you CAN do something
AIDS is a reality you don’t have the luxury to ignore.
Bono wrote in his book On the Move—
6,500 Africans are still dying every day of a preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drugstore. This is not about charity; this is about justice and equality.
Because there’s no way we can look at what’s happening in Africa and, if we’re honest, conclude that deep down, we really accept that Africans are equal to us. Anywhere else in the world, we wouldn’t accept it. Look at what happened in Southeast Asia with the tsunami. 150,000 lives lost to that misnomer of all misnomers, “mother nature.” In Africa 150,000 lives are lost every month. A tsunami every month. And it’s a completely avoidable catastrophe.
There is a continent—Africa—being consumed by flames.I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did—or did not do—to put the fire out in Africa.
History, like God, is watching what we do.
Don’t close your eyes or turn your head away. People are dying for you to do something.
What will you do to learn more about the AIDS crisis?
What will you do with what you know?
i stole this quote: 6,500 Africans are still dying every day of a preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drugstore. This is not about charity; this is about justice and equality.
i still cannot fathom it.
wow dude, WOW!
What a great proverb. I’m going to empower my kids to be mossies. Maybe not so much the blood sucking thing though …
@gritandglory says:
south africans always say “mozzies”! i felt not so far from my africa when i read your comment!
I absolutely love this post. Amazing. SO demanding action. Those are all power packed quotes. Thank you for your leadership in the battle to end AIDS
I don’t just want to learn, I want to DO. What can I do to help?
@gritandglory says:
shoooooo… i could soapbox about this for a while. i wish i could insert a bunch of video clips from my film shoot in detroit—ha ha!
there are a lot of agencies, both secular and christian, focusing on the effects of the AIDS crisis—building hospices to care for the ill and dying, establishing orphanages for all the children left parentless, etc. and all of those things are definitely needed. but if we don’t start focusing on the cause of the AIDS crisis, we’re gonna build hospitals and orphan care centers until we lose an entire generation in africa. the vision God’s burned on my heart is to raise up next generation leaders to live God-honoring lives. so thrive africa is in public schools, teaching thousands of students every week about the purpose God has for their lives and how they can avoid getting HIV so they can actually fulfill that purpose.
as for what you can do… i’d say you need to know what aspect of the AIDS crisis resonates with your heart. maybe it’s orphan care. or medical intervention/research. or prevention. you might not know yet what your passionate about in regards to fighting the AIDS pandemic. so it may need to begin with lots of reading about the multi-faceted issues involved. learn as much as you can, discover your passion, and then put your full weight behind that passion.
some other thoughts:
- pray. prayer really does change things.
- give financially as you are able.
- connect as much as possible with the cause/organization you believe in. the more you know and understand about them, the more you can be a megaphone for them.
- as is possible and applicable, interact with the organization and its team. visit their website, comment on blog posts, ask for specific prayer requests. passion grows when you truly become part of something. family members have the same blood in their veins… join the family. get the vision coursing through you till you bleed it.
- use your voice and influence to promote those causes you believe in. you can do that through blog posts, sidebar widgets, twitter updates, personal conversations… you could commit to a monthly megaphone day on your blog where you highlight different aspects of what’s being done, what the needs are, and the opportunities for others to get involved.
- anyone can plug something. but passion is unmistakable. people will know how much you really believe in what you’re saying.
- go if you can. (i know you aren’t in this position, fritz, but i’m including it for anyone else who might read this.) depending on the organization, that might mean visiting their headquarters here in america. or it might mean actually going overseas and not only seeing the work in action but participating in it. the best advocates are those who’ve been involved. and i guarantee it will change your life forever.
I’d love to hear others’ thoughts. What else can people DO to get involved in combating the AIDS crisis?
@gritandglory says:
sheesh. that is loooooong! i should’ve probably just made a post out of it. maybe i will after other suggestions on what we can DO come in…
So good friend, i love listening to you talk about Thrive.
And I’ll say it cuz I’m not you – but EVERYONE needs to connect with Thrive Africa and give financially. They have a strategy from God that is actually changing the course of AIDS, but that message and strategy needs to get out to the rest of Africa. And that takes money…
Thrive would always use the perfect illustration like a leaky faucet – you can either get bucket after bucket to clean up the mess or you can fix the leak. Thrive presents solutions at the root of the problem, leadership and lifestyle.
I’m always reminded, our God is Mighty to save AND He has given unto us the ministry of helping the sick, poor, needy and those unreached with the love of God.
(Hope you don’t mind the plug, friend :) )
@gritandglory says:
thank you for that plug! and thank you for truly KNOWING thrive. for remembering my example of the leaky faucet from the times you’ve heard me speak. for believing in us and being so faithful in your support!
much razz as they get, i also kinda like the (RED) campaign stuff… if you’re gonna spend the money getting a new iPod, get the (RED) one and donate some of the proceeds. then, get something cool scribed on the back so it’s a conversation starter, too!
… but that’s just in addition to the things you listed. i could soapbox about this, too. in fact, i’ve been known to. grin.
@gritandglory says:
true.
i get peeved by (red) a bit, but you’re right. when choosing between two items, pick the one that will donate toward fighting AIDS (no matter how small that donation may be… because every bit DOES help.)
is it the small amount donated that bothers you? or the idea that purchasing (red) makes some think they’ve fulfilled their “AIDS relief” duties? i’m curious.
@gritandglory says:
it’s both. but primarily because people walk around with their expensive (RED) products and feel like they’ve done their part to help fight the AIDS crisis. and while every bit does help, and everyone should be doing something, if we’re content to spend $250 on an iPod, and think that the $10 (MAX!) from that which went to AIDS relief means i can cross “fight HIV” off my morality to-do list, then we’re just fooling ourselves….
stepping off my soapbox now.
okay. thanks for the thoughts, thats what i thought you’d say.
did you turn off the “email yeller when i reply to her comment” setting? i’ve not been getting those. you’re making me work here!
@gritandglory says:
no! everything’s still set up the same on my end. check your spam folder????
I want to hear about your time in Detroit! (That’s where I live). Were you serving somewhere near here?
@gritandglory says:
at the last minute, i ended up flying into detroit for a few days last month. a production studio there offered to make a new promo video for Thrive Africa.
http://www.gritandglory.com/2009/11/19/three-minute-thursday-take-19/
i’ll be back there in early 2010… maybe we can connect!
@christielici0us says:
This is a most excellent post, and I love the quote! It’s been my experience that one person alone can often start something that will grow to huge proportions! That’s why we should never forget how big an impact we can make if we just get started!
I’m wearing my red in recognition of World AIDS day today. I was a bit disappointed that more people at work aren’t in red. Oh well.
It really irritates me when people think you can catch aids from breathing the same air….they are people just the same as you or me. But in the US we have treatments that they can only dream about. The aids crisis became real to me over the summer…when I witnesses it take someones life. I want to do something…I want to reverse the aids crisis…..
That is a perfect illustration!! Such a thrive one too….thive is making on africa…ah I love thrive!! I have left a piece of my heart with africa and its people…
@coloraturajoy says:
i am almost speechless.
the facts about this are chilling.
but that african proverb is empowering.
thank you first for what you do, and second for remind me and others of what needs to be done.
i can promise immediately that i will pray.
and i will be talking with landry about giving financially, both to organizations specifically focusing on AIDS and also to Thrive Africa.
@gritandglory says:
thank you, JR. really.
@ventigrace says:
powerful.