Every year the Dominica Olympic Committee joins the rest of the international community in celebrating the olympic spirit through the Olympic Day Run. This is in honour of the foundation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 23rd June 1894 in Paris, France. This year marked the second time that I have participated although this year it crept up on me like a thief in the night. Let me explain:

Newtown aka Harlem may be the mecca of football in Dominica but for sure Bath Estate is the future. And every year, we prove again and again why that is so with a crop of young talent that bag trophy after trophy in all leagues, be it the national or off season football leagues. If only we could be Cesseme Street this year, then all would be good.

Flowers got to me this week, so i'm posting shots of anthuriums as the pics of the week. A few years ago the Anthurium Late Blight demolished the local anthurium production, leaving all farmers/growers with nothing but empty shadehouses and farm lands. Anthuriums in Dominica are usually grown under shade netting or in forested areas where the plants can recieve shade during its growth period.

It's Not Too Late to Start Saving Lives in Nigeria

By Yinka Adeyemi

September 2001
Courtesy of AIDS News Service, Vol. 3, No. 2, a publication of Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria. www.nigeria-aids.org

In January of 2001, Mauritania, a country with one of the lowest reported HIV prevalence rates in Africa, took a step that Nigerian leaders neglected to take more than 15 years ago: The country's Senate held a Special Session on HIV/AIDS, inviting experts to speak on the nature of the epidemic, and to suggest ways to nip it in the bud, even as the epidemic ravages the rest of the African continent.

The Mauritanian Senate recognized the urgency of concerted action against the epidemic, and suggested the introduction of sexual education in schools as well as a privately managed national agency to play an advocacy role. It is a refreshing, bold step from a country about the size of a few local government areas in Nigeria.

Around 1989, when neighboring countries were reporting an outbreak of HIV/AIDS, Nigeria reported only 11 cases of HIV infection. Officials, unwisely and against every historical epidemiological trend, diverted attention from the virus, focusing instead on mosquitoes and malaria. As they did so, fuelled by apathy and delusion, the virus silently crept into the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, infecting millions and killing thousands.

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Due to bad policy, many Nigerians will have to suffer, and many will die from the virus, barring the sudden development of an efficacious vaccine. Today, even if we take the grossly underestimated figures used by the Nigerian government, the country has a whopping 2.6 million HIV/AIDS cases. And this is primarily the result of callous inaction and arrogance on the part of government. Information was adequate, but officials simply refused to use it or even take it seriously.

It was a familiar pattern in many African countries, with the possible exception of Uganda and a few East African countries. Indeed, rather than begin early intervention to educate and stem the spread of HIV/AIDS, African countries initially engrossed themselves in a wasteful debate over the origin of AIDS.

It all probably started in 1985, at the First International Conference on Virus-Related Cancers in Dakar, Senegal, in which I participated along with the co-discoverer of HIV, Dr. Robert Gallo, and the head of the OAU Scientific Commission, Dr. Williams. It was at this conference that respected scientists articulated their theory about Africa as the origin of not only AIDS, but of many other frightening diseases also. For instance, Dr. Kevin De Cock argued that Ebola virus, Marburg virus and Lassa fever, all thought to be new diseases, "turned out to have been endemic in Africa." Meanwhile, Gallo aired his African-Monkey Connection theory.

Said Gallo at the Dakar Conference: "Viruses closely related to HTLV (Human Type Lymphotropic Virus), but distinct from it, have been isolated from Old World monkeys. This and other facts led us to propose that the ancestral origin of HTLV is Africa."

As I wrote in a syndicated column in 1985, to a people who, barely 20 years earlier were under the yoke of Western colonialism, the Africa-Monkey argument was another indication of racism by Western scientists. Therefore, because of our history of colonialism and slavery, the first impulse of African leaders and opinion formers was to defensively repudiate such Western claims with a display of nationalistic garb.

But while Africans were engaged in this needless debate, intense anti-HIV/AIDS efforts were going on in the West. Pressure groups were forming and national education campaigns on HIV were being launched everywhere.

In Nigeria in 1985, it was difficult to meet one person who did not view HIV/AIDS as a "disease of the white man," and the African connection theory as more evidence of the Western association of Africa with everything negative. Well-meaning people who dared to preach abstinence or condom use as a way to curb the spread of HIV were routinely laughed at as victims of malicious Western propaganda. In the prevailing environment, therefore, many did not see the need for behavioral change. Unfortunately, that attitude persisted for years. Yet, many science writers knew that a major outbreak in Nigeria, with its 100 million people, was only a matter of time.

Such was the prevailing attitude in Nigeria, and it was the principal reason the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) was not inaugurated until last year. The Committee's work is cut out for it, and the challenges are daunting.

Although the death of popular musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and the admission by his world-renowned physician brother, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, that the musician died of AIDS has promoted some awareness and encouraged the use of condoms, many Nigerians still remain unpersuaded. A survey of some Nigerians, selected randomly over two weeks in January 2001, suggests that many are armed with information about the disease. But even those who reported adequate knowledge said they did not see any reason to wear condoms because, "I do not sleep around" or "I know the people I sleep with." Less than 5 percent said they would consider voluntary testing, while the majority said they would rather not know about their HIV status in order not to be ostracized by friends and family.

That is not an irrational fear in Nigeria today. Fela's brother suffered unprecedented assault in the press by commentators who accused him of a criminal vendetta against the more popular musician. Worse than ostracism is the likelihood of an HIV-infected person being fired from gainful employment.

There appears to be no recourse in Nigeria for such people who are wrongfully dismissed from their jobs. In a shocking case that resonated throughout Nigeria, a judge on January 22, 2001, disallowed a former hospital worker, Georgiana Ahamefule, who was dismissed from her job, from appearing in her defense out of fear that she would spread the virus in court! Her case remains unresolved.

The attitude of the judge underscores a desperate need in Nigeria for a national education program on HIV/AIDS, along with comprehensive programs to combat the virus, including condom use, vaccine tests, counseling and treatment.

Political leaders should begin to speak openly about the virus and participate in public blood screenings. Of course, it is probably too late for 2.6 million Nigerians, who, unfortunately, will eventually become the cadavers next door. But far too many Nigerians remain at risk. And they must be saved.

Yinka Adeyemi is a Columnist for the Daily Times of Nigeria and author of "A Media Handbook for HIV Vaccine Trials for Africa" published by UNAIDS.

Arguably his truest lyrics, according to his own words. Although not my favourite song of Michael (I have many favourites), I felt it appropriate to share it:

Yesterday I was on the radio with the Peace Corps Volunteer of the National Youth Council of Dominica promoting our Summer Camp, 2009. It was a great experience until some callers decided to make petty, trivial comments that had nothing to do with the spirit of what was being discussed. At that moment, I understood clearly what people have been saying for a long time. Dominicans just like to talk for the sake of talking and make every non-issue the issue at hand.

Yes, I finally accepted one of the hundreds of invites I keep getting from friends to join Facebook. I guess I will find out what the craze is about now although I think i'm already hooked.

I've been going on that site every other minute to get updates, to reply to contacts... guess i'm a fan of Facebook now.

Check out my page

(16/06/2009)

As the HIV response represents one of the soundest of all possible global investments, it is critical that commitment to HIV efforts be maintained and strengthened in the midst of these economic challenges - Report of the Secretary-General to the 63rd General Assembly.

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health of South Africa addressed the General Assembly on 16 June 2009
Credit: UN Photo/Jenny Rockett

At the 63rd session of the General Assembly held in New York on 16 June 2009, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented a report on the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. The first address by UN member states was delivered by Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the new Minister of Health of South Africa. Speaking on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Motsoaledi noted recent progress made in South Africa and in the SADC region in confronting AIDS.

This year’s report provides an update on developments in the AIDS response, looks forward to the agreed 2010 milestones, recommends key actions to accelerate progress and urges renewed commitment to the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

In June 2008, the General Assembly held a High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS that assessed progress in the response to the global HIV epidemic. Reports from 147 countries showed that important progress had been made, including in the areas of access to antiretroviral therapy and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

However, the report shows that, despite such encouraging developments, considerable challenges remain, including significant access gaps for key HIV-related services. The pace of new infections continues to outstrip the expansion of treatment programmes, and commitment to HIV prevention remains inadequate. While funds available for HIV in low- and middle-income countries increased from $11.3 billion in 2007 to $13.7 billion in 2008, there has been a global economic downturn since the 2008 High-level Meeting.

As the HIV response represents one of the soundest of all possible global investments, it is critical that commitment to HIV efforts be maintained and strengthened in the midst of these economic challenges, report of the Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General’s report also highlights that despite the many commitments made by Member States to protect the rights of people living with HIV and people vulnerable to HIV infection, many countries have laws and policies that are inconsistent with the commitments and result in reduced access to essential HIV services and commodities.

In 2007, one third of countries reported that they still lacked laws to prohibit HIV-related discrimination, and many countries with anti-discrimination legislation have problems with adequate enforcement. A total of 84 countries reported that they have laws and regulations that present obstacles to effective HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for vulnerable subpopulations. Furthermore, some 60 countries have laws that restrict the entry, stay and residence of people living with HIV based on HIV-positive status only. Finally, an increasing number of countries have enacted overly broad laws that criminalize transmission or exposure to HIV, as well as non-disclosure of HIV status. Such measures are likely to lead people to avoid HIV testing, thereby undermining efforts to achieve universal access. Therefore, the report recommends that laws and law enforcement should be improved and programmes to support access to justice should be taken to scale to prevent discrimination against people living with HIV. HIV-related travel restrictions should be eliminated; the criminalization of HIV transmission should be limited to intentional transmission; and laws that burden or impede service access among sex workers, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users should be repealed.

Improved analytic methods have enabled countries to better characterize the magnitude and dynamics of their epidemics, to select appropriate interventions and tailor evidence-informed strategies to address their specific national context. The strategic tailoring of national responses magnifies the results of HIV programmes and reduces waste and inefficiency. Improved monitoring and evaluation systems also permit countries to revise national strategies as their epidemics evolve over time. In their efforts to closely align national strategies with actual national circumstances, countries should work to understand and address the social and structural determinants of HIV risk and vulnerability, such as gender inequalities, social marginalization and stigma and discrimination.

The HIV epidemic presents a long-term global challenge and requires a sustained commitment for an effective long-term response. As the coverage and quality of HIV programmes increase, the report calls to intensify efforts to strengthen the health, education, social welfare and other key sectors, and to integrate HIV with tuberculosis, sexual and reproductive health and other health services.

The long-term AIDS response will be sustainable only if substantially greater success is achieved in slowing the rate of new HIV infections, while providing optimal services for people living with HIV, the report underlines. Bringing to scale the appropriate mix of behavioural, biomedical and structural HIV-prevention strategies would more than halve the number of all new HIV infections between now and 2015. Access to such a combination of prevention strategies, however, remains sharply limited in most countries according to the Secretary-General’s report.

Finally, the report emphasizes that achieving national universal access targets by 2010 will require an estimated annual outlay of $25 billion within two years, necessitating renewed commitment from all providers of HIV-related funding. Sustaining an effective AIDS response will require unprecedented leadership at all levels, including from Governments, civil society and affected communities.

Be careful about International House in New York. I innocently applied for a housing in this place for 6 months, but I did not know it was actually a SCAM.

I went through a very bureaucratic process. First I had to pay a NOT REFUNDABLE 65 USD fee for the application. Then, there are admission criteria that I really think I was fulfilling, but I then received a letter telling me I was denied the housing.

I then asked why I was denied the place, and after 3 phone call attempts, the person told me that I did not fulfill the criteria in the same extent than other candidate, but could not explain why exactly or specifically.

She told me that it was like a university application!!!
I am really upset against International House, which basically steals international students or young people's money!!!!

I you feel you were in the same case and this is actually a SCAM, please write me a email at: sigar14@gmail.com.
The more we are the more powerful we will be.

Cheers,

Simon

I was speaking to my neighbour yesterday and talking to him about poetry, he is also a poet, and he said something to me that resonated and influenced my latest poem (wrote it last night). He said a poet must reflect his society and should also be able to speak for the people and about the people. In plain english, a poet should be part and parcel of his community.

So i got to thinking about my country and the hot issues of the day and this poem just glided out of the tip of my pen, off course i had to go back a few times and edit and realign the verses and so forth but i hope the final product does justice and speaks from the Dominican perspective. I also used a lot of Dominican lingo, not really the french styled creole, just our broken english.

So here it is:

De Dominican Gift
By Delroy “Nesta” Williams

Society in a rift,
Blue say is borboll
While red convince is a gift.
So much debate about de bin purchase
And who truly benefit,
Look I hear is campaign money dat trafficking,
An’ me neighbour say cocaine money dey laundering.
But as garbage bin knock down
Look fertilizer issue jump in de boxing ring,
But de poor farmer man, he eh talking
Cuz he love de handout ting.
Yes, de man love de "salt"
An’ he eh care who at fault,
Rubbish bin or fertilizer doh matter to him,
Or if de Big Man wrongly profiting
As long as is de Labour Party dat winning.

Now, Blue looking confident
But inside dey panicking,
An all de rest, dey afraid and shaking
Cuz dey know de PM cunning an’ convincing,
Too much psychology an’ philosophy.
De likle man eh understanding,
Dat wrong is wrong.
Yes, all borboll is borboll,
Whether red, blue or green
In de end is Dominica dat losing.

I cyah wait eh
For de next borboll to expose.
Yes, Boy everyday I listening.
Every morning I tune to Q,
To dat radio station, I man glue
From de moment I rise
Is Matt in de morning
An Saturday, between Me and You.
Till Election Day come and pass,
Then we go see who really win de race
And who come dead lass.

I doh care who win or lose,
Cuz it clear dey all de same
Doing de same damn ting
An one accusing de oda of cheating
But de sad thing is eh,
Dem poor people always along for de ride
Only seeing blue, green an’ red.
Boy, dey really colour mad or colour blind.
I waiting for de election meley
As society continue de rift,
Yes, dat is truly de Dominican gift…

by Dr. Wayne Dyer

Dr. Dyer is an internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development. He's the author of over 30 books, has created many audio programs and videos, and has appeared on thousands of television and radio shows.

For more information: Dr. Dyers Website