Battling Aids In Africa

[wonkajh]

Hey this is willy from raleigh NC and I am a highschool student at Enloe HS (recently my high school has been in the national news but im using that to just gain some familarity. any way today I went to a presentation by the famous invisible children and it was so inspirational. I am currently part of a small non profit organization called BAIA pronounced Bay-ah which stands for Battling Aids in Africa. I am sort of a designer so i'm helping make our website. I am an active member of the insanely mac community and I know that it is so easy to spend hours and hours doing cool stuff with your computer and learning about mac and windows and i find this a valuable thing to do, but i thought of an idea to help out the world and this is the first place I wanted to ask. I know that so many of you are designers and just creative individuals, so I would like to request (for now) if anyone could design a powerful logo that either just says BAIA or has a meaningful logo attached. I will work on expanding this idea to bigger design efforts, but for right now it is just for BAIA. I know that this isnt the ideal place to post this comment so also if anyone could tell me a highly viewed site that I can post this sort of thing on that I will get lots of sincere responces that would also be great. thank you just for reading this and if you can help that would be much appreciated by all.

Edited March 2, 2007 by wonkajh

[Colonel]

I am an active member of the insanely mac community

You sure are active, with all 7 posts of yours.

 

I'm not sure if this is considered this spam or what...

[Guest Ramm]

There are quite a few links...I thought this was spam.

 

Honestly, I don't care about AIDS in Africa because Apple's products are not made there

[mifki]

personally, i dont care about aids anywhere. Full stop, if i aint got it and my family aint got it and my friends aint got it, then i dont care

[wonkajh]

This is probably the saddest most self centered thing I have ever read and Im sorry for even posting here. I was just asking for some help, and giving a Real Life™ way to help the aids epidemic in Africa. There is no reason to be so completely horrible about it. I don't know how any one could think that. I really hope you are not sincere. Point taken that I don't post allot but i come here all the time and i try to be constrictive. I'm sure there is someone here that would agree with me. Also I'm really not trying to spam.

Edited March 2, 2007 by wonkajh

[macgirl]

I don't think this is SPAM at all.

 

Don't be sorry, there are people who care.

 

I care about AIDS in any part of the world, and not because I know someone with AIDS, it is my planet and I do care, so I do care about global warming and and poverty.

 

I watched the Will Smith movie a week ago and there is a powerful message there, allow no one to steal your dreams.

 

You can use your BLOG of InsanelyMac to post what you want.

[quixos]

i'm impressed that you are in highschool and have found the time to involve yourself in such an

important awareness activity/movement.

 

one person who is very important to me, my cousin, has been HIV+ and healthy for around

13 years, thanks to living in a rich country, and therefore having access to cutting edge, very

expensive drugs.

 

most folks in Africa don't have that kind of access to treatment, or can't afford it, and until they die,

their lives are pure hell.

 

keep up the humanity.

[solaar]

I don't know anybody in my close environment who is infected but I do care. I have a few friends in Africa - who are fortunately in good health and they would theoretically be able to afford the medication. But anyway I wish this plague will be eradicated one day. There's a lot of research going on for a HIV vaccine.

 

Best of luck with your organisation.

[Mebster]

There are quite a few links...I thought this was spam.

 

Honestly, I don't care about AIDS in Africa because Apple's products are not made there

You don't care about AIDS because it has nothing to do with Apple?

Are you actually trying to look like a retard who wakes every day only wondering how better you can worship Steve Jobs or does it come naturally?

 

personally, i dont care about aids anywhere. Full stop, if i aint got it and my family aint got it and my friends aint got it, then i dont care

We have some of this self centered people in the world right here in this community. I don't know a single person who has aids. Currently I don't even have a single close African friend. Doesn't mean I don't care about either. I don't need to have AIDs (or any desease) to be concerened about the fact that others have it.

 

It isn't even really worth wasting my time explain how self centered both of you are. I just hope if you ever start caring then it isn't because someone in you family has caught it.

Edited March 5, 2007 by AcePlayer

[Guest Ramm]

Lol it was a joke

 

People need senses of humor - otherwise NOBODY would be able to put up with anything at all.

 

The world has kept it self in check so far. The only reason we notice more terrorism and diseases is because we have faster and more efficient ways of spreading information. This type of thing has been going on since the dawn of humanity - if something was seriously wrong with it, we wouldn't be here right now to discuss it.

 

Think about that.

[gwprod12]

Nietzsche claimed that all human action stems from the (I'm paraphrasing) desire to feel good about oneself. People who dont care about things which do not affect them are not callous, unfeeling or evil, they can simply actualize themselves without outside influences. Many people, in their gluttony of guilt, dirive satisfaction out of feeling bad about other people. That's fine. But what good does feeling bad about africans with AIDS do? Are Africans with AIDS more in need of pity than Africans without AIDS? Does giving them pity cure them? What good are Antiretrovirals when you're starving?

 

There's more to it than feeling bad. Or not.

 

PS. We could do more for AIDS (or poverty/starvation) in Africa by convincing business to build factories there, training and employing the workforce and offering benefits. Maybe Apple, instead of marketing AIDS in Africa devices to make them money, could start offering "Made by an African with AIDS and now that African with AIDS has food, shelter, clothing and treatment" devices.

Edited March 6, 2007 by gwprod12

[Guest Ramm]

"Made by an African with AIDS and now that African with AIDS has food, shelter, clothing and treatment" devices.

 

This phrase sounds scandalous to me.

[solaar]

Nietzsche claimed that all human action stems from the (I'm paraphrasing) desire to feel good about oneself.

Nietzsche claimed a lot of things in his lifetime, also a number of things the nazis liked to quote at the peak of their dementia.

Nietzsche is not a reference.

Edited March 6, 2007 by solaar

[macgirl]

Nietzsche claimed that all human action stems from the (I'm paraphrasing) desire to feel good about oneself. People who dont care about things which do not affect them are not callous, unfeeling or evil, they can simply actualize themselves without outside influences. Many people, in their gluttony of guilt, dirive satisfaction out of feeling bad about other people. That's fine. But what good does feeling bad about africans with AIDS do? Are Africans with AIDS more in need of pity than Africans without AIDS? Does giving them pity cure them? What good are Antiretrovirals when you're starving?

 

There's more to it than feeling bad. Or not.

 

PS. We could do more for AIDS (or poverty/starvation) in Africa by convincing business to build factories there, training and employing the workforce and offering benefits. Maybe Apple, instead of marketing AIDS in Africa devices to make them money, could start offering "Made by an African with AIDS and now that African with AIDS has food, shelter, clothing and treatment" devices.

I don't feel bad, I do care.

[gwprod12]

Solaar: he's a perfectly good reference. Not liking what he says doesnt make him wrong.

[Guest Ramm]

But if the majority does not like what he says, then he is not a good example for quotes.

[gwprod12]

The majority. Heh.

 

If you dont know the reason for people doing what they do, then you cannot understand how best to get something done.

 

Anyways, if you dont care about people dying, that's your business, and perfectly reasonable. If you do care about people dying, yet do nothing, then you're a monster.

Edited March 6, 2007 by gwprod12

[Metrogirl]

I've spent some time in Africa. Someone told me this story about how difficult it is to stop the spread of AIDS there.

 

Two brothers, A and B. Brother A gets married, has a nice wife and two kids but no steady job. Brother B is a truck driver and travels around delivering stuff in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Maputo and South Africa, and as the culture dictates he freely gives a lot of his money to his brother. He is often away and since he's unmarried he doesn't see anything wrong in sleeping with any willing girl when he's travelling. He doesn't use prostitutes but he gives the girls small gifts, clothes and trinkets from other countries which is considered a fair exchange for sex in the African culture. He's a handsome, strong fellow and the girls probably hope that he'll come back and marry them, though he really has no intention of doing this. One or two of the girls sleep with a lot of other men in their pursuit of the ideal spouse. Sooner or later Brother B has AIDS, although he doesn't get sick and he doesn't know he has it.

 

Brother A is fixing his roof and falls off and dies. In their time-honoured culture, Brother B now has responsibility for his sister-in-law and the kids. Brother B is a good man and accepts his responsibility, which extends to conjugal rights with his brother's wife - who becomes his wife in turn. Everyone is happy with this relationship because the family is together and Brother B's money is now directly supporting the family. Unfortunately of course the wife now contracts AIDS, and their new children are born with it.

 

Education is the only way to reduce the spread of AIDS. No-one is going to change the culture in Africa, and frankly no-one has the right to change it. But judging by the masses of posters, radio and TV advertising in every African city I've seen recently, they're doing all they can.

[wasted brain]

TIA - That is Africa.

 

hell, if among the causes of the transmittal of such is culture - then let them rot with that culture, there is nothing we can do about it.

 

but if they are willing to change, then they may have a chance.

 

on the other hand....aids is kinda scary....although we have the intent to help, we dont know how anyway.

[gwprod12]

It's just like those Free Tibet bumper stickers. What good do they do? Same thing with those bracelets. No one is helped when you give a dollar for a bracelet. But you think you're doing something. Maybe that's cynical, but so is thinking you're helping and getting the satisfaction out of supporting a cause that isnt being helped one bit by you.

 

If you really care, do something. Like calling your congressman or joining the peace corps.

[solaar]

Solaar: he's a perfectly good reference. Not liking what he says doesnt make him wrong.

Now that's a bit of a simplistic reply. I never said I don't like what he claims, neither did I say I like it. I made an objective statement taking one of the ghastliest episodes in history where Nietzsche was often quoted as part of a fundamentally evil and cynical plot by a group of psychopaths. We all have learned from history (I hope so) that systems built upon such ideals have a very short life span and are bound to provoke unrest, conflicts, war, misery, and eventually, total failure. That's why I said, Nietzsche's claims are no reference.

 

First of all, Nietzsche wrote his theories over 100 years ago, not least reflecting the mentality and habits at that time. Even by the standards of that time, many of his claims remained highly controversial. Secondly, the way Germany used to be sociologically, politically and demographically structured during Nietzsche's lifetime was completely different from the way it is now. (I used to live and study in Germany for a while and still do the occasional visit, so I don't even need to resort to second-hand information to back it up.)

Societies have changed. People, demographics, politics and mindsets have changed. Generalising 100+ y.o. claims from debunked philosophers on how people's minds allegedly function is not only far-fetched, it also seems like a welcome excuse for some people to just sit back and do exactly nothing when help is needed.

 

Imagine you're involved in a bad accident. You're laying there, helpless, in excruciating pain and instead of doing something to help, all the bystanders whisper Nietzsche's 'quote of the day' in your ear and walk off with a smile on their face.

[gwprod12]

It would be equally true to say that Karl Marx was used as an excuse to kill millions. Or that the Bible was. The Nazis also quoted Nostradamus.

 

As to Nietzsche being a "debunked" philosopher... how is that even possible? He's been proven factually inaccurate in a subjective science? Um?

 

I just dont get what your point is. Nietzsche is invalid how? Because his philosophy is clearly untrue? Because people you dont like referred to his philosophy?

 

I guess one can comfort themselves with the notion that people who claim that selfishness motivates everything are evil/bad/liars/irrelevant. If what motivates you is a desire to put everyone else's needs and wishes above your own in all possible circumstances and gain no satisfaction from doing so, by all means, I wont stop you. But that's you. And not caring about things that either 1) do not affect you, or 2) dont seem to affect you, is perfectly understandable.

 

So... there is no reason in the world why anyone should feel compelled to sympathize or empathize with people they dont know and never will. We have plenty of people (like you, solaar, maybe) who're dying to -care/weep/ring hands- about things they absolutely, unabashedly, refuse to do anything about.

 

As to your last line... human motivation is a function of satisfaction. Mother Teresa ministered to the sick and dying out of the utterly selfish need to feel good about herself and be spiritually sanguine. Some people derive selfish satisfaction through greed, or envy, or lust, or apathy. Others derive selfish satisfaction out of martyrdom or helping. The person who helps you when you're injured or ill does so not for your sake, but for theirs.

 

If you dont like the fact that people do stuff to satisfy themselves and for no other reason, you should definitely look into buying a plot in your dreamworld. Or, instead of trying to pretend you're not a selfish being, you should learn how to channel your selfishness into good, constructive deeds. Like Mother Teresa.

 

 

Back to the original point. People who dont care are no worse (and possibly better) than people who either do care or pretend to care, and do nothing.

[solaar]

It is an obvious fact that, as an individual, you can't help everybody who is in need of help but I'm still waiting for a good reason to not help anybody even if you can.

[Guest Ramm]

I still believe that people can do what they want. I don't want to help out people in Africa with the problem of AIDS - that is what I feel. I don't think people should be spending money on other countries when chances are, especially in the case of the US, you could most definitely use the money there.

Edited March 8, 2007 by Ramm

[xtraa]

I would like to help with an information here.

 

Ok, it is on Wikipedia meanwhile, but no one knows. More information is available on the german Wiki site.

 

There is a medicine for nearly free available, and it grows everywhere in Africa,

simply much like weeds. The plant is called Sutherlandia Fructensis, often also

called Lessertia Fructensis, and it's feared by a few big pharma companies.

 

From the wiki, poorly translated from german:

 

Scientists and Bologists have analyzed the plant and found substances like the anti-viral

L-Canavanine or the antidiabetic Pinitol. There is a huge number of aminoacids and because it

works it is therefore successfully indicated in cancer-therapy. After that they tell a wtf long list

about diseases, that sutherlandia can handle.

 

Lessertia/Sutherlandia Fructensis does not in any way heal Aids or Cancer,

but patients that are medicated with it, can live a normal life. African natives used

it for hundreds of years against nearly everything like depressions and it is a very

powerful healing plant. It just cost cents, and you can take it as it is, maybe hackle

and press it into pills, nothing more.

 

Now, if this plant is such a miracle cure, why did I not hear about it?

 

The answer is very simple. It is available, but unknown. To bring it on the big

market, you have to make a study. These studies are very expensive and often paid

by big medical companies.

 

Obviously, after years of research and millions of dollars, they are not really excited nor

interested in a plant that costs nearly nothing, but does the same job just as their very

expensive medicine. But without the side-effects. Ergo: they pay no study = no big market.

 

Why is this helpful?

 

because people in Africa doesn't have money to pay for the very expensive medicines

of the big pharma companies. And this plant does cost nearly nothing.

 

Thats the whole deal. So if you want to help these people, make it popular. There are

already some Aids patiens that take it. And they got theri weight again and *feel* healthy

again.

 

I think this is a very important thing, to feel good and healthy, even if you have a disease

that cannot be cured. Because this makes it possible to live a life.

Edited March 8, 2007 by xtraa