Aids
When I told my Australian friends that I was moving to Kenya to work as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development many of them told me not to have sex while I was here because of the country’s high HIV prevalence. Some 280 people are infected with HIV every day in Kenya.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is getting to zero, but getting to zero doesn’t mean zero sex. Along with zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths it also means zero unprotected sex with someone whose HIV status you don’t know.
Knowing your HIV status is the first step in prevention; if you are negative then you can take measures to ensure that you stay negative and if you are positive then you can access treatment, care and support services.
Continue reading "A HIV test, like sex, is best enjoyed with your partner" »
Mothers and girlfriends worldwide have long yelled at errant sons and partners for being overly fixated on a video game.
This week, however, a group of gamers and scientists demonstrated that proficiency in World of Warcraft may be worth more than the geek cred it achieves.
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology has published an advance online copy of a paper that explains how enjoyment of and technical skills in playing video games can be harnessed to achieve remarkable outcomes in scientific research.
Continue reading "How World of Warcraft could save your life" »
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skepdad says:
I liked the bit where you drew nonsensical comparisons to make the point that you don’t like WoW. Read more »
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skepdad says:
I know the reference to WoW was somewhat trite and it’s more in the public consciousness than any other MMO, but those interested in the complexities of gameplay should take a look at Eve Online. Players are learning complex economic theory, social engineering, politics, media manipulation, leadership and many other… Read more »
In 2010 Bishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa declared that the time had come, particularly for Africans, to stop the “wave of hate” and to stand up “against wrong”.
He was referring to the wrong to “gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people” who are “part of the African family” and who “are living in fear.”
This news from Africa would be bad enough. But the same fear extends far beyond that continent.
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WilliamK says:
@Jake “It is only through the many carefully controlled repetitions of the experiment that we know with reasonable certainty exactly what temperature boils.” Begging the question Jake - assuming the proof in the proof that you provide for it. The sky is blue because it is blue…. : ) I… Read more »
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WilliamK says:
@Jake “No, as I said several times, I’m using the senses and reasoning of other people to validate that my senses are working. What aren’t you understanding?” So you use your senses and reasoning to validate your senses and reasoning, that the feedback on your senses and reasoning from others… Read more »
A couple of Sundays ago in Port Moresby, Stephanie Copus-Campbell – the head of AusAID’s program in PNG – invited me and a colleague to accompany her on a regular Sunday activity.
Every Sunday, Stephanie goes to the local supermarket and buys $70 worth of oranges which she then takes to the AIDS ward at the Port Moresby hospital.
HIV infection rates are high in PNG and while antiretroviral drugs are available, people still come to this place to die.
Continue reading "Touched by the angel of the PNG AIDS ward" »
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Not a great white hope says:
Great comment Cranky. To be honest, I wonder how many of the comments posted under this article were written by AusAID communications staff. The author had best leave these coms staff to do their job rather than taking on the role as a defacto AusAID cheerleader. Mr Marles, a much… Read more »
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Cranky PNG watcher says:
This is such a ludicrous hagiographic article. Written by the Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Islands Affairs - a man who should be keeping AusAID accountable, not being a suckhole. Does anyone else see a problem here? Let me affirm the obvious - people in PNG are very hard done by,… Read more »
For one of the world’s most powerful men Pope Benedict has a big problem with clear communication.
Health experts around the world have rejoiced at a hint from the Pope that it kinda, sorta, maybe could be better for a male prostitute with AIDS to use a condom when having sex.
The Vatican has been quick to clear up that it’s not official teaching so headlines such as “Vatican makes first concession on condom use”, in one paper this morning seem a little hasty.
Continue reading "Thanks Benedict, that’s about as clear as mud" »
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Kika says:
Because all the scourges of the world are women’s responsibilty. Remember, they are the source of original sin? Man was once pure and innocent and were corrupted by a foul evil woman. When will the RCC ever care about women’s rights? hahaha. Never. Read more »
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Robert S McCormick says:
Any method which even offers an 80% safety factor is better than none. Total Abstinence, though it will ensure non-transmission of any diseases or stop the risk of falling pregnant is for the most part a pipe-dream. Have a look around at all those 10s or 1000s of Priests, Monks… Read more »
Welcome to Friday @ The Punch
Today in 1984, scientists discovered the virus responsible for the Aids disease; approximately 24 million people were believed to be suffering from the disease when the virus was found.
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stephen says:
In the Weekend Oz there’s a report of what Tony Abbott said at the Lowy Institute on new Policy, and in my opinion, it’s a vote winner. Kevin Rudd, do something. Read more »
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stephen says:
What was the Queen and Freddy doing on the same page ? Read more »
A new front in the immigration debate opened up in the last week as the media grabbed hold of proposed changes to migration law to deliver a sensationalist warning of alleged “loop-holes” that will supposedly lead to an influx of chronically ill foreign workers.
The alarmist reporting on efforts to engage the community in tackling the complex issue of migration policy for people with disability is disappointing on several levels - particularly as there were serious factual errors underpinning the arguments.
Suggestions that the Government had widened a “loop-hole” and “loosened” its grip on migration policy for migrants with HIV and cancer not only played to political fear-mongering that Australia has lost control of its migration policy, it also negatively stereotyped people with disability as non-taxpayers who constitute a drain on society and the economy.
Continue reading "Why can’t Australia accept migrants with HIV?" »
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Drew(Darlinghurst) says:
I’m not sure what state you live in . But in New South Wales your HIV status is classified as a Disability. Thank You Read more »
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Dianne says:
wow I am shocked at the illinformed bigotry ideologies of most of these post, fristly since when did people people with HIV become labeled the worlds ‘undesirables’? Secondly most people with HIV in Australia are not “Africans” and many women who contract it are from unfaithful husbands and long term… Read more »
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