AIDemocracy.org

Recession of Democratic Performance, Not of Democracy Itself

January 31, 2011 by Sky Mangin

I agree with the sobering assertion by many critics that the democratic recession is likely to worsen in the decade ahead, but not decades. Democracy is not fatally threatened as a norm. Nonetheless, on a fundamental level, democracy is not stagnant– it is democratic performance that is declining and based on some of my experiences, I will attempt to explain why. First off, we must come to a universal understanding that democracy is not a destination, but rather, it is a process. Many countries that are experiencing a decline in democratic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Africa, China, democracy, election, Guantanamo Bay, Latin America, Rwanda, South Africa

Polio Eradication Efforts: Militant or Ineffective?

December 4, 2010 by Alex B. Hill

Follow the Polio outbreak in real time with HealthMap Smallpox has been globally eradicated since 1980, so why is the eradication of Polio so much more difficult? The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) would be conducting a new targeted 15 country effort to vaccinate 72 million children in Africa. The new campaign follows numerous failed efforts of the past and reemerging outbreaks. Why does the African continent remain prone to Polio outbreaks that spread rapidly? Why did the organized … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Hunger, Sex and Justice Tagged With: Africa, global health, Nigeria

The Inevitability of Water Depletion

November 15, 2010 by David Klayton

By David Klayton, Environment Issue Analyst You’ve probably heard the phrase “resource wars,” and you probably usually think of wars over oil that dominated the 20th century. But have you ever stopped to take the time to think about what the phrase really means, and how it pertains to the future of the planet? As much as we may like to think they are, resources on this planet are not infinite. In fact, we will start to run low on many elements and minerals like copper and aluminum within the next century. Expect a skyrocket in the cost of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Change Tagged With: Africa, China, Climate Change, conflict, oil, security, water

Solving Malaria is a bit like Solving the Rubix Cube

October 14, 2010 by Simone Oyekan

Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria. Yet, malaria is a treatable disease. How do I know? I’ve had it before. I was 9 years old. If not for my families’ access to drugs, I may have been 1 of one million children that die each year. Malaria is caused by an anopheles mosquito bite. The parasite that is transmitted by these mosquitoes multiplies in the liver and infects red blood cells. Symptoms can include a fever, vomiting, weakness and a headache. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately half of the world’s … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Sex and Justice Tagged With: Africa, global health, Malaria, youth

What role do you envision young people playing around the issue of HIV/AIDS?

October 13, 2010 by April Stewart

By April Stewart April is one of AIDemocracy’s 2010-2011 Issue Analysts. Find out more about April below or take a look at the Student Issue Analysts. Happiness is the name of a young girl I met in Usa River, Tanzania. She is four years old and loves orange Fanta and dancing. She and more than 30 of her friends live in an orphanage run by the Tanzania Millennium Hand Foundation. All of these children have been infected or affected by HIV, including Happiness. Happiness tested positive for HIV more than a year ago, which she contracted from her … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Sex and Justice Tagged With: Africa, global health, HIV/AIDS, youth

The changing face of aid

October 10, 2010 by Sara Hooker

By Sara Hooker Sara is one of AIDemocracy’s 2010-2011 Issue Analysts. Find out more about Sara below or take a look at the Student Issue Analysts. Dambisa Moyo, author of the book Dead Aid, made headlines for three reasons. The first two were quite simply that she was a young black woman talking about foreign aid, an area whose academia and discussion is dominated by middle-aged white men. The third reason she made headlines was that she advocated for no aid at all. She argued that the way aid was given to countries worsened their condition … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Hunger Tagged With: Africa, Barack Obama, foreign aid, global development, youth

We can..

October 9, 2010 by Sydney Kornegay

By Sydney Kornegay Sydney is one of AIDemocracy’s 2010-2011 Issue Analysts. Find out more about Sydney below or take a look at the Student Issue Analysts. Mwawi Nyirongo is an unexpected force, a woman whose stamina overshadows her stature. The fragile, five-foot Malawian doctor may not look strong, but after watching her work in rural Africa- nursing abandoned HIV/AIDS infants, treating malaria, and attending to the old, arthritic agogos in her village - I was convinced. She’s a superhero. Despite her endless energy, Mwawi is quick to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Sex and Justice Tagged With: Africa, foreign aid, global health, HIV/AIDS, poverty, youth

Girl Power: education and empowerment

October 6, 2010 by Michaela Maynard

By Michaela Maynard Michaela is one of AIDemocracy’s 2010-2011 Issue Analysts. Find out more about Michaela below or take a look at the Student Issue Analysts. I don’t give it much thought when I pick up my birth control pills each month from the pharmacy. I know that if I need them, I can walk to the store and buy condoms. On Tuesday nights, I watch MTV’s 16 and Pregnant. As young Americans, we have the luxury of living in a society where reproductive health is accessible and topics like sex are becoming less taboo. Unfortunately, other … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Sex and Justice Tagged With: Africa, global health, HIV/AIDS, women