Read this doc on Scribd: MGAC Intro winter 2008
MGAC McGill Global AIDS Coalition Introductory Presentation 2008 http://treatthepeople.com HIV/AIDS Advocacy Botswana: Cynthia Leskomo, 30 http://allafrica.com/photoessay/womenaids/photo9.html “ Botswana: Cynthia Leskomo, 30 Aids? That's a disease for poor people. For uneducated people. For prostitutes and gays. Not for university-educated women like me,' I thought. But I was wrong. Somehow I got the virus. Probably at some party from some guy I don't know. But my spirit is strong. I am going to survive. I can't die. I am too young. I have so many plans. I will be strong. I promise." http://allafrica.com/photoessay/womenaids/photo9.html What is MGAC? McGill Global AIDS Coalition is an HIV/AIDS advocacy and education group dedicated to the eradication of HIV/AIDS and to the realization, worldwide, of the right to health. We are committed to helping to create an effective student advocacy network in Canada and to educating the McGill and Montreal community on global health issues. Goals of MGAC  Encourage individuals and institutions to take action to address international health issues, as well as the social, political, economic and medical determinants of international health;  Educate ourselves about the global HIV/AIDS crisis and international health issues in order to educate McGill and the greater Montreal community;  Build and strengthen student activist networks;  Engage all stakeholders in Canadian and international society including, but not limited to, civil society, governments, international organizations, corporations, and citizens, to work towards the realization of the right to health.  Support our allies working in the global South Issues MGAC works toward the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all peoples. We seek to eliminate the social, economic and political barriers to health. We recognize that gross inequities exist in health and therefore focus our efforts on those in greatest need. The global HIV/AIDS pandemic represents a major threat to international health, and its effects and causes are far-reaching; therefore, our approach in addressing the crisis is correspondingly broad.  HIV/AIDS  Global Health  Global Systems  International Debt  Access to Medicines * * * * * Sexual Health Gender Economic Inequality Neglected Diseases and much more…. Activities Outreach World AIDS Week/Day CAMR General meetings – self education sessions Other: advocacy workshop, speaker series, movie nights, community radio, McWHO simulation, Peace Conference, Women’s Day, Human Rights Awareness month , bake sales, poverty dinner/fundraiser 1. Outreach MGAC presents one-hour workshops on the social impact of HIV/AIDS in the developing world to Montreal community groups and high schools. The workshop centers around an interactive role-playing simulation which traces the impact of HIV/AIDS in a fictitious rural village in Zambia. How to get involved: Become a facilitator Help with French translation 2. World AIDS Day Surrounding World AIDS Day on December 1st MGAC runs a week of education and advocacy events to draw attention to HIV/AIDS on campus, engaging students to educate themselves, take action on issues, and to donate money. How to get involved:  Winter term  help us find next year keynote  Fall 2008  Become World AIDS week coordinator or join the organizing committee  Organize single events during the week  Table with us around campus 3. CAMR Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR). Ongoing campaigning efforts to fix Canadian legislation to enable the export of generic versions of life-saving drugs to developing countries in need. How to get involved:  Join the sub-committee working on this issue and educate yourself on the issue  Talk to your MP about CAMR In March 2007 MGAC held a demonstration in the Montreal city-centre to raise awareness on the problems surrounding Canada’s Access to Medicine Regime (CAMR) We continue to call on the Canadian Government to remove the red tape hindering the legislation. MGAC is committed to the right to health Getting the issues into the press! 4. General meetings Once a week MGAC meets to have in-house education sessions and discuss and plan upcoming events. Meetings are on a rotation between Thursdays and Fridays at 5:30 (Normally in room 433A but subject to change) How to get involved:  Attend!  Join in the planning!  Present on an issue that interests you or an experience you have had working on a related issue 5. Other • Speaker series • Movie nights • Community radio • A show on global health issues Tuesdays 8:30-9:00 on CKUT • International Women’s Day (March) • Human Rights Awareness month (March) • World TB Day (March) • Bake sales • Poverty dinner/fundraiser • Advocacy Workshop (Sept) Advocacy in action MGAC’s advocacy skill-building workshop held in the fall Advocacy in action We run all of our events low-cost so that money we do raise can go to support our allies in Montreal and in the less-developed countries. We always welcome donations to run our events! Who we work with: SAGA – Students Against Global AIDS  a coalition of Canadian student groups committed to the worldwide realization of the right to health. GTAG- Global Treatment Access Group  a working group of Canadian civil society organizations sharing information and undertaking joint activities aimed at improving access to essential medicines and other aspects of care, treatment and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and other health needs in developing countries.  Members include: Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development, Oxfam, Canadian Crossroads International, Care Canada, The North-South Institute, Students Against Global AIDS (that’s us!), World Vision, CCIC etc. QPIRG Working Group  Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill  a non-profit, student-run organization that conducts research, education, and action on environmental and social justice issues at McGill University and in the Montreal community. Who we work with II McGill Global Health Network McGill International Health Initiative, McGill Nurses for Global Health, Human Rights Working Group on HIV/AIDS and Public Health, Other campus groups: Amnesty International, Oxfam, Dignitas, MSF McGill, Queer McGill, … Why should you get involved? If…. You care about the issues You want to learn more You want to build your advocacy skills You like planning events You want to do outreach presentations Your looking for a way to get involved in student life on campus You want to have fun You want to work with a dynamic and diverse group of students……. For more information WEBSITE: HTTP://TREATTHEPEOPLE.COM EMAIL : INFO@TREATTHEPEOPLE.COM THE EXEC ELIZABETH SULLY : DIRECTOR director@treatthepeople.com MEG ATKINSON : MEDIA COORDINATOR press.coordinator@treatthepeople.com ELINA SUZUKI: INTERCLUB COORDINATOR interclub.coordinator@treatthepeople.com ROBIN NOBLEMAN: OUTREACH COORDINATOR outreach.coordinator@treatthepeople.com JENNIFER REID: MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR member.coordinator@treatthepeople.com NANDITA PERUMAL : FINANCE COORDINATOR finance.coordinator@treatthepeople.com PAVEL PERTCHENKO : WEBSITE COORDINATOR website.coordinator@treatthepeople.com MAT LYLE & CAITE TANNER ADMINISTRATIVE CO-COORDINATORS administrative.coordinator@treatthepeople.com THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!