God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

05/26/2010 • 8:36 pm Comments Off on 26.05.2010 Packing again

26.05.2010 Packing again

After one week in Cape Town it is time to pack again – this time for Hamburg – hopefully in spring mood… recording of the “Beckmann” talk show on Monday, some meetings before – I am looking forward to see Viola & Hermjo, Joachim & Sandra @ the Atlantic Hotel. Lots to discuss for the HOPE Gala Dresden and the World Aids Awareness Expedition II. First time flying via Doha with Qatar Airlines.. the prices for LH flights at the time of the booking were simply “over the moon”. Soccer seems to have clouded the rationale of LH – well now the prices are down again. Good so.

The talk show will discuss South Africa and the Soccer World Cup 2010 – also the implication on the HIV/AIDS situation in the country. I guess it will be a good discussion and it will be aired on Monday, the 7th of June if I am not mistaken.

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, , , , , , ,

05/16/2010 • 11:11 pm Comments Off on 16.05.2010 Muc-FRA-Muenster-Sarmsheim

16.05.2010 Muc-FRA-Muenster-Sarmsheim

In the morning a breakfast meeting with two representatives of the “Aktionsbuendnis AIDS” before starting to pack up and leave for the airport. The machine is completely overbooked, the staff at the boarding area has still to learn that LH is a SERVICE orientated business and that the customer pays for his flight and is not the one to be grateful to be chosen to fly with Lufthansa. It is sometimes amazing for me to see and experience the different standards of service deliver of Lufthansa.

Well, the machine is packed, even the jump-sits are used for passengers – we are late,  but why apologise for the mess….LH at its best again….

In Frankfurt another experience of lack of service oriented business behaviour. It seems that the booking of the car with GPS was just a request – so no car with GPS available. The lady from AVIS is not very helpful – the meaning of the word “service” is completely strange to her… maybe unheard?

Europcar is finally helping out – and we rush to Bingen and then to Muenster – Sarmsheim for the information evening about HOPE Cape Town. It is good to see all the familiar faces and to speak with those whose pastoral care was close to my heart more than 20 years ago.. it feels like coming home after all these years.

It is 11pm until back to the hotel where a bed is waiting – tomorrow an early school appointment is waiting for us.

Filed under: General, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, Politics and Society, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

05/15/2010 • 8:49 am Comments Off on 14.05.2010 Ecumenical church day II

14.05.2010 Ecumenical church day II

Breakfast @ 7 am already with Steffi, donor, initiator of a fundraising trip, which brought Constance, our first HOPE Community Health Worker to Germany when the International Prayer Day focused on women in Africa.
Then a brief cab ride to the “Staatskanzlei” to meet with Dirk Brand from Cape Town and State Minister Schneider and others driving the partnership between Bavaria and the Western Cape. We are a bit late as the taxi driver is not sure, where “his” government resides…  The Bavarian House during the Soccer World Cup 2010 but also the general political and social situation in South Africa as well as the question how to involve the local churches more into the partnership are further topics to be discussed.
Luncheon then with the Vice-president of the Bavarian parliament and his wife before heading to the international trade centre again to meet with Bishop Stephan Ackermann for an intensive talk on various subjects.
A brief walk through the halls to have at least a clou what organisations are all participating before the radio broadcaster of “Hessen” are waiting for a live interview on “sexuality and moral theology” in our days.
With all the “meet and greet” in between it is late evening, when we arrive back at our hotel to have dinner, reflect the day and then it’s time to rest – the next day will have its own challenges.

Filed under: General, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Reflection, Society and living environment, , , , , , , ,

05/14/2010 • 12:12 am Comments Off on 13.05.2010 Ecumenical Church Day Munich

13.05.2010 Ecumenical Church Day Munich

Breakfast with Prof. Hilpert, moral theologian of the Theological faculty of Munich to discuss his possible input into our POZ project for HIV positive priests and religious. There after finding our way to the VIP International Visitors Lounge to receive the necessary documentation for the Ecumenical Church Day.

Meeting with a representative of MISEREOR to discuss some financial affairs and possibilities before heading to the Technical University to prepare for the podiums discussion about “HIV positive kids and youth in South Africa”.  the 1.5 h presentation included a film-strip from the film “thembi” and my role is to present the actual situation – social and political – in South Africa  and then the experience of HOPE Cape Town with children infected and their life experience.
During the discussion of course also the questions of condoms arise and the need of change in moral theology.

Interviews, meetings with known and long – not – seen friends surround the podium discussion and then quick back to the hotel – another meeting with a editor of a magazine before heading to the reception of the SPD in the Bavarian parliament. There I meet a lot of known and new people, amongst others Franz Maget, Archbishop Marx, the Vice President of the German Bundestag, Thierse, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Steinmeier, SPD stalwart Nagel, the Catholic Dean of Munich, the Finance Director of the Archdiocese of Munich, the secretary of the German Bishops Conference and many more. And at the end I agree to be part of the World AIDS Day in Munich and a week early to preach at the Hannover Marktkirche at the traditional service to commemorate the HIV/AIDS victims of the area, which is an honour as they have to show off with an impressive row of preachers in the last year.
So much networking for both of us this evening…

And so much more in between – a really full day and tomorrow the day starts with a breakfast at 7 am. Time to say Good Night…

Filed under: General, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, Politics and Society, , , , , , , , , , , ,

05/04/2010 • 6:47 pm Comments Off on 04.05.2010 News on medical dagga

04.05.2010 News on medical dagga

The POZ magazine reports:
The Washington, DC, City Council approved a medical marijuana bill allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to patients with chronic conditions such as HIV, glaucoma and cancer, The Washington Post reports. Under the bill, doctors would be able to prescribe patients up to 2 ounces of marijuana in a 30-day period. According to the article, patients’ prescriptions would be filled at city-sanctioned distribution centers, which receive their marijuana supply from private cultivation centers licensed by the city.  The bill, approved April 20, does include restrictions. Patients aren’t allowed to grow their own marijuana, and distribution and cultivation centers can’t be located within 300 feet of schools or preschools. The council is scheduled to vote a second time on the bill next month, after which it could take several months for the program to go into effect.
http://www.poz.com/articles/medical_marijuana_bill_1_18313.shtml

In my opinion a great decision.

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Treatment, Medical and Research, Politics and Society, , , , ,

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