World Aids Day

In the lead up to World Aids Day, I am reading no end of analysis on the particularities of this epidemic at a as it works its away from host to host. Most notable was perhaps the US context where the 13 southern states appear to have no workable strategy on how control might be exerted other than the exhortations of abstinence coming from pulpit, soapbox and media outlets. The burden falls disproportionately on the poor, and those of colour and those attempting to introduce harm reduction measures are more likely to be arrested than thanked.

Vietnam handles the situation rather differently. It would appear to acknowledge the problem, accept the funding, and then like everywhere else struggle to communicate preventative measures to hard to reach groups, notably adolescents, migrant workers and the more well known at-risk-groups such as the commercial sex worker and the man that had sex with the man. Issues are discussed calmly without the rhetoric associated with the less fulfilled cleric and rational ways forward are proposed.

But with the best will in the world, it seems hard to connect the intellect with the animus at certain times of life, and only a certain amount of education will ever get through on the glorious subjects of safe and shooting.

What to do then - increasingly harm reduction strategies such as an anti-AIDS pill (pre exposure prophylaxis) and Vaginal Gels (microbicide) are being researched as methods that can reduce the risk in situations where the tradtional methods are not being used - i.e. needle sharing and unprotected sex.

The potential effect is that in reducing possibility of contagion, we offer less safe methods of catching HIV to those particularly at risk.

The probability game when played with issues such as this becomes more and more complex, and it might be said that this is likely to decrease inhibitions than increase them when they might be particularly useful to you.

bon chance mes amis

on being listless

While not many are aware that a cure for listlessness involves little more than writing down all the things that are wrong (or indeed right) one after another, it is easily demonstrable in the literal if not metaphorical context.

So it falls often to the blogger, to note his achievements and to share them with the good people, that choose to read these words as opposed to all the others that litter the superhighway. Failures could also be listed but the world might appreciate being spared my failure to be plucked from obscurity to lead the global revolution against cronyizm and any number of other things that I occasionally aspire to.

Life in Hanoi is pleasant for someone like me and I intend to keep it that way.

let's go

Weekend

And the Friday feeling draws with no shortage of things to do. The social life is up and running in earnest and the weekend looks set to be fairly decent.

Tonight a Hong Kong school friend arrives in, which will no doubt involve no small amount of revelry.

The tomorrow, I pick up a motorbike from an aussie mechanic who runs a bike workshop for street kids. Then head for Indian food, then a UN party, then an Indian Embassy party and to top it all off I have a 8:30am meeting on Sunday with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. Will be interesting to see what's on offer with at the 'welcome drinks'.

Then on Monday night the Irish Embassy is having a do for the Hanoi Gaelic Football team.

Things could be worse.

FECT - The are at least a few million motorcycles in Hanoi

And I intend to ride at least one of them. Looking out the window at the traffic streaming past, it would be easily thought that joining such an activity would be something for the feebleminded. In fairness, taking a motorbike taxi is probably somewhat similar in terms of risk, and not having only oneself to blame might well lessen recovery time.

I was told that I should try walking across one of the very same roads with my eyes closed to prove just how well the traffic here copes with all sorts of things flying from one direction or another. I don't think I will do this, but no doubt, not acknowledging oncoming traffic makes it clear that if you are not moving then clearly they should. That'sa fair bit of trust to put in a fellow human being, particularly when choice is limited by all the traffic around them. There is a skill to walking across the roads too no doubt, that makes it easier for the driver.

A fatality counter is up on one of the hotels. I am yet to see it, but the TOTAL CARNAGE signs in Donegal spring to mind. Wish me luck, and if you want a hair raising ride, I am not to far away from Hanoi airport.

Surreal

It's always nice to walk out of work and straight into something good. Last night the Cha-cha-cha class was pretty much that. So into an empty room I walked, the door closes behind me and a middle aged man dressed in a polo shirt, jeans and white trainers puts on some happy hardcore at full blast and proceeds to get 'clean on it' as the expression goes.

The nineties were not without the legends that peaked too soon and were to be seen dancing alone on the dancefloor while everyone else waited for the main act to come on. This guy resembled that very type and went at it hammer and thongs. I nodded the head to the beat and tried to look cool, for reasons I can't really explain.

A few other people arrived and joined in the fun, all shaking it like a polaroid picture. The Cha-cha-cha class proper was a good bit more sobering, but the warm left one thinking that this particular experience might well be enjoyed with ease.