Eclecta: August 2006

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

For my team last week

Hey guys!

Stella sent me the card that you'd all apparently hoped to sign ... you rock!!!!! I don't have e-mails for all of you to ensure that my thanks get to you - please contact me (see my profile) if you read this!!!

Luv!

Eclecta

Monday, August 21, 2006

A little mix-up

Organizing your spices alphabetically is probably obsessive-compulsive, but handy at times.

However, when you're making homemade soup and you mindlessly grab for the cinnamon instead of the cayenne, you only have some desperate measures left ...

Re. Harper's absence from AIDS 2006 conference

Varied and interesting ...

Sunday, August 20, 2006

checking my photos

checking my photos
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Here's a picture of me from a couple of weekends ago when we were at the Warsaw Caves. Thanks to Saif for sending it to me. :)

Lack of urban planning

An interesting article re. the state of architecture and urban planning in Toronto. Sometimes it's a tad hyperbolic, but on the whole I think the point is well taken that there is not enough strategic, overall, courageous planning taking place at the city level. "Toronto the timid" again.

Poor dears

But funny.

Nishi

Nishi
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

I love photographing Nishi ... She's so expressive and open, and she has gorgeous eyes and eyelashes!!!

Alison

Alison
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

I love love love this photo. It is cheeky and happy and probably a little bit alcohol-induced. Whenever I look at it, I giggle. I think it will have this effect on me for years to come. :)

Alison, Nishi, Ada, Hassan, me, William

Alison, Nishi, Ada, Hassan, me, William
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

This photo was taken at the appreciation party for the AIDS 2006 volunteers last night.

I think this is a very good shot of all of us. Ada's so cute with her head popping through like that! LOL

Sandra

Sandra
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Sandra worked at the conference on the same floor as me, and from time to time she was "borrowed" to help my team when we were short-staffed or people needed to take lunch breaks.

Very pretty girl and a beautiful quiet spirit. I really enjoyed meeting her.

Barry

Barry
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Another one of the volunteers I worked with this past week - one of the loveliest gentlemen you could ever hope to meet!

One of the conference highlights

DSC_0004
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Here are two outstanding volunteers who were, while also managing traffic flow, were selling conference T-shirts. They were hysterical! They had a little routine that they would call out with a sassy accent: "Come get your Roots T-shirt! You know you want one! Looks good with your EYES! Looks good with your SMILE! ..."

The young woman on the right would say most of the words, but the woman on the right would chime in for "EYES" and "SMILE" and other key words so it was almost like a song. Quite a performance, and they really seemed to enjoy it as well.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

So now the XVI International AIDS Conference is over. What a week! It was exhausting and exciting, educational and engaging. I almost didn’t want it to end. That is, until I thought of how my legs ached from all the standing, walking, and running! LOL

I’ve been so privileged to have been a part of this. I have met some truly wonderful people whose friendship I already treasure. I’ve learned so much. My team (as loosely-constructed as it was) was great – fun and dedicated to the best of their ability.

My last shift of volunteer work was on Thursday, so I was able to catch up with my new friend Dana and sit in on the closing session on Friday. What an experience!

One of the cultural kick-offs to the session was Glenn Marais, a singer-songwriter who performed his song, “Like a Child”. The lyrics got to me as he sang about children who are orphaned by AIDS and have no one to look after them.

Just as I was recovering my composure, Dr. Mark Wainberg, Co-Chair of the conference, started his speech thanking the various people involved in making the conference happen. When he thanked the almost 2000 volunteers, the delegates erupted – roared - into vigorous and heartfelt applause and some even gave the volunteers a standing ovation. After all the hard work and confusion and everybody trying so hard to make this the best possible experience for the delegates, their appreciation was just so great and really, really appreciated.

Kecia Larkin, a native Canadian who is HIV-positive, spoke about the AIDS epidemic that is ravaging native populations in Canada. I was ashamed of our country’s horrible record in dealing with native peoples.

Stephen Lewis spoke – and he was on fire. All I can do is ask you to watch the webcast (or download the podcast) located here. He is an incredible human being, with such an urgent message. Please take the time to catch what he has to say. (His speech, if that is all that you would like to catch, starts around 59:30. It lasts until approximately 1:27:00.

I don’t think the conference was perfect (there were so many sessions that delegates had difficulty networking, for example, and certain issues should have been discussed but weren’t due to fear of some delegates that they and their families would be punished by their own governments) but I believe it was definitely worthwhile.

Now, all that's left is the delivery of treatment, prevention, and research to stop this epidemic in its tracks.

Discussion panel on universal access to treatment for AIDS, TB, and malaria

Discussion panel on universal access to treatment for AIDS, TB, and malaria
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

This is at a talk I was able to attend one evening during the conference. Stephen Lewis is at the far left of this photo.

Both Lewis and Dr. Richard Feachem (Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria) have a critical message about the widening gap between money raised for the fund and the current and future needs (they need BILLIONS, and the Gates Foundation's $500,000,000 is just a start of what they need).

Please click here to watch the webcast - these gentlemen can make the case far more eloquently than I can.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Condom Fashion

Condom Fashion
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Yesterday there was an amazing art installation at the conference - fashion made entirely of condoms! (factory rejects, so no good condom was wasted! LOL)

I have photos of other dresses on my Flickr site (just click on the photo to get to it), but this one was my favourite - for both the colour and the texture that the artist was able to achieve. See below for a close-up.

It initially seemed a bit frivolous to me, but the dresses are so appealing that I'll bet it helps people accept the role of condoms in ensuring safe sex. And that is not frivolous at all.

Condom Fashion - Closeup

Condom Fashion - Closeup
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Love the brilliant colours!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Media Centre at AIDS 2006 Conference

Media Centre at AIDS 2006 Conference
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

People in the foreground are going up an escalator. Behind them is the media centre, which we all peer into as we ride the escalator to go to the Skywalk which will take us to the South Building.

I hope many, many news pieces are being broadcast/printed as a result of this conference. A lot more media exposure is needed.

Kirsten (volunteer coordinator extraordinaire) looks so tired!

Kirsten (volunteer coordinator extraordinaire) looks so tired!
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

This conference is a HELL of a lot of work.

Plenary Session on Monday morning

Plenary Session on Monday morning
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Not a lot of time to blog this morning, NO energy the last two nights, so I'm just posting several of the photos I've taken in the past two days. More later, hopefully.

(I'm doing a lot of running with this volunteer coordination bit so far ... but I think my team seems to like me and I'm starting to poach volunteers from teams that aren't as resource-strapped as mine is. So today should be much better. (I hope!))

Largest seminar room at the conference

Largest seminar room at the conference
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Bill and Bill and some journalist whose name I never caught.

Raminder

Raminder
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Another team member. She's great.

Bill Gates on giant screen

Bill Gates on giant screen
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

I didn't get to see a lot of this talk between "the two Bills" (Gates and Clinton) because I was so busy with the volunteers, but I did get a chance to take a few pictures from the back of the room.

CN Tower in the mist

CN Tower in the mist
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

I was exhausted two nights ago, but as I headed home in the very overcast evening, I *had* to stop and take some pictures of the local scenery. Union Station is in the foreground.

Amy and Rina

Amy and Rina
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Two members of my team.

Hearing this man speak is ALWAYS an education.

Giant condoms toddling through Exhibition Area

Giant condoms toddling through Exhibition Area
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

They're from Mexico (guess they grow them big down there ... LOL)

Seriously, used to educate and to alleviate stigma. They're fantastic.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Stephen Lewis/Bill Clinton webcast from today

I was working in the back of the room while this session was going on at the AIDS 2006 conference. It's well worth watching (I'm currently watching it online, as I was far too busy to watch it live). The quality of the recording is excellent, and the speeches are very interesting, informative, and thought-provoking.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Rory and Jeff

Rory and Jeff
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Great guys I met while volunteering today - they were so smart and witty and fun!

First day of seminars

First day of seminars
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

First day of volunteering over. Lots - LOTS - of standing. Too tired to really blog about the day right now, but here's a photo of the session room I worked in today. With the balcony (not shown) it could hold up to 900 people. I think we got about 700 - 800 people in the mid-afternoon session. These were commercial presentations put on by doctors and pharmaceuticals. The audience was primarily doctors and health care workers. Tomorrow I will be working in a room where there will be more discussion on policy rather than biology, I think. More later.

What this AIDS conference is all about

Over the last few days, several people have asked me what the XVI International AIDS Conference is all about. So I’d like to provide a brief description of what I understand this conference will be:

25500 delegates from approximately 140 countries, meeting here in Toronto;
Discussions, demonstrations, speeches, workshops, displays, and cultural activities;
For health care workers, scientific researchers, advocates, activists, policy makers, social workers, and people living with HIV/AIDS;
A place for people working in different countries and fields of work to meet, network, and share information (delegates from previous conferences have indicated that this is one of the most important things they got from their experiences);
An opportunity to check on the status of the disease across the world and to focus on what is left to be done. It is not an accident that the theme of this year’s conference is “Time to Deliver”;
An opportunity for the media to focus on this issue and to remind the world that there is so much left to be done;
We are told that there *will* be activist demonstrations, although not all are known at this time.

It is possible that you may wonder why we’re still talking about HIV/AIDS. After all, there are now treatments such as ARV (anti-retrovirals), right?

The vast majority of people living with HIV/AIDS in the developing world do not have access to treatment, as a result of limited health care infrastructures and the high cost of many medications.
It has been estimated that a total of US$7-10 billion a year is needed from all sources to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in low and middle-income countries.
Every minute, a child somewhere in the world dies of AIDS
There were an estimated 40.3 million people in the world believed living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2005 (http://globalhealth.org/images/issues/aids_map_lge.jpg)
4.9 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2005, including 700,000 children
In 2005 alone, a total of 3.1 million people died of HIV/AIDS-related causes
World-wide, only one in ten persons infected with HIV has been tested and knows his/her HIV status
An estimated 5 to 6 million people in low- and middle-income countries will die in the next two years if they do not receive antiretroviral treatment (ART). At the end of 2005, only one in seven Asians and one in ten Africans who need ART were receiving it.
In some African countries, three quarters of those infected are women - many of whom have not had more than one sexual partner
More than 13 million children under the age of 15 have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS, and this number is projected to double by 2010
… and on and on and on …

(Sources: Websites for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and The Global Health Council)

There’s lots of room for hope, but only if there is the political will. Bill and Melinda Gates have given very generously to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Canada has passed a law to produce generic drugs that can be distributed in developing countries – now it has to actually make this happen. Various G8 countries have promised aid to the most affected countries, but again these promises are yet to be kept.

Now, more than ever, it’s time to deliver.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Volunteer Supervisors en masse

Volunteer Supervisors en masse
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Today was our second day of training for the XVI International AIDS Conference being hosted here in Toronto. If you haven’t yet heard, I’ll be working as a volunteer, supervising a team of workers. There are about 1900 volunteers involved in this conference. Mine is a team of 17. The total number of delegates is expected to reach 25,500 people – making it the largest conference ever on this very important subject.

This morning, we were escorted through the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and shown the various areas (the speakers’ area, the media centre, the various seminar rooms and auditoria, the lounge for people living with HIV/AIDS, etc. It was very exciting, although I still find it hard to believe that it is actually going to happen.

I’ve met some really very cool people here – the organizers from Switzerland and Germany (apparently Canada doesn’t have a group capable of organizing a conference of this scale) as well as the other volunteer supervisors. These organizers have shown incredible patience and endurance, plainly working very long hours and putting up with some very stupid/angry people (who make me embarrassed that they’re Canadian). But so far the Europeans have maintained their sense of humour. But they do look very tired.

Elaine

Elaine
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

I love this smile. :)

Nishi's first look at her post

Nishi's first look at her post
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

She was sooooo excited (and maybe a little freaked out! LOL) to see where she was going to be working. :)

Skylight at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Skylight at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

wonderful people

wonderful people
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Note the raspberry-pink vests, Wendy! I'll bet you'd say, as Alison did today, "Je suis jalouse!"

Window at the MTCC

Window at the MTCC
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

(Metro Toronto Convention Centre)

Latest re. ceasefire efforts

E-mail I received today:

Dear Friends,

As the awful civilian death toll rises above 1000 in 
Lebanon and Israel, people around the world are
seeking a place to voice their frustration and concern.
Over the last 4 days, 200,000 people from 148 countries
have signed the ceasefire petition. At this rate, we
could soon be the largest global online petition in
history.

The pressure is working. The global outcry over this
crisis has pushed the Ambassadors to the UN Security
Council to work around the clock to achieve an
immediate ceasefire.

The latest word is that the Council may be close to a
final vote today or tomorrow, but we've been this close
before and negotiations have fallen apart. We need more
pressure now to close the deal.

Please forward this email on, spread the word to your
friends, family and colleagues, post a link on your
blog, bring up the campaign in discussions, and urgently
encourage people around you to join this global wave
of protest by signing up at the link below:

http://www.ceasefirecampaign.org/mo/en.html

The pressure is working. Let's ratchet it up.

With hope,

Ricken Patel, Ceasefire Campaign

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Retaining Walls

Retaining Walls
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

I took this photo last night.

Under Construction I

Under Construction I
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Rooftop

Rooftop
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Lamp-post

Lamp-post
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest

On a lighter topic, I went to see Pirates today. I checked my brain and my expectations at the door and had a terrific time. Johnny Depp and Kiera Knightley were great, several of the supporting actors were interesting, the special effects were cool, and the fight/chase scenes were inventive and fun.

Looking forward to movie #3!

Amazing and heartbreaking stories

... written by the highly gifted and intrepid Globe & Mail journalist Stephanie Nolen.

Stephen Lewis, Canadian Hero

My hero, anyway.

Stephen Lewis Foundation

Stop the Bloodshed

In an e-mail from MoveOn.org:

Dear friends,

We haven't been in touch very often since our work around Iraq. But with civilians in Israel and Lebanon dying daily, we're at another critical global moment.

Regional and global leaders continue to fail to come up with a workable plan to stop the violence in the Middle East. Our friends at the Ceasefire Campaign are urging people around the world to pressure the Security Council to come up with a real plan to get an immediate ceasefire and international peacekeepers. This is a sensible call that would curb the bloodshed while laying the groundwork for a more enduring peace.

The Ceasefire Campaign is looking for 1 million co-sponsors to deliver their petition to the Security Council this week. Can you join them? Sign here:

http://www.ceasefirecampaign.org/mo/en.html

Sincerely,
–Eli Pariser

P.S. Here's a message from the Ceasefire Campaign with some more detail:

Dear friends,

For more than three weeks now we've watched the bloodshed in the Middle East with horror. All the while, global and regional leaders have stood by and failed to take the necessary action to stop the violence. Finally, this weekend, the US and France reached agreement on a plan. But this compromise plan fails to call for a full ceasefire and is so weak that the violence has not—and will not—stop.

http://www.ceasefirecampaign.org/mo/en.html

This is unacceptable. Hundreds of innocent civilians have already been killed, thousands have been wounded, and almost a million people have been made homeless.

The UN Security Council will be meeting early this week to try to resolve the crisis. They need to know that the world is watching them, and that anything less than an immediate ceasefire is not good enough. Click here to sign this petition demanding that the members of the UN Security Council take immediate action to end this bloodshed.

http://www.ceasefirecampaign.org/mo/en.html

Please sign the petition today, and then spread the word by forwarding this email on to all your friends and family. Our goal is to deliver a petition to the Security Council with 1 million signatures this week, and to publicize the petition in major newspapers in the capitals of the US, UK, France and other Security Council members.

Thanks so much for your help,

Ricken Patel
CeasefireCampaign.org

P.S. Groups and leaders from across the world and from diverse perspectives agree that an urgent ceasefire is an important part of resolving this crisis. Most countries of the world, from Lebanon to Tanzania to India, have called for a ceasefire, and have been joined by major international NGOs such as Oxfam and Amnesty International. Christian leaders such as Pope Benedict XVI, and the World Council of Churches have also called for a ceasefire. Arab and Muslim organizations such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference have also been joined by Israeli and Jewish groups such as Meretz Israel, Degel HaTorah, and Brit Tzedek v'Shalom in calling for a ceasefire.

Please "sign" this petition.

This is how I feel today

Dog Days of Summer??
Originally uploaded by hrtmnstrfr.

Just prop me up somewhere.

Jenn + ice cream

Jenn + ice cream
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Lillian

Lillian
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

I love how direct and confident Lillian is.

Group photo

Group photo #2
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

The entire group of beautiful people with whom I shared the day yesterday. Utterly fabulous.

Grandfather and grandson having a blast

Grandfather and grandson having a blast
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Watching these two was so much fun ... He would fling his grandson into the air, and the boy would bellyflop into the water. The kid is a junior adrenaline junkie, and the man just doted on him. Great to watch.

Rugged and magnificent

Rugged and magnificent
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Stacked like mattresses against a wall

Stacked like mattresses against a wall
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

I couldn't believe this when I saw it - great slabs of rock in the general size and shape of queen-sized mattresses - stacked up against each other at some crazy angle.

At the base of the pile, there is a small cave, and you can hear the sound of gushing water coming from underneath.