Israel leads worldwide AIDS awareness campaign

An ambitious Israeli initiative to mark World AIDS Day will be heard around the world this Thursday (Dec. 1). The Jerusalem AIDS Project is recruiting over a million people to ring a bell for at least 60 seconds at 8:00 pm GMT. The organization hopes that the grassroots campaign - called Bells 4 AIDS - will help raise awareness and spur the prevention of the disease which daily infects 14,000 people around the world.

By David Brinn and Viva Press

An ambitious idea aimed at raising awareness about AIDS education that originated in Israel will resonate around the world this week. Literally.

On Thursday, December 1st - to mark World AIDS day - over a million people worldwide are expected to ring a bell for at least 60 seconds at 8:00 pm GMT.

The grassroots campaign - called Bells 4 AIDS - is the brainchild of the Israeli aid group The Jerusalem AIDS Project (JAIP) which hopes that the gesture will help raise awareness of the disease.

The group is planning to set a new World Guinness Record in bell ringing for a public health cause, and anyone can participate.

"We're requesting something simple. Gather together and ring a bell at the designated time - any bell. It could be a school bell, church bell, or fire department bell. Or it could be your own house bell, or your neighbour's bell," said Dr. Inon Schenker, an HIV/AIDS prevention specialist and the head of JAIP.

"Our greatest reward would be to hear 1,000,000 bells ringing around the world, making a collective noise for more awareness about HIV/AIDS and share the responsibility in prevention and care," added JAIP chairperson Hanny Epelboim, who devised the original plan for the bell ringing.

Bradford McIntyre, of Vancouver, will be one of those taking part. "I will be here at home ringing a bell at 12:00 noon Pacific time on World AIDS Day," he told ISRAEL21c.

Twenty years have passed since McIntyre was told on November 28, 1985 that he had six months to live. Since then, the man behind the PositivelyPositive website (www.positivelypositive.ca) has championed the war against the virus by "creating awareness around the many HIV and AIDS issues, and promoting messages of positive living with HIV."

People who are unable to locate a working bell can alternatively visit www.bells4aids.org and click on the electronic bell on the website.

Every day 14,000 new HIV infections occur globally and over 40 million people are infected with the AIDS virus, according to Schenker.

"We hope this event will cement solidarity of concerned individuals - with no political or financial agenda - who feel that with so many millions of people infected by AIDS and suffering from this dreadful disease, it's time to take a stand. There's a lack of human and financial resources, as well as prevention, education, and care and support for those infected. We hope this will create solidarity and an affiliation of ideas," he said.

The campaign has garnered a groundswell of support from volunteer organizations and individuals around the world. JAIP's coordinator for North America, Carmel Shenkar, told ISRAEL21c that individuals like McIntyre as well as Canadian medical student organizations and other socially-oriented groups across the country will take part.

On the East Coast, the AIDS Coalition of Cape Breton will ring bells at 3 pm local time in support of the deadly disease.

At 2 pm local time in Toronto, LAMP Community Health Centre and the Ontario Early Years Centre will "form a circle of solidarity and 'ring our bells' to raise awareness."

On the West Coast in Alberta, some 200 first and second year medical and dental students at the University of Alberta will ring "small, medium and large Christmas jingle bells" as part of the initiative, U of A Medical Class of 2008 student Stephanie Mullin told ISRAEL21c.

"As professionals we will inevitably be caring for patients that have HIV and AIDS so it is vital that we have a realistic view of the disease and its consequences. Students are taught in our classes about HIV/AIDS and the medical stats that go along with it, but we hope to bring more awareness about the social, economic and political aspects of the disease. We are using this year's theme of 'keeping the promise' to illustrate Canada's role in the global AIDS environment," she said.

"Bells4AIDS is a wonderful opportunity to help reach and educate more people about HIV and AIDS," said Vancouver's McIntyre, who sent more than 5,000 emails to AIDS organisations, newspapers, churches, schools, charities, bell ringer societies, and universities to bring attention to this initiative. "There has been insufficient time or attention given to the dispersal of proper information regarding HIV and AIDS and HIV prevention. People believe HIV infection will never happen to them and many still associate HIV/AIDS with gay people. Yet men, women and children of every race and religious or spiritual belief are being infected with HIV every day, all over the world.

"I have received many responses from individuals and organizations voicing they will be ringing a bell on World AIDS Day," McIntyre told ISRAEL21c.

"We've been extremely happy with the reception to this idea. In less than a month, we've galvanized a network of organizations. It's a grassroots action which has taken hold, and I'm totally confident we'll have more than a million bells being rung on December 1st at 8 pm GMT," said Schenker.

Established in 1986, The JAIP has conducted interventions and training workshops in 28 developed and developing countries and has been working in collaboration with organizations that include UNAIDS, the Global Health Council, UNESCO, and the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. The organization has successfully mobilized resources in communities to take a pro-active role in HIV/AIDS prevention.

According to Schenker, the idea for the Bells 4 Aids campaign came out of a course initiated this year by the JAIP called 'Ringing Bells' - a program which trained Israeli backpackers traveling in remote areas of the world to be volunteers in educating about HIV/AIDS prevention.

These backpackers were trained to be global leaders in AIDS education in the third world, helping to fill in the gaps where local non-profit organizations are limited or non-existent.

"We launched an international advocacy and HIV awareness campaign out of Jerusalem reaching throughout the world, based totally on volunteers. We realized very quickly that the bell was a significant instrument and could play a role in raising awareness about HIV and its prevention," said Schenker.

Aware that the campaign could be viewed as preaching to the converted, Schenker explained that special efforts are being made to involve members of the community usually not concerned or aware of the problem.

"We've created 15 postcards which are available for download on our site, which we're asking people to bring over to their neighbours. Go next door, ring their bell, and when somebody opens, they get an AIDS awareness postcard. Even if you don't want to hand it to them, you can tell them, 'this is a day to share responsibility'," he said.

"We hope to target sexually active young people, civic leaders, and your neighbour down the

street - to be influenced by the initiative and to take action - to educate themselves about AIDS prevention."

"And finally," he added, "we hope this will be the start of an initiative in HIV literacy, a new plan towards concrete action. There's computer literacy, health literacy, and now under the model provided by UNESCO, there's going to be HIV literacy. People must be literate about the disease, and how to prevent it."

To stress this message, JAIP recently organized a seminar for 20 medical and social work students in Israel with the goal of establishing a national AIDS hotline.

Schenker, an international AIDS consultant and lecturer at Hadassah College in Jerusalem, takes pride in the fact that Israel can boast of one of the world's progressive policies towards caring for AIDS patients and creating awareness of the prevention.

"I can look into the eyes of anyone and say that Israel is on the front lines of AIDS education. We were one of the first countries in the world - in 1987 - that implemented an AIDS education program in the school curriculum. And through our National Health Insurance, Israel provides medication, treatment and testing for people with HIV, free of charge. It's part of every citizen's medical insurance," he noted.

According to Schenker, Israel has the most advanced legislation in relation to HIV testing for minors - it is one of the few countries to allow minors to be tested without parental consent.

While he is proud of local accomplishments, Schenker said he felt strongly that now is the time to focus on the global village through this project, in an attempt to make as many people as possible aware of the devastation caused by AIDS and active in trying to prevent it.

The way to begin that task is on December 1st. Schenker and the hordes of volunteers around the world will be there with bells on. Will you?

For more information, check out:
http://www.bells4aids.org/main.php
http://www.aidsnews.org.il/english.htm
http://www.israaid.org.il/

A MILLION BELLS RINGING ON DECEMBER 1 – World AIDS Day!

"The Bell is Ringing" is a grassroots initiative of concerned individuals, who decided to mobilize communities and individuals from around the world to join a united effort to raise awareness to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We call on every woman, man or child in our world to ring a bell for 60 seconds on Thursday, December 1, 2005, the World AIDS Day of 2005.

You are invited to be one of many who already joined in. Its simple, it's free, and it's meaningful: together we could generate an enormous campaign. Our greatest reward would be to hear 1,000,000 bells ringing around the world, making a collective noise for more awareness about HIV/AIDS and share the responsibility in prevention and care.

On Thursday, December 1st, 1,000,000 bells worldwide would ring for at least 60 seconds: school bells, hand bells, fire-brigade bells, church bells, tower bells, door bells, receptionists' bells, cow bells, innovative other bells – all qualify for the event. The sound of the bells will mark the opening of a global initiative on HIV/AIDS literacy. The aim is to increase literacy on HIV and AIDS, on its prevention, testing, care and support.

Press release

The Jerusalem AIDS Project

ISRAELIS INITIATE A GLOBAL RING A BELL CAMPAIGN FOR HIV/AIDS

In 20 Days 1,000,000 Bells will Alarm the World to HIV/AIDS, Setting a Guinness World Record

Seven young Israelis launched today (Nov.10th 2005) "The Bell is Ringing Initiative", which aims at mobilizing individuals and organizations to ring one in a million (1,000,000) bells on 1 December 2005 – World AIDS Day. Originated by the Jerusalem AIDS Project, the aim of this initiative is to raise awareness about need to improve HIV/AIDS literacy worldwide. Every day 14,000 new HIV infections occur globally and in Israel, every day a new person is infected with the virus of the preventable AIDS disease. The group is planning to set a new World Guinness Record in bells' ringing for a public health cause.

"Choosing the replica of the USA Liberty Bell, which is hanging in Jerusalem's "Bell Garden", to be the location of the global launch of the initiative was declarative", admits the initiatives' chair, Dr Inon Schenker, "we believe that the values encrypted on the original Liberty Bell should be applied universally also in HIV/AIDS. Besides, this is Jerusalem 's largest outdoor bell".

The Bell is Ringing initiative promotes any type of bell ringing on 1 December 2005 at 20:00 GMT . A unique bell could be rung digitally on their site: www.bells4aids.org

By now support to the initiative comes from Rotary, The Ecumenical Community, The International Federation of Medical Students, UNAIDS and even the professional ( UK based) organization of Bell Ringers.

The major countdown to 8 PM GMT and the Bells4AIDS.org event will be held in Jerusalem on World AIDS Day (1.12.2005). Read more... www.Bells4AIDS.org

------------------------------

This November 28th marks 20 years, since being told I had six months to live on November 28th 1985. I can think of no better way to celebrate; than to join in The Bell is Ringing Campaign for World AIDS Day!



( In Canada; ring a bell -West coast 12:00 noon. East coast 3:00pm )



Bradford McIntyre, HIV+ since 1984

www.PositivelyPositive.ca

Condoms: Our most trusted method to prevent HIV infection and AIDS!


These three words echo around the world… AIDS CRISIS WORSENS!

• 40 million people infected worldwide
o 37.2 million adults
o 2.2 million children under 15

In 2004, 4.8 million people were infected and 3.1 million people died.
Over 20 million people have died of AIDS.
Why is this happening? We have had nearly 25 years to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS!


Why aren’t people using condoms? AIDS awareness and prevention programs have seen American government policies pull funding from national and international organizations who promote and provide condoms. Religious leaders continue to ignore the need to promote the use of condoms in order to save lives and stop the AIDS epidemic. This has fueled the debate and given rise to the numbers who now promote abstinence, merely as a way to receive funding they would not otherwise receive. It is impossible to eradicate the transmission of HIV and prevent many suffering from AIDS when we have government and religious leaders undermining prevention efforts.

The majority of infections around the world are due to one simple truth that people ARE having sex without a condom!

From the early 1980’s, it was clearly understood that condoms could prevent the spread of HIV infection and AIDS. Here in Canada, prevention programs promoting and providing condoms are effective! The number of infections was significantly reduced! This was made possible because of and through AIDS awareness and prevention messages. Condoms were promoted through the government, media and public health education. Equally important, prevention messages were taken to the streets! Condoms were passed out free in bars, nightclubs and saunas. There were Safe Sex billboards and posters, stickers and even fridge magnets promoting safe sex using a condom. It worked! This is still happening today!

Canada has 57,674 known cases of HIV infection. Brazil and other countries have dramatically reduced HIV infections through safe sex campaigns promoting the use of condoms. This is not rocket science! The answer is very simple. People ARE using condoms!

The use of condoms to prevent the transmission of HIV is our most trusted method of HIV prevention, accepted around the world with a success rate of 99% for condom use versus a failure rate of 88% for abstinence programs.

Condoms not only prevent HIV infections but also prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases: syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, human papilloma virus (HPV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), hepatitis A, B, and C. Unwanted pregnancies can be prevented.

Sexual contact accounts for 95 percent of all new HIV infections worldwide. When a person has sex without a condom, they are extremely vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

People are dying and many more millions will likely die due to the lack of condom use. Sex with a condom is by far our best resource in preventing HIV infection through sexual contact.

HIV is at epidemic proportions and the only way we are going to win this battle to prevent further spread of HIV is by EVERYONE recognizing the high importance of using a condom and continuing efforts to promote their use.

By Bradford McIntyre, HIV+ since 1984
www.PositivelyPositive.ca
Vancouver, Canada

Confusion and Conflict when it comes to HIV and AIDS

In Canada, HIV was first diagnosed among gay men. Later, hemophiliacs and others with health problems were infected due to tainted blood received through blood transfusions. People infected early on had no treatment available! A new and strange virus was weakening the immune system and causing illness in various ways, (what we now know as opportunistic. infections). That’s all we knew! Those who were infected looked for ways to boost their immune system. Not everyone affected by the disease was dying. Unfortunately, the media wrote only about those who were being ravaged by the disease and dying.

People infected with HIV educated themselves. They learned about the positive impact to their health through nutrition, vitamins, minerals, herbs and botanicals and many alternative and complementary therapies. Often, the results were stable or boosted immune systems! The news spread and the evidence was affirmed to us through people who did not get sick. The above methods were used to aid in healing opportunistic infections as well as addressing the side effects of the drugs when pharmaceuticals became available.

There was and still is much confusion and conflict when it comes to HIV and AIDS. Many do not realize that HIV is not the same as AIDS. The media has not provided the necessary attention, information and the true realities of this disease to the world. Fear and stigma have risen when it should be declining. HIV infection can be managed. Incorrectly assuming that HIV is the same as AIDS contributes to the belief that HIV infection means automatic death. In reality, there is a great deal that can be done to prevent the progression to AIDS.

As well as taking care of one another, fundraising, starting AIDS organizations, fighting for treatments and human rights, a network was created to inform and educate people in the ways of addressing HIV. Specifically, education about the immune system and the positive benefits of using alternative therapies was essential!

Around the world, people infected with HIV are very knowledgeable. They are aware that millions of people are addressing HIV through nutrition and vitamin and mineral supplements. These have proven to be beneficial and a great success, whether taking HIV medications or not. Many of us have lived 20 years or more! Yet, nearly a quarter of century since HIV crept into existence, the confusion and conflict continues regarding the benefits of these methods. This makes no sense!

Canada and other countries are prime examples of the recognition given to the use of the above treatment modalities. Scientists and physicians have shown the benefits through various studies. Many governments, such as Canada, have created additional funding for infected individuals, to purchase clean drinking water, food, vitamin supplements and complementary therapies. These have enabled assistance and improvement in many ways: diarrhea, nausea, neuropathy, irritated skin and rashes, wasting, fatigue, loss of appetite, immune suppression and successfully boosting the immune system, reducing side effects of the drugs and increased the efficacy of the HIV/AIDS drugs!

The conflict continues even though science and millions of affected people have more than proven the efficacy of these alternative treatments. The time is past due to end this conflict and acknowledge with rightful recognition their importance in the fight against AIDS! It is urgent that we use every available means to combat this disease and bring comfort to those in need.

Pharmaceuticals play a very important role in assisting the immune system when it is weakened and when the virus is out of control and causing serious problems. The only way to determine how the HIV is reacting in your body is through regular blood work. This knowledge of how HIV is reacting allows you and your physician to closely monitor your health status. You are better prepared to understand and address health issues. Often, people wait too long before getting tested and/or starting HIV/AIDS medications. Knowledge is the weapon to create a positive impact on our health. By using every available means, the more likely we are to survive!

We must end this conflict now!


Bradford McIntyre, HIV+ 20 years
www.PositivelyPositive.ca
Vancouver, B.C.
Canada

U.S. policies continually undermining AIDS prevention efforts!


I am appauled by the U.S. government and it's policies which have continually been undermining the efforts to control and prevent the further spread of HIV and AIDS.

First, funding cuts from those providing condoms, then funding cuts from needle exchange programs and now the U.S. government takes aim at those working to educate and reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS among sex workers.

Why does the rest of the world not stand up to the U.S. government? The funding is needed but at what costs? Further spread of HIV and AIDS?

As an individual living with HIV since 1984 and fully aware of the spread of HIV and AIDS globally; these tactics by the U.S. government, have and continue, to negatively affect the work being done by individuals, groups and organizations around the world who are working to stop the spead of HIV and AIDS!

This must stop!

Bradford McIntyre
www.Positively Positive.ca