During the innocence of my youth I stumbled upon AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
What I mean by this is that I was singing along to a song that I had no idea was about the disease until it was pointed out to me. Prior to that day I knew nothing of it.
I briefly contemplated the disease and then put it out of my mind. I didn't consider that it could or would ever touch on my life.
In the 80’s when I first heard of the disease there was limited information available for sufferers and even less for the general public.
Sometime later here in Australia around 1987 TV commercials began to appear featuring a haunting Grim Reaper to shock people into the realisation that HIV/AIDS was amongst us.
...here's the Grim Reaper commercial found on YouTube for you to view.
What I mean by this is that I was singing along to a song that I had no idea was about the disease until it was pointed out to me. Prior to that day I knew nothing of it.
I briefly contemplated the disease and then put it out of my mind. I didn't consider that it could or would ever touch on my life.
In the 80’s when I first heard of the disease there was limited information available for sufferers and even less for the general public.
Sometime later here in Australia around 1987 TV commercials began to appear featuring a haunting Grim Reaper to shock people into the realisation that HIV/AIDS was amongst us.
...here's the Grim Reaper commercial found on YouTube for you to view.
Be warned it's unpleasant.
To my knowledge, unfortunately for a long while that was the extent of the education and if you managed to watch the video you can clearly see that it wasn't going to be enough. It frightened us, it didn't educate us.
Ignorance about the disease is still at a high level.
In Australia it incorrectly appears that education in regards to HIV/AIDS is no longer prevalent, yet to my knowledge it is estimated that there are more than 25,000 people recorded living with HIV at this point in time. That’s a big chunk of people living with a contagious disease within a small population.
It is estimated that more than 25 million people have died worldwide since 1981 of AIDS
It is also estimated that there are over 30 million people living in the world today with HIV/AIDS
HIV has touched me personally...
No I’m not HIV positive, but someone very close to me is.
When I first received this news it was overwhelming and I felt devastated.
At the time it felt like the worse news possible...Mostly due to my ignorance.
I don’t think that there is any need for me to elaborate about the people I know living with HIV.
What I do want to emphasise is that we need to be talking about it with compassion and we do need to continue with HIV/AIDS education and awareness.
This is a disease that can be managed on many levels and that there is no valid reason for any human being to be suffering due to anothers ignorance and lack of compassion. Medication needs to be made affordable and available to everyone who needs it no matter where they are or who they are.
Big love to all of you who manage your disease and are sometimes forced to live with it as a secret in our so called educated society.
When I first received this news it was overwhelming and I felt devastated.
At the time it felt like the worse news possible...Mostly due to my ignorance.
I don’t think that there is any need for me to elaborate about the people I know living with HIV.
What I do want to emphasise is that we need to be talking about it with compassion and we do need to continue with HIV/AIDS education and awareness.
This is a disease that can be managed on many levels and that there is no valid reason for any human being to be suffering due to anothers ignorance and lack of compassion. Medication needs to be made affordable and available to everyone who needs it no matter where they are or who they are.
Big love to all of you who manage your disease and are sometimes forced to live with it as a secret in our so called educated society.
May the suffering end sooner than later with medication to be made available to everyone, everywhere.
I love you xoxo
Don't forget about those who are living with this disease and their loved ones.
Help yourself and others by being informed. Talk about it... ignorance is not bliss.
Swans stay paired with the same partner for life...
After hatching the Cygnets can swim and 
Yes it is happy Spring time in
Anthony was amazed when he looked out the window and observed... the present fairies at work.
Anthony was amazed when he looked out the window and observed... an alien grinning.
Anthony was amazed when he looked out the window and observed... aliens playing on the grass.
.jpg)
+(1024x683).jpg)
