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Topic: Why is Tabo denying that HIV causes AIDS
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Granola Girl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8078
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posted 06 July 2005 11:03 PM
It is my understanding that many traditional Africans in that region are incredibly opposed to birth control (because children = wealth and status) and are very resistant to condoms, which are also seen as violating male privilege to procreate (because they give women the ability to control fertility) and are also seen as interfering with male pleasure.Also, I don't think its wise to underestimate the hold that traditional medicines and folk beliefs have in rural Africa. Its difficult for Westerners to get into that mindset but, as an example, "witch burning" or ritualized murder of the vulnerable, usually the elderly still breaks out in some parts of Africa with some regularity. When talking about Africa, its best to remember that we are talking about a continent whose inhabitants have, overall, a very low literacy rate. In any case, to answer your question, Mbeki is probably telling his voters exactly what they want to hear. Dealing with the AIDS crisis would change their patterns of traditional life considerably and also shift power balances in the family.
From: East Van | Registered: Jan 2005
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Mr. Magoo
guilty-pleasure
Babbler # 3469
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posted 07 July 2005 05:10 PM
quote:
Ignore this fact at your own risk.
Way to go. Now I'll be awake all night.  Thing is, big or no, profits or no, they're also where we get health care from. I'm not sure I want to destroy modern medicine as we know it and replace it with... what? Anarcho-doctors who travel about like medieval barbers, dispensing remedies they've cooked up themselves? I guess I just don't take the fact that the health care business is a big business to be a de facto problem. There may be problems, to be sure, but size ain't one of them.
From: ø¤°`°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°°¤ø, | Registered: Dec 2002
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EFA
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9673
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posted 07 July 2005 05:15 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Vigilante:
I'm somewhat undecided on the HIV/AIDS thing. To me the real answer may not be clear untill the medical/pharmacutical complex has been destroyed.
I've read a couple of credible papers that suggest otherwise. It doesn't mean the researchers are "lying." Remember when stomach ulcers turned out to be caused by bacteria? Well, the guy who first proposed that was thrashed for his theory. Just because the mainstream believes in something isn't reason enough for me to follow along. Lastly, Big Pharma and medical science are two vastly different arenas. Many of us would like to see Big Pharma step down a bit. That doesn't mean we're bashing medicine.
From: Victoria, BC | Registered: Jun 2005
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Vigilante
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8104
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posted 08 July 2005 06:11 PM
quote:
EFA:
Lastly, Big Pharma and medical science are two vastly different arenas. Many of us would like to see Big Pharma step down a bit. That doesn't mean we're bashing medicine.
Well 1st of all I want Big P shot down. Second I think that both the current medicine and the Pharma are very connected(doctors getting edcation payed for eg). I have an uncle who worked(not sure if he's still there)for an alternative medicine joint. The head of this company apparently did a speach about a promising alternative treatment for diabetes. After the speech a doctor apparently came up to him and said something along the lines of"pssss, do ya want to put us out of busness". There's an ideological line that many in the medical scene are peddeling that is very hostile to anything non-conventional. Hence, Big P gets its help.
From: Toronto | Registered: Feb 2005
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EFA
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9673
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posted 08 July 2005 06:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Vigilante:
Well 1st of all I want Big P shot down. Second I think that both the current medicine and the Pharma are very connected(doctors getting edcation payed for eg). I have an uncle who worked(not sure if he's still there)for an alternative medicine joint. The head of this company apparently did a speach about a promising alternative treatment for diabetes. After the speech a doctor apparently came up to him and said something along the lines of"pssss, do ya want to put us out of busness". There's an ideological line that many in the medical scene are peddeling that is very hostile to anything non-conventional.Hence, Big P gets its help.
I totally agree with you. I just separated them because another poster was suggesting that to take on Big Pharma would be to shut down modern medicine. That's clearly not the case.
From: Victoria, BC | Registered: Jun 2005
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puzzlic
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9646
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posted 08 July 2005 06:40 PM
Evil though Big Pharma may be (and usually is), the great advantage of scientific medicine is that it works whether you believe in it or not. If you are infected with HIV and you get the right combination of antiretroviral drugs, you will live a lot longer and healthier than an HIV-infected person who relies on herbal teas, astrology, witch-burning, virgin-rape or any other "alternative" therapy. Whether Mbeki is engaging in it or not, HIV-denial is doing no favours for sick people. P.S. - Granola Girl -- thank you for pointing out the "African" language point! I always feel like saying, "No, I don't speak 'African'. Do you speak European?"  [ 08 July 2005: Message edited by: puzzlic ]
From: it's too damn hot | Registered: Jun 2005
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