Today is World AIDS day...

Today is World AIDS day...to think, it's been over 20 years since the disease was first discovered and although humanity has certainly made some strides against this horrible scourge, we are far from winning the battle. Here are the latest statistics:


Number of people living with HIV/AIDS in 2004
Total 39.4 million (35.9 - 44.3 million)
Adults 37.2 million (33.8 - 41.7 million)
Women 17.6 million (16.3 - 19.5 million)
Children under 15 years 2.2 million (2.0 - 2.6 million)

People newly infected with HIV in 2004
Total 4.9 million (4.3 - 6.4 million)
Adults 4.3 million (3.7 - 5.7 million)
Children under 15 years 640 000 (570 000 - 750 000)

AIDS deaths in 2004
Total 3.1 million (2.8 - 3.5 million)
Adults 2.6 million (2.3 - 2.9 million)
Children under 15 years 510 000 (460 000 - 600 000)

In many ways, things are worse than they were at the beginning of the disease. The numbers are actually startling. It seems in many developed countries, AIDS has been downgraded to just a minor nuissance, when in reality, for most of the developing world, especially on the continent of Africa, it's really a plague.

Once again, our social and economic disparities are highlighted strongly. Once again, whether or not you have money, seems to be the key to whether you get the best treatment and whether or not you survive this deadly killer.

The profit that American and European drug companies are making off the AIDS patients is heartbreaking. Recently, countries like Brazil and India have taken to illegally making their own generic versions of AIDS medications, in order to supply the huge demand in their countries. Drug companies have vowed to sue (and are sueing) the pants off of these countries, but the countries are ignoring and going ahead anyway. (see this article: Brazil Will Break Patent on AIDS Medication)

When will people learn that we are all in this together, and as tempting as it is to make millions of dollars off of some poor African or Haitian with AIDS, it would behoove the pharmaceutical companies in Germany and Switzerland to give their medicine away, especially in the poorest parts of the world. Not only would it be a great and much needed PR boost for these currently much hated companies, but it would also increase sales of their products in the developing world as word got out of their good deed.

And of course, the Monkey, our current Commander in Chief, despite his big talk on AIDS, has not really put his money where his mouth is. Well, considering we have no money left since we've spent it all on a stupid "war" in Iraq, I guess we can't expect him to have anything left to give.

The US no longer is a world leader in charitable causes...we will have to rely on Europe and Asia to take the lead in this global battle against AIDS.

And meanwhile, here at home, people are starting to resume risky behavior that got us in this AIDS mess in the first place. Bathhouses are starting to pop up again in NYC, San Franscisco and LA, and some gay men have taken to "barebacking" (having sex without a condom) as if it were some sort of pioneering gesture..."hey look at me! I don't care!"

Especially young gay men under 30, who see AIDS as a nuissance, something they can just take some medicine for and all will be peachy. If they had only lived through the horrible deaths of the early 80s..they would know better.

Straight people are having more unprotected sex as well, leading us back down a late 70s road that we all know can only cause trouble down the line.

I know my "just practice safe sex" stance can be politically dangerous, but sometimes, health is more important than politics. Or is it?

I just wish the world weren't so messed up.