Waving or Drowning?

HIV/AIDS Facts: Adult HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rates

In an effort to help raise awareness of the issue behind our (Red)emption campaign, we're going to post periodic HIV/AIDS statistics. Here's today's snapshot:

Adult HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rates (Ages 15-49)
2005

Rank	Country	Rate
	Global	1.0%
1	Swaziland	33.4%
2	Botswana	24.1%
3	Lesotho	23.2%
4	Zimbabwe	20.1%
5	Namibia	19.6%
6	South Africa	18.8%
7	Zambia	17.0%
8	Mozambique	16.1%
9	Malawi	14.1%
10	Central African Rep.	10.7%
11	Gabon	7.9%
12	Cote d'Ivoire	7.1%
13	Uganda	6.7%
14	Tanzania	6.5%
15	Kenya	6.1%
16	Cameroon	5.4%
17	Congo	5.3%
18	Nigeria	3.9%
19	Guinea-Bissau	3.8%
19	Haiti	3.8%

(Data from GlobalHealthFacts.org.)

A couple of points to note:

• These are national averages. There are areas within each country where the regional rate can be much higher or lower.

• We need to go to the 20th country on the list (Haiti, which is tied for 19th) to find the first non-African country. As Bono has said in the past, we are indeed watching a continent burn.

• The Stephen Lewis Foundation works in Africa.

• Proceeds from our (Red)emption campaign will be turned over to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

• Your $10 will make a difference!

The Saints Are Coming - The Video

Reaching Out to Our Friends Down Un(DER)

(Get it? (RED) spelled backwards. No? Well, it was the best we could do.)

In an attempt to be non-guilt inducing, yet tastefully proactive and mildly aggressive, Robert and I would like to declare that we are in the market for someone in Australia and/or New Zealand to fly the flag for (Red)emption.

We know there are still a couple of you down there in the land where toilets flush the wrong way who still read the blog. (In fact, one such person tried to convince me the toilet thing was a rumour, but I'm not buying it.) Who would like to be the first to participate, and to pass the word along to their mates?

Anyone?

A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world.
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Safe Traveling II (Updated)

This morning as I scanned my blog stats (given the (Red)emption campaign, I am all over the stats...) I saw a couple of hits from Malawi, and wondered if it might be David.

Turns out it probably was. Shiz has been updating the comments section of David's "last post", and he's even dropped in there himself. It's good to hear from him.

Take a moment to think of David in Africa, and maybe send up a prayer for his safety and health if that's your habit. And next fall, as you look at World Vision's Gift Catalogue full of David's images, you'll remember today.

UPDATE: David has checked in with us via the comments section.

Beyong Magazine and (Red)emption

We heard from our good friends at Beyond magazine this morning. They've generously put up 10 free subscriptions to their excellent mag for (Red)emption participants. So, when we're all done here we'll draw 10 names and let the winners know. Thanks Beyond!

(Red)emption - Week 1

Our (Red)emption campaign is one week old today! Robert & I want to thank you for your participation so far and give you an update on where we stand. After a somewhat slow start, we have become very energized because we can see the momentum building every day. Donors are appearing and blogs are adding links to our site campaign and seriously, how cool is that? We have achieved nearly 10% of our goal right out of the gate and the numbers are growing.

Number of Donors:
93

Countries Represented:

1. Canada
   • British Columbia
   • Northwest Territories
   • Alberta
   • Saskatchewan
   • Ontario
   • New Brunswick
2. United States
   • Virginia
   • Minnesota
   • New Jersey
   • Texas
   • Indiana
   • Colorado
   • Massachusetts
   • Illinois
   • Missouri
   • Tennessee
   • North Carolina
   • Arizona
   • New York
   • Georgia
   • California
   • South Carolina
3. South Africa
4. England

Number of Blogs linking to (Red)emption (that we're aware of):
28

Cool $10 Story:
At 93 years young, Linda Nelson still reads the paper cover to cover everyday--without glasses, I might add--and knows more about world affairs than anyone I know. She has been politically active her whole life. She gave me a big hug when she heard what we were doing, told me she knew Stephen Lewis's father back in the day, and handed me a ten dollar bill.

The linking blogs in particular are important because we absolutely need a HUGE viral element in order to reach our target of 1000. That's right, 1000!

As you can see above, we've got a good foothold in North America, but we are sorely lacking internationally. So, if you have international contacts, how about  sending a few emails? Or, if your country is not listed, how about being the first?

After all, it's only $10 CDN, or...

7.04 EUR (Euros)
11.72 AUD (Australian Dollars)
1,053.78 JPY (Japanese Yen)
13.31 NZD (New Zealand Dollars)
69.1747 HKD (Hong Kong Dollars)
402.078 INR (Indian Rupees)
27.1754 PLN (Polish Zlotych)

Just to name a few. (Check your currency here.)

We’ve had some great comments and many excellent email conversations so far. Thank you for the encouragement and support! If you haven’t done it yet, what are you waiting for?  We need you to donate your $10. The momentum is building as we are receiving emails daily from people we don’t know, thanking us and telling us how excited they are by this viral project. Don’t let it end with you. If you’ve donated your $10, pass it along to your friends to allow them the opportunity to participate in this. Think of it, virtually pocket change from 1000 people will raise an amount that will save lives! Someone’s mother, someone’s little girl, someone’s grandson, somebody’s life will be changed by this campaign. All this, for a measly $10. It’s really beginning to happen!

Some may not realize this, but I'm located in North Vancouver and Robert is in Toronto. We update each other many times a day, and we always sign off our emails or chats the same way:

"1000"

We can do this. We are doing this. It’s happening and it is very exciting! We are the people we've been waiting for. Thank you.

Bono Sees (Red)

Here's a quote from Bono that says it all:

Sometimes when I'm walking down the street a passer by will say "love your work on Africa, Bono, great cause." Sometimes, they wish they hadn't. As I'm Irish, I love to talk to strangers. I love to talk about Africa. It can be hard to get away... Each time it makes me think we need to do much more to get the message across that this is not a "cause," this pandemic that we and so many others are working on. 5,500 Africans dying a day of AIDS, a preventable, treatable disease is not a cause. 5,500 Africans dying each day is an emergency.

That's why he's behind Product(Red), and why we're running with our alternative, (Red)emption.

(The quote is taken from a post on the Nata Village blog, which we've been following for a couple of weeks now. And the village is featured in a Gap RED ad!)

Heads Up on Oprah Later Today

From the good people at Kaisernetwork.org:

The nationally syndicated "Oprah Winfrey Show" on Thursday is scheduled to air a program focusing on HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and the experiences of former NBA star Magic Johnson. Guests on the program are scheduled to include:

• CDC Director Julie Gerberding;
• Regan Hofmann, editor in chief of the monthly HIV/AIDS magazine POZ;
• Johnson and his wife, Cookie;
• Rev. Eugene Rivers, pastor of the Azusa Christian Church in Boston;
• Kim Smith, an infectious disease specialist at Rush University Medical Center; and
• HIV-positive U.S. residents.

The program's Web site includes a slideshow of the "new faces" of HIV/AIDS, information on the risks of HIV transmission for women and blacks and statistics on the HIV/AIDS epidemic ("Oprah Winfrey Show," 10/26). Check local listings for show times.

A couple of quick points:

• I like Oprah. Honest! I have issues with the realities behind Product(Red), and the way it was rolled out in North America, but she does a lot of good.

• I heard Eugene Rivers speak in New York a few years ago on the issue of HIV/AIDS, and he absolutely blew the doors off the place.

Catch the show if you can.

Look on The Bright Side

If I allowed it, a quick review of the news this morning could easily sink me into despair.

The Globe and Mail reports from Afghanistan that 60 civilians may have been killed in NATO operations. Meanwhile, in Washington President Bush concedes there have been "misstepps" in Iraq. And back in Ottawa, the inmates are still running the asylum. I could go on.

When it feels like I'm slipping, I listen to this song one more time. And then, right on cue, my Gmail beeps at me as another $10 comes in from someone else who refuses to give up. And I can't help but smile.

We are the people we've been waiting for.