An AIDS patient in the Hospital del Torax in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Honduras is facing an epidemic of AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses. Photo courtesy of the World Bank. Photo by Alredo Srur

World AIDS Day, 1 December 2003, in Lancaster
by Michael P. Nunn

As someone who has been in Lancaster but one year, I am appalled that there seems to have been very little attention paid to World AIDS Day in our local area. Other places where I have lived have marked the day with candlelit vigils, awareness stalls in public libraries, a massive visible promotion and wearing of red ribbons, discos, raffles, concerts and other entertainment and events organised by groups and individuals.

Some national coverage .
But here? Apart from the recent comment on Virtual-Lancaster, there has hardly been a mention locally. Yes, the national press and the BBC's website have covered the issue, and quite rightly so too. But there was nothing on terrestrial television or radio this weekend to mark the occasion.

Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson is also concerned by the apparent lack of support for the event. "Perhaps we have grown very complacent in the UK," he feels, "even in the face of alarming statistics about the huge growth in sexually transmitted disease." (read his entire statement here)

World AIDS Day is not just another annual thing like National Potato Day (nothing wrong with that in itself, of course), but World AIDS Day is a commemoration of the fallen - much more positive than the recent negative and jingoistic Remembrance Day bunfights. It is also a necessary statement of awareness of and concern for one of the biggest evils of our time.

. But signs of local apathy
In fairness The Gregson, as one might expect, had a gig this week whose proceeds would benefit an AIDS charity. That is the only good news. But what were our local politicians, the health authorities, the 'interest' groups like Gay Switchboard, drug agencies and others doing? There were not even any posters or red ribbons in my GP's surgery this last week. The 'What's on' columns in the local media extolled the virtues of Christmas Fairs and the like instead. That is the bad news.

I am ashamed. No-one in our area seems concerned. What is the problem here -- locally, and in the wider context?

Global struggle
The horrors of the spread of this deadly virus and its associated conditions have been called "the genocide of a generation" by United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. This is no exaggeration -- it is a problem of global, pandemic proportion. Like any other such international disaster, there is a need for a fight, a struggle to ensure it is contained.

As well as Kofi Annan, other prominent figures across the globe have put their shoulders to this struggle, including Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and people from the world of the arts such as Bono, Sir Ian McKellan, Queen, Eurythmics and the Corrs. "We cannot escape each others' fate," Clinton has said. Microsoft boss Bill Gates has contributed a small fortune top fighting AIDS in countries like Botswana, which is facing the possibility of a complete collapse in its population by 2010 because of the disease.

What exactly is the struggle against? First, the medical conditions themselves, a cure for which seems elusive for the moment but, like cancer, patient (and expensive) research will deepen our understanding of the virus and its effects.

Apathy
Second, the vicious apathy, and in some cases denial, which leaders spiritual and temporal throughout the world have shown to those who suffer from AIDS and related conditions. The Churches have not helped the debate to best effect, as witnessed by the duplicity and confused messages of the Catholic Church as shown on the BBC's Panorama recently. Many political leaders globally, and our present government in particular, have politely chosen to ignore the situation, have taken an aggressively condemnatory stance, or simply denied that there is a problem. There is much that can be done here in the UK -- strong and positive education programmes for all and the young in particular, free condoms easily accessible (where are those in Lancaster?), and increased financial support for organisations who care for those affected. The British Government needs to face up to this issue, and to begin to own it rather than sideline or ignore it. It won't go away -- far from it. It is "a plague on all your houses".

Greed
Third, the callous greed that is preventing palliative treatment getting to those who so desperately need it. Spending money to make life-extending medication readily available is not fashionable or politically attractive, and of course the victims are at the mercy of multinational selfish capitalism - that is, the big drugs companies, many of whom are American. This is a scandal of mephitic proportion on our generation.

Prejudice
Fourth, prejudice. This manifests itself in different ways across the globe, and in the West the shameful sun headline "Gay plague" sums it all up. Prejudice is closely allied to ignorance and fear, and the lack of clear information ('you can catch it from toilet seats' etc) can be dispelled by a stout proclaiming of the truths of the matter. Tony Blair's rallying-cry of "Education, education and education" rings hollow indeed now in this as in so many other ways. Research has shown that it is, in fact, no longer 'spread' by the gay community, neither in the UK nor elsewhere. Not that one should be blaming anyone-- the 'blame' and 'sue' culture is a damning attitude to one's fellow humans, and should have no place in our minds or in our society.

An uncaring world
What has gone wrong? Where are signs of the nobler sides to human nature -- caring, compassion, concern and a respect for those who are vulnerable? Ironically these are the virtues proclaimed by many major religions. In particular, Christ's teachings on the matter are clear: visit the sick, healing 'lepers', rescuing the Samaritan, dining with 'publicans and sinners', and so forth.

The problem goes beyond religion. It permeates the political fibres of societies and countries throughout the world, it affects our local communities, and strikes down people we know and love. It should be in all our hearts and minds to join the struggle against greed, apathy, ignorance and the like. It is the responsibility of every one of us to be aware of the situation, and to take actions -- in whatever way we can as individuals -- to join in that struggle. Even if it just means wearing a red ribbon.

Treatment difficult or denied
I read recently that some UK genito-urinary medicine departments ('special clinics') have waiting lists of months. This, like trying to see an NHS dentist, is a scandal. Little effort is so often made in the provision of care to ensure that appropriate and caring treatment is quickly and easily available. Thus the ill are penalised twice -- first by the condition itself, and second by the indignity, the hurt suffered by not being able to get treatment where and when it is needed -- without having to pay. On top of all that, the stigma of AIDS/HIV creates even deeper wounds.

Weapon of mass destruction or hairdos
The United Nations makes a chilling, contemporary parallel. "For people in some of the countries we are talking about, Aids is a real weapon of mass destruction -- and what are we doing about that?" asks Kofi Annan. What indeed -- spending billions fighting wars that most people do not want, such as in Iraq, Northern Ireland and what is ironically called the Holy Land. How can people spend billions of dollars on pet care and 'beauty' treatments when half the world is starving, has no clean water and is forced to exist below even the lowest, meanest poverty line?

Answers?
The hypocrisy of the situation would be risible were it not so horrific: how will our religious and political leaders answer when called to account for their actions and inaction? "In the evening of our day", says a mediaeval Spanish mystic, "we shall be judged by our loving". You don't need a specific religious faith to see the basic human truth behind that remark.

And what about here, among our own "dark, satanic mills"? I see little evidence that people or organisations hereabouts are striving towards building the 'New Jerusalem' of Blake's poem as far as HIV/AIDS is concerned. "For the triumph of evil," the (secular) saying goes, "all that is needed is for good men to do nothing". Quite so.

This means you
This article, then, is directed at our local leaders, political and religious, at those in the caring professions hereabouts, at voluntary and other organisations which are affected by the issue, at the local media and, above all, at anyone and everyone who reads it. The issues are not just money (though that of course has been in miserably short supply to combat the problem), but lack of action, ignorance (in all senses of the word), lack of education and, for what I have seen here, lack of concern.

Positive action
On this vital issue, given the dearth of local positive involvement and action, we all need a reality check. This means examining our consciences, reviewing our values, asking each other, and stirring up some informed, open and creative local debate. For what ends? We need to make sure that the disgraceful lack of profile, lack of simple human understanding, sheer inhumanity and callous contempt are not repeated in Lancaster and the surrounding area next year.

Write to Hilton Dawson or Geraldine Smith, to your local councillors, to the local press, mention it to your GP, bring it up at local groups you are involved in, raise it at school, college or university and, above all, talk to people about it. HIV/AIDS is an issue we can all contribute to in the workplace, as trades unions will almost certainly support any initiatives on these lines.

Then you, at least, will not be a party to "a certain incredible callousness that one would not have expected in the 21st Century" as Kofi Annan has put it. Do it now.

Copyright © 1 December 2003 Michael Nunn

• Did you organise a World AIDS day event or do you support any campaigns fighting the spread of AIDS?