Re: The India Satellite: What was new?

July 12, 2002

There's another issue in that there appears to be very little water-based

lubricant available in India--except that sold by & at an

exorbitant price.

It APPEARS to me that the Vajpayee government is indifferent to the crisis

in India. Health care in general is sidelined--despite the availability of

generically priced medication.

I believe that advocacy in India must include that the government wake up

to its responsibilities and PROVIDE funds for prevention and treatment.

India DOES have resources, far too much of which, like in my screwed up

country, go toward guns, military campaigns and corruption. (What will the

Indian gov't do if the rate of HIV among troops starts to climb as it has

in many other countries??)

And, of course, the Indian government can and should receive help for these

efforts from richer countries like the United States, which is murderously

stingy.

Now, I know it may seem dreadful for me to criticize the Indian government

as a non-citizen--but my worry and concern is for people with HIV. And

frankly, I criticize LOTS of governments, most especially my own, for the

abysmal failure to address the worst pandemic in human history. Many

governments, China, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, the United States, the

EU--have FAILED horribly on so many fronts.

So I ask--what HAS Vajpayee and his government done? Are there safer sex

campaigns being funded? Hospitals and infrastructure being improved?

Stigmatization being attacked? Treatment being provided? If not--what do

Indian activists feel would be the best strategy to get him to create more

programs, make more public, televised statements, and so forth?

It's time to start talking about sex in India (not permitting the holdover

of colonialist, n colonization of the mind to inhibit it). It's

time for treatment. It's time to stop the dying.

India is far too wonderful and it's people far too remarkable not to take

on this effort with every ounce of vigor possible.

M.

E-mail <gmc0@...>

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