action on these issues.‰

Activists, in „HIV POSITIVE‰ t-shirts made famous in South African

campaigns to fight AIDS stigma and empower people living with

HIV/AIDS, marched through the streets of midtown Manhattan stopping

at the Missions to the UN of Uganda, India and U.S. They delivered

demands of civil society in those countries calling for increased

HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and care.

Activists: We Need Action Not Words!

Inside the UN, world leaders met to review progress on 2001

commitments and issue a political declaration outlining goals for

the coming years. But activists emphasized that actions speak

louder than words and questioned why the US delegation was led, not

by an elected leader or actual policy-maker, but by First Lady Laura

Bush. „We need a real action plan and funding promises to get drugs

into bodies and prevention tools to the people‰ said Waheedah

Shabazz-El of ACTUP Philadelphia. „Where‚s the $20 billion a year

we‚re going to need coming from in all these nice but empty

sentiments?‰

10 Million by 2010!

Prominent AIDS activists from five continents spoke at the rally and

highlighted the urgent need for vastly scaled-up access to

affordable HIV treatment and care programs. „There is broad

international consensus that we need to commit to 10 million people

on treatment by 2010 and that we need major new funding plans to do

that. It is inexcusable that some governments are currently

resisting this goal, especially in the wake of their failure to

meet the promise of 3 million on treatment by 2005,‰ said Sipho

Mthathi of the Treatment Access Campaign in South Africa.

The WHO estimates that today only about 1 in 6 people in need of

treatment have access. To reach this goal, activists are demanding

increased funding, policies that promote affordable generic drugs

rather than big drug company profits, and training and support to

scale-up the number of health care worker in shortage areas.

Real Prevention Demanded

Activists also focused on the need to implement science-based

prevention strategies, including female and male condoms and harm

reduction programs, that will be responsive to women, drug-users,

men who have sex with men, sex workers, and other vulnerable

populations. They criticized governments for neglecting these

groups and accused the U.S. government of enacting

highly-politicized and ineffective prevention policies. According

to Jodi Jacobson of the Center for Health and Gender Equity the

U.S. prohibits funding of proven public health strategies, such as

needle exchange, has dramatically increased funding for

abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, and supports policies that

foster discrimination against marginalized groups, such as sex

workers.

In one example of the outcome of such policies, the Uganda AIDS

Commission reports that the rate of new infections in Uganda has

nearly doubled since 2003. "As these data now confirm, Uganda's

once effective HIV prevention programs have been hijacked by

ideologically-driven religious groups that are largely supported by

U.S. dollars. These groups are anti-women and anti-condoms, oppose

teaching people about safer sex practices, and have fueled a

dangerous resurgence of stigma and discrimination against

HIV-positive persons," said Beatrice Were of Action Aid Uganda.

Activists decried similar ideologically-driven failures in US

domestic prevention. „Here in New York City, infection rates among

intravenous drug users declined by 80% in the 10 years since needle

exchange programs have been legalized yet many people throughout the

country are becoming needlessly infected as funding conditionalities

undermine prevention,‰ said Jason Farrell, Executive Director of

Positive Health Project.

Local and Global Failures Bring People To The Streets

This unique protest brought out people from as close as New York‚s

five boroughs and as far as Indonesia. Amos Hough of the New York

City AIDS Housing Network said, „Bush wants to be seen throughout

the world as compassionate yet here in the United States we have

people dying while they wait on lists for medications, and right

here in NYC AIDS is the number one killer among homeless people.‰

Joining him in the protest, Gracia Violeta Ross from Bolivia‚s

Network of People Living with AIDS commented, „We were here at the

UN five years ago demanding government action and we‚re still

waiting for leaders to act. We don‚t want to be here again five

years from now˜we demand real, universal treatment, prevention, and

care.‰

Background for UNGASS AIDS Issues

In 2001, world leaders gathered at the UN General Assembly Special

Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS to declare promises on scaling up

treatment and prevention to fight the pandemic. On May 31-June 2,

world leaders are again meeting at the 2006 UN High Level Meeting

on AIDS to evaluate the progress made towards their original goals

from 2001 and to declare new commitments to continue fighting AIDS.

In the five years since that original meeting, 15 million more

people have died of AIDS and 25 million people have been newly

infected with HIV.

A coalition of a dozen AIDS service organizations and activist

groups organized today's rally and march with the endorsement of

89 organizations from 37 countries who stand in solidarity on the

demands for universal access to all in need:

FUNDING

 While recent years have seen increased funding, UNAIDS today

estimates a need for at over $20 billion annually by 2010 to meet

global goals.

TREATMENT

 IN THE US over 1,000 individuals were on waitlists for HIV

treatment at the beginning of this year. According to one recent

report, half of all HIV+ people in the U.S. who need treatment are

not receiving it. (National Association of State and Territorial

AIDS Directors, 2006; Open Society Institute, 2006)

 THROUGHOUT THE WORLD only 1.3 million individuals are

receiving antiretrovirals out of the 6.5 million in clinical need

of HIV treatment. (World Health Organization, 2006)

 This summer the G8 leaders of the wealthiest countries in the

world committed to „as close as possible‰ to universal access to

AIDS drugs. According to projections, this will mean getting at

least 10 million people on treatment by 2010. (UNAIDS, July 2005,

p19)

Currently several countries are resisting committing to such a

target at the UN.

 To achieve universal treatment access trade agreements and

procurement programs must promote production of affordable generic

medications, The Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria must be

supported with full funding and the U.S. government must fund a

comprehensive Ryan White Care Act, and governments must fund and

support minimum levels of 1 community health care worker per 1,000

residents. (Physicians for Human Rights, 2006)

COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION

 IN THE US 51% of new infections occur in African Americans though

they make up only 13% of the population. (CDC, 2006)

 According to the UN Secretary General‚s report, a mere 9% of men

who have sex with men received any type of HIV prevention services

in 2005. Among people who inject drugs, fewer than one in five

receives HIV prevention serves. A condom was used on average in

only 9% of „risky‰ sex in the past year. (UN/Kofi Annan, 2006)

 In 17 of 20 countries in receiving US PEPFAR funding,

abstinence-only earmarks in funding restricted the ability of

programs to respond to local prevention needs (US Government

Accountability & Oversight Office, 2006)

THE SPONSORING COALITION

for the AIDS 2006 Universal Access March & Rally:

- ACTUP - New York

- ACTUP - Philadelphia

- African Services Committee

- American Jewish World Service

- Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP)

- Friends of TAC - North America

- Gay Men's Health Crisis

- Health GAP (Global Access Project)

- Housing Works

- New York City AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN)

- Positive Health Project

- Student Global AIDS Campaign

ENDORSERS:

Accion Ciudadana Contra el SIDA - Venezuela

ActionAid International - International

ACTUP Austin - TX, USA

ACTUP East Bay - CA, USA

ACTUP Hellas - Greece

ACTUP Paris - France

Advocates for Youth - USA

Agua Buena Human Rights Association - Costa Rica

Africa Action - USA

Aid for AIDS International - NY, USA

AIDS Alliance in Nigeria - Nigeria

AIDS Foundation of Chicago - IL, USA

All Ukraine PLWH Network - Ukraine

Alliance Burundaise Contre Le SIDA - Burundi

American Medical Student Association - USA

AMSA, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine Chapter -

NY, USA

AREA (American Run to End AIDS) - NY, USA

Artists for a New South Africa - CA, USA

Asia Pacific Network of PLHA (APN+) - Thailand

Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers - Thailand

Asociación Información para Convivir con el VIH/

SIDA (INPACVIH) - Peru

Association de Lutte Contre le Sida - Morocco

AXIOS Eastern Orthodox Christian AIDS Ministry - NY, USA

Beijing AIZHIXING Institute - China

Blueprint for Action on Women and HIV/AIDS - Canada

Bolivian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (REDBOL+)

- Bolivia

Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network - Canada

Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) -

USA

Center for the Right to Health - Nigeria

Citiwide Harm Reduction - NY, USA

Difaem - German Institute for Medical Mission -

Germany

Deep Griha‚s Integrated Service for HIV/AIDS - India

East European & Central Asian Union of PLWH

Organisations - Ukraine

EATG, European AIDS Treatment Group - Belgium

End AIDS Now! - International

Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research -

NY, USA

Friends of TAC - UK

GAT, Grupo Português de Activistas sobre

Tratamentos de VIH/SIDA - Portugal

Gestos- Soropositivity, Communication and Gender - Brazil

Global AIDS Alliance - USA

Global Network of People Living with HIV/

AIDS (GNP+) - Netherlands

Global Network of Sex Work Projects -

Hong Kong

Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS - USA

HEAL Foundation - Sri Lanka

Hispanosida - Spain

India HIV/AIDS Alliance - India

International Community of Women Living

with HIV/AIDS - UK

International Council of AIDS Service

Organisations (ICASO) - Canada

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights

Commission (IGLHRC) - International

International HIV/AIDS Alliance - International

Intersect Worldwide - International

Italian League for Fighting AIDS - Italy

ITPC Russia Project - Russia

Jamaican Network of Seropositive - Jamaica

Japanese Network of People Living with

HIV/AIDS (JaNP+) - Japan

John Mordaunt Trust - UK

KAIPPG International - RI, USA

Kenya AIDS Intervention Prevention Project

Group (KAIPPG) - Kenya

Lanka+ - Sri Lanka

Latin American and the Caribbean Council of AIDS Service

Organizations (LACCASO) - Venezuela

Latin American Network of PLWHA

(RedLa+) - International

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center -

NY, USA

LGBT Coalition - Ukraine

Middle East Children‚s Alliance - CA, USA

MATRAM, Mozambican Treatment Access Movement - Mozambique

National Association of People With AIDS - USA

National Forum of PLHA Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU) -

Uganda

One World Life Systems - NY, USA

Organization For Good Life of the

Marginalized (OGLM) - Uganda

Orphans of Rwanda - Rwanda

Oxygen Research and Development Forum - Nepal

Persia+ - Iran

Peruvian Coordination of People Living with HIV/AIDS

"Peruanos Positivos" - Peru

Physicians for Human Rights, Weill-Cornell Student

Chapter - NY, USA

PONY (Prostitutes of New York) - NY, USA

Positive Malaysian Treatment Access &

Advocacy Group (MTAAG+) - Malaysia

Pro-Choice Public Education Project -

NY, USA

ProGay - Philippines

Queers for Economic Justice - NY, USA

Red Venezolana de Gente Positiva (RVG+) - Venezuela

Rede Nacional de Pessoas Vivendo com HIV e AIDS (RNP+) -

Brazil

Solidarity & Action Against the HIV Infection

in India (SAATHII) - India

South Africa Development Fund - MA, USA

Stop HIV/AIDS in India Initiative - USA

Strategies for Hope Trust - UK

Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group (TTAG) - Thailand

Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) -

South Africa

Well Project - VA, USA

World AIDS Campaign - Netherlands

Marissa Predacon's scolding comments appear to be based on incomplete information. The HIV virus, not sodomy, is the cause of AIDS. Bacteria also are not the cause of AIDS. Transmission of HIV is more successful between penis and vagina, than from vagina to penis. While unprotected anal intercourse is a higher risk factor for HIV transmission, the majority of HIV infections in Africa are among women and have nothing to do with sodomy. Using a condom for both penis/vagina or penis/anus intercourse is very effective in preventing HIV transmission.

Further, very little feces (shit) are present in the rectum except when a bowel movement is happening. The rectum does harbor bacteria, but the bacteria in feces is not epecially harmful, though occassionally some straines are. Without the E.coli bacteria in the digestive track, we would die, it helps us digest our food.

Comments like Ms Predacon are indicative of the need for AIDS education. Without education, prejudices, not based in fact will enhance the transmission of the disease. Ms Predacon's comments are also the reason why we need more science education in schools.

stop sodomy. Here's a good science lesson for you. The penis is a vascular organ that's highly susceptible to disease. an anus is a hole full of shit. shit is waste and covered in infectious bacteria. Now if you put your penis in a hole full of shit and rub it inside for a good half hour it's gonna get you sick. Aids is preventable.