God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

11/21/2009 • 11:39 pm Comments Off on 21.11.2009 A party, a future deacon and Konrad…

21.11.2009 A party, a future deacon and Konrad…

A long day draws to an end – ending with a party to celebrate the beginning of summer. Thanks to Monika & Bernd for a wonderful evening, even the wind and the clouds could not stop us drumming and eating and drinking and chatting a great eve long. It was good to see people again, catch up and simply make new friends. A perfect end of a day which began with meeting somebody who will be ordained to be a deacon in two weeks time. This will be a special occasion for me as it marks an end to a way I had the pleasure to accompany as a spiritual director for some years now. And amazingly, being a spiritual director does not mean a one-way-street; having done this now not only once it was and is always a sharing, which includes the spiritual director. I always learned in advising somebody in a big way myself  – giving is receiving; this is so true as I experienced again and again.

And then the email from Konrad, making me aware of a double negative I used in one sentence of  a one of my blogs and making so my sentence unknowingly to the opposite I really wanted to say. Thanks for that, you creme de la creme volunteer :-), and for all who will find the sentence with a “don’t” and a “not” in one sentence concerning my view on sexuality: please scrap the first “not” and the sentence is right!  🙂 Ach ja, Konrad, we are missing you also… very much so… 🙂

And there was another highlight today: I was invited to write about “Aids in Africa” for a publisher’s academic compilation (University of Trier) and today I could file the finished script after receiving confirmation that my writing was appropriate for the intention of the publisher. It feels good to file away what one has accomplished in the knowledge one has done well.. 🙂

So –  a good day, and a throughout the day working internet connection – what else does one need to go to bed as a happy chappy..:-) Good night

Filed under: Reflection, , , , , , ,

11/16/2009 • 4:51 pm Comments Off on 16.11.2009 New week starting

16.11.2009 New week starting

At 6 am I am up and running already this morning, too much is waiting for me today. The first hours I spend writing the next pages for a book to be published with the University of Trier. I was asked to contribute 15 pages on HIV and AIDS and slowly but surely the first 10 pages are done with an overview and some insights about the pandemic in Africa. Then a meeting with a parishioner from my previous German-speaking parish in Durban – time to have a coffee and catch up with his and my life. I always encouraged the people in Durban to phone when they are in Cape Town and to meet for a coffee and a chat. It is so important to stay in touch, specially when “your” community lives two flight hours away from you. For me it is nice to see that they still phone and pop in – even after I left this working field.

Afterwards meeting with the management board of the HOPE Cape Town Trust to prepare for the AGM later this month. There is always much to consider and to prepare to have a successful meeting with the whole board of trustees.

Answering emails and scheduling meetings is my current task – this week is so full, it is amazing and I have difficulties to pack into the week a bit of gym to release tension and to do good to my body. Later this eve I will visit friends to have a good “Linsensuppe” – a real good finale for a full day.

Filed under: General, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Reflection, Uncategorized, , , ,

11/15/2009 • 2:46 pm 2

15.11.2009 Still confused

Coming back from a brief retreat I am still confused and frustrated to being threatened by a London law firm about the contents of  two of my blogs. It feels like money reigns over truth. Nevertheless, I will wait and see. At the end, so I always hear, will the truth prevail. It should not take too much of my energy in the moment. I am awaiting the content of the complaint from the law firm directly and then I will decide how to follow-up on it. I have altered the two blogs concerned until further notice and me seeing the essence of the complaint.

This all should not stop me from continue working for the cause of HOPE Cape Town and writing the blog to continue networking with all readers and interested people. I still hope to being able to do this with WordPress, but I am also aware that they cannot judge such matters and being themselves subject of a complaint, might react and suspend the blog. If this happens then please check: http://www.stefanhippler.com – there will for this eventuality  be a notice where to find the continuation of the blog.

 

Filed under: General, Reflection, , , , ,

11/13/2009 • 11:58 pm Comments Off on 13.11.2009 Blogs are read…

13.11.2009 Blogs are read…

With interest I have noticed that blogs, even such a small one like mine are read and that there is the possibility that one steps on a foot of somebody who calls directly for lawyers to threaten the writer. Amazing, as I try to be as truthful as only possible in all I am writing, I describe what I see, feel, sense – my impression. I also learn in these days that people cannot face their own little truth – denialism seems not only a topic within the portfolio of HIV and AIDS but also in other circles. Once again, we are not only, what we think we are, but also how other people perceive us. But we are all also good in persuading people to see what we want them to see. A funny world out there – I go to bed with these indeed philosophical thoughts.

Filed under: Reflection, , ,

11/12/2009 • 6:39 am Comments Off on 12.11.2009 Maybe there is hope…

12.11.2009 Maybe there is hope…

I came across this article from IOL, which seems to provide proof that we move from showering away the virus getting into serious debate on the political front:

Zuma issues HIV wake-up call

By Carien du Plessis (copyright IOL 2009)

President Jacob Zuma yesterday call for national mobilisation against HIV/ Aids, saying South Africans had to come to terms with the reality that the country was “not yet winning” the battle against the pandemic. Speaking in the National Council of Provinces, he cited “chilling statistics” of the number of South Africans dying, warning there was “a real danger” that deaths would soon overtake the number of births.  In an emphatic departure from the Aids denialism that marked the era of his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, Zuma said “extraordinary measures” were needed “if we are to stop the progress of this disease through our society”. Recent statistics from the Department of Health, Human Sciences Research Council, Medical Research Council, Statistics SA and other sources “paint a disturbing picture of the health of our nation”, Zuma said:

  • Nearly six out of 10 deaths during 2006 were of people younger than 50.

  • The number of deaths registered in 2008 jumped to 756 000, up from 573 000 the previous year, when just more than a million births were registered (1 205 111).

  • The Independent Electoral Commission had to remove 396 336 names of deceased people from the voters roll in September 2008 and August this year.

  • The average life expectancy of South African men in 2006 was 51 years, while in Senegal it was 60 and in Algeria 70.

  • Some studies suggested that more than half – 57 percent – of deaths of children under five in 2007 were due to HIV.

    “More and more people are dying young, threatening even to outnumber in proportional terms those who die in old age,” Zuma said. “At this rate, there is a real danger that the number of deaths will soon overtake the number of births.” What was “even more disturbing” was the number of young women dying “in the prime of their life, in their child-bearing years”. The situation was made worse by high levels of tuberculosis infection, with the co-infection rate between HIV and TB now “a staggering 73 percent”, with 481 584 people ill with the disease. “These are some of the chilling statistics that demonstrate the devastating impact that HIV and Aids is having on our nation,” Zuma said. He called on political leaders to lead by example and have themselves tested.

    • After this wake up call suddenly other political entities are also declaring the need of a change in politics. Where have all these intelligent people been the last years?????

    Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, , , ,

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