Did you know?

Did you people know that Friday, December 1st 2006 was World Aids Day?
You probably didn't. But then again, you probably did.

OH WELL. Here's some info on it since it's a really big issue in our modern world.

That sounded like something out of an essay......REWIND.

YO. INFOZ ON HIV/AIDS L0LZ.

And that was just annoying. Back to the subject.

Everyday, at least 6000 children (note the 6000. Not just 6, 60 or 600. But 6000), are orphaned because of AIDS. EVERYDAY. If all these children held hands, they would stretch 5 and a half times across the United States. And by 2011, this virtual chain will reach around the world.
That's really sad. To go through life without your parents. Left alone to fend for yourself at such a young age and another sad thing is that most of these kids are HIV+.

Here's another interesting tidbit for you from TIMES magazine.

After 21 years as the world's most elusive and mysterious killer, the AIDS virus has ended 24 million lives. It's likely to get worse: the United Nations predicts that as many as 70 million could die from AIDS over the next 20 years, leaving 25 million orphans behind by 2010.

Now, THAT is really sad. 24 million lives. Gone. Just like that. And another 70 million more could die if something isn't done.

But then again, people are just so goshdarn STUPID. S - T - U -P - I - D.
You can probably guess why. Damn smart lah issit? Never practice safe sex.
There's a bunch of idiots who think that having sex with a virgin can cure AIDS too.
BODOHBODOHBODOH!!!
It's all because of people like these that little children are getting orphaned.

Fine. So it's not entirely THEIR fault.
The reason why all this happens is because they don't have the proper education.
Hence the emerging of the whole sex with a virgin thing. They made it into an old wives tale.

How lame.

These people need to realize that they can get HIV from sex and from blood. Children can also get HIV from their mothers (when they grow inside pregnant mothers and when they drink breast milk.) Sex is one way to get HIV. If people use condoms when they have sex, they get HIV much less.
You can also get HIV by sharing needles. This means using a dirty (not clean) needle after someone else has used it. Some people who take illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine take these drugs by needle. Some of these people share needles. If one person has HIV and he shares his needles, he can give HIV to other people. But if people have clean needles or if they know how to clean needles, they do not get HIV as much.

Another sad thing is there's no cure for HIV/AIDS. Although there are various drugs that can be used to help slow down the progress of the disease, it does not eradicate HIV/AIDS. Some drugs also have certain toxic side effects. I have no idea what these side effects are, but if they're toxic, they're most likely bad. But it's still way better than just sitting there, waiting to die.
Although these drugs exist, only 15% of the people in the world who need HIV drugs get them. Most of the people who get them live in wealthy (not poor) countries.
Like those in Africa, for example. They certainly couldn't afford these drugs. They'd rather spend it on food and such! Even in the USA and Europe, people are having a tough time buying these drugs as they can cost more than $1000 every month.

Just so you know, this little boy takes those drugs and he's changed soooo much after he started taking them.
Click on the picture to read the article.

And here's something that's copied and pasted from TIMES magazine.

Helms and other like-minded politicians are also hostile to efforts to educate people, particularly young people, about safe-sex practices. Most teens are not likely to be exposed to the AIDS virus, but those who become sexually active at an early age, particularly in poor communities where drug use is rampant, are at risk. A Government study found that about 1% of the black teenage girls who bore children in New York City during 1988 were infected with the AIDS virus. There is a 40% to 60% chance that an infected woman will transmit the virus to her child.

It is clear that educational efforts should be generously funded and sustained indefinitely. Each new group of adolescents must be alerted afresh to the dangers of AIDS and the ways to block the disease. This is especially - critical for young gay men. While the large majority of older homosexuals have learned to practice safe sex, the younger generation does not appear to be so scrupulous. One study in San Francisco of 100 gay men, ages 18 to 25, found that within the previous month 46% had engaged at least once in anal intercourse without a condom.

Although this was a small study, and it may not be indicative of behavior in all gay communities, the findings were shocking. They show how far educational efforts still have to go. If society is unwilling to expend the energy and resources necessary to teach its young people to avoid AIDS, then the epidemic could grow ever larger and ever more tragic well into the next century.

Hear that? LARGER. MORE TRAGIC.
Not cool.

So, go do something about it.
Sign the ONE campaign or something. Go buy something RED.
I signed it. But I didn't buy it. haha. Although I did send in this piece of art.

PRETTY. No?