Week 8 - In Sickness and in Health "Sex, Drugs and HIV/AIDS - Let's Get Rational"

Thesis: Loving our neighbor means that we must let go of judgement. 

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7  

"HIV/AIDS is the most serious health crisis the world has ever faced. HIV does not discriminate. Whether we realize it or not, all of us are affected: rich and poor, especially the poor; men and women, especially the women; old and young, especially the young; and people of every race, especially people of color.” From the United Church of Christ Statement on HIV/AIDS at General Synod 27  

Armed with bracing logic, wit and her "public-health nerd" glasses, Elizabeth Pisani reveals the myriad of inconsistencies in today's political systems that prevent our dollars from effectively fighting the spread of HIV. Her research with at-risk populations -- from junkies in prison to sex workers on the street in Cambodia -- demonstrates the sometimes counter-intuitive measures that could stall the spread of this devastating disease. 

Elizabeth Pisani uses unconventional field research to understand how real-world behaviors influence AIDS transmission -- and to overhaul antiquated, ineffective prevention strategies.