Sock Monkeys Donated for HIV/AIDS
Posted by Tom Thayer in 
You’re wondering what the classic Sock Monkeys have to do with HIV/AIDS? Here’s the interesting story that we came across.
Katarina Thorsen, full-time art therapist at Keith Lynn Alternative secondary, heard about a Toronto-based sock monkey project a few years ago. Operation Sock Monkey supports Clowns Without Borders South Africa by shipping handmade monkeys to HIV/AIDS-affected communities in South Africa, Sudan and Ethiopia. The organization promotes hope and healing through laughter.
Her sock monkey-making classes help not just HIV/AIDS-affected communities but also her own students. Keith Lynn secondary is home to 120 students, many of whom face emotional, social and academic challenges that prevent them from attending mainstream schools. Thorsen introduced a sock monkey art class over a year ago as a therapy tool to help students deal with poverty, abuse and anxiety.
Thorsen uses the art project as a way to teach students about the importance of sharing, creating and giving. Students learn how to create something simple yet special, she said. “There’s something very powerful about creating this little thing out of a sock,” Thorsen said. “It’s just magic.”
Its an amazing project which benefits both parties involved. And if it involves Sock Monkeys, I love it!!!
Tom Thayer
This Day in History Jan 31, 1995: AIDS Becomes the Leading Cause of Death in Americans Aged 25 to 44
AIDS was first recognized in 1981. By 1995, according to data released by the Federal Centers for Disease Control on the 31st of 1995, AIDS had become the leading cause of death in Americans aged 25 to 44. It surpassed unintentional injury, cancer, and heart disease. While the report was released in 1995, it was based on collected data up to 1993, meaning that the disease actually became the leading cause of death in 1992.
The CDC also released information regarding the rise of HIV infection among heterosexual couples. By 1992, the leading transmission route for HIV was through heterosexual sex, making the disease an epidemic impacting persons across all spectrum’s of American life.
Source: http://nyti.ms/sOG7wE
For more information about ARE’s services, or to learn how you can help, contact Janet Tinkham at 540-536-5293. This post has been provided by Victoria Kidd, freelance writer and owner of OMP Consulting Group. (www.ompcg.com)
Famous Persons Lost to HIV/AIDS-Robert Reed
Robert Reed… Your first thought is Mike Brady of the Brady Bunch TV Series that was so popular.
Here’s some facts you might not have known about his time as Mr. Brady. Producers planned for Reed to star in something else. Originally titled, The Bradley Bunch, the show featured a widowed man, who had 3 kids from a previous marriage, marrying a divorcee, also with 3 kids, from a previous marriage. According to former Gilligan’s Island creator Sherwood Schwartz, he said about the show’s plan for 6 kids (meaning 3 boys/3 girls) to create a well-blended family: “I read a small item in the Los Angeles Times. It said that that year, 29% of all marriages had a previous spouse with a child or children from that other marriage. It was a social phenomenon that was occurring, and I said, ‘I could take advantage of that.’ First choice for Mr. Brady was Gene Hackman Mrs Brady was Shirley Jones (Partridge Family) for game buffs.
Reed was married and had a daughter in later years. Reed died on May 12, 1992, at his home in South Pasadena, California, after a six month battle with colon cancer and lymphoma; he tested HIV positive the previous year but did not have AIDS at the time of his death, as has been reported in the media.
You have be enlightened about Mr. Brady… now go about your day, be happy-we like you! 
Tom Thayer
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Reed
Pets & Persons with HIV
I read a nice article how pets are a big help in finding support and pleasure to women with HIV/AIDS. I think ‘everyone’ whether on not they have any disease benefits from having pets around the house.
MTV To Air HIV/AIDS Stories
MTV has always been on the cutting edge of HIV/AIDS education and a new show is coming soon, here’s some details about it.
Living with HIV, stigma, rape and high risk sexual behaviours are just some of the important topics covered in the second season of Shuga (Shuga: Love, Sex, Money), the new six-part drama series about sex-and-relationships amongst contemporary African youth.
Produced by MTV Networks Africa in association with The MTV Staying Alive Foundation, PEPFAR and the Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation (HFG) and the Government of Kenya, Shuga: Love, Sex, Money is part of a multimedia campaign conceived to spread the message about responsible sexual behaviour and tolerance. The initiative, which was warmly embraced by youth when Shuga first aired in 2009, is funded extensively by the U.S. Government through PEPFAR.
It might take place in Africa but the message is the same here in the US.
Tom Thayer
Atlanta Police Job Discrimination?
Story out of Atlanta, GA.
The 40-year-old man sued the city in 2010, claiming he was denied a police officer job solely because he has the HIV virus. Atlanta attorneys argued there are other officers on the force with HIV, and said the police department does not have a blanket policy disqualifying candidates with the virus. Gay rights groups and police agencies are closely following the case. The judges will issue a ruling later.
The man sued under the pseudonym Richard Roe and has requested anonymity because he believes his medical condition could prevent him from other job opportunities. Roe moved to Atlanta to find a better job and joined the city’s taxicab enforcement unit. In January 2006, he decided he wanted to join the police force. He passed a series of tests, but hit a snag when a blood test revealed he had the virus that causes AIDS. The doctor didn’t do any more tests, according to records, and recommended to the city that he have “no physical contact or involvement with individuals.”
The stories of HIV discrimination still continue which is sad to see. There is so much education regarding transmission of HIV that you’d think everyone would be educated.. but alas, that is not the case.
Tom Thayer
info: http://news.yahoo.com/judges-weigh-hiv-infected-mans-fight-job-160724433.html
Tennessee Senator Stacey Campfield Spreads Misinformation About HIV
In today’s times with information and the knowledge regarding transmission of HIV/AIDS this story is painful to read. An educated, US State Senator from Tennessee; Stacey Campfield states that, “My understanding is that it is virtually — not completely, but virtually — impossible to contract AIDS through heterosexual sex…very rarely [transmitted],” said Campfield adding, ”What’s the average lifespan of a homosexual? it’s very short. Google it yourself.”
OMG!!! This is absolutely wrong. Believing this can get you killed. Spreading this kind of misinformation and having people believe it will get people sick or dead. It is NOT virtually impossible to contract AIDS through heterosexual sex. In fact, it’s very easy.
According to the State of Tennessee’s own statistics, there are 3,694 people in the state living with HIV who acquired it through heterosexual transmission. 21% of HIV/AIDS cases in Tennessee in general were contracted through heterosexual sex. Among black Tennesseans, 26% of HIV/AIDS cases were transmitted through heterosexual sex.
Senator Campfield is also the force behind his state’s infamous “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. Speaking about his “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Campfield claims, ”[Homosexuals] do not naturally reproduce. It has not been proven that it is nature. It happens in nature, but so does bestiality That does not make it right or something we should be teaching in school.”
This man is very, very scary spreading false information that is already scientifically proven and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states on its website the correct information. I now our country is based on free-speech but with his status as Senator, his actions and words could have a deadly effect.
Tom Thayer
Bill Gates Pledges $750 Million to Fight World AIDS
Microsoft chairman and philanthropist Bill Gates pledged a further $750 million to The AIDS fund on Thursday and urged governments to continue their support to save lives. “These are tough economic times, but that is no excuse for cutting aid to the world’s poorest,” he said at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.
The public-private organization, which has the backing of celebrities like rock star Bono, accounts for around a 25% of international financing to fight HIV and AIDS, as well as the majority of funds to fight TB and malaria.
Recently it has been forced to cut back and said last year it would make no new grants or funding until 2014. Gates, however, played down the problem and praised the fund’s transparency, which he said had exposed corruption problems that might well have remained hidden at other organizations.
“If you are going to do health programs in Africa you are going to have some percentage that is misused,” he said. Recent scientific studies have shown that getting timely AIDS drug treatment to those with HIV can significantly cut the number of people who become newly infected with the virus, increasing the case for maximum access to drugs.
The World owes thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for continuing to fight the deadly diseases that face this world.
Tom Thayer
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bill-gates-pledges-750-mln-troubled-aids-fund-092549198.html
Milton Hershey School Saga Continues Despite AIDS Protestors
I am watching this event unfold and will keep updated blogs about it since it’ll be an important court decision when this comes to trial.
It looks like the school will file a response by the first week of February or the end of the month. School officials said they are prepared to argue the case in court, and they believe they made the correct decision in rejecting the HIV+ boy’s application.
“We understand and respect that people have different viewpoints on this matter,” said Connie McNamara, school spokeswoman. “We hope that fair-minded people also understand that we did not make this decision in ignorance, that we looked at all the complicated issues and made the decision we thought was best for our students.”
Specifically, school officials say that while it is not condoned, there is no way to stop their students from having sex with each other. And because students do have sex, admitting a child with HIV would constitute a direct threat to other students. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, school officials say they could be allowed to reject the student’s admission on that basis.
HIV and AIDS advocates have rejected that argument, saying that with modern medical treatment even unprotected sexual encounters with an infected individual rarely result in the virus being spread. Instead, they see the school’s stance as a form of discrimination. This HIV/AIDS Discrimination Suit will be a big news item as it moves through the court system with large implications. We can only hope that the legal system stands firm in its decision that there has been discrimination and send a message to any future violators who look to target HIV+ individuals.
Tom Thayer
info: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/01/hivaids_activitists_outraged_o.html
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