Africa Geographic October 2005 [antikvár]

editorialI( I'I 11 I ' 1 i,i iI -i'-y, I"-ij'siiis'smkBiTJ'^^i'; v i 'ih v'I'r " l| ' I, Ii .I l'ii 1 '' :(, , , 'I .1'iliir'.' 'f I 'i' I'lvv' ---a ^ !Lr iC C The continent ishome to more than 80 per cent of all children orphanedby [Aids]. The social and environmental consequences of this are frightening ^ ^W" hen a feature on HIV/Aids (see 'Being Positive', page 45) was first mooted some while back it caused quite a stir within our editorial department and among our colleagues in the tourism industry. Concerns focused on the fact that, sadly, the Aids pandemic is one of those African disaster stories that the global news networks seem to latch onto with (dare I say) relish for its sensationalist value.Why would we want to add to this massive body of journalism? In fact, one major player in the tourism industry felt so strongly that an Aids story in Afiica Geographic would do serious damage to the international tourism image of Africa that they decided not to participate at any level. Frankly, that is a bit like the proverbial ostrich burying its head, for the one thing that the world most certainly knows is that Africa has an Aids problem. And if it doesn't, then the September issue of National Geographic will have helped, for it shows quite clearly (based on UNAIDS data) that two-thirds of all people with HIV/Aids live in sub-Saharan Africa and that the continent is home to more than 80 per cent of all children orphaned by the disease. The social and environmental consequences of this are frightening.Some might argue, though, that this has little or nothing to do with conservation and the safari industry. Clearly, as our article probes, nothing could be further from the truth. Conservation areas are frequently located far from big cities and are surrounded by populous rural communities that are among the poorest in Africa. Here, conservation and tourism are already, or potentially, one of the major employers, so there is, or should be, a close symbioric relationship between conservation, safari operators and local communities. And when one aspect of the partnership ails seriously, it will most surely affect the whole.Our premise, then, was to find out what the conservation agencies such as national parks and the private game lodge operators were doing about it. We were encouraged by what we found, as many operators are not only aware, they are actively engaged in running practical programmes aimed at ameliorating the situation through education and, within their means, medical and nutritional support.'Aids is an ecological issue,' says David Patient, putting it in a nutshell. Patient is a partner in Positive Health, a programme launched in 2003 in association with CC Africa, one of the continent's biggest safari operators. And, as writer Di Paice elaborates, 'He means this partly in its literal sense - Aids eventually kills the keepers of the wild - and partly in a more metaphorical sense. Those in the conservation industry understand that when anything in the wild is under threat, you treat the system holistically.'It is precisely this kind of ecological thinking that shows an encouraging way forward. So, far from being reluctant to talk about it lest it damage the image of tourism, we should be shouting it from the mountaintops as an example of how Africans can deal proactively with the scourge of Aids. This is Good News, and in a world where the desire for responsibly run nature-based experiences is growing exponentially, I believe that potential travellers to Africa will be encouraged, not put off.About our maqaalneAfrica Ceographic is editofially and financially independent. It enjoys the support and endorsement of several non-government organisations, but it is not affiliated in any way to these bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group, Africa Ceographic strives to foster an awareness of wildlife, conservation, eco-travel, indigenous cultures and the general environment. It consistently advocates the wisest use oi natural resources in a manner that involves and is of real benefit lo the people of Afnca. Africa Ceographic is published 11 times a year.6 AFRICA Gl-OGHAPHIC OCTOUEU 2005