David Kato Vision & Voice Award Launched

On 26 January 2011, Ugandan human rights defender David Kato was murdered. As the Litigation and Advocacy Officer with Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), David campaigned tirelessly for human rights and particularly for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people across Africa. His campaigning work lead him to work with a number of organizations around the world including the Global Fund and UNAIDS.

In recognition of his life and courage, and the continued struggle of LGBTI individuals around the world, the Global Fund has joined IPPF and other partners committed to eliminating violence, stigma and discrimination have established the David Kato Vision & Voice Award. This award is to be presented annually to an individual who demonstrates courage and outstanding leadership in advocating for the sexual rights of LGBTI individuals, particularly in environments where they face continued rejection, marginalization, isolation and persecution. Nominations for the award are now open and can be submitted until 1 November 2011. Nominations are accepted for any individual whose leadership and life work has directly contributed to addressing the sexual rights of LGBTI people in their community. The award recipient will be announced on Human Rights Day (10 December 2011) and will be invited to an event at the end of January 2012 to collect the award.

For further information and to submit a nomination, please visit the award website: http://www.visionandvoiceaward.com/

A collection of feelings...

My Angel Baby

To the baby that I carried

But never seen your eyes

Or tell you how much I loved you

Or ever to hear your cries.

You will never be forgotten

The excitement we had for your coming.

When I realized I'd never hold you,

The feeling I had was numbing.

My angel baby is who you are.

My angel baby you'll always be.

Your loving memory will live in my heart

So you will always be right here with me.

(c) Lori Jager All Rights Reserved

A Part Of Me

As I sit and remember

When you were still a part of me

I try to forget...

Your life was never meant to be.

You were given a life, a soul, a name

But now things will never be the same.

You were mine to give life to

Though only for a while

Things had changed...

I will never see your smile.

Yet my love for you

Will never disappear

Though your voice, your laugh,

I will never get to hear.

You will always be my baby

Though I've never seen your face.

Not a thing in this world

Can ever take your place.

(c) Felicia Glik All Rights Reserved

They Say Love is Blind

They say love is blind and you made this true.

I never got to place you in a outfit either pink or blue.

Never rocked you in my arms as you quietly slept.

Not one tear did i get to dry as you sadly wept.

I loved you none the less with all of my heart.

My world crashing down when we were torn apart.

I dream of you wrapped in a blanket of a white angel wing.

The lullaby you hear is the comfort I wanted to bring.

I still hold you everyday the only way i know how.

God doesn't take my love for you this much he does allow.

It is as stong as it would have been if I would have seen you.

After my journey in life is done I will carry my love through.

It will carry me straight to you, you will never be hard to find.

We will be together and I will hold the love that was blind.

Looking into eyes that are mine that show a soul I made.

I will place you upon my chest where you always should have laid.

They say love is blind and you made this come true.

I will place you in an outfit either pink or blue.

I will rock you in my arms as you quietly sleep.

I will dry your tears as you happily weep.

© Christine R. Sinkel

I Did Not Expect This

This is natural, they say

It is all for the best

I cannot move past this heartache

This pain in my chest

Those days were surreal

Did this truly just occur

Happiness turned to sorrow

My life now a blur

This is natural, they say

I knew I was going to lose you

The most difficult emotion

There was nothing I could do

I am given no explanation

This is natural, they say

Were you pink or were you blue

My complexion is now grey

Trying to move on

A forward step everyday

I will always remember you

This is natural, they say

© Carola

Angel of my Tears

How do you love a person

who never got to be,

or try to envision a face

you never got to see?

How do you mourn the death of one

who never got to live.

When there's nothing to feel good about

and nothing to forgive?

I love you, my little baby,

my companion of the night.

Wandering through my lonely hours,

beautiful and bright.

What does it mean to die before

you ever were born,

to live the lovely night of life

and never see the dawn?

Ah! My little baby,

you lived like anyone!

Life's a burst of joy and pain.

And then like yours, it's done.

I love you, my little baby,

just as if you'd lived for years.

No more, no less, I think of you,

the Angel of my tears.

- Author Unknown

Piece of my Heart

How was it to be that I now am robbed of such joy?

Of watching you grow or finding out if you’re a girl or boy.

Never did I get to hear your cries or even see your tears,

Or kiss your little brow and hug away your fears.

I am just left here now with pain and few memories,

Of the days that were happy with you inside of me.

For you were loved and wanted oh so much,

What I would give just to have felt your touch.

The hours crawl by yet the time does not seem to slow,

I want to scream out to the world you are gone, why don’t they know?

How is the world still turning when I feel it should have stopped?

Why are people laughing and living when it feels like I can not?

Not enough tears can be shed to express the love we have for you,

No words can describe what we all wanted to be able to do.

I would have just held you and breathed in your sweet smell,

Shouted with joy and phoned all the people we wanted to tell.

But this time we called loved ones with the sad sad news,

That too little were you to live among us and we were meant to lose.

But nothing will ever erase those twelve weeks we had together,

For a piece of my heart you now hold always and forever.

© Kerri-Anne Hinds

Wasn’t meant to be….

Not this one

Not this time

The first one in my life

The miracle that never came to be

Now my belly is empty

And my heart has been left alone

Hopes were being built

Dreams being promised

Never knowing why

Always wondering what could have been

I am sorry you never came to be

The little button that was inside of me

(c) Melanie Kotsopoulos (February 2011)

You can.....

You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she is gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she’d want! Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Love of Mother Poem

Now that I am gone,
Remember me with smiles and laughter.
And if you need to cry,
Cry with your brother or sister
Who walks in grief beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms around anyone
And give to them what you need to give to me.
There are so many who need so much.
I want to leave you something - -
Something much better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I’ve known
Or helped in some special way.
Let me live in your heart
As well as in your mind.
You can love me most
By letting your love reach out to our loved ones,
By embracing them and living in their love.
Love does not die, people do.
So, when all that’s left of me is love,
Give me away as best you can.

"Gone From My Sight"

By Barbara Karnes

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says “There, she is gone!”

“Gone where?”

Gone from my sight. This is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”

And that is dying.

A celebration of the life of Lois (Smith) Illingworth

Peacefully on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in her 85th year surrounded by her loving family.

Daughter of the late Charlotte and William Smith. Beloved wife of the late William Hazen. Loving mother of Linda (Scott Burrell), Judi, Carol (Chris Boland), Paulene (Andre Bourgault), Jo-Anne, Deb (Malcolm Ravells), Shaun (Isabelle Martineau), Tracy (Lorna Wilson), Darren (Emily Duquette), Michael, Kerri (Andre Mazhar) and Melanie (John Kotsopoulos). Cherished grandmother of Jason Boland (deceased), Sacha Gagnon (Lisa), Trevor Curren (Jen), Courtney Williams (Ryan), Jesse Illingworth, Taylor Illingworth, Charlotte and Rebecca Illingworth, William and Eva Mazhar. Great-Grammie Oosie to Brooke, Austin and Liam Gagnon, Lenni Illingworth, Tazzy Curren and the expected little button. Dear sister of the late Kenny, Corky, Leonard, Elaine, and Bev.

Family and friends may visit at the West Chapel of Hulse Playfair & McGarry, 150 Woodroffe Ave at Richmond Road Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Visitation will also be held after 10 a.m. Friday, February 4, 2011 at Woodroffe United Church, 207 Woodroffe Ave until service time at 11 a.m. Interment to follow in the spring at Auld Kirk Cemetery, Almonte.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Diabetes Association or The Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated.

Kots' Best of Athens

At Athens Airport, grab the free “2Board Magazine”. It has some great itineraries and recommendations

Best Museums

• New Acropolis Museum (grab a coffee or lunch on the top  floor deck with incredible views of the Parthenon)
• Archaeological Museum (renovated before the Athens Olympics in 2004)
• Benaki Museum (for a nice overview of Greek history, from ancient to modern)
• Cycladic Art Museum (also a good top floor spot for lunch  with a view)
• Byzantine Museum 

Best Tourist Sites

• Acropolis/Parthenon
• Archaeological Walk around the Acropolis (pedestrian area goes around the entire parameter of the site -- superb walk, many places to also take a break)
• Lycabettus Hill and St George Church (for huge views of Athens including the Acropolis)
• Panathinaikon Stadium (site of first modern Olympic games)
• Zappeion (there was a kids Christmas market there, not sure if still up -- area can be reached by foot from the Panathinaikon stadium or from Constitution Sq)
• Roman Agora (in the Plaka area)
• Plaka (touristy but nice to walk through all the small streets. If you want to eat in this area, don’t go to places with photos of their food or menus that prioritise English over Greek)
• Syntagma (Constitution Sq) -- enjoy the ceremonial guard and their wacky outfits 

Best Areas for Coffee/Drinks

• Kolonaki (Tsakalof St, Griveon/Delfon streets, Skoufa St)
• Adrianou (also for food)
• Syntagma (Valaoritou Street, 6th floor of “Public” store on Syntagma Sq for great views)
• Makrigianni (pedestrian area beside the new Acropolis  Museum)
• Gazi (funky former industrial area, near Thisseion metro station)
• Glyfada (coffee, food, stores, beach front walks)
• Faliro Boardwalk (Ostria café has access to the beach)
• Mikrolimano (Piraeus) 

Best Shopping Areas

1.       Monastiraki flea market

2.       Ermou Street (all the major labels -- vibrant pedestrian street)

3.       Kolonaki (for higher end stuff)

4.       Glyfada

Restaurants

1.      For the quintessential souvlaki experience go to the base of Mitropoleos Street right at  Monastiraki square. There are three classic restaurants there that spill on to each other (Thanasis, Savvas and Bairaktaris)

2.       Adrianou (pedestrian street running between Monastiraki to Thisseion metro stations -- great Acropolis views

a few specific recommendations:

• “Fasoli”, “Meat Bar”, “Oikeio”, “Kalamaki Kolonaki” (Kolonaki)
• “Kuzina” (Adrianou)
• “Alatsi” (Museum belt, near Hilton)
• “Sardelles” and “Mamacas” (Gazi)
• Ariston (for hand made Greek cheese, spinach and other pies -- near Syntagma on Voulis St).
• “Palia Taverna Tou Psarra” (Plaka -- touristy but nice  location)

Musical entertainment: Bouzoukia

• Not for the faint of heart, but classically Greek. On Friday or Saturday nights only, see Sakis Rouvas at Athinon Arena (Piraeus Street) – no reservation for bar area/reservation needed for table. But warning, the party starts, very, very, late. 

Kids

1.       Kinepolis in Kifisia

2.       Technopolis (fun exhibits in Gazi)

3.       Avenue Mall

Only 8 days left! Please support this campaign

Born HIV Free

Born HIV Free is a campaign by the Global Fund to mobilize public support for a world where no child is born with HIV by 2015. Originated and supported by Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Global Fund Ambassador, this is one of the most ambitious campaigns of its kind.

Born HIV Free will run until the key replenishment meeting of the Global Fund in New York in October, in order to mobilize public support for donors’ decisions which will determine whether the battle to virtually eliminate mother to child transmission of the virus will be won or lost.

Please put an end to the transmission of HIV from mothers to their children by supporting your country’s contribution to the Global Fund.

Sign up here:

http://www.bornhivfree.org/f/#/en/home

Also, see the videos on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/bornhivfree

We need 500,000 signatures by Thursday 30th September 2010!

Third Voluntary Replenishment Meeting

2010 marks the Third Voluntary Replenishment Process.  The replenishment process is critical not only to the future of the Global Fund, but also to many millions of people affected and infected by HIV, TB and Malaria around the world and whom depend on it for life-saving treatment, commodities, support, and services.  The replenishment is not just about money.

The Third Voluntary Replenishment Meeting will be held in New York, from 4th to 5th October 2010.  International leaders, governments and donors will come together to ‘pledge‘ their financial commitments to the Global Fund for the coming three years. The replenishment must raise at least USD$20 billion if the extraordinary gains made by the Global Fund over the past decade are to be sustained and accelerated.  While many may argue that USD$20 billion is a huge sum in these ‘resource constrained’ times, it is a reasonable investment which will continue to pay substantial dividends over many years, when compared to the USD$700 billion deployed overnight to bail out Wall Street banks during the financial meltdown.

Contributing to the success of the Global Fund is its commitment to the core principles of demand-driven, country-owned responses.  Some international donors have pre-empted the outcome of the Third Voluntary Replenishment, and have begun calling for caps on the amount of funding to be made available for each round.  This would be a disastrous consequence, going against the very basic foundation of which the Global Fund was established upon, and would leave countries and communities without the resources identified as necessary to effectively respond to HIV, TB and Malaria.

In signing the letter, we demonstrate our support for the Global Fund and demand that governments commit to the health of communities across the world by increasing their financial contribution to the Global Fund and raising the USD$20 billion at the Third Voluntary Replenishment.

We need 500,000 signatures by Thursday 30th September 2010!

Please sign here

http://www.globalfundreplenishment.org/