Today President George Bush announced his five (5)year- $30 billion dollar plan for AIDS Relief to Africa.It is called the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief or PEPFAR
(More...) Don't get too excited. After reading Bono's statement in response,I don't think we should pull out the corks just yet.
In a statement released today,he said..." this could be a turning point if other G8 countries meeting in Germany next week follow President Bush's lead". Hold that thought.This past Sunday,I spent my time at a Ghanaian Church in Brooklyn, New York celebrating their Men's Day.Even though I am a woman,I was invited and participated on the program as one of the "distinguished guests". The Ghanaian Ambassador was also there.The church was packed and there was an air of fullness and abundance in the atmosphere which satiated my spirit and soul.
While worshipping and socializing with members of the congregation,the most preeminent thought in my mind was the AIDS crisis. During the fellowship dinner I asked questions about that and other issues particular to the continent of Africa and the country of Ghana,hoping to get a better handle on what they thought could be done in those countries in Africa that are hardest hit like Nigeria,Kenya,South Africa,Lesotho,etc. I got some good and informative responses.
The
AIDS crisis in Africa has gotten some solid attention by the media over the years as well as from the entertainment industry with notable celebrities throwing one gala and fundraiser after the next. Creative and inspiring projects like
"Red",which reportedly
raised $25 million last quarter ,according to Bono, is sponsored by the clothing chain "Gap" and promoted by celebrities such as
Oprah,
Alicia Keys,
Bono and others who do a lion's share to bring attention to this travesty of mammoth proportions. It gets the public's attention(More below).
In addition,Alicia Keys and Bono's duet "Don't Give Up Africa" has graced the airwaves with all of the proceeds from the purchase of the mp3 earmarked for the purchase of needed medicine for children (To buy the song yourself,please click
here. Another link is provided in the body of the blog article below).
As you read, or if you buy the song,as you listen to it, think about the billions of dollars being spent on war,yet children,women and men are dying everyday and dropping like flies because they lack needed money to buy medicine that could save their lives. The Red Campaign sponsored by Gap corporation and spearheaded by Bono is designed to raise some of that money. Alicia Keys' Keep A Child Alive campaign which Iman is now serving as spokesperson for is also raising funds for this crisis of humanity. So is the record "Don't Give Up Africa". However,they can't do it alone. The $30 billion in the President's proposed plan could also make a huge difference.The money just has to get to those who really need it.With as many people as possible joining in this thing,we could save some lives.
Leave the gossip columns alone for a second and ask yourself, "Did I buy something "Red" today? Better yet, "Did I contact my Senator,congressperson or my Church's pastor to see what our congregation could do to help out creatively and effectively in this matter? We need to keep the momentum going. As a minister myself,I'm working on some ideas for churches.As soon as I have completed the plans,I'll write a blog. In the meantime, you can get over to Bono's organization
Data.org and see how churches and other organizations can plug in.
I lift up the people of Africa today who are dying from the AIDS pandemic. Let's pray also for the many babies who have been orphaned by this ravaging disease.In honor of African's everywhere, the church I visited Sunday, the continent of Africa and all those working tirelessly to solve the AIDS crisis, which is poised to wipe out an entire continent(Africa), I lift up today's blog entry.
And, I top it also with cautious optimism in celebration of
PEPFAR:
Republished from Heavier Octaves Blog dated October 17,2006:
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The song which is a plea to Africa not to give up in the face of overwhelming death and disease in the wake of the AIDS pandemic is haunting,moving and soulful. It is currently in rotation on the
Heavier Octaves Radio ..."playing sound and music on the scale of humanity...deep and broad..." and has been for nearly a year now
(See related blog).
The song has been selected as one of Revcoolc's picks as a winning combination of "social observation" and "protest" in a related
Heavier Octaves' blog on Myspace.com. Revcoolc is and has been a supporter of the mission and philosophy of
Keep A Child Alive and feels their efforts are well worth promoting and "getting the word out" about.
And,of course,kudos to Oprah,Bono and Alicia for their continued efforts in this area. You can buy your "red t-shirt" at the
Gap,purchase the song "Don't Give Up Africa" on the
Keep A Child Alive website's Sony Music Store link
here. You can also tune into
Heavier Octaves Radio to hear the song in rotation on our internet broadcast. It is on our playlist and we are keeping it in heavy rotation this month in honor of this most recent AIDS campaign.
We hope you will take the time to buy a t-shirt at the
Gap , if you don't have time to get involved in the "war on aids" as a social or political activist. The money you spend will be channeled to those who need it most
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God bless you all and remember to keep Africa and those struggling with the ravages of AIDS worldwide in your prayers.
Peace,
Cynthia(Revcoolc)
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