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ISSUE
2005
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3
/ 2005
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>>
The New Committee
>> Sex education,
Seminar
>>
News on the Elderly
>> Project
Cycle Management Training (PCM)
>> Spiritual
Renewal |
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Interfaith
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| Asian Religious
institutions build Asian AIDS Networking |
| On
3-7 May at Baan Tarn Kaew, Chiengmai, there was a seminar/workshop
organized by the various religious denominations working on
HIV/AIDS including Christians, Muslim and the Catholic with
40 participants from 7 countries. Participants are representatives
from Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism and
the Orthodox. |
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| The reason why
religions must be involved with AIDS is because AIDS concerns
not only health but also psychology, sociology, theology, morality
and spirituality. Hence, religions must have a role to respond
to the crisis with love, understanding and justice to protect
the value and dignity of the HIV/AIDS persons. Likewise, religions
must play a role in changing way of life and behavioral pattern
which is conducive to HIV/AIDS risks. |
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| This sort of religious
union has happened several times in the past. The first one
was in 2001 in Thailand. The second time was in Colombo in 2002.
The third one came back to Bangkok on 9-10 July 2004. Prior
to the World AIDS Congress there was a call that all religions
should join together to eliminate ignorance and misconception
about AIDS in order to build a new society of no discrimination
towards the HIV/AIDS persons, and at the same time also to prevent
new contraction. |
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| The first three
days of the workshop were dedicated to the information about
AIDS situations in Asia and the Pacific, works with the youth,
the elderly and the role of religions which must have access
to these two groups. The last two days were dedicated to the
exposure to the works of the Buddhists, Christians and the Catholics
with children affected by HIV or suffering negative impact by
AIDS, sharing of the HIV contracted persons and roles of religions
towards them and their families. Finally, the participants decided
to establish the Asian networking on AIDS, called "Asian
Interfaith Network on AIDS-AINA". |
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| In sum,
the meeting deemed it appropriate to establish the networking
by creating a committee to push the movement. Representatives
of various religious denominations are selected as members of
this committee. At the same time it was agreed that participants
are requested to publicize about this network in their respective
religion and country. |
| There were 6 Catholics
participating in this seminar. Ms. Usanee Nanasilp of the Catholic
Commission for Health Pastoral Care was selected as a member
of the working network committee. |
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