Amy and I were stunned, moved, and motivated to action by the tsunami that hit SE Asia just after Christmas. If you haven't seen the pictures from the NYTimes, scroll down a few posts and look for the link. They are simply amazing. The first picture in this post was one that captured for me the devestation and the scale.
However, there is a tidal wave of death that sweeps across Africa every 25 days. In the first 25 days of 2005, the number of Africans that die from AIDS will equal the death toll from the Asian tsunami. In the second 25 days of 2005, that many more will die. In the third 25 days of 2005, another number of Africans equal to the tsunami casualties will die from AIDS. Every 25 days in 2005, 160000 Africans will die from AIDS. In 2004, the number of AIDS deaths in Africa amounted to 14 1/2 Asian tsunamis. In 2003, there were 14 1/2 tsunamis of AIDS deaths. In 2005, there will be 14 1/2 more. In 2006, 14 or 15 more tsunamis. Multiply the picture on the right by 2.2 million. 2.2 million Africans will die of AIDS this year. On top of 2.2 million last year. And the year before. And the year before that.
Did I include the 1000 people that are dying every day in the eastern Congo from war and disease - including the 500 children under the age of 5 that are dying of disease there every single day? No, I didn't include those. Did I include the possible 300,000 deaths in Darfur from preventable disease - not to mention those killed by war? No, I didn't include those. What about the 2 million people killed in the war in Southern Sudan or the 4 million displaced persons whose lives remain at risk? Nope, I didn't count them either.
What is my point? I think my point is that we have short attention spans and a taste for the dramatic. We should do everything within our power to help those in SE Asia right now - and we should continue to help for many years to come! Amy and I gave through ServLife and we know that our money is going directly to indigenous Christian pastors and leaders on the ground. But we also know that the people of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other nations will need years of assistance and support. Are we prepared to give it? Further, we must not let our attention be continually swayed from dramatic to dramatic, forgetting the slow and steady wave of poverty and death that streams across much of the world. Telethons are fun, but affecting long-term community transformation from the grassroots takes time and commitment. I pray that our eyes are open not only to what makes the front page, but also to the stories of persistent marginalization that we no longer see.
I think you managed to paint a quite lucid picture of the devAstation (I edit because I love!) AIDS inflicts on Africa. If your readers don't get it now, they probably never will! And you're right, our penchant for the dramatic is indeed sickening.
Posted by: Aeriale | January 17, 2005 at 22:38
totally agree with the long term commitment part! Thanks for the reminder
Posted by: Sivin | January 18, 2005 at 07:46
A week is long enough. I miss you! :)
Posted by: Aeriale | January 25, 2005 at 01:09