September/October: Advocating for Economic Justice
We began 2007 by looking at God’s creation and exploring ways
in which we can advocate for environmental justice. We end this
year by looking at a deadly disease that has destroyed many
lives and has now entered into the realm of public policy, where
the priorities of government officials can affect the quality
of countless lives. Justice, however, can come when conscientious
people speak up and act.
More than 40 million people are currently infected with HIV
worldwide and the annual death rate has steadily increased,
particularly among young women, aged 15–24. Over the past 25
years medical science has greatly improved treatment and prevention
options. However, access to life-saving medicine is one of the
biggest hurdles faced by those living with HIV today. According
to the Global Health Council, 80 percent of those infected do
not have access to proper treatment. Access to this treatment
is no longer a matter of medicine and science — it is a matter
of life and death, of peace and justice.
