Realwomen of BC - Archives - February2006

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THE REAL NEWS The R.E.A.L WOMEN of BC Newsletter February 2006, P.O. Box 39068, Point Grey RPO, Vancouver, BC V6R 4P1, Tel/Fax: 604- 463-1611, website: http://www.realwomen.bc.ca
The Canadian AIDS Society is a little worried that it might lose some of its achievements through the new government. Holly Wagg, the Director of Marketing and Communications, expresses concern that many of the policies that the Canadian AIDS Society has been fighting for might be at risk. According to Ms. Wagg the "campaign promises indicated a conservative mandate to review - tattoo programs in federal prisons, - tougher sentencing for drug users and - same sex marriage rights all striking a deep chord of concern with the Society and its members." Interestingly, Ms. Wagg recognizes that "the populations most adversely affected by HIV/AIDS in Canada are the people singled out by these promises." Does she even realize what she said? Obviously, particular behaviours often lead to HIV/AIDS. It is about time that we acknowledge that instead of demanding further rights for any behaviour no matter how risky. The Aids Society is planning to raise awareness proactively among the politicians pressing them for further harm-reduction programs. ------ The Ontario government is planning to change their School Act by including mandatory school attendance until the age of l8. Anyone who applies for a driver licence will have to prove school attendance and parents can be fined if their children are either not in school or do not have a legitimate excuse. This can become a problem if the homeschooled child has finished high school early (as they often do). The proposed changes also prohibit a high school student to incorporate an apprenticeship or other hands-on learning experiences in his or her program. Paul Faris, Executive Director and Legal Counsel of the Homeschool Legal Defence Association of Canada (HSLDA) is concerned that the proposed changes will seriously infringe on the freedom of home-schooling parents and their children. Homeschooling parents in British Columbia have a lot of freedom as BC has the best homeschooling legislation in North America at this time. ------ LifeSiteNews reports that the Philippine Health Secretary, Francisco Duque, announced that the HIV/AIDS cases have doubled in three years. He blames the Catholic Church for this increase as it opposes the use of condoms. However, he identifies the groups mostly at risk as homosexual men, female prostitutes and their male clients, and injecting drug users, a group not likely to care what the Catholic Church has to say. The Philippines has been exposed to condom use and "safe sex" propaganda the same way as many African countries where HIV/AIDS cases have increased dramatically. Although there are government restrictions, private companies and UN-funded international NGOs have been pushing condoms in the Philippines. Back in l984, Thailand embarked on a "100% Condom Use Program" while the Philippines decided to emphasize abstinence programs. In l999, Thailand had 755,000 confirmed HIV/AIDS cases with 65,000 dead while the Philippines had a total number of HIV/AIDS cases of l,005 with 225 dead. Since the middle of the 80s when the AIDS crisis began, the Philippines has experienced international pressure to ease its restrictions on condom use. Now with private companies and NGOs pushing condom use in spite of government restrictions, HIV/AIDS cases are on the rise in the Philippines.