Ógra Shinn Féin
......................................... Shocked by the title? Im just going by the poster below.
In the lead up to and during carnival season in Brazil, the Brazilian Government have launched plans to distribute 20 million free condoms in efforts to prevent further HIV and STD infections. The slogan of the safe sex campaign is,
“With condoms, the good feeling goes on after the party is over.”
The country has a high number of people with HIV, with almost ½ million infected. This modern and progressive initiative in Brazil is the start of a major distribution of free contraceptive, with the government planning to hand out over 1 billion free condoms throughout 2008.
The scheme has been piloting for a number of years and has had a level of success with the annual number of new AIDS cases falling.
The Brazilian Government have been to the fore in promoting safe sex and combating the spread of AIDS, pioneering the first state run condom factory in the world, and this year they plan to install condom machines in public schools, a program which has received much support from parents, students and teachers.
Ireland in their approach to safe sex could learn a lot from the example set by Brazil.
Ógra Shinn Féin at their recent National Congress passed a very good motion calling for VAT free condoms. I welcome this initiative and look forward to seeing Ógra lobbying and campaigning for this measure to be implemented. But looking to the example set by Brazil, Ógra should also push for the Assembly and Leinster House to undertake a major All Ireland safe sex campaign, including the huge distribution of free condoms, especially at the summer festivals which attract thousands and thousands of young people.
At the core of a lot of this is sex education, and the whole approach to this crucial issue must be looked at.
Is current sex education engaging and relevant to modern Irish Youth? Ógra as young people must answer these questions and lead the campaign!
11 comments:
Good article. I like the irony of the piece on top of the cartoon of the mother and child that says "Reproduction rights available from..." lol
Very good article and good idea for campaign :)
The Catholic Church have heavily criticised the Brazilian Government in these very progessive measures.
When are the Catholic Church going to stop being so detached and realise that AIDS needs to be tackled now by realistic methods and not just the power of prayer.
It really bewilders me that any organisation would criticise such a worthwhile cause.
Members of the Catholic Church around the world should protest at this crazyness.
Following the Pope's most recent blooper refering to Chavez and Morales as totalitarian, this once again affects the church.
If Catholicism is to remain relevant and respected, it must move with the times and forward an agenda that can help people physically in their everyday life.
Good initiative Brazil, and good article community activist.
Sarah M
as a regular traveller to oxegen and other major festivals every summer i have found that only one namely HI-FI IRELAND 2006 had a system in place wereby everyone entering the event was given free condoms. I hadnt seen this done before and havnt since. it would be a constructive measure to put in place by the event organisers in conjuntion with the government.
Seán G
Great post Comrade. A Safe Sex Campaign is a really worthwhile cause....I'd love to see Ogra start one....peer education is definitely the way forward on this issue!
Good article-i see where the staters have decide to drop the vat on condoms from 21% to 13.5% this is a welcome first move but. an initiative such as was done in brazil would be a welcome second move!!!
Martin G
Sarah M
Why criticise the Catholic church. What good is it going to do. And by your comment you are obviously you do not practice the faith with your comment. When have you ever seen a religous rebel against its own leaders. Its not a coup de ta ur after is it??
Why criticise the catholic Church?
Because they are completely detached from reality as regards the further spread of AIDS.
They are a very powerful organisation and Brazil is the biggest Catholic Country in the world so for the church to act so irresponsibly is alarming.
I find it complete hypocrisy from an organisation that has shares in contracetive companies to be anti contraceptive.
The Faith and the Catholic Church are 2 completely different things.
And why wouldn't you criticise the leadership of the Catholic Church. People need to show their anger at this detachment and dangerous naivety. Something needs to be done to pull them back to earth.
The world is changing, the catholic church is standing still. Modernism and a more humanist approach is needed.
Sarah M
Sorry, but is that true about the Catholic Church having shares in contraceptive companies?
I agree with you on the issue of condoms, but going on a rant against the Church only harms your agrument. excellent piece.
I know that a lot of guys my age don't even use a condom which is crazy.
I would never have sex without one. We need to get message across.
Pull one on after you pull it out!
This Blog is really nice and helpful. We hope our post will be useful for all visitors of this prestigious blog.
Post a Comment