Youth Activist Newsletter: Special Edition: World AIDS Day
December 1 is World AIDS Day, when activists around the world come together to raise awareness of the global HIV epidemic, to fight prejudice, and to improve HIV education and prevention. This year’s theme is “universal access and human rights” – an important reminder that much of the HIV positive population, including young people, GLBTQ people, those affected by poverty, and marginalized groups like sex workers and injecting drug users, still face unequal access to resources, services, and medication. And AIDS is the leasing cause of death among women around the world.
One way YOU can participate in World AIDS Day events is to participate in the blogathon on Amplify, November 30-Dec 5.
This special edition of our Youth Actvist Network Newsletter focuses on young people living in low and middle income countries – their lives, their stories, and the issues they face on a daily basis:
In the Philippines, a young gay man faces violence, discrimination and stigma.
In Nigeria, a young woman asks for information about contraception and gets misinformation and a lecture.
In Sri Lanka, youth activists band together to redress the stigma around HIV and AIDS.
In Ethiopia, one young man’s father’s life and death inspires him to become an activist working for reproductive and sexual health.
In Jamaica, a young woman confronts the issue of the church’s role in stigma around HIV and AIDS
Get involved! View the videos made by youth activists in Jamaica, Nigeria, and Ethiopia about HIV. Learn about how unintended pregnancy, gender roles, and access to contraception and condoms affect them and their peers.
Then:
Of course, HIV affects those in the U.S. as well – hundreds of thousands are living with the virus, and young people account for up to one-third of new HIV infections every year. If you live in New York or Cleveland you can attend the final HIV Town Halls and share your thoughts and ideas about what the new National AIDS Strategy should include. Check out YouthResource Peer Educator Daniel’s description of his participation in an HIV Town Hall: “I was very happy that I attended. I felt like the State of South Carolina, and a few neighbors from North Carolina, made their voices heard.”
Read on to hear the stories of young people around the world – and on World AIDS Day, join the fight to prevent HIV, increase access to services and supplies, and reduce stigma against those who are HIV positive!
Peace,
Sarah
Read commentary about the recent report that AIDS is the leading cause of death and disease among women worldwide by:
Learn about the Great American Condom Campaign and the young people who have become SafeSites at their colleges. In the words of one SafeSite blogger: “I handed out the condoms, and made quitea few new friends! I was even called the condom fairy. A lot of people seemed very thankful and even expressed concern about how expensive condoms were. I am just happy I could provide!”
Learn more about the HIV epidemic in the United States and around the world – including how social factors affect the epidemic, and the plight of marginalized populations.
Which is or is not a good look, I am not sure. Some good shit coming through tho for sure.
And all this is happening in the city that just lost its main "urban" radio station two weeks ago. Seriously, Hot 93 just disappeared into thin air. Not sure why, no one seems to know why, but it's not cuz there's no fans of "urban" music here.
Maybe they should have played more real hip-hop. Anyhoo, I don't know, but check this shit out. Click each flyer to see it full size.
Del the Funky Homosapien Dec. 1 at Aces
As the Thanksgiving holiday ends, the nation is perched to hear what is being descr ibed as President Obama’s most important speech to date. He will stand before Army cadets at West Point military academy and lay out his plans for increasing troops to Afghanistan to the tune of 30 thousand.
Yes You Can Afford College
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...if President Barack Obama has anything to do with it. His recent American Graduation Initiative calls for 5 million new college graduates by 2020, a number he says is possible.
Yeah man it's the Viva Den Haag edition of AustinSurreal!
So get hype for real cuz seriously it really went down over there. For real.
Last week I had the good fortune of being able to attend the Crossing Border Festival in Den Haag, The Netherlands. A city most people know as the place where they try the big war criminals. The BIG ones. But man it's so much more.
I lived in Amsterdam for most of 1996, and I really fell in love with Holland. I never got to spend too much time in Den Haag, but the two times I went were pretty incredible. First was to the North Sea Jazz Festival which was just over the top, and second was to Crossing Border with Charles Gayle and Rashied Ali, who were backing a reading by Henry Rollins. All I really remembered, besides how much I loved the shows, was how much I loved the Surinamese food.
Send Citizen Sarah to Copenhagen
I just came across this compelling article on Alternet that talks about the ‘memory scrub’ that has taken place in the aftermath of the Fort Hood massacre.
The TX Board of Pardons voted to spare the life of Robert Lee Thompson, who took part in a robbery that led to a murder. The killer was serving life. Perry chose to kill him anyway.
A lot of Hip Hop albums came out in 2009. Jay Z BP3, Raekwon‘’s Cuban Links II, Gift of Gab’s Escape to Mars, to name a few, caught my ear. I’m sure you could add your favorite of 2009 so feel free to fill in the blank ___.
Hip Hop is still struggling to balance itself, but still evolving and growing. There’s an overflow of commercial, mainstream, and one-sided style of Hip Hop that is only reflecting one part of the black experience. There is still a need, and desire, of everyday people, to hear music that connects with higher charkas. If you are unfamiliar with this word, look, it up.
There’s been a lot of talk about the anti-immigrant Tea Party types coming together to stomp out President Obama’s attempts for immigration reform. Somebody needs to give them a memo and let them know it’s not gonna happen at this date and time.
