Educate Yourself
AIDS
HIV and later AIDS is a viral infection that effects the immune system, specifically the body’s T-Cells. These cells fight off infection and disease. HIV/AIDS itself does not kill, it leaves the body without its defense system. AIDS is a deadly disease that as of now has no cure. There does exist, however, treatment that can greatly improve and prolong the lives of those who receive medication.
AIDS hides, dormant undetected for months, even years. This, and the stigma attached to AIDS help it to spread. AIDS is spread through sex, iv drug use, blood transfusions and from parents to children. Surprisingly married African women are at the greatest risk for contracting AIDS.
AIDS is so devastating to a society because it affects the middle, working age people. Teachers, shop owners, repairmen, all persons in all sectors of society are impacted by AIDS. It weakens the members of society who form the foundation of local economy.
The Third World
The Developing World, commonly known as the Third World, are those countries that have little or no industrialization. The term is misleading in that it may cause one to think that the Third World is separate from economic globalization. This, however, is certainly not the case. The Third World continues to play a central roll in the global market, in its interactions with multinational corporations and as providers of the world’s raw resources. It is precisely this roll in the global economy that gives urgency to our present situation.
While recognizing that this is a complex situation one can say that the Third World can’t afford not to play this global economic game that is inherently unjust. The power plays of the 1st world tantamount to economic exploitation. International business uses the Third World for cheap labor, often paying unfair wages and with huge tax credits from the governments leaving countries with yes the jobs they need and a sour taste in their mouth. In addition to labor practices prices for raw materials have not increased with inflation over time, if fair prices were paid to begin with putting many nations at a disadvantage. If a country does not accept the low price for its resources from the industrialized world, who else can it sell to. In other words an OPEC model only works when a resource is highly valuable and somewhat scarce. Countries that produce, bananas, coffee, iron, copper, or textiles cannot change the market in way that promotes justice.
Any disaster is difficult to weather, regardless of economic development (e.g. Hurricane Katrina). The economic factors of Third World serve to compound any disaster, famine, war, or epidemic (such as AIDS). We see these effects clearly in Africa, a situation with compounded challenges. Medical care and AIDS education fall short, living wages, adequate food and clean water are issues that have to be dealt with at the same time.
The Third World needs those who will partner with them to address this crisis. The Third World needs those who will help provide resources to empower and equip people for change.
