Truthdigger of the Week: The Rev. Joel Hunter

Staff / Truthdig Dec 3, 2006 This week Truthdig salutes the Rev. Joel Hunter, who recently resigned as president of the Christian Coalition because the group was unwilling to accept his agenda on global warming, poverty and AIDS. While we don't endorse Hunter's stand on choice and gay marriage, we admire the consistency of his pro-life position. As the pastor himself says, "unless we are caring as much for the vulnerable outside the womb as inside the womb, we're not carrying out the full message of Jesus." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Jabari Asim: Overcoming the Stigma

Jabari Asim / Truthdig Nov 28, 2006 In advance of World AIDS Day, a new anthology confronts the stigma of HIV in the black community. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

U.N. Says 39.5 Million People Have HIV

Staff / Truthdig Nov 22, 2006 It's spreading fastest in Eastern and Central Asia and Eastern Europe, but almost two-thirds of the world's cases are in sub-Saharan Africa "AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria make up the deadliest triad the world has known," said the U . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

South Africa Revises AIDS Policy

Staff / Truthdig Oct 27, 2006 The South African government has traditionally taken a head-in-the-sand approach to AIDS, even though the nation is suffering one of the worst epidemics in the world. However, recent shifts in policy indicate a newfound interest in aggressively addressing the crisis. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gene Gerard: White House Failing America?s AIDS Crisis

Gene Gerard / Truthdig Jun 17, 2006 A new report shows that Bush has slashed anti-AIDS programs across the board. Meanwhile, he's pandering to the religious right by pushing abstinence-until-marriage programs--regardless of the fact that they are proven ineffective at stopping the spread of HIV. Don't bother Bush with facts; his mind is made up. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Bush’s Favorite Writer Leaving the White House

Staff / Truthdig Jun 15, 2006 Michael Gerson wrote every major speech of Bush's presidency, led a crusade to fund the fight against AIDS, malaria and poverty, and pushed for stronger action in Darfur. He also formulated Bush's plan to spread democracy around the globe--with somewhat mixed results. No apparent scandal here: He'd been talking about leaving since 2004. Dig deeper

India Tops World for HIV/AIDS Cases

Staff / Truthdig May 31, 2006 With an estimated 5.7 million infections, India has surpassed previous global leader South Africa's 5.5 million. Per capita, however, the rates are still worst in sub-Saharan Africa. (In Swaziland, a third of adults are infected. In India, only 0.9%.) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Larry Gross: Abe Rosenthal’s Reign of Homophobia at The New York Times

Larry Gross / Truthdig May 17, 2006 Former New York Times Executive Editor Abe Rosenthal, who died this month, was a raging homophobe--a failing that proved tragic when the AIDS crisis erupted on his watch. Gay and lesbian studies pioneer Larry Gross explores what happened when America's paper of record ignored one of the major civil rights stories of our time. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Naomi Watts Joins Fight Against AIDS

Staff / Truthdig May 16, 2006 The Oscar-nominated actress joins fellow thespians Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman and Michael Douglas in using her celebrity to help make the world a better place. "Given these stark realities, I could no longer stand on the sidelines," she told reporters. It's nice to be able to post a cynicism-free blog entry every now and then. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Vatican Mulls Condom Use When Spouse Has HIV

Staff / Truthdig May 2, 2006 Pope Benedict XVI has requested a report on whether Catholics might be allowed to use condoms--but only within a marriage in which one partner is infected. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

GAO: Bush’s Abstinence Plan Hampering AIDS Efforts

Staff / Truthdig Apr 5, 2006 Countries with AIDS epidemics actually have to cut the money they spend on treatment in order to conform to Bush's requirements for spending on abstinence programs, reports the government watchdog. But it's all good, because this way, God isn't being offended by people having sex before marriage. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush Reaffirms Preemptive War Doctrine

Staff / Truthdig Mar 16, 2006 In an updated version of his national security strategy, the president gives no ground on the policy that led us into Iraq, and identifies Iran as being the country that poses the biggest challenge to the U.S. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )