My last full day in Bangalore. Vacation plans are not 100 percent complete, but we are probably doing one night in the backwaters, then hopefully tribal health initiative, and then either I will go to Cochin with Jack or come back to Bangalore to write my final paper.
Today, Asha spoke to us. She is an HIV positive woman who went through immense struggle to gain acceptance from her family. She now runs an organization that advocates other equal rights, empowerment, and resources for other HIV+ people in India. It is hard for her and her husband to afford medication. She says that if India accepts the TRIPS agreement of the WHO, they will die.
Yesterday I discussed religion, health, empowerment, sadness, taboos, clothing, stress, food, and tradition with four women after yoga class.
Today, Stephan came to film IHP in action.
Tomorrow is our workshop presentation. Here are some key words:
health, medicine, inqualitiy, choice, traditin, ayurveda, action, privledge, infection, sustainability, prana, belief.
quotes:
"Life is not a result of the body; the body is a result of life-- forces that we can not wholy see."

"Everything one does should move one towards health."

"Bangalore is the suicide capital of India."

"Sterilization continues to be the most common use of contraception."

"Our needs are physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual."

And some questions,

In an age of globalization, how will traditional medicine survive?
How do we break out of this systematic perpetuation of disparities?
How do we combine traditional wisdom and contemporary development?
Who should bear the financial burden for research on infectious disease?
What can we do?

Love,
Sasha