Half of all AIDS deaths are occurring in the South, even though this region is only made up of 17 states and holds only 36% of the country's population. It's a disgustingly large number, and it's only rising, while the amount of AIDS cases continues to fall in the North.

There's a few things that this crisis can be attributed to. I'm a huge advocate of comprehensible sex education, and the South just doesn't have it. Too many states are still relying on out-dated textbooks and preaching abstinence to avoid STDs and pregnancies among young people, but those methods just don't work.

Another cause for rising AIDS cases is that the South is not receiving adequate funding. Only 19% of donations made to fighting HIV/AIDS is given to the South. Ironic, considering the fact that the South needs it the most.

Also, many people in the South have not accepted the fact that kids are having sex younger and younger. Parents refuse to believe that their children could be sexually active, and therefore do not get them tested, and do not talk to them about safe sex.

It's an ongoing cycle. For Take Action Tuesday, please try to visit UNAIDS.org to learn more about the AIDS epidemic, and possibly make any donation you can afford. You can also write to your Representatives and urge them to think about the growing AIDS crisis, particularly in the South, and the inadequate funding and education that has caused it.





Full article here.