More bad news on the fight against AIDS was released last week by the United Nations.

According to a report by UNAIDS, 5 million people contracted HIV last year, increasing the number of people living with the virus to about 40 million worldwide. Of the newly infected, 700,000 are children. Of the approximately 3 million people who died of the disease in 2003, 500,000 of them were children.

The rate of AIDS infection is highest in Botswana and Swaziland, where as much as 40 percent of the sexually mature population is infected. The disease is also spreading rapidly in Eastern Europe, India and China. An estimated 1 million Russians have the virus.

As we mark World AIDS Day today, it’s important to remember the 22 million victims of this horrible disease who have died, and consider our own role in slowing this epidemic.

We can become better educated about the disease, its effects and its treatment. We can help end the stigma of receiving treatment and the discrimination faced by HIV-positive individuals. And we can evaluate our own attitudes.

The first World AIDS Day was declared by the World Health Organization in 1988 to draw attention to the devastating impact of the disease.

Since then, there has been progress. President Bush has committed to a $15 billion, five-year funding plan to help fight AIDS and other infectious diseases. In Uganda, the rates of infection have dropped significantly since just 10 years ago. Thailand’s aggressive campaign to promote condom use in the sex industry has cut the rate of new infections by as much as 85 percent. And the increased availability of antiretroviral treatments mean infected people can live longer and healthier lives.

Much good has been accomplished, but much remains to be done. That work begins at home with awareness and compassion.


Last chance


Maine’s tax amnesty program ends today. Actually, it ended Sunday, but because it was the weekend, tax scofflaws looking to pay up have until 5 p.m. today to turn in their paperwork.

The amnesty program, which began in September, offers people the chance to avoid prosecution and save some money. The state will drop all the fines, penalties and half the interest on the amount due.

Before the program began, the state estimated it would collect about $14 million of the $200 million of known tax debt. But in less than a month, Maine reported collecting more than $4 million, or about 30 percent of its goal. We have high hopes that collections will exceed the state’s expectations.

For individuals or businesses that owe the tax collector, this is the last, best chance to come clean. What could be more refreshing? A clear conscience for the holidays, reduced liabilities and an end to those annoying commercials advertising the amnesty. That’s a good deal.
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