Skip navigation.
Home
Web of Influence
Blogging blogs and the bloggers who blog them
 A student project of Bryn Mawr College
Hall of Fame | Blogroll | Help | About
Home » blogs » Like The State's blog

Religion vs. Science: Fighting AIDS in Africa

Submitted by Like The State on Tue, 2005-09-20 00:35. current events | politics

Fact: Bush spends $60 billion a year on the war in Iraq.
Fact: Bush spends $2 billion a year on the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

Problem? I think so.
While I know there are enough reasons to take issue with President Bush and his administration right now, I feel that this country can not let the way the US is handling the AIDS epidemic in Africa go by the wayside... especially in the upcoming elections (presidential or otherwise). After glancing over the NY Times daily headlines page I remembered an article I read this summer in Rolling Stone Magazine. It was called "An Epidemic Failure: Whatever happened to Bush's pledge to combat AIDS in Africa?" And that's exactly the question Africa has been asking since Bush's campaign in 2004 when he launched PEPFAR (Presdient's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and pledged to spend at least $15 billion over the next 5 years. Of course, he introduced the promising plan at the same time as his controversial and unpopular decision to enter Iraq. The plan would've been great, had he not asked Congress for only $2 billion in the first year and then even tried (unsuccessfully thank god) to block the extra $40 million they gave. But the really disturbing part about Bush's agenda is his "ABC" policy. ABC is the administrations motto for fighting AIDS "Abstinence" "Be Faithful" and "Condoms" with a heavy emphasis on the first two and an impractical disregard for the last. I believe that focusing on Abstinence and Being Faithful to one partner is not only completely religious based (and last time I checked there was a seperation of church and state in this country) but also impractical and extremely detrimental to sucessful programs that base their policies on condom distribution. The fact that we are now denying aid to countries with sucessful programs because they will not change their policies to coincide ultraconservative religious beliefs personally infuriates me. And the fact that the Bush administration is appeasing these religious groups because its such a large part of their constituent base is just as disheartening. By letting politics take priority over improving the human condition Bush is allowing a lethal epidemic to spread throughout Africa and other countries... one that claims at least 8,500 people each day. I think that Dr. Paul Zeitz says it best in the end of the article.... "People will look back and say, 'Why didn't they stop the dying?' Why don't we show our compassionate selves? What kind of country are we?" I've been asking the same question myself lately.

» Like The State's blog | login to post comments | 786 reads

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Made me think. Is the mere

Submitted by Apathy on Tue, 2005-09-20 13:22.

Made me think. Is the mere suggestion or requirement of abstinence and monogamy proof of a religious agenda? Can it be recommended as a solution without being linked to religion. Does the fact that most religions (including Christianity) demand it forever link it as being a religious suggestion?

Can the suggestion of abstinence ever be a scientific solution? Is
abstinence the best solution for the African culture. Who suggested to
President Bush that this be the criteria by which the African Aids
Project receive the money?

The website ELDIS a development website that "aims to share the best in development, policy, practice and research." Site has information
regarding Aids epidemic in Africa. Their news feed.

An interesting study done that discusses the real views of a focus group shows that "Clear and open policies regarding condom use and abstinence should be promoted as complementary alternatives." Condom Use and Abstinence Among Unmarried Young People in Zimbabwe: Which Strategy, Whose Agenda?

Never Regret the Biggest Mistake of Your Life

» login to post comments

Good Point.

Submitted by Like The State on Tue, 2005-09-20 14:05.

While I was ranting about Bush and his religious agendas ... I didn't really give abstinence as a viable option the credit it deserves. While I don't have factual information to back this up... there is nothing to say that the ABC plan isn't the most effective way of countering AIDS in Africa. Its obvious that abstinence is the key to not spreading AIDS... stopping people from engaging in sexual intercourse would in turn stop the spread of disease and keep it under control. And in that sense, yes, abstinence is completely a scientific solution.
My issue is with the fact that the Bush administration prioritizes abstinence above condoms and this is completely impractical- while abstinence would be ideal for Africa we have to recognize the situation for what it is at the moment. In many cases by promoting abstinence and not presenting condoms as a equally viable option... it can increase risk by discouraging the use of condoms. Check out this article for more information about how Brazil and America differ in their approaches to tackling AIDS (Brazil has the most successful program in the developing world).

» login to post comments

Why is there so much focus on Africa

Submitted by Sparkelle on Tue, 2005-09-20 23:18.

First of all i would like you to know that i am aware of the problems going on in Africa. Second, I saw the live 8 and i know that every 3 seconds someone in africa dies of aids. Yes, i do agree this is a problem. Third, I also would like it to be pointed out that i do not agree with the misappriotion of the funds that are being spent by the Bush administration for the war in Iraq. Fourth, i would like to say that three of my good high school friends are currently in Iraq and i have not been able to talk with them for months.
This being said i think that the current crisis that should be but isn't being adressed by the united states is the fact that we to have a problem with poverty and disease. Yes i do agree that the problems in africa dealing with aids is a far greater crisis than that of the united states, but does it make sence that we are trying to help others yet sacrifice our own well being in the process? Lets say that the government decided to take one penny out of every dollar and give it the relief groups that help those in Africa.If The united states takes in a total of $1,000,000,000 than $10,000,000 goes to the aids relief effort. But could that money be used in a more useful way to benifit the States? What if they used that money to repair dangeroug road situations, or to fix the school systems, or "provide for the general welfare" of the United States.
Mabey i just grew up in an impoverished area that was in desperate need of fedreal funding, with hazerdous driveing areas, and a crisis in the area of the rapid increase of umimployment to where some 10% of those who were previously employed in 1995 are now unemployed due to the changeing economy. We desperatly needed federal funding but we weren't getting it due to the war. I am not going to argue the war, but i will argue that the united states isn't doing enough to help our its citizens.

» login to post comments

well said.. i agree

Submitted by Like The State on Wed, 2005-09-21 00:14.

this country does need to focus on its own problems... especially medical benefits for the poor and elderly and the improvemet of public school systems across the nation instead of borrowing trillions for a war we shouldnt be involved in from other countries (by the way this country has never borrowed money to fund a war before in its entire history)...

» login to post comments

This is our problem

Submitted by Whimsical Monkey on Wed, 2005-09-21 09:21.

I think many people believe that AIDS in Africa is a world problem. Not just because we "are all in this together," but because this is going to spread into your backyard, literally.

How can you prioritize the poor in this country with the dying of another? Let's try to take care of both! It doesn't have to be an either/or proposition.

» login to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.