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Hi there and welcome to our blog. This has been set up to obtain other individuals' views regarding the provision of services by George House Trust.
Much more competent at fund-raising than our friends at Body Positive North West, GHT benefits from its partnership with the Lesbian and Gay Foundation to run the money making franchise (- sorry, we mean, the self-aggrandising) - Operation Fundraiser ("OF"). OF seems to benefit all commercial and self-serving political interests in Greater Manchester and beyond - oh yes, it seems to raise c £120k - £140k (probably less than 10% of OF revenue) for 'good causes' each year, heavens that provides treatment for 8 HIV+ people a year!
We're just so grateful for your OF efforts. Pity that it can't be financially justified - or is GHT telling us that 8 or less people have become HIV+ as a result of the annual, drunken, drug-fuelled fuckfest that is 'Pride'? Well the bars, clubs, police, council and others make a killing - and at least it provides a bit of money to GHT, LGF et al so they can feel that they are 'doing good'. ..And at least us queers, dykes, trans-this, trans-that, bisexuals and our friends, together with innumerable hangers-on, can dance our tits off amongst the vomit and the plastic 'glasses' for a long weekend. My, what a cosmopolitan and 'continental' atmosphere it all engenders.... Bless.
posted by PlusMan @ 14:38
2 Comments:
TIME TO DELIVER THE GOODS
OF AND FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS IN THE NORTH WEST AND GREATER MANCHESTER.
The extract you are about to read came from “The Daily Voice” – the official newspaper of the XVI International AIDS Conference,
13-18 August 2006
Edition 3 (15 August 2006).
The Authors of this article are The Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+).
The world has woken up to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. After 25 years and millions of deaths, the world’s leaders realise their countries, economies and democracies will collapse if HIV is left unchecked. Now billions are invested in providing treatment, care and prevention for people living with HIV and AIDS.
People living with HIV have the important catalyst for this to happen. We, as people living with HIV, have united from the beginning and fought for our rights. The rights to live productive lives free of stigma and discrimination. Many people are not with us anymore to enjoy it, but people living with HIV have revolutionised the world.
But there is one struggle standing at the cradle of all of these; the fight to be INVOLVED IN DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES.
And it is a struggle we are losing.
People living with HIV have been instrumental in ensuring the amount of attention – and funding – AIDS is getting now. But in many cases, people living with HIV are NOT INCLUDED in shaping that response.
Most Governments, international agencies, NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) and HIV/AIDS service organisations pay only lip service to the principles of GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV and AIDS (GIPA).
Increasingly people living with HIV are included in the process as an afterthought.
Evidence shows that the response to HIV is more efficient, less costly and more effective when people living with HIV are included in project development and decision making.
YES IT IS TIME TO DELIVER.
But let’s be clear that regardless of all the slogans – UNVERSAL ACCESS TO TREATMENT, CARE AND PREVENTION is bound to fail when people living with HIV remain targets and subjects instead of ACTIVE PARTICPANTS.
DO NOT TALK ABOUT PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV BUT, INSTEAD, TALK WITH PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV. (GNP+, A CO-ORGANISER OF AIDS 2006, represents the diverse voices of people living with HIV around the world).
Interestingly, George House Trust and the Lesbian and Gay Foundation continue to ignore our voices...
But we will stand by what we do of and for people living with HIV and AIDS in the Greater Manchester and the North West of England.
Michael A Snaith (Long-term Survivor living in Greater Manchester with HIV)...
The Charity Commission is currently looking into the way Operation Fundraiser accounts for the income.
Further investigations here:
http://www.garysevenuk.com/content/mg99_mg_info01.shtml
But more people need to speak up and group together because we are dealing with some incredibly powerful self interests who make millions of Pounds.
The City Centre brags that Pride generates £20m of income for the city but just around £125,000 goes to 'good causes' each year.
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