Stephen Lewis

[eightstring]

Mr. Lewis. Thank so much for you speech on Jack Layton.

Love you man...RC

[cinergy29]

Not that I want to participate in a heated debate, especially one that may eventually lead to name-calling, but I just wonder if anyone here would give anything they could to give ANY individual a 50% chance to live??...I would give an arm, a leg, and yes, some forskin!! and that would be to save one...now what about millions?circumcision may not be ideal, but in this fashion an individual as at a 60% decreased risk, for himself, his wife, and their children...

[Bonobo3D]

Stephen Lewis is in the BUSINESS of AIDS "prevention." Don't be fooled by his so-called passion, his ability to deliver a speech, take off his glasses and get all misty eyed when talking about grandmothers. Lewis is a self appointed expert, BS artist, well paid for his lectures and public appearances.

The Stephen Lewis Foundation has no lack of generous and dutiful donators, people willing to give anytime they hear this guy get dramatic.

[TheFenceandtheJug]

Stephen Lewis is sick for calling for male genital mutilation.

[anuerysm19]

he was in our school this morning giving a speech he is truly a spectacular speaker god bless him

[carebearooo]

Hmmm, well, I guess you have a point. But with the new UNAIDS director an African, maybe he can make a difference. Plus, the new replacement of Lewis is an African woman, --although we never hear anything from her. The STEP vaccine trial this year really showed that science has no clue about how to respond to effective prevention strategies. How are we so good at developing treatments but not preventions? There must be 20 drugs available now, but only condoms and clean needles for prevention

[jellybummail]

I have been following this commentary for a while now and I'm finally glad to see some good discussion rather than the usual adoration. The international community, especially the UN, fkkd up the aids response, mostly because westerners thought they knew what was best for poor people. Well, as an African, I can tell you they didn't. There is finally some African leadership that is responding to the local aids problem. Lets hope they make a better impact than any that came before.

[mtostad]

I totally concur with you. Its amazing how wrong people in the west had it. Remember when they said Africans can't read watches so they won't take their pills? Then the whole patent fiasco. That was the head of USAID! Lewis has said a few classics too.

[jellybummail]

Don't get me started on the watches story. What a bunch of bigots! And they were leading the response to the epidemic! You may not believe me, but the guy that really changed everything was actually 'W,' when he have 15 billion to 15 countries. He's since upped it to 50 billion. Lets hope they send some watches too so us dumb Africans can tell the time!!!

[mtostad]

While I think Stephen Lewis has been remarkable at getting issues like gender discrimination on the table, there appears to now be a backlash as a result of this focus. What we are seeing very clearly on the ground is that children, particularly the young (<7) and infants, orphans, and unbelievably, men, are under treated in programs. Maybe Stephen was successful in inspiring organizations to treat women. Can he now redirect his efforts to assist those with no access?

[mtostad]

Stephen is a remarkable orator and someone clearly dedicated to raising issues affecting the poor. He is comfortable raising uncertain issues to difficult audiences. Having said that, there are reasonable reasons to disagree with him some of the time. We need to permit dissent on these message boards to promote discussion and new ideas. The AIDS epidemic is one that we are only now realizing that the so-called experts had wrong for a very long time. Criticism is warranted.

[moisturebunny]

In 2006 aids conference he said Canadians are derelict in giving him money for aids.

His solution is to circumcise all the boys in Africa. Like yeah man. Go for it dude.

"Removing body parts cures aids"

who would have guessed except all those sexually crippled by this 2000 year old dogma.

[canuculhead]

I heard this man speak last night. An incredible speaker who had his audience laughing and crying, entertained and inspired. If you get a chance, go hear this man speak, you won't regret it (if you have a compassionate bone in your body). This is a man who has dedicated his life to service to humanity, including chairing the first Canadian conference one global warming in 1988, and is not a Jonny-come-lately (edmills u r an idiot).

[edmills1023]

I agree with the diseenters here. This guy is tiresome. He just likes to hear his own voice and only cares about publicity.

Have you noticed his newest thing is global warming? What, did the HIV crises no longer need attention? What a blowhard!

[laurensbonanza]

Have you ever actually gone to seen him speak live? I have and in the time he had he covered Darfur, climate change, women and gender inequality and AIDS, so half was HIV/AIDS. Other times I've heard him speak have also been focused on AIDS. He's not out there to 'hear his own voice', he truly cares about the people of the world. You can hear it in his voice every time he gets choked up! He had everyone in the room moved to nearly to tears. His entire foundation is dedicated to HIV/AIDS.

[0hawkeyes0]

Blowhard...Ya hes a blow hard, hes gota be because no-one-is-listening. Not enough people are doing enough. To many people, such as yourself, are busy critizising, talking the talk, not walking the walk.

Mr Lewis walks far more then he talks, and he talks alot.....

[edmills1023]

I'm afraid you are wrong. As for walking the talk, Lewis flies around business class and goes to his luxury hotels, just to represent those who live on a dollar a day. True, although I spend most of my time in Uganda working with AIDS patients, I cannot live what they live. But believe me, old man Lewis doesn't live it either. Don't be fooled by a good orator.

[edmills1023]

Yes, he's a horrific blowhard. So you heard him give a few melancholy presentations, so what. Anyone can do them, its a talent thats learned. As I can see from the comments below, those with actual field experience, not just showing up to his speeches, are more cynical. How hard is it Mr. Lewis, to fly around the world business class? Having spent years looking after patients in Africa, this guy is tiresome.

[Menace23Society]

What do you guys expect him to do, ride a fucking raft? Why are YOU on your computer when millions of people are hanging on for their dear lives? Give away your posessions and live on the streets to show you really care, kthnxbai

[jellybummail]

wow, what a dick

[cinergy29]

@edmills1023

I think there are more than just one issue in the world that needs attention.....I didn't realize you could only sign up to raise awareness for one problem at a time ;o)

[robotpeople]

this dude does not speak for us! he was a convoy for the UN...i posed him the question about sovereignty being eroded because of increased UN supremacy...

he could not retort (I like to use big fucking words too...retort...just like what Lewis is...a retort)

Lewis is a Globalist...he wants increased UN AIDS programs...well thank you for increasing the UN legitimacy..

burn in hell you dirty fucker!

[2020Tripp]

heb, I'm wondering how you could take Lewis out of context to such an extent as to say that expressing a point of view in protest of inaction during the aids crisis is actually just drivel.

[hebchampel]

Meaningless drivel

[thatsmeandrea]

this is not meaninless drivel! He knows what he is talking about. I was at his latest presentation in Calgary, May 2007, he is very smart, and passionate about his work.