How are you Inspiring Change?

March 8 is International Women's Day around the world.

This year's theme is Inspiring Change.  

I believe that women are the foundation of life and the world.  Each of us came through the labor pains of a woman, yet around the world, we continuously fight and push for significant change and attitudinal shift in society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation.  Have we come a long way from the 1900's suffrage movement?  Yes.  However, women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally education, health and the violence against women is worse than that of men.

In certain regions of the world, a woman is not permitted to receive an education, cannot own property, and many are still dying during childbirth due to the lack of skilled healthcare during childbirth.  Amidst these systematic forms of oppression, we are educators, medical professionals, CEO's, homemakers, Nobel Prize Laureates, presidents of nations, athletes, architects, activists/advocates, changemakers,  journalists, writers, poets, religious leaders, legislators, serve in the military, entertainers, artists, community leaders, mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends.  

We continue to break gender barriers or glass ceilings!  In the US, the rate of women enrolled in college immediately after high school rose to 71% in 2012, compared to 61% for young men.  African American enrollment for women rose to 69%, leaving a 12% gap between them and their male counterparts.  In the words of Beyoncé, Who run the World? Well, women are making it happen. 

So, it's your turn.  What are YOU doing to inspire change?   

Hey, women aren't perfect. Sometimes, an N goes missing ;-)

Celebrate the accomplishments on women around the world on March 8 and everyday! love+live.life  

Getting To Zero: World AIDS Day 2012

2012 World AIDS Day theme

 December 1, 2012 is World AIDS Day!  A day to remind people from around to world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, safe sex practices, HIV testing, and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.  After 30 years of the global response to HIV and AIDS, only 24% of young women and 36% of young men in low- and middle- income countries are knowledgeable about HIV transmission and prevention.  These numbers have to get better!!!

According to the Center for Diseases Control (CDC),

• Estimated number of people around the world with HIV: 33.3 Million
• Number of people living in the US with an AIDS diagnosis: 479, 161
• Estimated number of people in the US living with HIV: 1.2 Million
• African Americans, who make up only 14 percent of the U.S. population, make up 44 percent of the HIV-positive population.
• Latinos face three times the HIV infection rates as whites.
• Men who have sex with men represent 2 percent of the U.S. population but account for 61 percent of all new HIV infections.

If these numbers don't make you ask why we are still fighting an uphill battle against HIV/AIDS in 2012, maybe the images will hit home.

 Globally:

Courtesy of World Health Organization

AIDS affects us all!! Infections can be prevented.  Factors that contribute to new infections include:  unprotected sexual encounters, sex with multiple partners, domestic violence, intravenous drug use (sharing needles), homelessness and unstable housing, lack of adequate sexual education, and other risky behavior. 

Contrary to some of the nonsense I've heard from people in my community, THERE IS NO CURE!! YES, you can become infected with HIV and other sexual transmitted infections (STI's) through oral and anal sex.  Until there is a cure, think about what behaviors can put you at risk for infection.  GET TESTED!!  

You can find information on where to get tested, here. love+live.life!

Make your own Facing AIDS declaration at http://facing.aids.gov/