Friday, December 1, 2006

World AIDS Day



Today, we remember the 40 million people infected with HIV and/or AIDS, and for those who have passed from this cursed disease. The irony that I share my 33rd Birthday with World AIDS Day is not lost on me. I have been hiv+ for almost 5 years now, and for me, looking in the mirror reminds me that every day is World AIDS Day.

We have become complacent in our thoughts, ideas and actions. So many people are still suffering this disease and most of them are suffering with so much less than us. We all share many things in common, but above all is our Humanity, and compassion.

As I write and look at the statistics, tears flow. Please, please, please, I beg of you all, to remember to give or do what you can to fight this disease. Give to your local AIDS charity, hospice or write to your local politicians or community leaders. Help by extending a hand by giving the one thing we value so much these days: your time. Give it willingly and volunteer or spend the time educating yourself, friends, family, and children that this disease is still here, with no cure. It is still here haunting and destroying us and we cannot be complacent about that.

Remember having the disease, does NOT make us diseased. The warm touch of a compassionate heart can heal in so many ways, so please don't turn away.

If you would like to read more about my personal exeriences and struggles, please go to my alternate blog Epicureal Thoughts.

Here are some staggering statistics from Avert:

Estimate Range
People living with HIV/AIDS in 2006 39.5 million 34.1-47.1 million
Adults living with HIV/AIDS in 2006 37.2 million 32.1-44.5 million
Women living with HIV/AIDS in 2006 17.7 million 15.1-20.9 million
Children living with HIV/AIDS in 2006 2.3 million 1.7-3.5 million
People newly infected with HIV in 2006 4.3 million 3.6-6.6 million
Adults newly infected with HIV in 2006 3.8 million 3.2-5.7 million
Children newly infected with HIV in 2006 0.53 million 0.41-0.66 million
AIDS deaths in 2006 2.9 million 2.5-3.5 million
Adult AIDS deaths in 2006 2.6 million 2.2-3.0 million
Child AIDS deaths in 2006 0.38 million 0.29-0.50 million

Some more statistics:

More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.

Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans.

At the end of 2006, women accounted for 48% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 59% in sub-Saharan Africa.

Young people (15-24 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide - around 6,000 become infected with HIV every day.

In developing and transitional countries, 6.8 million people are in immediate need of life-saving AIDS drugs; of these, only 1.65 million are receiving the drugs.

11 comments:

St. Dickeybird said...

Happy Birthday, I hope you're well, and you're in my thoughts today too Epi.

Have a nice big birthday hug from Dirty Dickey!
:)

JM said...

My prayers and thoughts go out to you Epi!!
I pray that we find a cure for this debilitating illness.
One of the goals I have as a future physician is to volunteer time in an AIDS clinic. I may not be able to cure the patients, but I can let them know that I care--and that they don't have to come in for just medication,but to make a friend too.

Snooze said...

Happy birthday sweetie! It's good that you are reminding us of all the work to be done. I attended the AIDS Action Now protest today. But, I also look at all my friends who are coping well with meds and think about how much can be done when we all do work together. Now to just continue these successes here, and bring them to the developing world!!!!

Tay Hota said...

Happy Birthday!!!! I admire your strength and conviction...

Anonymous said...

I'm a day late but that doesn't change the feelings I've got for you honey bunny. I hope YOUR day was as full and as delicious as you could ever want.
What many of us [including me] is the W.A.D. is something we must take a measure of. All of us are touched by aids in some way. I for one should know better and do more.
Happy Birthday baby,
kb

epicurist said...

Dickeybird - Thanks Dirty Dickey! :)

angel - Thank you, and I don't doubt that you will be a fantastic physician.

Snooze - I completely agree. The developing countries are struggling with this pandemic and we need to remember them. Though we all may suffer with this disease, we here in wealthy countries have far more benefits , and therefore could do to be more compassionate. Hugs.

Tay Hota - Thanks babes.

Knottyboy - Your'e always so sweet. It was a fantastic birthday all the same! Thanks.

Sister - They should both be cheap as far as I am concerned. And thanks for the wishes Siter!

Christopher said...

come back...I miss you

Anonymous said...

So many runaway children, 15 year old girls who landed on the streets of Hollywood and elsewhere, ended up prostituting themselves.
This is a topic that nicely illustrates how god is preditory on children, for not only did they popularize the notion of casual sex back in the 60s they instructed Artificial Intelligence to desensitize young women. Now we have people prostituting themselves through college and even choosing to turn tricks in high school.
I suspect it ocurrs far more frequently then they will admit:::I suggest parents inquire about the status of their female children.
Sadly, far too often these parents also are corrupted, and they think their daughters are earning by corrupting these young men.
god is preditory on children::::
-Child molestation/sexual abuse (life was decent before)
-Halloween -Christmas -Easter -Candy -Sugary breakfast cereals -Soda
-Free sex 1960s, which continued until the intentional AIDS scare.
-Preditory cartoons.
-This tempation-based popular culture is targetted at the young people:::::It creates "open doors" which are designed to manufacture dysfunctions by conditioning them with peaked euphoria ("magic").

Homeless runaways go to Hollywood - gods making a statement/offering a clue about this industry.
The gods place no importance in these individuals. Only this Manifest Destinty society does.
And since there are multiples for each movie none of them are important.

Romans were used as monsters. They were terrorists who raped the region.
Like the Scandanavians.
Like the Pawnee.
Like the Japanese.
Like all the others whom I fail to list.

People today have much in common with the mideval Europeans who were victimized by the Scandanavians:::::
Between the celebrity culture and the gangster positioning that is Manifest Destiny we have OUR Vikings, violators who who raped, pillaged and plundered our society to the brink of the Apocalypse with their corruption and themes that encouraged social deterioration.

Pheebs said...

Hey Epi!

It seems that everyone's been on a bit of a blog hiatus--it's been a while, hope all is well with you and I definitely miss reading your blog!

brothasoul said...

love.

Katerina Papadopoulos said...

Hi Epi,

You know me at KATastrophe...Hey a started a 2nd blog which will feature a different gay blog each post.

I choose yours as the 1st one. I hope you don't mind, but i love your blog and have for years.

Check yourself out at http://QueerBlogs.blogspot.com