I'm sending this fax the Iranian Mission to the UN (fax number: 1-212-867-7086). I'm assuming they are closed on Monday, because I assume they're closed on Monday due to the MLK holday.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am a Health Educator living in the United States. One of my jobs is to teach people of all ages and religious backgrounds to protect themselves from HIV infection. I also advocate for funding that will help find better treatments and one day, God willing, a cure for this disease.

As both a health educator and I person concerned with global healthcare justice, including for the people of Iran, I urge you to reconsider the imprisonment of the of Alaei brothers, renounced Iranian AIDS researchers. The brothers were not attempting to communicate with an enemy government; they were talking to other AIDS researchers. Attempting to end a global plague that affects every person on the planet, either directly or indirectly, is no crime. No one should sentenced to die for doing it. The Alaei brothers deserve the praise of their government; not it�s punishment.

Sincerely,

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As people here know, I consider HIV/AIDS a disability. So does the World Health Organization and the Americans with Disabilities Act. So if you have a problem with my position, take it up with them. Trust me, you don�t want to take it up with me. But that�s a different subject for a different day.

According to Physicians for Social Responsibility, two Iranian AIDS researchers � brothers Arash and Kamiar Alaei � have been arrested and charged with communicating with an enemy government. Excuse me; I thought that was what you did when you were trying to solve a public health problem. As far as I know, trying to treat HIV is not a crime in any country of the world. What does a virus know about international borders? And can we afford to be affected by them when we�re trying to stop it?

According to Declan Butler, �Of course, viruses don�t care which hosts have been talking to members of �enemy regimes� or friendly ones. Viruses don�t care who is a Shiite, a Sunni, or an infidel. Viruses are just looking for a suitable host so they can get to the business of replicating.�

I�m a health educator, and my reaction to that line of thought was, �well, duh.� On Monday, at 9am, I am calling the Iranian Mission to the UN. You should call too, and tell them that imprisoning people who want to end the AIDS crisis is a bad idea and a publicity nightmare. Now, the Iranian government has delayed the verdict, which will keep them in jail longer or keep them from being punished, whatever that might entail in Iran. Personally, I don�t want to think about it.

The number is 1-212-687-2020. Tell them why you are calling � something along the lines of, �I want to voice my objection to the trial of the Alaei brothers, on the basis that you have to communicate with other researchers if you want to cure AIDS.� I am also going to conduct my own fax zap. For people who don�t know what that means, it means either doing it yourself with your own personal fax machine or paying someone $20 or so to repeatedly send the same fax to the same number. I don�t have much money, but I figure doing this could count as my tithe for the month. You can fax, too � to 1-212-867-7086. The website in support of the doctors is requesting that after you fax or call, you email the doctors� support system at [email protected] so they know what you did.

Just when I think the world can�t get any more ridiculous or insane, something like this happens and I have to raise my bar on how crazy the world can get. As a health educator, I think this is dangerous. As a person dedicated to ending the AIDS crisis, I think this is dangerous. As a disability rights activist, I think this is dangerous. Basically, as a whole person, I think this is dangerous. As a person concerned with health care, especially health care for the underprivileged and disabled, I urge you to spend 10 minutes on Monday and $10-20 faxing the Iranian government, letting them know the world is watching.

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They�re going to kill them. The AIDS doctors; I mean. According to the Short, Sharp Science blog posted yesterday. I�m outraged. I�m going to do something. I just don�t know what that something is. Any ideas, folks? I�m calling and faxing the government of Iran on Monday. I never did it the first time (sorry to admit, although I told tons of over folks, too and think many did; I was just too ill and sore). However, now I�m better and really going to help stick it to the Iranian government. I hope you will all help me, by phoning, faxing, and forwarding to your networks. As a reminder, the phone number is 212-687-2020. Tell them why you are calling � something along the lines of, �I want to voice my objection to the trial of the Alaei brothers, on the basis that you have to communicate with other researchers if you want to cure AIDS.�

I am also going to conduct my own fax zap; and this time I really will do it, For people who don�t know what that means, it means either doing it yourself with your own personal fax machine or paying someone $20 or so to repeatedly send the same fax to the same number. I don�t have much money, but I figure doing this could count as my tithe for the month. You can fax, too � to 1-212-867-7086. The website in support of the doctors is requesting that after you fax or call, you email the doctors� support system at [email protected] so they know what you did. You can keep on the case by visiting Iranfreethedocs.org. I urge you to do something. However, small a step it might seem.

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Dear NuTang,

Today, like too many days previous in a row, has sucked. I was supposed to go out and do some copy work as well as some bill paying but it was too icy to go out today and I didn't want to get into an accident in the van service or get sick from standing in the weather. Of course now, after I cancel all my plans, it's nice out. Isn't that just typical?

I feel especially bad today because it's World AIDS Day and this is the first time in 15 years I haven't done something to honor it. Although, I suppose even if it is a stretch, posting about it counts. I sent the art book to the copy man and I'm waiting for the copies to come back. I hope you all are having a better day than I am.

All I keep thinking about is that 25 million people died and I can't do anything to change that. Even if I could go back in time and eliminate the AIDS crisis, I would worry about disrupting the space time continuum and creating some sort of cataclysmic affect that no one can foresee. You know how that always happens in Science Fiction movies. Anyone seen The Butterfly Affect? Well that's all for now. Maybe I'll check in later.

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