Mbeki vs. the AIDS Establishment... (8)
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Hi, I am Kimberly Richards. I have just joined the serve so I wanted
to introduce myself. I hope that is the custom on this serve, if not
I offer my apologies in advance.
I am a PhD student at Oregon State University working on a degree in
counsellor education. I hope to soon begin my research. I will be in-
vestigating the knowledge and attitudes of counsellors in Southern
Africa in relation to HIV/AIDS. If any of you could advise me on whom
to contact to distribute surveys I would appreciate that.
Prior to coming to USA I was a lecturer at the University of Zim-
babwe. I was active in Harare in a number of different organizations
(Musasa Project, ANPPCAN, SACA, NGCAZ, IIHD, PE School, ZAGA) so per-
haps some of you on this list have met me. I have also worked in a
former career as a wildlife biologist, and as a high school science
and math teacher.
In regard to President Mbeki. To me he is a hero. That is, he was not
afraid to question, to seek answers, and to get involved. I was dis-
appointed at the media's attitude towards him. There may even be some
truth in what he says. I don't know, but I will not just dismiss it
without first examining the details.
In regard to one of President Mbeki's advisors, Peter Duesburg, Dr
Duesburg "isolated the first cancer gene through his work on retrovi-
ruses in 1970, and mapped the genetic structure of these viruses.
This, and his subsequent work in the same field, resulted in his
election to the National Academy of Sciences in 1986. He is also the
recipient of a seven-year Outstanding Investigator Grant from the Na-
tional Institutes of Health."(taken from his website at:
http://www.duesberg.com/).
Obviously Dr Duesburg is not the fringe mad scientist the media has
made him out to be. I know little of his work, and even after I exam-
ine it if I think it is without any merit, I still have to respect
him for his efforts and accomplishments. It is this disrespecting of
President Mbeki, Duesburg, and other honored scientists that I find
offensive and even detrimental in the long to knowledge production.
I can see why President Mbeki would be suspecting all that surrounds
HIV/AIDS. After reading about the apartheid death labs where among
other things SA top scientists tried to manufacture diseases that
would only infect People of Colour, and after apartheid's use of psy-
chology especially as a tool of oppression, it is easy under the cir-
cumstances to conclude that the 'Academy' only has it own interests
at heart.
Kimberly Richards
mailto:mearsk@ucs.orst.edu
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