This Sharing and Action space captures some of the points raised during the YouthNet e-mail group discussions. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policies of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs.

The Moderator:

WenXu, Singapore:

Adolfus, India, Youth Worker, London West YMCA:

Theme: HIV/AIDS, YMCA and Young People :

Greetings from Bangladesh :

Time to Move On :

The Co-Moderator:

Dear all,

I recall making two attempts to send out two documents for the Youth Net group. The first of my letters received the reaction " We cannot open your attachments". I then sent out a second letter with the attachments in cut and paste form. I have no reactions to it at all. I am wondering if it reached any one and what might be your reactions if you have received it. I am sending it in cut and paste form once again.

Roselle F.

The YouthNet - Something new

The YouthNet was first established in Sept 1999 as a way of networking young YMCA leaders who had attended the Asia YMCA assembly in Manila Philippines. In summary, it can be said that the YouthNet was aimed at rallying young people in Asia around issues and concerns that impact the social reality of Asia and the Pacific region. During the two-and-a-half years in which the YouthNet functioned, it remained active only on a sporadic basis Not everyone on the list interacted when issues and concerns were brought up. It was, therefore, decided that:

1. There should be a serious attempt to revive the YouthNet as an issue-based rallying point for young people alongside a method to be used which would maintain a reasonable level of continuity, enthusiasm and motivation.
   
   
2. 2) The YouthNet would be actively moderated. The moderator would change with a frequency aimed at providing a larger number of people the opportunity to share their experiences, knowledge of and involvement in an issue, and different approaches to networking (One month was suggested as a probable idea).
   
   
3. 3) With regular frequency the issue under discussion will be brought to an appropriate conclusion to be followed by a new one. This will avoid prolonging a discussion to a point where it can tend to drag. Further, a fixed time frame will enable discussants to come to some level of common understanding and agreement. It might also result in opening new debates related to the same issue. The central idea is to maintain enthusiasm and dynamism among the group.
   
   
4. 4) The moderator for each issue will be responsible for writing a short discussion paper to kick-off the discussion. Constituents of the YouthNet would submit their views. At the end of each week the moderator will collate responses and reproduce selected and relevant views on the discussion paper as well as provide additional inputs, information and analysis. These will be published alongside a set of further questions. Constituents of the YouthNet would be first encouraged to deal with the questions raised by the moderator and then raise questions of their own if they wish to.
   
   This is a YouthNet and it is important to work on the assumption that it must be active and bold. At the end of a time frame, when one issue is discussed the moderator will write up a conclusion paper which will remain on YouthNet and the APAY website as an Asia Pacific youth perspective on the issue.

The first list of issues we may draw from is

1. HIV AIDS
2. Ethnic and Racial Justice
3. Migrant Workers
4. Illicit child trafficking
5. Gender Justice vis-a-vis culture traditions in Asia
6. Conflict transformation and the Culture of Peace
7. Religious Fundamentalism
8. Environmental questions

Each of these issues are of global significance. But each has a regional, national and local manifestation. The suggestion is that we focus ourselves in the following way

1. Develop a response to a Global analysis
2. Frame a regional perspective and response
3. Search for possible national/local networks among YMCA's and between YMCA's and other organisations.
4. Suggest other networks/other organizations which the YMCA can link up with.

Perspectives that should be taken into account include:

1. Globalization has its impact on each of these issues. In fact it is a linking issue and cuts across each question. That impact is often direct and visible. At other times it is subtle and not apparent.
2. The Asia Pacific region is deeply embedded and gifted in matters of Culture and spirituality. It will be necessary for responses to be based on culture- religion-spirituality as the cultural paradigm from which people in the region may respond.
3. The application of Social Analysis- getting beyond the facts and figures to ask the question "Why". In other words, there must be a root-cause approach.

The Moderator:

HIV AIDS kills (the challenge of HIV AIDS to the YMCA)

HIV AIDS is like any other human catastrophe. Young people are amongst the most vulnerable group. Over 50% of the victims of HIV AIDS around the world are young. Those who will contract the virus in due course will also be young. But there is also a direct linkage between HIV AIDS and poverty. To be poor is to be easily susceptible to all forms of infection. It is also the same thing as having no access to medicines simply because they are unaffordable Many people who have HIV AIDS develop the infection from sexual encounters. Hence there is a direct link between prostitution and the spread of the virus. Women, in particular, are vulnerable. Others may contract it from sharing needles during drug abuse. The poor can also contract HIV AIDS when they sell blood and already-infected needles are used.

One of the primary questions in the struggle against AIDS is the question of access to medicine. HIV/AIDS might bring suffering to millions upon millions of people. For the Multinational pharmaceutical companies, this is good news. This might sound cynical. Many companies have ceased the opportunity of amassing massive profits. Some countries have dared to seek alternative therapies and offer affordable medicines. But by and large the question of access to medicine has produced debate, controversy and conflict. The South African government waged an uphill struggle in a long drawn out legal battle and prevailed because of the strength of an international civil society based campaign. The declining capabilities of many countries to support their suffering populations are compounded by their economic conditions. For example many countries that are in debt can hardly afford to subsidize a health sector which means drugs to control the spread of HIV/AIDS. Not only are medicines expensive but MNC's control prices and patents and therefore oppose indigenous alternatives, which have proved cheaper and more accessible to the poor. . For as long as there is poverty, HIV/AIDS will only grow and poverty. And as we all know, poverty is a manifestation of economic injustice and structural between and within nations. Consequently, HIV/AIDS must be seen within the framework of economics, politics, culture, and social relations.

HIV AIDS has its social dimensions. It is a fact that the poor have one more disease as a result of which they can be wiped out. Gone are the days when it had to be malaria, TB, or other such killer diseases. There is also the fact that women and children are more prone to being victimized. In many cases children are born with the virus. The number of AIDS orphans is multiplying and grand parents have to function as parents. Older children are forced to function as parents of their little brothers and sisters. The numbers of children on the streets begging for food, picking garbage or doing menial jobs for just a pittance is a common sight. Equally disturbing is the social ostracism that accompanies the arrival of the virus and which makes the patients conditions even worse.

Some questions:

1. What are the economic factors that allow the spread of HIV AIDS in each of our countries?
2. How do we respond to the exclamation "HIV/AIDS is the problem but economic injustice is the real culprit?
3. HIV AIDS produces orphans in millions. How can the rights and very future of millions of children in the poorest countries be affirmed and restored in this context?
4. Advocacy and Public policy can effectively counter the spread of HIV AIDS and provide alternative approaches. What role for the YMCA?
5. In the Asia-Pacific region, the issues of culture and tradition play a major part in social formation. They are largely oppressive when it comes to the poor, women, and children. How can religion and culture be used as a liberative tool?

Some useful references: www. newint.org (check June 2002 edition)
www.unaids.org
www.who.org

HIV/AIDS and the growth of child sexual exploitation

All over the world, the dominant male sexual preference for adult women means that most men seeking commercial sex look for an adult sex partner. HIV/AIDS has changed that. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS is spreading drastically through out the world. Awareness of the dangers of AIDS means that a man seeking commercial sex may now choose a youngfe4r girl where it is not his sexual preference, if he believes that she represents a lower AIDS risk to him.

No denial or argument
In the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, there is no room for denial or argument. Providing access to all the resources available that may prevent transmission of the HIV virus is a basic human right, and endows people with the basic freedom of self-determination and the control over their future.

WenXu, Singapore:

Dear friends, i have an account to share about my HIV infected friend that i got to know from my job attachment at a hospice centre. Feel free to give your comments or any encouraging messages for him.

I have a friend who is suffering from HIV infection because his mother did not realise that she was infected when she gave birth to him. It is not at a critical stage because it was detected at birth and he has responded well to drugs. He is not impaired in any way when it comes to work performance and efficiency. However he is unable to find a job because people associate HIV with casual sex and he is not given a chance to explain himself. Even though most people know it is not infectious, they choose not to hire him as a precautionary measure for fear of influencing other staff members. Another reason is that they feel that he will die anytime and it is an inconveniece and waste of training. My friend is an optimistic person as he! has learnt to cope with his condition but it is hard to maintain this attitude because nobody is giving him a chance. He amazes me because he sees his condition as a test from god and something he must learn to accept and overcome. I feel angry sometimes when i see the rejection letters he receives because he has done nothing to deserve such treatment. However, he writes a thank you letter to each company that rejects him for taking the time to consider his application. I realise then that he can truely make a difference if he is given a chance and his beautiful character was built up as a direct consequence of his condition. I asked him before if he ever wondered why it had to be him and he told me it had to be him because god wanted him too see things in a different light and hes grateful for that.

Adolfus, India,
Youth Worker, London West YMCA:

There is time to be funny
There is time for doing nothing
There is time to be serious

Well, here it is 15.20!
What is the time there?

Hi Friends on the Youthnet,

Even after reading the well prepared paper by Roselle on HIV, we haven't started any serious discussions on it. So for a start can we all share to the group our knowledge on HIV. Let us start from scratch and let it be as simple as it is, like If you have ever come across someone who is suffering from Hiv .

If so how did you feel, and what do think that person was feeling

Whom do you think is more effected ?

How do you think it is transmitted more?

And any other related tiny bits which you may feel to be appropriate..

I will recommend you to do this straightaway before going back to any technecalites or statistics, coz. this will give a idea of what we actuall know about the topic and our training/information needs as we go further deep in this discussion.

Awright, the ball is rolling now and all you have to do is take your role!

Looking forward for everyones participation!!

Cheers.

N.B. It will be a good practice if you can always pin your position and YMCA at the bottom of the mails.

Shella:

Dear Youthnetters,

How are you all? Just recently, I found a prayer and a reflection on HIV/AIDS. As we are commemorating the World AIDS Day on Sunday, December 1st, let us pray for those whose lives had been claimed by this pandemic and for those people living with AIDS (PLWAs).

This year's World AIDS theme is Stigma and Discrimination: Live and Let Live. You may also want to give suggestions on how we as a group can contribute to eliminating this stigma and discrimination against PLWAs.

Here is the prayer that I mentioned.

Come to us, O God

Come to us, God of peace.
Come with your healing, reconciling power,
That fear may be cast out by love,
Prejudice be replaced by trust,
Hostility gives way to gentleness.
Come to us, God of peace.

Come to us, God of justice
That we may hear the cries of those oppressed by AIDS in every land,
Calling us, like Jesus the healer,
to walk with them in the search for justice and mercy.
Come to us, God of justice.

Come to us, God of love.
Come that we may see you in the poor, the lonely
And those who have AIDS.
Come that we might respond to them as your compassionate Church.
Come that we may see you in people of every race,
And commit ourselves to the hope that we celebrate
Our life together in true community and justice.
Come to us, God of love.

(Adapted from Dorothy McMahon's prayer in Out of the Darkness, Australian Council of Churches)
Duncan:

Greetings from Bangladesh.

Since, the present topic for discussion of the YouthNet is HIV/AIDS, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you an interesting news that appeared in one of our National Dailies here in Dhaka today about the mentioned topic.

Blissfully Unawares

One in three Dhaka University teachers believes HIV spreads on toilet sharing! -Shameem Mahmud

A study shows that 29 per cent of Dhaka University (DU) teachers believe HIV infection spreads through sharing of toilets.

The find came as a jarring contrast to a campaign by the government and about 200 non- governmental organisations (NGOs) to raise the level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

Also, half of the respondents have a wrong notion that AIDS is transmitted through kissing, said the study carried out last year by the Department of Population Science, DU, among its teachers.

The study revealed that about 17 per cent of the DU teachers still do not know that AIDS spreads through sexual intercourse.

The purpose of the study was to assess the level of knowledge and understanding among the teachers about AIDS and HIV infection, routes of transmission and means of prevention.

And interviewed were 84 teachers of 39 departments under six faculties of the university that has about 1,200 teachers.

Professors constituted the largest (30 per cent) of the respondents followed by lecturers and assistant and associate professors.

Only about 24 per cent of the respondents know that AIDS is not a contagious disease. Almost 80 to 82 per cent know that AIDS does not spread through coughing or sneezing or sharing of teacups and plates.

Twenty-three per cent expressed their willingness to take part in the HIV prevention programme.

More than half of the respondents are yet to have information that HIV spreads through breast-feeding and more than a half know that it is not borne by mosquitoes or insects, said the study.

Nearly 34 per cent are unaware that the disease is transmitted through sharing of shaving blades at the hairdresser's. Three-fourths of them do not know that AIDS is transmitted even after vasectomy and tubal ligation.

In late 1996, the health directorate in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) formulated a national policy on HIV/AIDS.

A high-level national AIDS committee (NAC) was formed, with a technical advisory committee and an STD/AIDS programme unit in the MOHFW.

The World Bank contributed US$40 million to the HIV/AIDS prevention project in December 2000, while its estimated cost is US$52.59 million, a lot of which is earmarked for dissemination of awareness.

About the study, Chairperson of the Department of Population Science, DU, Professor AKM Nurunnabi said that although the study was carried out last year on a small scale, the real situation till date is almost the same.

"The awareness and knowledge level about AIDS in Bangladesh is still among the lowest in the world," he said.

While the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the general population of Bangladesh is still relatively low, lack of knowledge is a prime factor that threatens to increase the number of cases in the years to come.

Bangladesh, with a population of 130 million, had about 13,000 adults and children living with HIV infection at the end of 1999, according to an UNAIDS estimate.

Only about 17 AIDS cases have been reported since 1997. Underreporting of cases is likely to occur because of the limited voluntary testing and counselling capacity and the stigma and fear of being identified and detected as HIV-positive.

Source: The Daily Star, Dhaka, November 29, 2002

Time to Move On

From: Christine
Subject: Time to Move On
Date: 16 March 2003

Hi Youthnetters,

It has been quite sometime since we had begun our discussion on HIV/AIDS. Through the time we have shared our experience, information, and personal feelings on the issue. This has enriched our thought and helped us to look deeper down into the causes and effects of HIV/AIDS infection. We have come to understand that access to preventive measures of HIV virus is a basic human right and people living with this disease need our love and care.

At the same time we need to stop arguing or denying the existence of an HIV/AIDS epidemic and carry on effective advocacy to prevent the spread of this deadly virus and make easy access to medicine.

However I think it is time to move on towards discussion on another issue and would like to invite a volunteer to take up moderation for the same. Here I would like to suggest discussion on the culture of peace, which, as you all know, has become an urgent matter at this time.

Thanking you for your continuous support and contribution towards the Youthnet and looking forward to your enhanced participation in future.

Christine Richardson
Bangladesh