Hello - I'll be blogging on HIV and Gender-Based Violence at AIDS 2008

Hi everyone,

 I'm introducing myself and this blog for AIDS 2008, which will be updated daily. I'm focusing my work and attention on the issues of HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence as the key topic for this blog and my activity at the Mexico IAC conference. My personal goal for the week is to listen, learn, share and hone in on concrete solutions and programs that are working for women and groups at the community level.

 I'll also be sharing Video Profiles and interviews here with you. These are from my new venture-- a multimedia magazine using mostly video called "Talk to the Future: A Public Conversation with Today's Boldest Voices." I've been planning it for about six months, and the pilot issue launches in just a week, so I'm excited. My interest is in finding, talking to and promoting the people and ideas that are the most exciting, innovative, smart or successful - the doers and visionary programs that deserve our greater attention and wider application. I want to dig deeper and ask some tough questions too. And I want to show the passion that people have for their work and lives and mission -- the personal side to this global AIDS fight. The magazine won't be just about global AIDS -- it will cover cross-cutting issues like the current food crisis, sexual violence, green economics -- a holistic approach and view to some of the critical global problems.

My first guests are Stephen Lewis, the ex UN Special Envoy to Africa on AIDS, talking about what he learned on the job, what he's up to now, and what's most exciting to HIM.  There's also a piece with his colleague at AIDS-Free World, Paula Donovan, about the new UN Agency for Women idea she and Stephen are promoting -- Do we really want this? And finally, a field report update form the Congo, focusing on one clinic.

 So I'm giving you all here on the frontlines of AIDS blogging an advance word, and hope you'll view and share and debate with me this week.

Oh - last note: Come to a Sunday 1:30-3:30 Satellite on HIV and Gender-based Violence. Going to be great, practical, and we'll all learn a lot about what we need to DO, not just think about. Action oriented. Practical. Best Practice. Etc...

 Adelante,

 Anne-christine