Human Immunodeficiency

The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, was first identified 20 years ago, and has had a major impact on human society. It is the precursor to AIDS, a syndrome famous for its devastating effects, as it leaves death - and often poverty - in its wake.

Since the 1980s, when the first cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were recorded, the world has learned a great deal about the disease, its causes, ways to slow the virus' multiplication and the key to preventing the spread of the disease: prevention.

Men are indispensable allies for controlling the spread of HIV, say the organizers of World AIDS Day, commemorated around the globe Dec 1. The international theme this year was: "I care… Do you?"

AIDS now exists among populations worldwide. The latest approach to treating the disease is a "cocktail" of medications, and it has proven to very effective. Poor populations tend to have the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence, and they are precisely the ones who cannot afford the expensive medications. Prevention remains a top priority for avoiding infection in the first place.

Scientists at many different institutions continue in their search for a vaccine, but it could be years before they find one that truly works.

The region with highest infection rates is Africa. In some countries of the continent, the disease is devastating entire generations. And beyond the social drama of HIV/AIDS, there is a major economic challenge because the consequences of the disease and strategies for fighting it generate enormous costs for humanity.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the presence of HIV/AIDS varies greatly from country to country. Furthermore, the populations at risk are diverse. Experts agree that these characteristics pose a unique challenge for prevention efforts in the region.

The first step toward prevention in all cases, however, is the same: information. And there is nowhere on Earth that more information on HIV/AIDS can be found than on the Internet.

IPS Special Edition: World AIDS Day - Latin America
UNAIDS: Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS
World Bank: AIDS Economics
WHO: Department of HIV/AIDS
WHO/UNAIDS: HIV Vaccine Initiative
PAHO: AIDS in the Americas
Aegis: Directory of AIDS sites
The Body: AIDS and HIV Information Resource

The Power of the Wind

Many scientific and environmental experts consider wind the energy of the future. New technologies allow increasingly efficient use of wind power, which is clean, renewable and abundant worldwide.

Although wind energy has a vast future ahead, its utilization by humans has a long history. The technology of windmills, which take advantage of the wind to move the machinery for milling wheat, for example, was used in many countries for centuries.

Modern wind energy is also produced by mills, but these belong to a whole new generation. These aero-generators consist of a tall mast with an enormous propeller that catches the wind, moving an energy-producing turbine.

Interest in wind technology, and other alternative sources of energy, intensified during the oil crisis of the 1970s, but then was largely forgotten. In the 1990s, however, it returned to the forefront, this time for environmental reasons.

Wind energy experts have made great strides toward debunking the criticisms of this alternative energy source, producing quieter turbines that take maximum advantage of the wind, wind parks that have parallel uses - as pastures or farmland - and setting up turbines at sea.

Wind technology is evolving, says the Internet portal of the Windpower Association of Denmark. In this European nation, the wind is already providing 13 percent of the energy used by the population.

In Latin American countries like Brazil and Argentina, there is growing interest in taking advantage of the immense potential of the winds. And according to the information available on the Internet, Europe's immediate goal is to generate 10 percent of all its energy needs with windmills.

Information on wind energy is abundant in cyberspace. There are directories that will lead you to websites of research organizations, environmental associations, and companies that manufacture the wind turbines.

Windpower.org - Portal
Eolica.net - Web Directory
Brazilian Wind Energy Center
National Wind Technology Center
Yahoo!: Wind Energy, organizations, information, etc.

Dangerous Bacteria

Anthrax has emerged in the 21st century as a concrete threat: in a world of upheaval, the bacteria are being spread by bioterrorists through the mail. But beyond the panic, there is growing scientific interest in searching for ways to control this disease-causing agent.

An anthrax infection is caused by the spores of the 'bacillus anthracis'. The truth is that anthrax has been around for a long time, but never before has it caused so much fear among so many people.

The anthrax cases recorded among humans throughout history have been caused by direct contact with infected animals or animal products, explains the Pan-American Health Organization. But the bacterium has been manipulated in laboratories for use as a biological weapon.

There are three types of anthrax infection: cutaneous, gastro-intestinal, and pulmonary, the last being the most lethal.

Immediately after the Sep 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, the World Health Organization issued a warning about the increased danger of attacks with biological weapons.

When the warning became reality, demand for information about this little-known bacterium rose dramatically.

Government agencies, medical information centers and research laboratories quickly determined the scope of the biological threat and the tools needed to fight it, including a vaccine.

Pan-American Health Organization: Anthrax Fact Sheet
WHO: Anthrax Facts
World Anthrax Data Site
US Center for Disease Control
US Department of Defense: Information Paper
Yahoo! News coverage on Anthrax
Searching for a vaccine