call your rep

I've copied and pasted an e-mail that i just got from AJWS about the new bill in congress to support ending the restrictions on US funding for HIV/AIDS projects. this may be one of the most political things i ever write on this blog since mostly it seems to be about my own musings. BUT i think this is a pretty critical issue. right now, PEPFAR funding in Africa (which is an amazing resource and is putting tons of people on meds) basically puts huge restrictions on organizations talking about condoms and/or abortions. in africa, when an organization that works with HIGH SCHOOL students can't talk about condoms that funding is doing those kids a HUGE disservice. they are having sex and though abstinence is definitely the only way to protect yourself fully, most kids don't decide to do that and many many women don't really HAVE the choice. we need to give them the most possible information about ways in which they can protect themselves and condoms are an obvious, easy, cheap way to do that!

don't get me too wrong. i think PEPFAR is an amazing initiative, but to put restrictions on it in these ways minimizes its impact, which at a time like this is a unjustice to those it is attempting to serve.

please read the letter below (an e-mail from American Jewish World Service), read up on the bill yourself, and call your reps to get them involved in making our AIDS work that much more effective.

Dear Hannah,

Today, roughly 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS. As you might already know, AJWS is a strong supporter of increased U.S. global funding for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care.

We are deeply concerned, however, about restrictions in U.S. funding that are undermining efforts to prevent the greatest number of new infections possible. Each year, there are well over four million new infections, and the highest rates of new infections are among women and youth ages 15 to 24. Unfortunately, a large share of U.S. global AIDS funding for prevention currently goes to abstinence-only-until marriage programs that have been discredited by experts in the United States and abroad.

As Congress approaches its August recess, we need YOUR help to change these policies.

Please call and urge your Representative to cosponsor the PATHWAY Act (Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act) of 2007, HR 1713. The PATHWAY Act would eliminate funding restrictions on prevention programs, and require the President to develop a plan to strengthen prevention strategies aimed at women and youth.

Making the call is easy. Here is the number and a sample script:

Call Representative Kennedy at (202) 225-4911

My name is __________ and I'm from __________. I'm calling to ask [insert your Representative's name here] to cosponsor the PATHWAY Act of 2007(HR 1713), which would remove the 33% abstinence-until-marriage earmark on global HIV prevention funding. As a constituent, it is important to me that U.S. funding goes toward providing effective, comprehensive HIV prevention programs. Thank you.

So please, pick up the phone today and make your voice heard. And remember to click here after you complete your call, so we can track our progress.

Thank you for taking action to fight this global pandemic.

AJWS Action Team