AIDS protest- sensationalism.

[Guest guest]

Dear Sandeep and forum,

" I am a HIV specialist in India and all for your cause.However,I believe such

modalities only add sensationalism.If there is something,I can genuinely do to

help the patients,I will be glad to. Sandeep Saluja: E-mal:

<drsaluja@...> "

As I am sure you are aware, the US has more than enough resources available not

only to provide free HIV/AIDS treatment and care to all of its positive citizens

but also all of those worldwide. It is only a question of public will and

political committment. This may sound reductive to you, but I firmly believe

that in a world where billions of dollars are spent killing people in war, at

least a significant portion of that should also be spent fighting HIV/AIDS.

Our protest is about holding the government to its promise to making a

contribution to fighting HIV/AIDS. Without sensationalism, all we have is empty

rhetoric. Without sensationalism, the government is free to make superfluous

committments that stay on paper while millions die of a preventable, treatable

disease.

I congratulate the makers of " Phir Milenge " despite the faults found in the

film, and I congratulate anyone who uses mass media to get out information on

HIV/AIDS. Until every person worldwide hears the word " AIDS " and is forced to

give pause and think about what it means or to find out what it means, ignorance

and apathy will prevail, and the disease will continue to spread unabated.

Sensationalism is the only way to attact public attention. The American masses

live in remarkably insular bubbles where everything they need is readily

available. It is of no concern to them that people are dying or starving or

anything else in the developing world. It is they who carry the vote and they

who push the agenda.

Without their interest in the cause, the cause will die. It may sound arrogant

to put so much importance on what they think, but in reality a vast amount of

money that could be spent on development is wasted away, simply because they do

not care, and they are the ones who keep leaders in power.

They support war because they love violence and glory. The entertainment

industry is extraordinarily wealthy because they love sex and guns. What

attracts the common American to AIDS? It is something they would rather not have

darken their days.

We used sensationalism to get out a message that would otherwise not have been

heard. I doubt most Americans know that dozens of countries are in debt to us by

billions of dollars. If they do, I doubt they know why these debts should be

cancelled.

Moreover, they support Bush because they trust in him. The mainstream

newsnetworks (the only source of information they have) will not tell them

otherwise. It will not tell them that while he is hugging starving African

children and telling " compassionate conservatives " that he will do all he can to

fight AIDS, he is charging 15 African nations more in debt repayment than they

spend on healthcare, or that he is charging $562 a year for ARVs when

they can be produced at $140 en masse.

The only way to break through the apathy in this country is to get people's

attention. We believe this is a cause worthy of attention. Especially because

the G7 will be meeting very soon to make a decision on forgiving the debt of

HIPCs.

I believe Arindam Roy forwarded you my thoughts on debt repayment in the context

of HIV/AIDS above the Jubilee 2000 action.

Thank you for your opinion on our action.

Sincerely,

Joya Banerjee

E-mail: <jb2026@...>