STEPHEN LEWIS
PRESENTATION
Race Against Time:
Searching for Hope in AIDS-Ravaged Africa
The 2005 Massey Lectures - CBC, Anansi, U of Toronto, by Stephen Lewis
"I've been emotionally torn asunder by the onslaught of AIDS ...What I have attempted to do in these lectures is ... [renew the] ... development and humanitarian ethos.
Index References
STEPHEN LEWIS EVENING IN CALGARY - Some Personal Reflections - May 24th, 2007 at Knox Calgary

Stephen Lewis served for five years as the UN's Special Envoy or HIV/AIDS in Africa (2001-6). Now, an African woman holds this position, much to his satisfaction. She is Elizabeth Metaka of Botswana and Zambia.

People are only becoming aware of the great carnage wrought upon Africa by the AIDS plague - in many ways it is more devastating than any plague in history. Much of what we read in the papers is doctored information produced by "pandemic politics" and the spin of governments.

Lewis knows as much about this crisis as anyone.

Here are five things he learned during the UN job:

1. We have not been able to subdue HIV/AIDS in spite of historic, heroic efforts.

2. Yet, there are some glimmers of hope. For example, more people than ever (2 million in sub-Sahara Africa alone) are in treatment programs and there is a 93% survival rate.

Much more attention is being paid to drug treatment. New packages costing $139 per year per person are widely used. The Clinton and Gates Foundations are becoming involved and are doing wonderful things to cover the costs.

3. A tremendous scientific effort is underway to find a cure for HIV/AIDS but that is still ten years away. In the meantime, more protective technology such as vaginal gells and intravaginal rings, are giving women greater sexual autonomy.

4. African women are manifesting great strength, but they are still very vulnerable. There remains a disproportionate victimization of women generally. Gender inequality is a great curse and remains the biggest challenge. On average, 78% of infected people in many South African countries are women. This "intimate violence" must be stopped through programs of women's empowerment.

5. The brutal toll on children continues. Children remain on the "bottom rung" of AIDS relief priorities.

Now, grandmothers are emerging as an astonishing resource! Grandmothers in both Africa and Canada are helping us move from statistics to real people and family concerns. Even the World Bank has called Lewis ("they've never called me before") to ask how they can help with the "Grandmothers to Grandmothers" program that his foundation initiated.

The Stephen Lewis Foundation

The SLF is managed by Lewis' oldest daughter and all monies received go to "community level activities" - carefully monitored.

100 projects are now being funded "with intense rapport and sensitivity". From a small number of key local initiatives a lot of wonderful work is being done; and will continue to expand.

(There is talk of forming a Calgary-area interest group in support of the SLF. Why not similar groups all over the country?)

Q&A - with Stephen Lewis

1. How can we teach our children about all this?

Focus on local schools. Many fundraisers, curriculum revisions and twinnings with African schools are emerging across the country. Teachers love these programs!

2. What about corruption in Africa?

Yes, there are corrupt places like Zimbabwe, but is Canada immune from government corruption? It seems we had a recent election focused on just that issue. Give Africa a chance!!

3. What can we do to inform more people about doing something?

Plug into NGOs - faith-based and otherwise. There are many good ones supporting a vast number of concerns. Encourage trips to Africa. Encourage exchanges with African groups. Write letters to your MP about issues that matter to you.

4. How important is education in Africa?

Very important. It goes hand-in-hand with healthcare. Education will help to free people from this scourge. We need to find ways to overcome the World Bank requirement that school fees are linked to financial help. School fees must be eliminated. Young African girls need to be in school. It is the best way to build self-confidence.

5. What about faith-based NGOS and their "conversion" tactics?

I try to see the good in many of these programs (even those that are based on abstinence or reject condoms). The Catholic Church, for example, does not have the birth control influence on public behaviour that you might think. Organizations like World Vision are doing wonderful work. Even George Bush is putting $15B into good programs, and he may soon double that to $30B.

You don't have to agree with everything a group does, so long as you see them doing good things.

6. Stephanie Nolen?

I think she is the best journalist in the world on the southern Africa story today. I do not agree with her when she advises that Canadians should stay away from Africa.

People need to go to see the situation for themselves, even if they bring naive intentions. Don't try to stop people from wanting to learn.

Buy her book "28 Stories of AIDS in Africa." It is excellent.

Summation:

Africa will survive. It will overcome this great challenge. But right now, Africa needs our help.

Note: St. David's Resources appear on the Stephen Lewis Foundation website "Share Ideas" page:
Scroll down the page and link to "Faith-based Community in Action" Our site appears at the top of this list.
By Wayne Holst
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St. David's United Church.Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jan
2007