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gratitude
When the worldâs top experts on HIV/AIDS gather to swap strategies and experiences in Bangkok, Thailand this weekend, only a tiny handful of the estimated 15,000 attendees will be representing the United States. Two years ago, Washington sent 236 employees from Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies to the International AIDS Conference, considered the leading scientific gathering on HIV research and treatment. But this time around, the U.S. delegation has dwindled to 50, and its funding for the meeting slashed from 3.6 million dollars to about 500,000 dollars... Conference organisers say they are saddened at the decision, which many critics believe stems from long-running ideological clashes between the conservative administration of President George W Bush and international health bodies over issues like condom use, abortion and homosexuality... Itâs (also) a slap in the face for those living with HIV/AIDS and their advocates, and it suggests that the U.S. has once again withdrawn from a collegial relationship with the international community... Leaked correspondence from within HHS suggests that its snubbing of the Bangkok assembly is at least partly in retribution for criticism of the Bush administrationâs policies at the last conference in Spain, where AIDS activists booed Thompson so loudly his speech was essentially inaudible...
Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-07-09 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=37597 |