Conference co-chair Dr. Mark Wainberg drew sustained cheers when he slammed Prime Minister Stephen Harper for slighting the conference, which has drawn 24,000 delegates from around the globe.
"Mr. Harper, you have made a mistake that puts you on the wrong side of history," said Wainberg, director of McGill University’s AIDS Centre. "The role of the prime minister includes the responsibility to show leadership on the world stage. Your absence sends a message that you do not regard HIV/AIDS as a critical priority. Clearly, all of us here tonight disagree with you."
Actor Richard Gere also took at shot at the absent Canadian prime minister. He recalled that during the early years of the epidemic it took former U.S. president Ronald Reagan eight years to utter the word "AIDS." Gere said in the waning years of his life, Reagan regretted his silence on the issue, "and he was deeply apologetic. I think you have a prime minister who’s going to be deeply apologetic," he said to enthusiastic applause. "I think the worst thing a leader can do now is send mixed messages to the people," added Gere, whose charitable foundation includes support for HIV/AIDS.
"We need unequivocal leaders who tell us the truth, who tell us it boldly, tell us we’re all in this together and we can beat this together." Health Minister Tony Clement, who appeared earlier in the night in Harper’s stead, told the huge crowd at the Rogers Centre that HIV/AIDS requires "all of us to respond in an unprecedented and historic way." "That is why we are here this week," Clement said to catcalls of "Where’s Stephen Harper?" and protesters holding up signs. One read: "Sleep in, Steve? AIDS never sleeps."
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/521814.html
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
