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Immunitor ban backed by NGOs
NGOs working with Aids and people ;ovomg wotj Aids/HIV yesterday backed the Food and Drug Administration's ban on the food additive VI-Immunitor. In their statement, the NGOs urged the FDA to continue using its powers ot protect the rights of people living with Aids/HIV. They said the backers of VI-Immunitor had misled HIV-infected people into beliving that the pills could cure Aids. That could deprive them of a chance to seek proper treatment. Ksampol Uppakaew, leader of the network for people living with Aids/HIV, said people with AIDS/HIV should seek treatment at state hospitals. HIV-coctail anti-viral drugs sold by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation had proven effective in fighting the virus. "The price begins at 1,300 baht a month. There is no need to risk your health on substandard and unproven treatment," he said. The creators of VI-Immunitor were forced to register it as a food supplement because their claims could not be proven. The FDA banned the manucacture and distribution of VI-Immunitor after finding that advertisments were promoting its medical benefits. [Source: Bangkok Post 27 April 2003] posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 27, 2003 Consultation on Inter-religious Cooperation 37 participants - Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims - from 14 Asian countries and other continents gathered in Parapat from 5-10 April 2003 for the above consultation. Gathering at the height of the war on Iraq, participants of different religious backgrounds expressed their common desire for peace and non-voilence. They also expressed the urgent need for all religious groups and institutions to work together to build more just, peaceful, harmonious and sustainable societies based on shared values. [Read complete statement] Churches in solidarity with Differently-Abled Persons On 10-15 March 2003, the Christian Conference of Asia, the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network and the World Council of Churches organized the "Ecumenical Agenda of Churches in Solidarity with Differently-Abled Persons" in Bangkok, Thailand. The group affirmed the Christian mandate to reach out with compassion to those with different abilities for wholeness and transformation of their lives. They called on the ecumenical bodies to recognise and focus on the abilities of the disabled persons and to address their concerns through integrated education, vocational training and self-employment. (See complete statement) Protecting the Rights of PLWH/A CC and WCC co-organized the AIDS Conference 2002 on the theme, "Protecting the Rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Asia" on 22-27 November 2002, in Chiang Rai, Thailand. (See the complete statement on the conference). Envoronmental Training Workshop Participants of the Environmental Training Workshop in Saitama, Japan, on 23-28 September 2002, issued an open letter that challenges churches to be God's agents to restore creation by developing clear theological perspectives on the care and integrity of creation and promoting biblical eco-spirituality among people. (See full letter) Human Rights training participants affirm Jesus' way to peace Every year, around Human Rights Day, Christian Conference of Asia organizes a Human Rights Training. Last December 8-13, participants in the 6th Annual Human Rights Training held in Jakarta, Indonesia, analyzed the realities of poverty, injustice, violence and terrorism going on in the region. They concluded that in the face of such grim realities, "it is tempting to answer force with force." After looking into the Bible, they affirmed in a statement that force was not the way of Jesus. "The lesson that should properly be drawn from Jesus' instruction that we 'turn the other cheek' (Matthew 5:38-44) is that even the proud and arrogant can be shamed when we stand with dignity and act against injustice." [Read Statement] An ecumenical delegation on a pastoral visit to Pakistan On November 2-9, World Council of Churches sent an ecumenical delegation on a pastoral visit to Pakistan in order to express solidarity with churches and Christians in Pakistan as well as to listen and learn from people about their situation. Tony Waworuntu joined the delegation from the CCA. Following the visit, the group came up with a statement of conclusions and recommendations. [Read Statement] SOLIDARITY MESSAGE TO NCCCUSA In face of conservative American Christians leaders' support for the Bush administration's rush to unilateral military engagement, the National Council of Churches, under the leadership of General Secretary Bob Edgar, is at the forefront of a growing peace movement within the United States. Their visible actions for peace have included advertisement in national paper, demonstrations and television appearances. On December 27-January 2003, Bob Edgar will take a delegation of Christian leaders to Iraq as part of his leadership for peace. As an act of ecumenical solidarity, CCA General Secretary Ahn Jae Woong sent a word of greeting and support to the NCCCUSA delegation, calling them messengers of peace. [Click here to read letter] Enhancing Mission and Ecumenism in Indochina Of the remaining five declared socialist countries in the world, four are located in Asia and two belong to Indochina, Vietnam and Laos. Although the countries of Indochina have been undergoing tremendous transformation, the legacy of war, isolation and the growth of fundamentalism have left the people there needy, broken and hurt. Hence, the CCA has placed the countries of Indochina among its priority areas. On 23-27 June, the CCA-JID collaborated with the General Board of Global Ministries and General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church USA in holding a consultation on 'Enhancing Mission and Ecumenism in Indochina' in Siem Reap, Cambodia. At the end of the meeting, participants from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam made the following recommendations for: pastor/clergy formation schools with specific curriculum that will equip them for church leadership, biblical and theological studies, courses on ecumenism and interfaith dialogue for clergy and laity, training in agriculture, animal husbandry and other livelihood programs, resources for delivery of clean and adequate drinking water in villages, health and healing ministries, especially in the area of HIV/AIDS, hunger and malnutrition, pastoral care and training in peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Call to Combat HIV/AIDS South Asia consultation challenges churches to address the worsening HIV/AIDS situation in the region Representatives from South Asian countries held a joint consultation on 'An Ecumenical Agenda to Combat HIV/AIDS in South Asia' in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 22-26 July, jointly organised by the Christian Conference of Asia and the World Council of Churches. The participants expressed concern about the worsening HIV/AIDS situation in the region, which is fuelled by illiteracy and poverty, gender disparity, stigma, discrimination and denial, a high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, low condom access and use, extensive commercial sex, injecting drug use and the movement of populations. They expressed dismay at the lack of an adequate response from the institutional church and its role in contributing to the stigmatisation of those living with the virus. However, the group affirmed that the church, as the community of God's people in Christ, where each is loved and accepted, has a unique and powerful role to play in offering spiritual sanctuary, solace, forgiveness, restoration, hope and peace in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The church needs to address issues of sex and sexuality, promote interfaith and intersectoral action and undertake interventions and capacity building for action. In order to overcome stigma and discrimination, churches are called to end their judgmental tendencies, recognising that all are in need of forgiveness. Churches are also challenged to include people living with HIV/AIDS in program planning and implementation. They could also campaign for access to treatment and drugs, advocate comprehensive care, provide counselling and spiritual support and create public interaction between church leaders and people living with HIV/AIDS. Further, churches are challenged to break the silence and go beyond cultural taboos in order to approach topics of sex and sexuality in a more positive and non-judgmental way, recognising the need to include gender justice in church teaching and practice. Such topics must be incorporated wherever possible in the curricula for clergy training and in Sunday schools. Peace Building in Asia In the Third CCA Ecumenical Lectures Series, Dr. Judo Poerwowidagda speaks on the role of the Ecumenical Movement in Conflict Transformation towards Peace Building in Asia. Reflecting upon the pertinent issue of conflict and peace, Dr. Judo Poerwowidagda, a theologian from Indonesia, delivered three lectures under the theme, 'The Role of the Ecumenical Movement in Conflict Transformation towards Peace Building in Asia' during the CCA Third Ecumenical Lectures Series held at Eastern Theological College, Jorhat, North East India from October 28 to 29, 2002. [Click here to read Press Release] CONFERENCE ON HIV/AIDS 3 March - A successful conference was organised in Chiang Mai. Former Prime Minister of Thailand, Anand, gave the keynote address. Click here for the Conference Statement Conference on "Dealing with Diverse Identities in a Changing Asia" 11 Feb - In an attempt to contribute to the ongoing reflection and action around the global process of the Decade to Overcome Violence, participants from various countries in "Asia gathered in Chiang Mai to reflect upon the phenomenal diversity that characterises Asian life, with a view to identifying possibilities and resources from their experience as one people with diverse identities living often in the midst of tension and conflicts. posted by cbs on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 |
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