On the evening of March 21, Asia Catalyst celebrated the official launch of its 5th Anniversary “New Generation of Leaders” Campaign with a cocktail and dim sum reception, hosted by board member Minky Worden. Asia Catalyst honored the immense contributions of Professor Jerome Cohen, board member emeritus and a leading scholar on Chinese law. His former students and colleagues contributed to a photo book, which Margaret Lewis, a former student and current associate professor of law at Seton Hall University, presented to him at the event. The evening also featured a discussion between Mike Frick, China program officer, and Shen Tingting, deputy director of Dongjen Human Rights Education and Action Center. Tingting shared her experiences in HIV/AIDS activism–both the numerous accomplishments as well as the challenges her organization faced since it was founded in 2003. Board members Yvonne Chan and Christina Lem, as well as Meg Davis, Asia Catalyst’s founder and executive director, spoke about how far the organization has come in the last five years. Thanks to everyone for coming out!
[NEWS] Activists Arrested Protesting Ban on U.S. Funding Syringe Exchange Programs
By Brian Bonci
Yesterday marked the National Day of Action on Syringe Exchange in the United States. Activists from around the country have mobilized to protest a recent reinstatement of the ban on federal funding for clean needle programs. Several harm reduction advocates were arrested, including Charles King, CEO of Housing Works. Current estimates are that 32 were arrested in Washington, DC alone. The Actions were organized by the We Can End AIDS Coalition, which is coordinating a mobilization around the International AIDS Conference on July 24th.
[NEWS] Cross Post From China Geeks on Blood Disaster
The following is a cross post from the great people at China Geeks. The site offers translation and analysis of modern China.
By Meg Davis
China’s annual “two sessions” wrapped up this week, and Chinese lawmakers finally considered proposals to establish a national compensation fund for thousands of victims of the world’s largest HIV blood disaster.
Back in 2002, Elisabeth Rosenthal wrote in the New York Timesthat in Henan, “poverty begat AIDS, but AIDS has begotten previously unimaginable poverty.” For thousands who received tainted blood transfusions while local authorities covered up the epidemic, the compensation fund would be a life-changer.
[NEWS] Fighting Air Pollution with Transparency in China
By Mike Frick
One of the first thing many visitors to Beijing notice is the smog, which on bad days can obscure buildings, force people to stay indoors or even ground planes at Beijing’s Capital Airport. In a new piece in The Guardian, Zhong Nanshan, President of the China Medical Association, said that air pollution will soon become the biggest health threat in China.
[APPEAL] You Can Help Chinese AIDS Activists Get to Washington D.C.
“My boss gave me my money and told me to sign my name. After I signed the receipt, he immediately threw the pen into the trashcan. And that was how I was fired.” We heard this from a Chinese man living with HIV/AIDS, a former drug user, who was fired from his job when his boss found out his status. Around China, people like these are mobilizing to get their voices heard. Some hope to come to Washington D.C. this July for the International AIDS Conference. We need
your support to get them there.
The International AIDS Conference will bring 40,000 people to Washington, including government leaders, UN officials, donors, and pharmaceutical companies. Thousands will march in D.C. to demand access to treatment and demand political action to change policy. Our Chinese colleagues will make new contacts, meet donors, and lobby officials as well as learn from others and find support in the international community.
