There have been speculations that climate change will result in changes in agricultural production, an increase flooding, typhoons/hurricanes, earthquakes and other problems. This claim has prematurely borne these catastrophic events as we have been continuously experiencing these events within the last ten years. According to Population Action International “Unfortunately, most solutions to climate change have focused on restricting emissions of greenhouse gases and supplying the governments of poor countries with another alleged consequence of climate change is the spread of vector-borne and bacterial diseases. As with climate in general, these diseases are a problem today and they affect the poor far more than the wealthy. Vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue, are essentially diseases of poverty.

Many countries that are today wealthy once experienced levels of vector-borne diseases similar to those now experienced by poor countries. In the fourteenth century, one-third of Europe’s population died from the Black Death, which was spread by fleas that thrived on rats living in the sewers of medieval towns. Wealthy countries have largely eliminated such diseases through a combination of environmental interventions (such as the use of pesticides), improved water and sanitation systems, and the development of vaccines and medicines.

Every year, between one and three million people die from malaria. A similar number die from dehydration as a result of diarrhoea. Around 2 million people die from respiratory infections. Most of these 6 million total deaths are children, all of them are poor, and most of their deaths are preventable. Some of the factors that affect disease transmission include:
Malnourishment: Poor people tend to be less well-nourished than wealthy people. They often eat a diet based on staple foods, and lack essential vitamins and minerals. The effect is that their defense systems are weaker and less able to fight off disease. Paradoxically some rich people also suffer from malnourishment, but this is a consequence of the voluntary consumption of inappropriate types and quantities of food, rather than lack of access to nutritious food. The dietary mishaps of the rich can be simply rectified by choosing to eat a better diet; this is not an option for the poor.

I decided to write this blog post in response to comments made by the Ambassador of Korea Mr. Geun-hyeong Yim yesterday at the Rio+20 on sustainable development briefing. During his presentation Ambassador Hyeong Yim outlined the 7 key priority areas to be focused on at Rio, however within these areas there was no mention of health. As a SRHR/HIV&AIDS youth activist I was personally disappointed on how little the UNFCCC and RIO organizers regard the issue of Health specially SRHR as a key component of their sustainable development advocacy and work. The sustenance of a healthy population will no doubt result in a growing, sustained, progressive and developed society.

The World Bank reported in 2009 that average age of life expectancy is 69.4 with some countries averaging as low as 32.1%. Many of these countries are continuously plagued with health related issues such as an increase HIV/AIDS cases, Malnutrition, starvation among others. While many of these epidemics are not as a result of climate change there are those that are direct results of famine, floods, migration caused by climate change, lack of potable water, relocation caused by hurricane/typhoons and diarrhoea. In regions and countries that predominately depends on agriculture as their main source of income the increase in temperature will negatively affect the mode of income and as such will result in the loss of crops, and loss of income, livelihood. The perpetual health related deaths caused by climate change have and will continue to negatively affect the sustainability of our individual, regional and international communities.

Coupled with the issue of health is that of population, the UN celebrated the 7th Billion person in October of this year, however there are reports coming out UN that some areas are too populated. The scarcity of resources will no doubt lead to limited and unbalance distribution creating an even greater gap between the rich and the poor. Population growth is already putting a strain on the world’s limited supply of freshwater. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization on the UN more than 45 countries are currently experiencing water scarcity, this situation will no doubt leave many at greater risk of poverty or disease especially our vulnerable population: those living with disabilities, women and children.
It is evidently clear that there is little cohesion among the UN agencies as simple areas of cohesion and correlation would not have been ignored. I therefore call upon the United Nations, its member states, international civil society to acknowledge the interconnectivity of all social, economic and politic issues and approach each not as a separate issue but as a result of or cause of.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon mentioned in his presentation yesterday that “UN must continue to deliver as one” it’s time we begin to practice what we preach!!

The 2011 United Nations High Level Meeting on Climate Change (COP 17) is buzzing with a hive of energetic environmentalist, government officials, environmental NGOs, and its newest inclusion (the Reproductive Health and Rights Groups), all geared up to discuss saving our wonderful planet! The quiet clean street, sandy beaches, and suburban neighbourhoods of Durban have come alive with opinionated, passionate and eager for changed activist and environmental professionals.

COP 17-Durban Marks the annual meeting on climate change by the UNFCCC since it entered into force in 1995. The topic of climate has become a debatable issue which in recent years have become a high political issue for many developed and developing countries such as the US, China, Brazil and South Africa to name a few. To say that Durban South Africa was strategically chosen and is the best place for this year’s COP is an understatement; the beautiful scenery, clean streets and industrialized economy not only makes it the perfect location but also South Africa among many African nations are plagued with epidemics and natural disasters caused by climate change.

South Africa has one of the highest HIV/AIDS percentages, extreme poverty caused by climate change, and lack of access to limited resources as well as issues of deaths related to either diarrhoea caused by usage of unclean water or starvation caused by lack of resources. The Nation is seen as one of the most developing nations and economy along with India and Brazil and as such is being asked to contribute equally internationally to countries such as the US, France, and the UK.

I’m sure by now you’re asking yourself why is Orain In Durban South Africa at a Climate Change Conference, What does Climate Change have to do with Sexual Reproductive Health and Right? Well as you all know there is nothing in this world that exists in isolation and such if you should focus on high population and risk of vulnerable population you would be able to see the connection.

Poor Nations as those in the Global south specifically Africa and East Asia are more prone to the effects of climate change such as droughts, famine, floods, earthquakes among others, coupled with this is the increase in population growth. Having prematurely past the 7 billion mark over 15 years early these poor and highly populated countries/regions become very vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

In many of these poor vulnerable countries women are affected the most as they ones who are the farmers, victims or repressive religious and cultural laws and have little no SRHR rights. These women are given little information about spacing the birth of their children, contraceptives etc. Therefore having burden as wives, mothers, breadwinners among other roles these women are plagued with serious issues of clean water for children and themselves, famine or floods and lost of crops etc. On dec 4th former Iris President Mary Robinson In a session hosted by Population Action International and Aspen Institute stated that on one of her visit to Somalia she asked the women how men children they have and not one replied less than six kids. Their justification was that “they have many kids with the hopes of one or two surviving and becoming adults”, this is a sad state for the community and any country.

There is work to be done my fellow advocates, let’s not boxed ourselves into one area and not acknowledge the importance of relation of others. Support the Time is Now Campaign.

The Aspen Environment Forum kicked off on Monday May 30, 2011 with its plenary session entitled “Coping with Calamity: The Art of Looking Ahead” how the talk of the forum was the fireside Chat entitled: sustainability 2050; Youth Leaders Speak”. This session saw a dynamic, diverse and passionate group of four young advocates within the fields of Climate Change and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights as the evening speakers. Moderated by Former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka the session was probably the most ethnically diverse group of speakers at the entire Forum: from a Jamaican, American, and Mexican to Indian.

The session was aimed at re-visioning a sustainable world, what are the pathways to achieve it, and how can the youth lead this cause. Orain Edwards and Roli Mahajan both from Advocates for Youth highlighted the correlation between Climate Change and the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of Women especially those living in the developing world. Both Orain and Roli passionately advocated for the inclusion of SRHR providing information form the recent advocates for Youth Climate Change E-consultation, testimonials from women living in Africa and the recent earthquake that hit Haiti.
Orain delved into the various adverse effects of climate change has on the social, economic and even cultural aspects of the average human being whether male or female, then later went on to highlight the specific effects of climate change on the health of women especially those within the developing world. Orain’s argument was supported by Roli who was able to share the experiences of women living in India and women from the eastern side of the world.

Both Orain and Roli passionately advocated for the inclusion of SRHR within the various Climate Change debates and the inclusion of active Youth participation in driving this campaign forward. Orain implored those present to tap into their available youth resources and ensure that at every level there is at least one young person present. Orain mention that the youth are fearless, less likely to have any political allegiance, and less like to lose anything from lobbying or advocating for a cause than their adult counterparts. Orain also highlighted that when one is in his/her youth he /she is more passionate about the issues affecting the youth population and better way to create a better future than by using the youth who are the future.

The session was an inspiring one it became the most talked about session for the entire forum. The success of the session was not only dependent on the fact that the four panellist opened up a new topic which would be discussed at both formal and informal table discussions, but that these four individuals were able to achieve so much in a time when youth leadership and passion is decreasing and that as young people they have been able to effectively utilized the new media and galvanize support and awareness about issues that are important to the development of the world.
 

 The Aspen Institute alongside the National Geography have convened the fourth annual Aspen environmental Forum at the Aspen Meadows in Aspen Colorado from May 30 to June 3 2011. the main focus of the Forum is to foster a meeting of the minds between thought leaders and concerned average citizens from the various walks of life that allows for disagreements without the invective.  this years Forum is being led by the Institute's Energy and Environment Programmes.

The Forum boast a wide cross section of speakers and participants from all over the US and Internationals community. the list range from Joel Achenbach from the Washington Post, Ambassador Jan Eliasson-Former President Unnited Nations General Asembly and Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Sweden,Phumzile Mlambo NGcuka Former Deputy President of South Africa along with Orain Edwards of JSTAR and Roli Mahajan of Advocates for Youth Int'l Year of the Youth Journalist.


The sessions will range from Steward vs Dominion, 9 Billion at Mid-Century: then What?, Megaslums to Middle Class, coping with the calamity: The Art of Looking Ahead and finally Sustainability 2050: Youth Leaders Speak.

While reading the daily paper on Monday of last week I came across a letter to the editor entitled “Stop HIV Pre-Employment testing” which immediately drew my attention. Dr. Rattray a well-known physician wrote the letter complaining of an ordeal a patient of his had to face for job-required physical, Dr Rattray wrote that the female patient had to submit herself to blood tests that included mandatory HIV-antibody screening and sign a document agreeing that the results should go to her new potential employer (a well-known international company), this was later confirmed by the human resource manager of the company through a telephone call with Dr. Rattray. The Human resource Manager reported that it was company policy for the HIV-antibody test to be included in the 'routine' physical and explained that the patient was on probationary employment.

Now I found this occurrence as not only disturbing but also as a setback for treatment, care and support for those infected within the Jamaican society. After many attempts by International and national legislation it is shocking to learn that companies still require mandatory testing for employment. Are you serious, let’s be reminded that HIV/AIDS cannot be transferred through sharing simple office supplies such as pens, papers, desk chairs.
I had the privilege of taking a Labour and Employment Law course at the UWI and was fortunate to write a paper on the nature and scope of the HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy by the Ministry of Labour that was passed in Parliament in February 2010. The policy visibly stipulates that there should be no workplace HIV-antibody testing (whether for pre-employment screening, pre-contractual screening, for promotions or renewal of work contracts). The Ministry of Health is currently in the process of finalising its HIV policy from the perspective of the workplace.

In addition there is the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work states, "HIV/AIDS screening should not be required of job applicants or persons in employment." The Caribbean Tripartite Council/Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS - Model Caribbean Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS stipulates under HIV screening, recruitment and employment that: "The organisation will not compel an employee or a job applicant to disclose his or her HIV or AIDS status, or that of any other person."

With both national and international legislations prohibiting such actions I still cannot comprehend how and why a company would continue to implement such a policy. This further puts the fight against discrimination and stigmatization a step back which is all too sad. It will no doubt affect PLWHA and their family. I honestly wish one of our many parliamentarians or a good lawyer saw and read this letter and have contacted the victim with the intention of addressing the problem.

I found a story today on the CCN website that drew my attention instantly, it was entitled “Soccer's last taboo: Why gay players stay in the closet”. The story is about Anton Hysen a 20-year old midfielder for his home country Sweden and former under 17 Swedish international player.

Hysen decided obviously that enough is enough and went public with his story last month to a local Swedish Football Magazine. He became the second international football player (soccer player) to have publicly revealed his sexual orientation following 21 years ago when former English player Fashanu ousted himself and later committed suicide. Hysen told the magazine that “I am a footballer and [I am] gay. If I perform as a footballer, then I do not think it matters if I like girls or boys," I bold statement I would but a true one. Why does ones sexual orientation have to affect his/her capacity to perform to his/her ability? Why should a gay footballer be less of player/teammate than a heterosexual player? Can science prove that one’s sexual orientation affects his or he athletic capabilities?

As a lover of all forms of sports I think this disillusion that athletes cannot be homosexual and if so they need to be shunned or dismissed is utter rubbish. In fact most of these publicly gay sportsmen and women are champions within their respective disciplines.
I think now is the perfect time for more sportsmen and women to come forward and identify themselves with the gay and lesbian community and take a stand against discrimination, stigma and unfair treatment within the sporting arena. In addition the international sporting arena needs to enact strict legislation any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation.

For further read here is the link to the story.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/02/18/football.homophobia.taboo.fashanu/index.html?hpt=C1

The Jamaican Minister of Health Rudyard Spencer stated in his 2011 safer sex week address that “Our young people must be targeted aggressively as they are becoming sexually active at a younger age and are having multiple partners. Since 1982, AIDS cases reported among girls in the 10-19 age groups have increased. Parents and guardians must play a more active role in supervising their children and instilling good morals and values that will encourage them to abstain from sex. The use of commu (nication technologies must also be pursued to distribute messages about abstinence and the methods of safe sex”. The Jamaican UNGASS country report of 2010 supports the minister’s claim that the Jamaican youth are becoming more sexually active at an earlier age as it states that Men: 56.6% Women: 15.9% of young women and men aged 15–24 who have had sexual intercourse before the age of 15.

For years gone by I have always been a strong advocate for the inclusion of parental discussions with youth on issues of sexually reproductive health and rights, I mean what better way to start than the home. I however disagree with the minister’s proposed strategy which is to promote the abstention from sex to already sexually active youth. How you can advocate for a more AGGRESIVE approach while one of your solutions is to have talk about abstinence with sexually active youth who are strongly influenced by their peers and the media.

The present youth populace is always busy on their Blackberries, iPhones and ipads they don’t need their parents telling them to wait and or to stop. While such would and should be the perfect method we are not living in a utopian society, the reality is youth are having sex and are having sex at a younger age than their older siblings, parents and grandparents. the privacy and magnetism of these devices creates an environment where the child is constantly exposed to sexual contents.

So what to do to address the issue? Should we turn a blind eye to the depressing disturbing reality and continue to preach abstinence or should we explore innovative youth friendly measures to curb the problem? My recommendation to the minister and his staff who seems to be focusing on a more active role among parents is to provide nation-wide seminars educating parents on how to properly communicate the topic of safer sex to their already sexual active child; These new strategies should include the use to new techonlogies that are popular among youth. To promote the creation and fostering of parent/child relationships so as to allow parents the opportunity to know what’s going on in their child’s life and have more leverage in influencing specific behaviours not only as a parent but also as friend.

Today the Jamaican Ministry of Health has launched its annual February week of activities budded “safer sex week”. The week commemorates the ministry’s efforts to promote safe sexual practices among the Jamaican population especially the youth. An awesome move by the ministry of health of health but over the past 17 years since its inception in 1994 one has to ask, how effective has this week of education, testing and intervention been?

This year the theme for safer sex week is “Protect Your Love... Use a Glove”, the ministry has also announced that the emphasis for this year’s week of activities will be testing of individuals. Now I know the week has just started and I shouldn’t be so negative but there are a few concerns I need to address urgently. The first is the marriage of the theme and the focus for the week, now when one looks at the theme the first thing that comes to mind is to increase condom usage and practices whether it be male or female not the promotion HIV/AIDS testing. In my view I believe this is a great mistake made on part of the ministry and it will in no way provide the results they seek.

The second concern I have is the lack of a youth focus within the week of activities and the promotion of the event. It would have been awesome to see the ministry acknowledging the year of the youth which ends august 2011 and sought to strategically place emphasis or create a merger of the two. With HIV/AIDS being the second leading cause of death among the youth population and there exist a one percent prevalence rate among Jamaica youth the idea of youth centered/oriented safer sex week 2011 would have been awesome.

Finally I want to speak briefly on the not so recent referral system which was brought to the table in 2006 however was dismissed by our very own Education Minister Andrew Holness. The referral system provided a mechanism that equips guidance counselors, teachers and peer educators with skills necessary for referring students for follow-up sexual and reproductive health services not offered within the context of the school environment. Now minister Holness and other like minded individuals decided that such a system does not uphold with the morals and principles of the society however we see the everyday reality that more and more young girls are becoming high school drop outs and teens moms( I think me need a Jamaican version of mtv’s teen mom here in Jamaica). There exists the new trend where girls are having anal and oral sex in order to deceive their parents and gynecologist whenever they are taken for a checkup. According to reports the mean age at first sexual encounter is continuing to decrease year by year.

Again I confess my desire for a more youth oriented safer sex for 2011. With that all said I must however commend the ministry and hope that my wishes will be granted before the week is through.

So once again the US government should be commended for a brave step in deconstructing gender /sexual norms. Yesterday while browsing the net I came across an article in the Politics Daily that read “On Passports, Mother and Father Will Soon Be 'Parent 1' and 'Parent 2'”. The article stated that the state department announced earlier this week of its new changes on its websites. This was in an effort to comply with gender neutral terms that have increased due to the recognition of gay and lesbian unions in the U.S.

Now as we know any form of change must be faced with opposition and with a change as controversial and drastic as this one its no surprise when US Christian conservatives lashed out against the move. Now I know I’m not a US citizen BUT I do believe all that happens in the great U.S of A affects us all as global citizens. With that said I must comment the state department on such a brave and long awaited move.

I mean let’s face it not all mothers are (moms) and fathers (dads), most are just sperm donors and the lady who gave birth. Your parent whether it’s a mom and dad, mom and mom or dad and dad are those who witnessed your first few steps, call you just to say I love you, tell you no relationships until you 20 or when you leave their house. In all honest these are the people will love you infinitely and be there even when you don’t need them to.

So once again kudos to the US state department and I’m sure the gay and lesbian community are all smile this morning. Hope to see this change being utilized global.

C-change, a Washington, DC-based group, visit members of the CSW and MSM community and peer educators last month to identify and discuss issues facing both communities. The consulation lasted for two weeks giving each group three days to meet and discuss issues specific to each. Based on the discussions is evident that little work is being done to protect each group from further discrimination and vulnerability of being HIV/AIDS infected, however there is room for great improve. Based on the consulations the organizing group identified safe and danger zones for both groupn interestingly the home was identified as one of the major danger zone for a lot of young CSW and MSM. All three groups were engaged in message design and strategic was to promote sex safe within the communities whether on coasters as parties,party tickets or through new media The consulation was a smart move by the group as I offered a chance to directly hear the diverse views of the community.