|
Christian Conference of Asia
|
About CCA
Program Clusters: Special Programs:
|
Positive supportSCMP - Wednesday, January 28, 2004 STAN HENSON China's victims of HIV/Aids took heart last month when Premier Wen Jiabao shook hands with one of their number. But according to Thomas Cai, founder of AidsCare China in Guangzhou, much more needs to be done. "The government still has no active response to the problem and the figures are still much too conservative," he said. "The problem should be recognised not just on Aids Day, but all the time, like Sars." According to Mr Cai, Beijing is still prepared to deal with the problem only at the most superficial level, despite Mr Wen's handshake. By the time a national campaign filters down to the provincial level, local officials have little idea how to deal with the problem at its roots. HIV/Aids discrimination is chronic. In a recent example, a three-year-old HIV-positive girl was placed in a Guangzhou orphanage after she had witnessed her mother leap to her death from a building and had no family to look after her. "When the orphanage found out that she was HIV positive, they put her in a separate room from the other children and their only contact with her was at meal time when they fed her, even though she needed love, care and contact," said Mr Cai. Mr Cai himself tested positive for HIV in 2000. After he was told the news, he had no idea what to do. He did not dare tell his family and there was no counselling or follow-up programme at the hospital. "After doing some research, however, I realised that I could survive," he said. He found a doctor on the internet who helped him with leads for anti-retroviral medication that he could buy from India at only 10 per cent of the 8,000 yuan a month which the same drugs cost in China. In 2001, he founded AidsCare China and started a website for Aids patients, called Aids Forum, which now gets about 500 hits a day. He also visits hospitals to boost patients' morale. "An HIV-positive friend can often be the best source of support," he said. "When I found out I had tested positive, I thought a painful death would result." HIV/Aids education is still rare in China, where the disease may warrant two hours in a six-year medical programme, and there is virtually no Aids education in middle schools or at university level. Recently, after a three-day workshop for hospital staff, held in conjunction with the Guangdong Centre for Disease Control, Mr Cai concluded: "They still want to treat patients as people that should be punished and quarantined." Last month, AidsCare China held its first Aids Day event at Sun Yat-sen University. After statements of support from the American and British consuls-general in Guangzhou were read to the audience, a panel including Mr Cai, a doctor and a university professor discussed before a university-wide audience the issues of HIV/Aids education and the stigma attached to the disease. Although AidsCare China is not registered as a non-governmental organisation, it receives tacit support, including office space, from the Guangzhou government. Funding is a constant challenge, although it does receive some money from the United Nations Development Programme and the occasional contribution from expatriate charity organisations. posted by cbs on Thursday, January 29, 2004 “A quarter of land life could be killed by warming” More than 1 million plants and animal species- a quarter of all life on land, could become extinct by 2050 because of man-made climate change, scientists say. The main reason for this change, according to an article in the British journal Nature, is green house gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere. “An immediate and progressive switch to technologies that produce little or no new greenhouse gases, combined with active removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, could save a million or more species from extinction,” lead author Chris Thomas, a biologist from the University of Leeds, said. Professor Thomas’ team studied six regions rich in biodiversity, representing 20 per cent of the planet’s land area, and made projections for the survival of 1,103 species between 110 and 2050, using elaborate computer models. Three scenarios for expected climate change were used in the models – a minimum expected total rise of between 0.8 and 1.7 degrees Celsius by 2050; a mid-range scenario increase of 1.8 to 2 degrees; and the maximum rise of more than 2 degrees during the period. The six areas studied by the scientists were Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Europe, Mexico and South Africa. Australia would lose more than half its 400 butterfly species by 2050, thanks to global warning. Brazil’s Cerrado area, a savannah with a wealth of plant and animal species, could lose between 39 and 48 per cent of its flora – thousands of plants whose medical or scientific benefits will never be known. The head of the UN Environment Program, Klaus Toepfer, warned that “the figure of 1 million may be an underestimate”, since it only counts the extinction of species due to climate change, without taking into account a “ripple effect” that could also kill off interdependent plants and animals. Dr. Toepfer said humans would suffer from the consequences of global warning, the result of their dependence on fossil fuels. He called the study an alarm which “underlines again to the world the importance of bringing into force the Kyoto Protocol”, the international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which the United States has refused to adhere to. (Source: South China Morning Post, January 9, 2004) posted by Prawate on Friday, January 09, 2004 Ecumenical Pre-Conference of the 15th International AIDS Conference 9-10 July 2004 Bangkok, Thailand We are all living with HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS is not a virus that happens to someone else. It is tragically present in every nation, city, and faith tradition ¡V the real challenge is what we will do about it? The churches have been at the forefront of providing care and support since the epidemic was first identified decades ago, but today we are called to lead in new ways. An Ecumenical Pre-Conference Prior to the 15th International AIDS Conference (IAC), which will be held in Bangkok from July 11-16, 2004, the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) invite all delegates planning to attend the IAC who are committed to working together ecumenically to a two-day Pre-Conference on July 9 and 10 in Bangkok. The Pre-Conference will provide a valuable forum for the global ecumenical family to share experiences and ideas on how to improve our HIV/AIDS programs. As such, it has been proposed to consider ways of gathering substantive research or supporting research efforts that would shed light on the role of transnational, faith-based organizations working on HIV/AIDS. The final session of the Pre-Conference is envisioned as a way to engage an even wider group of faith-based organizations (multi-religious) in orientation to and preparation to participate in the International AIDS Conference. Vision The vision of the Pre-Conference is to strengthen links of the ecumenical family into the main stream of global efforts for HIV/AIDS prevention, education, treatment, counseling, and advocacy. Objectives The Pre-Conference will be a special time for ecumenical delegates internationally and locally to: - reflect theologically on the IAC theme (Access for All¡¨) - share common concerns and activities with the aim of strengthening our HIV/AIDS programs - strategize around ecumenical inputs and activities during the course of the IAC - receive an overview of the IAC unified programs and prepare for their participation - build community and worship together. Date and Venue The Pre-Conference will be held from July 9-10, 2004 at the Ambassador Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. Attendees should plan to arrive in Bangkok by the evening of 8 July. A pre-registration form is available (October 2003) and a registration form will be available shortly thereafter for those wishing to attend. The hotel rooms reserved at the site for the Pre-Conference are available to those who register throughout the IAC, based on availability. Program The Pre-Conference program will include: A. Biblical and theological reflection on the IAC theme ¡§Access for All¡¨. B. Worship and community building. C. Overview of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the Churches¡¦ Response: an update and analysis of the situation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and critical issues in the global community; the focus will be on how HIV positive people, especially the poor, are able to access medicine and services. D. Experiences exchange and networking among ecumenical stakeholders will include opportunities for organizational and personal sharing on HIV/AIDS program implementation in respective countries, including strategies energizing communities and associations of people living with HIV/AIDS to fully participate to minimize the impacts of the disease as well as to maintain the fullness of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. Small groups and informal sharing sessions by sector, region and interest will take place, as well as display space for sharing materials. E. Strengthening ecumenical cooperation in advocacy for policy change in the churches and society. F. Orientation for and preparation of faith-based organizations for participation in the IAC will offer highlights of the unified program of the 15th International AIDS Conference, which includes a) Basic Science, b) Clinical Research, Treatment and Care, c) Epidemiology and Prevention, d) Social and Economic Issues, and E) Policy and Program Implementation; the basic functioning of the conference and how to make the most of your participation; clarify and discuss ways for faith-based organizations to be involved in the IAC and faith-based activities (which include a. satellite conference, b. exhibition, c. prayer, d. media work, etc. The session on July 10 afternoon will focus on these topics and will be open to interested delegates of other faith-based organizations and faith traditions. Logistics - Travel costs All participants are expected to arrange for and pay for his/her own travel costs. - Visas Visas should be arranged through the official channels of the IAC. - Accommodation and food People who register for the Ecumenical Pre-Conference may, with this registration, reserve a room at the Ambassador Hotel at a discounted rate (on a first-come-first-serve basis). The cost of rooms ($ 30/single, $35 double) is the responsibility of each participant. For ecumenical participants in the Pre-Conference who are staying at the hotel, breakfast is automatically included in his/her room charge. The Pre-Conference registration fee will cover: lunch, dinner and coffee/tea during the program, as well as costs for materials and meeting rooms. - Language The Pre-Conference will be conducted in English. Any translation into a different language should be the responsibility of the delegates or national group. - Registration Fee The registration fee for ecumenical delegates to the Pre- Conference is US$100.00 Payment must be made at the time of registration. The registration fee will cover the cost of two lunches, two dinners, four coffee breaks, meeting rooms, materials and equipment needed during the course of the program. The cost of hotel rooms is in addition to the registration fee. Registration procedures and a pre-registration form for the Pre-Conference (which includes the option to reserve accommodation for the Pre-Conference and the IAC) can be found on the Ecumenical Alliance website at: http://www.e-alliance.ch/bangkok.jsp. This should be filled in and sent to the NCA office in Bangkok as soon as possible. A Registration Form will be available shortly, and must be returned by March 1, 2004. Please note that delegates are responsible for their own registration for the IAC with a deadline of 2 February 2004. http://www.ias.se/aids2004/ - Scholarships A limited number of scholarships will be available to assist participants with the cost of registration fee and accommodation (in a shared room) for the two nights of the Pre-Conference. Persons applying for a scholarship must already be planning to attend the IAC at their own expense or with other support. The scholarship assistance for the Pre-Conference will NOT cover: transportation, visas, IAC conference registration, lodging or meals beyond the two nights of the Pre-Conference. If you wish to apply for a scholarship, please contact Ms. Somthong Srisuddhiwong and Dr. Prawate Khid-arn Administration Norwegian Church Aid¡¦s Regional Program will provide space and staff, including short-term consultants, working under the supervision of the NCA Regional Manager in conjunction with the CCA staff to support program planning and administration of the Pre-Conference activities. A global ecumenical advisory committee is guiding the planning of the program for the Pre-Conference: An Ecumenical Pre-Conference Advisory Committee is working to plan the program. The Advisory Committee include: Dr. Prawate Khid-Arn, Christian Conference of Asia (Hong Kong), Moderator Mr. Steven Lux, Norwegian Church Aid (Thailand) Mr. Ray Martin, Christian Connections in International Health (US) Dr. Sonia Weinreich, DIFAEM/German Institute for Medical Mission (Germany) Dr. Christine de Vries, ICCO/Uniting Churches in the Netherlands (Netherlands) Dr. Pumzile Zondi-Mabizela, University of Natal (South Africa) Ms. Jacinta Maingi, World Council of Churches (Kenya) Rev. Hernan Quezada, Jesuits (Mexico) If you have any suggestions for the program, please send them to: Contact Persons If you have questions or suggestions for the program, please contact: Ms. Somthong Srisuddhiwong Norwegian Church Aid 6 Sukhumvit 12, Bangkok 10110 Thailand Tel:+ 66-2-6532927 E-mail: ncabkk1@loxinfo.co.th Dr. Prawate Khid-arn Christian Conference of Asia 96, Pak Tin Village, Mei Tin Road Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong Tel: +852-26911068 Fax: +852-26923805, 26924378 E-mail: prawate@cca.org.hk posted by Prawate on Wednesday, January 07, 2004 Statement of Interfaith AIDS Conference 2004FOR WE ARE NEIGHBORS Statement from the Interfaith AIDS Conference 2003 Bangkok, November 20 – 25, 2003 Organised by Christian Conference of Asia, World Council of Churches, Christian Aid, Norwegian Church Aid, United Evangelical Mission, Church of Christ in Thailand AIDS Ministry and Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism One hundred and forty seven participants representing Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Muslims, met in Bangkok for the ‘Inter Faith AIDS Conference – For We Are Neighbors.’ Religions and faiths are different roads converging to the same goal – service to humanity. In spite of different beliefs, we all have one common platform: A fundamental belief and respect for the unique human value, human dignity and human rights. HIV is a critical test for our faith and our commitment to building a sustainable community and a fullness of life since HIV is rooted not merely in health and physical sphere but also in life styles, social perspectives, attitudes and individual behavior practices. As religious communities, we believe that HIV/AIDS is not a form of punishment for the sufferer but an opportunity for us to serve the sufferer. Through this, our religious communities have been challenged by our faith and divine teaching against stigmatization and discrimination. We should therefore focus on the teachings common to all religions: Love, compassionate service and mercy. The HIV/AIDS crisis is an opportunity to mobilize our concern for the fullness of life for those among us who are infected or affected. The HIV/AIDS crisis has brought us together. We need to share knowledge, understanding and experience from our various religious communities so that our efforts become more and more effective. Through this, we unite as a global community to establish a new culture of interfaith co-operation, which will balance the individual interest of our religions with the interest of our societies while focusing on our common values of human dignity and human rights. It is our common understanding that: All humans are equal. We are brothers and sisters. Thus, we should treat each other with mutual care and respect regardless of social status, faith, gender or life style. We should speak openly about the basic facts of the HIV/AIDS crisis and about all effective means of prevention. Individuals in our communities are facing unprecedented pressure due to globalization and industrialization. The root causes of the HIV/AIDS crisis include gender inequality, systemic injustice and unequal distribution of wealth. Our approaches therefore have to be sensitive to the various effects, our efforts will have for women, men, children, adults, rich and poor etc. Young people are especially vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS crisis. We, as religious communities, must therefore provide genuine concern, guidance and support for survival and well being of the future generation. We stand united with those who are living with the virus, those who mourn and those who are dying together with their families and communities. We pledge to serve and nurture the children of those who have been infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. We need to end the silence of stigma, denial and fear about HIV/AIDS and practically embrace those who have become victims of our ignorance and apathy. We have to dedicate expanded resources to the fight against the HIV/AIDS crisis. Medication, treatment and support must be made available for all who need it. It is the responsibility of each and every government, multilateral institutions, the pharmaceutical industry and other international bodies. Continuous medical research must be given priority. Scientists and research institutes must be encouraged to invent more effective methods of prevention and treatment. The HIV/AIDS crisis is the sum of multiple life dimensions: The spirit, the mind and the environment has to be understood in a local, national and global context. We now call upon all our sisters and brothers to develop a new culture of interfaith co-operation to fight the global HIV/AIDS crisis and its consequences. HIV/AIDS knows no boundaries and therefore, all of our religious communities are living with HIV/AIDS. We admit and regret that many religious communities and governments have been slow in reacting to the crisis, with the result that those among us who are living with HIV/AIDS have not always been met with the solidarity and support they deserve. This must change immediately. It is high time to act now. At the same time, we call upon all political leaders to spare no efforts in the fight against the HIV/AIDS crisis and its consequences. No political, financial or ideological interests must ever be allowed to over-shadow the protection of human value, human dignity and human rights. We also call upon all those who take leadership at the global, national and local levels to fight against the HIV/AIDS crisis and to recognize the role of faith based communities in this fight, and be open to co-operation and dialogue in order to make our common struggle as efficient as possible. Most importantly: We call upon all advocates in the fight against the HIV/AIDS crisis, including religious communities, political leaders and governments, to actively involve people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS in all aspects of the fight against the HIV/AIDS crisis. Those who are infected and those who are affected have first hand knowledge about the situation, and therefore represent an invaluable source of competence that is desperately needed to make the fight succeed. Organizations AIDS Prevention Education Project, Kunming Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) Asian-Pacific Alliance of YMCAs Asian Resource Foundation BMSF, Bangladesh Bangladesh National Council of Churches Cammillian Social Center, Rayong CARE, Asia Regional Management Unit Caritas Pakistan Lahore Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (HIV/AIDS Desk) Catholic Commission for Health Pastoral Care Child Watch Networking in Chiang Mai Christian Aid Christian Conference of Asia Christian Council in Yunnan Church of Christ in Thailand Church of Scotland Board of World Mission Church of South India Church World Service, Pakistan Community Front for Prevention of AIDS, Sri Lanka Council of Churches in Malaysia Christian Protestant Angkola Church Chinese Rhenish Church, CRCHKS Mission CORE Initiative, Washigton DAGA Daughter of Charity of St. Vinant de Paul (Thailand, Laos and Cambodia) Dramaraksa Foundation, Wat Prabatnampu Kaosamyod Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism Friendship House, Good Shepherd Sisters Greraja Kristen Jawi Wetan Holy Spirit Centre, Chiang Rai Kampuchea Christian Council Kantor Pusat HKBP Lao Evangelical Church Logestics and Management Service (LMS) Lorenzo Home, Chonburi Maryknoll Project for AIDS Education, Phnom Penh Mercy of Founation Wat Doisaket Methodist Church, Sri Lanka Metta Byuhar Buddhist Association Metta Dhamma Project, Laos National AIDS Program, Myanmar National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Bejing National Council of Churches in India National Council of Churches in Pakistan National Christian Council of Nepal National Office for Human Development, Kuala Lumpur Norwegian Church Aid Ojus Medical Institute Sangha Metta project Shin Tharmanay Dhama Beikmhan/ Sasara Wunsaung Association St. John’s Cathedral HIV AIDDS Education Centre Suthasini Foundation for Children and Youth The Amity Foundation The Elderly Centre, Amnat Charoen The Garden of Mercy UNICEF EAPRO UNICEF, Myanmar United Evangelical Mission United Church of Christ in the Philippines Uniting Church in Australia Wat Huarin Temple World Council of Church YMCA Foundation, Bangkok Youth Fighting AIDS Program, Laos YWCA of Sri Lanka posted by Prawate on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 |
| Archives: |
|
April 2003 /
May 2003 /
June 2003 /
July 2003 /
October 2003 /
November 2003 /
January 2004 /
February 2004 /
March 2004 /
April 2004 /
May 2004 /
July 2004 /
August 2004 /
November 2004 /
December 2004 /
January 2005 /
February 2005 /
March 2005 /
July 2005 /
January 2006 /
February 2006 /
March 2006 /
June 2006 /
August 2008 /
April 2009 /
June 2009 /
November 2009 /
December 2009 /
January 2010 /
February 2010 /
May 2010 /
June 2010 /
August 2010 /
September 2010 /
October 2010 /
November 2010 /
May 2011 /
June 2011 /
August 2011 /
September 2011 /
October 2011 /
November 2011 /
December 2011 /
February 2012 /
July 2012 /
August 2012 /
November 2012 /
|
