China Faces AIDS Challenge
WHY Reporter's Robert Windorf reports

China's HIV/AIDS crisis is a much different animal than epidemics in other global regions, according to the experts at the recent Asia Society seminar and videoconference in New York. The experts at the seminar -- "Challenges Facing China's Response to AIDS" -- outlined what is needed for a coordinated and comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS.

The PRC government has finally responded to the challenges of HIV/AIDS on the heels of the SARS epidemic. As a result of repeated influence by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in late September China's Ministry of Health announced five new central government commitments concerning the HIV/AIDS crisis:

• to clarify the responsibilities of and to hold various officials accountable on the control of the epidemic, as inspired by SARS;


• to establish free treatment for the infected poor;


• the launch of a $1.2 billion nationwide awareness campaign and crackdown on illegal activities that incite the epidemic;


• the end of official discrimination of people with HIV/AIDS;


• and the commitment to increase efforts in international cooperation about the epidemic.

A number of incidents and events have pointed to the urgency of the crisis. In addition to last month's high-profile visit to China by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, whose foundation has developed global partnerships to focus on the battle against HIV/AIDS, regional programs have begun to care for infected orphaned infants and young children. However, the biggest problem for the Beijing regime are the cultural and sociological challenges that awareness about HIV/AIDS presents as well as the under-treated people across China’s vast regions.

At the moment, the official government estimate is that 840,000 people are living with HIV. This level has grown rapidly -- by 30 percent -- since 1999. UNAIDS estimates that 7.5 million people are living with HIV in the remainder of Asia. Economic/social developments have continued to spread HIV/AIDS. The day-to-day leadership at the local level is key. Public awareness is still quite low among many other nations. The government has out-dated legislation and stigmatization of those infected continues. Treatment is still limited. Weak surveillance exists, and capital to implement the necessary programs is needed. Insufficient funding and engagement of civil society and the private sector also exist.

As seen elsewhere in the world, HIV/AIDS is directly related to the challenges of hunger and poverty. WHY firmly agrees with the many scholars and experts who have explored that relationship. Many hungry people in developing nations, including China, resort to illegal activities -- such as organ and blood donations, prostitution, and narcotic trafficking -- to earn income amidst their impoverished state. Those activities are now among the prime causes for the spread of HIV/AIDS within China.

WHY applauds the Asia Society's efforts to continue to host seminars on important topics such as HIV/AIDS and would like to see a focus on or mention of the epidemic in relation to hunger and poverty issues.

Record Number of Jobless Go Without Aid
End of temporary benefits will hurt millions

Roughly 375,000 unemployed people are exhausting their regular unemployment benefits this month and don't qualify for more help. That number could grow to almost 2 million during the first six months of 2004, according to the latest information. These are record-breaking numbers, writes the Center On Budget And Policy Priorities.

In no other January on record -- the group says -- have so many unemployed workers exhausted their regular benefits without being able to get additional help from the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation program. The TEUC program began to phase out after December 20, 2003.

Get the full story at Center On Budget And Policy Priorities

India Shining?
Not for the poor, says UN advocacy group

The Atal Behari Vajpayee-led National Democratic (NDA) Government may be patting itself on the back for the country's massive economic gains -- praising a "Shining India" -- but the United Nation's Millennium Campaign says India still has a long way to go in fighting poverty and providing basic human needs to its massive population.

India ratified and committed to achieving an 8-point Millennium Declaration in September 2000, reports INDOlink. Goals for the agreement include eradicating extreme poverty, achieving universal primary education, combating HIV/AIDS, and reducing child mortality by 2015.

Key quote:

Salil Shetty, director of the Millennium Campaign, which is studying each member state's performance on the issue this has to say: "In India's case, there are two nations you need to look at. One is 'India Shining', which the Government keeps harping about, but the other India is one where even basic human needs are not being met."

Get the full story at INDOlink

A Farmer On Food Security
WHY's Christina Schiavoni reports

Food Justice and the Public Good: A New York City Summit on Farms and Food
was held on January 24th in New York City. Farmers, consumers, nutritionists, activists, chefs, journalists and others in the hunger and poverty community rolled up their sleeves to workshop and network their way to a more sustainable food system. WHY co-sponsored the event and moderated a session on media strategies for community-based organizations. -- ed.

This past Saturday, several colleagues and I attended "Food Justice and the Public Good: A NYC Summit on Farms and Food," an event organized by Just Food and co-sponsored by WHY, among other supporters. While I am still processing the remarkable exchanges and dialogues that took place among the 400+ participants and presenters at this summit (which each of us will be elaborating on in the next coming days), one moment in particular stands out in my mind.

During a session on creating an office of Food Policy here in New York City, a woman raised her hand and asked to comment. "I am a New York State farmer who supplies food to New York City," she said, "and I would like to applaud these efforts that you are taking here in the city to strengthen our food system."

"On September 11, 2001, I was supposed to be coming into NYC to sell my produce at Greenmarket," she continued. "When I heard of the horrific events that happened that morning, I thought it was more important than ever for me to come. So I packed my truck full of freshly-picked produce and made the trip to NYC but was turned away at the city’s boundaries, as were many other farmers. Meanwhile, I heard about how some neighborhoods were lacking access to the food they needed in the days following 9/11. We have an amazing set-up here in which nutritious, safe food can reach consumers -- even be in their bellies -- within hours of being picked fresh from the fields."

"When we talk about taking increased safety and security measures, we cannot forget about our food system. We farmers are committed to doing our part and hope to work more closely with those of you involved in these efforts here on the city side," she concluded. To me, the words of this farmer sum up food security better than any definition could.

Into Africa
Former WHY staffer Wendy Hamilton prepares for life in the Congo

On February 21, my feet will step onto African soil.

I am going to the Democratic Replubic of Congo to work for Action against Hunger in the North West Equateur province. As one of two expatriates, I will be working with a Congolese staff, local cooperatives, and other NGOs and institutions to carry out food security and sanitation programs. Action Against Hunger's approach to food security considers health and nutritional composition, water availability, sanitation and accessibility to food. The local cooperatives that AAH works with are designed to lead their own projects, in coordination with Action against Hunger, and to eventually operate independently. In addition to increasing peoples' access to food, these cooperatives are also providing incomes for members and fulfilling their respective social objectives: providing food for schools, starting new food markets and jobs, etc.

Since working with World Hunger Year in New York, I have believed in the importance of empowering the people that are in greatest need, in involving them in their personal improvement and the strengthening of their communities.

Despite new economic measures and an improved environment for humanitarian efforts, living conditions continue to deteriorate for DRC's people. In this vast country of 50 million people and 250 different tribes, 2 million people have died in recent wars. A large number of these deaths are due to malnutrition and sickness.

"I am also beginning my work in Africa with inspiration from the examples of community-based organizations focusing on seed saving, job training, nutrition education and economic development that are spotlighted at World Hunger Year."

A UNICEF report notes that the rate of malnutrition in the DRC is 19.1 percent. AAH helps provide needed resources to these communities that have been affected by DRC's recent conflicts. Currently, the communities and humanitarian organizations working to create solutions to hunger face the added challenge of dealing with local authorities who may not follow the same protocol as that prescribed by the Capital. What are the best ways to empower people that are conditioned to act carefully, with prudence, in the face of military authorities and varying governing structures? How can peoples' skills and natural talents be fostered among the communities I am about to meet?

In order to secure an environment where food security programs can succeed, I will need to create relationships with the local authorities and participate in meetings with the UN Mission in the DRC. I hope that this mission will create a greater stability for humanitarian programs and community renewal projects. I hope that the representation of anti-hunger groups at these meetings can show the realities of hunger in the DRC and begin to foster an environment where more farmers' cooperatives can be started, where new health programs can flourish.

While working for RONGEAD (Reseau des ONG europeennes sur l'agro-alimentaire, l'environnement, le developpement et le commerce) in France, I started to see what lessons -- what development strategies, partnerships and sustainability measures -- mature nations and developing countries could share with one another. Today, I am also beginning my work in Africa with inspiration from the examples of community-based organizations focusing on seed saving, job training, nutrition education and economic development that are spotlighted at World Hunger Year.

What new local solutions to hunger and poverty will I find in Africa? What new lessons can I share after this year of service?

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Wendy Hamilton is a former WHY staffer who worked with WHY's Reinvesting In America Program. Next month, Wendy will go to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a staff member of Action Against Hunger -- thus fulfilling a longtime dream of going to Africa. The WHY Reporter looks forward to more reports from Wendy.