Love, Respect and Protect Our Girls and Women

Photo Credit: Wolfgangsvault.Com

Yesterday December 1, was the World AIDS Day, and I saw some women from a local NGO distributing condoms gratis at the popular Morocco Bus Stop in Shomolu, Lagos. I remembered how I coordinated the World AIDS Day for 250 NGOs in Nigeria in 1993.

The news report of over 1, 3000 girls and women raped in seven months in the Delta state of South-south region of Nigeria is an indication of the failure of the Nigerian government in addressing the prevalence of sex abuse in Nigeria and sexual harassment of innocent girls and women is still common in Nigeria. Rapists have been released without prosecution and their wounded victims left to live with the stigma and trauma of the scars of rape.

Distributing free condoms on the street is not the solution to the problem of unsafe sex and not the best method for the control and prevention of HIV/AIDS. We have to address the dangerous trend of the popularity of pornographic music and movies in Nigeria. The National Broadcasting Commission has lost control of the airwaves and TV screens as desperate callous and unscrupulous music and movie producers, directors and artistes are using their psychedelic music and pornographic videos to corrupt the impressionable minds of the millions of vulnerable girls and boys in Nigeria. The sexploitation of innocent girls and boys is promoting promiscuity and the spread of HIV/AIDS.

We must stop the sexploitation of our girls and boys if we want to save their generation from the plague of HIV/AIDS.

We must love, respect and protect our vulnerable girls and women lest they become corrupt and lost in the wilderness of lust.

Life Is a Gift

Thursday, December 27, 2007

1. Life Is a Gift

"Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."1

"There was a blind girl [or so the story goes] who hated herself because of her blindness. Not only did she hate herself but she hated everyone else, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

"One day someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything—including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her that simply said, 'Just take care of my eyes dear.'

"Too often we change when our status changes. Only a few remember what life was like before and even fewer remember who to thank for always being there when times were painfully unbearable.

"Life is a gift, so today: Before you think of saying an unkind word, think of someone who can't speak. Before you complain about the taste of your food, think of someone who has nothing to eat. Before you complain about your husband or wife, think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion. Before you complain about your life, think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children, think of someone who desires children but is barren. Before you argue about your dirty house that someone didn't clean or sweep, think of the people who are living in the streets. Before whining about the distance you drive, think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet. And when you are tired and complain about your job, think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

"And before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another, remember that not one of us is without sin and all will answer to one Maker. And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down, try to put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around. Life is a gift, live it, enjoy it, celebrate it, and fulfill it.

"Enjoy the moment. It may not come around again."2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in the midst of life's trials help me always to count my many blessings—one by one—and learn to always give thanks for these and be grateful for what I do have and not complain about what I don't have. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (NIV).
2. Author unknown. Source: Marcella's Inspiring
Collection, http://tinyurl.com/w9nb9

<:))))><

World AIDS Day: Red is the Colour of Love

DECEMBER 1ST IS WORLD AIDS DAY

Red is the colour of my heart

Red is the colour of my blood

Red is the colour of my roses

Red is the colour of my love for you

For red is the colour of love.

Just in time for World AIDS Day, (RED) is proud to announce that, thanks to your (RED) purchases, our partners' contributions to the Global Fund have reached over $50 million. (RED) funds are already at work as part of Global Fund grants in Rwanda, Swaziland and Ghana, funding programs with a primary focus on the health of women and children.

Calculate your personal (RED) impact
Learn more about how (RED) money is working in Africa

THE LAZARUS EFFECT

Thanks to the Global Fund and (RED) money that you've helped generate with your (RED) purchase, an extremely effective medicine to treat HIV is becoming widely available to people in Africa. And it's as simple as two pills a day. It's so effective, in fact, it can return a person to vibrant health in about 60 days.
See the Lazarus Effect

CHOOSE (RED) FOR THE HOLIDAYS
When you shop (RED) for the holidays, you're not just giving to your friends and family -- you're also helping to eliminate AIDS in Africa with your purchases. Here's what's new:
Converse (PRODUCT) RED
Buy any pair of Converse (PRODUCT) RED shoes and a portion of the proceeds will go to The Global Fund, to help fight AIDS in Africa.

Get your Converse (PRODUCT) RED Chuck Taylor All Star shoes
See other CONVERSE (PRODUCT) RED
MAKE MINE RED: Design your own (PRODUCT) RED shoes

Gap (PRODUCT) RED
The Gap (PRODUCT) RED collection has something for everyone in your life, with new styles for men, women, kids and baby. New items include the (2 WEEKS) t-shirt, mittens, scarves, hats, sleepwear and the EcoTote.

Buy Gap (PRODUCT) RED online

Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED
For World AIDS Day, Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED has introduced its holiday flash collection, including a tuxedo, dress, and fragrances, as well as a pair of bracelets Julia Roberts designed for the Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED collection.
Get your Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED bracelet
Shop the Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED collection

Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED
The latest (RED) partner, Hallmark's (PRODUCT) RED collection includes an inspired line of cards, gifts, flowers and gift wrap, including the INSPI(RED) keepsake holiday ornament. For you early shoppers, Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED holiday boxed cards are now available online at HALLMARK.COM/RED.
See the Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED collection

(PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPods
Give more than music. Choose (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPod models and the iTunes (PRODUCT) RED gift card, and Apple gives a portion of the purchase price to fight AIDS in Africa.
Buy (PRODUCT) RED from Apple
Motorola (PRODUCT) RED
Talk (RED) and fight AIDS in Africa with your Motorola (PRODUCT) RED phone, available in Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Get your Motorola (PRODUCT) RED phone

The Killers turn (RED) for Christmas
The Killers have turned their Christmas single "Don't Shoot Me Santa" (RED), with 100% of the proceeds to benefit the Global Fund, for investment in African AIDS programs.

Watch The Killers' video on YouTube
Buy the single on iTunes now