A propos: A very humble and quiet question (2)
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A Response
Hello Chris (et al.),
Sorry I appeared to be "unbalanced". I won't address that specifically
now however, your propos raised some ideas that I would like to share
to the list in general, and to those "unemployed" scientist you made
mention of.
First, I am not a scientist and, second, I am not a researcher, and
third, however, operating the online conferencing network for New Hamp-
shire College's Grad School of Business, Community Economic Development
program MS/Ph.D tracks (http://merlin.nhc.edu), I have come to appreci-
ate the need for the practitioner and researcher to come together. That
they are opposite ends of the same thing, but apart they can often de-
generate into technical or verbal ideological funded masturbations.
I hold a masters in CED, a practitioners' course, and I managed and
participate with the CED Ph.D. students -- the scientific researchers
if you will. I have seen a model where the two groups can compliment
each other in any field of study, though easier said than done. There-
fore, I was quite interested in what was said about those scientist who
were written and out of work. It would seem to me that there still may
be an outlet for their work or for their new work in this field of
AIDS-in-Africa if you will.
I would have liked to propose research ideas for a vaccine, or at least
share the ideas that I had when I read the papers of Zagury in 1987.
But I would feel too timid to do so. People would tell me "who are you
to talk so much scientific nonsense?" Thus it seemed much easier to
discuss political issues than research ones. In fact I wouldn't mind
someone explaining to me why such or such research idea would not work,
but we seem to only want to discuss great results.
The statement really appealed to me. It leads me to ask if there are
still other related scientific questions and issues that are out-there,
relating to this AIDS question, that can be 'readily' used by everyday
practitioners. I am interested in exploring how we can enhance the
online discussions of this AIDS epidemic and the flow of the informa-
tion around it, through expanded electronic forums, libraries, or
clearinghouses around many of the issues discussed here.
I would have liked to propose research ideas for a vaccine, or at least
share the ideas that I had when I read the papers of Zagury in 1987.
But I would feel too timid to do so. People would tell me "who are you
to talk so much scientific nonsense?" .... >
Well, why don't you?
At my organization we are interested in providing access to practitio-
ners - advocates in the field of AIDS in Africa (and other important
fields of advocacy) those results that will help them do their work
better and more efficiently. The key to such an environment is that you
have to "break down" the scientific mumbo jumbo to the "this is what
this research means or could mean" level, then let the practitioners
try it out in the real-world -- in the trenches. Keeping abreast of
"double discoveries" and new/old patents, or anything that would
1. help alleviate the impact of the AIDS epidemic in the world, espe-
cially in Africa,
2. break down the relevance of scientific discovery and discourse to
proven people Advocates and Health Practitioners in this AIDS arena,
and
3. open up the dialogue between the scientist and health practitioners
and among themselves is of great interest to my organization,
is vital! It speaks for itself.
We, the National Electronic Clearinghouse Center - NECC a non-profit
head quartered in Brooklyn, USA and Washington, DC, are dedicated to
lending our online technology towards these ends. This is why I have
monitoring this list for over a year now. If any one wants to know more
about NECC just e-mail me. But suffice it to say, I think that there
are some things that "can" happen to expand this conversation and take
it to another level, as long as the "next level" has some clear per-
formance measures collectively developed.
I for one was glad of Mugabe's speech, regardless of what he did or
didn't do, in Zimbabwe, regardless of whether or not he is going to
stay in his position. I was also glad to read (and post) Elombe Brath's
article. Both were enlightening to me as lay person. Both spoke to the
racial issues, which are a major challenge to people of African descent
the world over. Both also had an impact on me as an outsider (so-to-
speak) and as an African American, who lives and work in the inner cit-
ies and rural communities of the US, and whose own family and close
circle of friends has been ravage by AIDS and other dreaded diseases.
The issues raised in Mugabe's discourse and in the subsequent dis-
courses here touched a cord in me and some of my associates. It led to
the idea -- the possibility that perhaps yet another effort can be put
together to make sure that we get the most updated information and dis-
coveries and strategies, and input from scientist, advocates, and other
grass roots health care practitioners to combat this epidemic. Where
information -- practices -- experiements -- peer-to-peer reviews (sci-
entific and practical ) are delivered hot off the press as we say back
here in the US.
In conclusion, I must admit that it was good to know that there are
some "disenfranchise" scientist out there. Lord knows I have my prob-
lems with the scientific and academic communities. However, I think
that perhaps now the scientist can see where we are parts of a whole
and that together (especially via the internet) we can do our parts in
rebuilding our attack strategies around this disease. I hope I did not
go too far off on a tangent, and what's more I stand ready to "do"
something with some on this list sees the issues in a similar manner as
I do.
Sanyakhu-Sheps Amare'
mailto:san@sheps.com
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