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Archive for May, 2011

24 Hour Party People: Poland

Posted by Staying Alive Editor on May 27th, 2011

Last week Lou went to Poland to visit one of the projects that the Staying Alive Foundation supports – the “Streetcar Named Desire” project – a tram run by medical students aimed at getting students to and from party venues and clued up on safe sex and HIV testing in the process. Brilliant!

Last week I was taken back to the good old days of student partying: Dancing and shouting over drum and bass a few decibels too loud; cheap beer; and returning to my bed at 4am smelling of cigarette smoke.

The night differed a bit from my usual uni antics though. Firstly, I’m not a student anymore. Second, I don’t normally go clubbing on a tram. In Poland. And lastly, I went out with a few hundred condoms in my bag, and came back with none. A successful night? Yes. But not in the way you’re thinking.

I was visiting one of the projects supported by the Staying Alive Foundation. The International Federation of Medical Students’ Association (IFMSA) is getting Polish students clued up about safe sex and HIV testing with their ‘Streetcar Named Desire’ project. Based in Poland’s two biggest cities, 1950s trams have been converted into mobile clubs; complete with DJs, laser lights, and smoke machines. Transporting students to their favourite night clubs, the Condom Police on board hand out condoms, show people how they are used, and distribute bottle openers with information on where to get tested for HIV.

Anyone on the tram gets free entry into the clubs, where they fill out a short questionnaire on their HIV knowledge. With a Safe Sex Stand near the dance floor, anyone can talk to the medical students for further information, materials, and advice. With the headline DJs taking part in condom competitions, bar staff wearing HIV prevention badges, and radio stations naming the evenings ‘Event of the Day’, the project is going down a storm.

What I love about ‘Streetcar Named Desire’ is that it’s fun and integrates completely into the lifestyle of the target group. Students are being reached in their usual environment, ensuring that HIV education is becoming part of their daily life rather than disrupting it.

The project is not solely nocturnal. With safe sex rarely discussed in schools, IFMSA is challenging misconceptions there too. One fourteen year old boy said a priest had warned him that once a condom goes on, it will never come off – a myth quickly shattered by IFMSA members during one of their sessions. For non-students, Safe Sex Stands are set up in malls, ice rinks, and cinemas too.

Who says sex education has to be a sterile lecture added onto a school timetable? Not us.

Check out the video below to find out a bit more about the project and the guys who run it:

http://www.vimeo.com/24307113

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The Future Of Health?

Posted by Guest Blogger on May 26th, 2011

The environment around us is constantly evolving, but what impact can advances in online, mobile and social technology have on health services such as HIV treatment?

We sent guest blogger and self confessed “global health devotee” Kara Rogers to investigate…

In the same time it takes me to order a cappuccino at a coffee shop, I can check updates from my favourite blogs, update my Facebook, Tweet, and then download an app onto my iPhone. The accessibility and rapidity of social media today opens the possibilities of improving social issues through technology.

Applications for iPhones and Android are taking social media to a whole new level. There is no doubt that they are having a huge impact on the way we interact and receive information but they are also having a major impact on public health. Thousands of apps devoted to health are quickly reshaping health services, care and awareness in a huge way. On my iPhone alone I have two apps that are for my personal health.

When I did a simple search of apps on my iPhone for HIV there were over 67 results in one simple search. They included basic information on HIV, fact sheets, cheat sheets for medical students as well as service provider information. In terms of prevention the apps were pretty limited, with only one app - the NYC condom Finder by NYC Health that helps find free condoms no matter where you are in New York City.

A friend of mine, who is living with HIV, recommended that I check out the app, ‘Red Ribbon’, an HIV health manager. It tracks medications, sends reminders to take meds, gives a list of tests and lab results, and allows you to insert a phone number in case of an emergency. Apps such as Red Ribbon help people living with HIV manage their health in a mobile, secure and comprehensive way.

Health technology is not limited to smart phones though. Mobile health technology, or mHealth has shown to improve health in patients even in the most remote parts of the world. I recently returned from Rwanda where they are using basic text messages between HIV positive patients and health care providers.

These communication paths were analyzed on computer databases allowing health centre staff to stay up-to-date on patients’ health statuses. It also allows patients to receive quality care even in the most remote villages of Rwanda. This form of communication resulted in more HIV positive patients taking their medication, meeting with community health workers and participating in support groups in their villages.

Social media platforms are also changing the state of play when it comes to health info and services enables organizations to reach out to young people about issues surrounding HIV without drowning and overwhelming us in statistics and scholarly articles. The MTV Staying Alive Facebook and Twitter platforms are great examples of how social media can be used to create a conversation about HIV, along with providing the fans and followers with access; access to information, service providers and community.

Health technology provides solutions that improve the efficiency, effectiveness and access of health service delivery for HIV prevention, treatment and care. Mobile, online and social technologies are empowering individuals to take control of their HIV status by simply being connected. This connection to health technology can at times mean the difference between life and death.

Kara Rogers is a writer, news junkie and global health devotee. She is currently attempting to reintegrate back into Western society after living in Rwanda for two years. She has what Americans consider politically incorrect humor and spends most of her time dealing with a permanent case of wanderlust. She is only a tweet away @kararogers

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How To Have “The Chat”

Posted by Guest Blogger on May 25th, 2011

Guest blogger Mariah on talking about condoms with a new partner or having “The Chat” and how following her simple steps can make it easy, fun and hassle free…

Everything is amazing when you’ve just met a guy that you have a crush on – it’s exciting to go on dates, you have butterflies in your stomach, and can’t stop talking about him when you’re with your friends.

After some time – whether it’s going to be the same night you met him or a year later – you realize things are going to go further and you will get intimate with the guy. It’s all good if you’re ready for it, unless you’re like many other women and find it hard talking about protection.

First of all, I’ve heard from my boyfriend that guys won’t bother using a condom unless the girl brings it up. While this is worrying and worth a blog post in itself, it is interesting to see why girls aren’t always comfortable talking about protection either.

After asking around in my friendship circles, I can come up with a few reasons for this.

My gym buddy thinks that if she insists on using a condom, the guy would jump to a conclusion that the she has an STD, or that she suspects he has one, so she is not always comfortable bringing it up because she wouldn’t want drama when they’re all loved up.

Another friend who is on birth control thinks that if the guy looks okay and there’s no funny business going on down there, it’s not worth using a condom as the guy clearly doesn’t have anything. On top of that, she mentioned that talking about protection interrupts the fun, so it’s not worth it.

Despite these initial reasons, I’ve always felt that it‘s important to stick with it and make sure that you are always protected – I mean let’s face it, if the potential hook up or a boyfriend gets angry, annoyed or calls you a slag, is he worth getting intimate with anyway?

I think there are a few good measures that you can take to make sure you’re both protected without the need for accusations, suspicion or arguments.

First, have “The Chat” as early as possible – don’t leave it until you’re in the heat of passion, but slip it into conversation much earlier, like: “Did you use condoms with your ex or was she on the pill? I’m not on it, so I always use condoms” to make it easier for you to breach the subject when you’re getting intimate.

Second, always carry your own condoms just to be on the safe side. It is always much more important to protect yourself than have a night of fun and later on find out you’ve caught something deadly, all because you weren’t prepared to insist on protecting yourself.

Thirdly, you can make protection fun: condoms come in many flavours, textures and you can even get glow-in-the-dark ones, so take the plunge and explore with your partner.

Finally I’d say be brave, look after your rights, and remember: if you don’t take care of your own sexual health, why should someone do it for you?

What do you think of Mariah’s post around “The Chat”? Do you have and tips of your own when talking about condom use?

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The Numbers Game

Posted by Guest Blogger on May 24th, 2011

We love it when people respond to the discussions we have on Facebook and Twitter! So imagine our delight when guest blogger Jayne Mazimba sent us this article in response to a conversation about sex numbers…

I was giving myself a much needed reward hour looking for something interesting to do online when I went to my favorite Facebook page, MTV Staying Alive and found a very interesting question being discussed:

“Does the amount of previous sexual partners that a person has had matter to you? Would it ever impact your decision when dating?” And further down the discussion another question was raised, “do you think the number of sexual partners is more/less relevant depending on your gender?”

Personally, I have never asked anyone I have dated how many people they have been with (although sexual experience has come up somewhere down the line) I’ve just never thought the actual number has ever been relevant. In my opinion he could have been with twenty girls, always used protection and been tested and aware of his status and could be at less risk compared to if he had been with one or two girls, was never really that careful and doesn’t know his status? The point is that, from my experience the question of numbers focuses on a not-so-important angle.

Of course some might argue that the number of past sexual partners maybe an indicator of the person’s attitude towards sex… this raises another question of how many partners would be considered too many, who decides this? And does the possibility that the person was faithful to each partner even factor into the equation or do we automatically assume that the people with more experience are promiscuous or are cheaters.

I should also state at this point in reference to the second part of the question that there is definitely a double standard when it comes to the sexes. We have all experienced this right: a guy banging anything that moves and hey, he is THE MAN, while if a girl is just rumored to have hooked up with this and that guy then OMG she is easy, leading to all sorts of names automatically being attached to her. This has all resulted in people not being fully honest about their sexual behavior. Girls will claim they are virgins or have only been with a minimum number of guys, and the guys multiply the number. How interesting is that?

At the end of the day, we should realize that good or bad, everybody has a past. One, two or ten, ask yourself how important that number is to you. Or else next time, instead of asking someone how many people they have been with, try asking them when was the last time they got intimate with someone? And when they last got tested? #JustAThought

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International Masturbation Month

Posted by julie.allen on May 18th, 2011

Guest blogger and writer of Female Masturbation piece Carina Kolodny with a brand ’spanking’ new blog on The International Masturbation Month Of May.

How will you be celebrating?

One can learn a great deal of things from twitter… That Osama Bin Laden is dead, for example, or that your best friend has a new favorite song or that (spoiler alert) your all-time favorite blogger has written a new article for MTV’s Staying Alive…

We use twitter to stay in touch with our friends, to stay on top of the news or to stay in the loop on the things, people and places we care about.

Just this past week, for instance, a tweet delivered a very important and interesting piece of information to me: “May is International Masturbation Month!” The tweet-er informed me and those 37 characters packed a whole lot of punch.

“International Masturbation Month!” I cried, joyously. “How did I not know? Why wasn’t I informed? Surely Google should have changed their icon to commemorate this glorious occasion.”

But my parade was quickly rained upon when I realized that nobody else was celebrating this now sad and kind of lonely holiday. In fact, very few people even knew about it!

I quickly set to rectify this terrible situation. “IT’S INTERNATIONAL MASTURBATION MONTH!” I enthusiastically tweeted and tumbld and facebooked. Imagining that, surely, the whole world would join my party if only they were informed that it was happening.

To my horror, I got just one lonely response from my call to ‘action:’

DannybOyUK: @carinakolodny How are you supposed to celebrate that? ‘Go’ more than usual? More vigorously?

DannybOyUK was right! How do you even go about celebrating? It’s not as if my local party store will have a section for this holiday. It’s not as if ‘International Masturbation Month’ has it’s own party pack equipped with themed streamers and matching party favors.

Even if people were celebrating, it’s not as if many of them would inform the tweet-osphere. (In my fantasy land, where everything is as it should be, #masturbationmonth would be trending and everybody would be sharing how enthusiastically they loved their bodies and themselves.)

Feeling an incredible buzz-kill and serious disappointment, I acquiescently accepted that this holiday would have to pass largely uncelebrated.

But just then, one of my real life friends swooped in to save the day. Ben, the wonderful editor of the Staying Alive blog, pointed out that I have an article to go with every occasion. I’ve already written a blog about why girls should feel more comfortable masturbating… kind of pre-emptively shot my wad on that one…

But writing about this holiday, acknowledging this holiday and getting your input on how to celebrate it seems like the making of a brand-SPANKING-new-blog. (Terrible pun intended.) So this is it, or this has been it… the blog I decided to write… The blog that poses an all too important question: How can we, aside from the obvious, celebrate?

Carina Kolodny is a writer and expert coffee shop loiterer based out of NYC. When not writing (or loitering) she can usually be found traveling the world or jumping out of airplanes. She became interested in HIV education while working with the Red Cross in Fiji. This was an enriching though terrifying experience as she hates snakes almost as much as she hates grammar. She counts Fiji, Cuba and Tanzania as second homes and strongly believes in the power of self love and red lipstick.

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Brazilian Girls

Posted by Guest Blogger on May 12th, 2011

Guest blogger Matheus Ortega explores the stereotype of women in his country, Brazil, and asks if they are given the respect they deserve…

What comes to your mind when you think about Brazilian Girls?

Most people would say something related to Gisele Bündchen, sensual dancers, or the perfect match for Carnival, caipirinha, and vacations.

The land of Brazil is blessed with lovely people, fabulous landscapes, and a delicious cuisine. Everyone knows Brazil for its football players and its beautiful girls.

Photo by sfmission.com

But what is the reality of the life of these girls? The society imposes standards that make them become objects of interest, valued by their appearance, but largely ignored by their intellect or moral values. A model is hardly considered more than a pretty doll to be looked at and then thrown away.

Brazilian girls abroad are seen as party-lovers, drinkers without limits, easy girls that enjoy having fun. Is this the way these women should treat themselves and be treated by others? There is something special about the women of this nation. After all, this is the first time in history that Brazil is governed by a woman (President Dilma Rousseff).

Yet, the role of women is still very undervalued. Millions of housewives in poor communities live to feed the family, educate the children, care for the house, while the man goes after the job, and usually leaves the family to its own fate.

And there is the Carnival. The greatest popular festival in Brazil, well-known for its extravagant costumes and naked women.

Let me pose you a question to deepen this matter: do you think the Carnival helps in fostering national culture, generating jobs, showing the beauty of Brazil to the world? Or does it diminish the role of women in the society by treating them as sex symbols, exposing their nakedness to the entire world?

I feel personally feel that something needs to change in our society, so that amazing Brazilian girls are given the value that they truly deserve. Perhaps a good beginning is by sharing what you think, generating awareness on this issue so that this reality might be transformed in years to come.

(Special thanks to the journalist Bruna Manzoli)

Matheus Ortega is a 23-year-old Brazilian musician, filmmaker, and social activist that wants to change the world.

What do you think of Matheus Ortega’s latest post?

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Brazilian girls? And do you think the stereotype is justified?

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Is It Ever OK To Have Sex With An Ex?

Posted by Guest Blogger on May 11th, 2011

Guest blogger Jayne has a discussion with her girls on a question that has been asked by many: Is it ever OK to have sex with an ex?

A few nights ago, my roommates and I had some down time and somehow fell on the topic of “sex with an ex”. Diverse opinions are inevitable when you have a bunch of girls speaking openly and of course a “few” central questions popped up during the discussion.

1. Is sex with an ex OK?

Vanessa: Sex with an ex is okay if you are both single. Although sometimes the guy gets protective after and doesn’t want to see you with other people, so then it gets complicated.

Molly: It depends on the situation

Bertha: says point blank that it’s ok, using a Nyanja proverb which means “an already ploughed field is easier to work on, than starting all over on hard ground”.

ChaCha: If you bump into your ex and you start reminiscing about all the fun times you used to have and then end up in bed. It’s completely natural.

2. Does it matter whether he is married or is involved with someone or not?

Vanessa: If he’s with someone that’s your cue to not even look back

Molly: Married is off limits but if his is just dating someone its ok. Especially if I don’t like the girl he is with just to show her that I can have him back anytime.

Bertha: Nope doesn’t matter if he is with someone else or not. But if am with someone then I wouldn’t have sex with my ex.

Chacha: if he was with another girl or is married then I wouldn’t have sex with him

3. Do you still have feelings for him if you have sex with them?

Vanessa: there is an attraction especially if the sex was good, but it doesn’t necessarily mean am still into him. Obviously there is a tender spot for him. His like your Ghetto story.

Molly: yes, Feelings do not completely go away, and they linger.

Bertha: Yes! Personally I cannot sleep with someone who I do not have feelings for.

ChaCha: not necessarily, it cudda just been for old times sake.

4. How many times is too much?

Vanessa: If we broke up with an ex a long time ago, then I wudda moved on. But after a year or more then that’s a no no! If however, broke up and within a year you have sex more than three times, you might as well get back.

Molly: You can’t approximate how many times you have sex with them, but at some point if you continuously have sex with them, it stops being just detached sex and it becomes more.

Bertha: It doesn’t matter, as long as it takes

ChaCha: After sometime, it just stops being fun and you remember when you broke up with him in the first place, so you stop.

5. Do you want to get back with him?

Vanessa: No I do not want him back, but still, if I did want him back, I would shag him

Molly: probably, or I cud just be getting back at his new chick, or the sex was really great

Bertha: maybe

ChaCha: no. not necessarily. His an ex, you broke up for a reason.

Conclusion: Obviously there is no clear right or wrong way to go, but personally I feel sex with an ex is just sad. If it’s great, you are reminded that you do not have that anymore. And if its whack, you are left feeling like crap and possibly with a lot of emotional baggage. Just remember why you broke up with someone in the first place before you jump back into bed with them, because when it’s someone you have had an emotional connection with, “sex is rarely just sex”.

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Angelikah: HIV Positive Dating

Posted by Guest Blogger on May 10th, 2011

Star of MTV Staying Alive World AIDS Day documentary Me, Myself And HIV Angelikah Demonikah on being back on the dating scene and exploring when/how to disclose your status to a potential partner.

So since appearing in Me, Myself and HIV, I have broken up with my (then) boyfriend Taylor.

For the past few months I have been back on the market so to speak and I’ve been having a pretty good time. However, as anyone would expect, dating while being HIV+ can sometimes be complicated and stressful.

Because I am so open about my status, most people know I am positive before they even really get to know me. In these situations it’s pretty easy, because well, if they had a problem with it they wouldn’t hit on me or go out with me in the first place. Lately though I have been having several different types of experiences. I have been meeting lots of new people, completely outside of my existing social circles. In these circumstances things get a lot harder.

As an honest and responsible person, even though I would never put someone at risk (in other words I would NEVER have unprotected sex), I still always feel obliged to tell someone before we decide to get sexual.

Side note: where I live it is not required by law to tell someone your status as long as you are using a latex barrier during intercourse… I just choose to always tell because, well, that’s just the way I am.

Anyway, here’s where the hard part comes in, exactly when and how do you tell someone your status? I mean a lot of the time for me, because of my activism, I can generally find a way to talk about it when telling someone what I want to do when I grow up. But sometimes still, especially if these “getting to know you” conversations are happening via text, this isn’t the right time…

So then I’m left wondering how and when to bring it up, without making a huge deal of it (because It’s not) but also without waiting so long that it seems as though I was hiding something. I don’t know if anyone has the answer to this, as I know all situations are different… but for now I know that if I’m not comfortable talking to someone about my HIV status (especially if I’m scared they will reject me for it) then I shouldn’t be dating that person in the first place.

I guess this is just a new and concrete way for me to gauge if a connection is real or not and to decide if something, or someone, is worth it.

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Dynamite’s Mission: An Update…

Posted by Staying Alive Editor on May 6th, 2011

With the DynamitesMission blog bursting with content at the moment, we thought it was about time we gave you an update on how MTV Base VJ Vanessa “Dynamite” Mdee is getting on with her mission with MTV Staying Alive.

As you may know from previous blogs and from our Facebook and Twitter activity earlier in the month Staying Alive blog editor Ben Anderson accompanied #Dynamite to Mali for a Youth Summit with UNAIDS and a whole load of inspirational young leaders.

The first part of Dynamite’s mission was to join the Prevention Revolution and learn (and share) as much as she could about HIV and by the look of this post it had a big impact on her.

Dynamite passed her first mission with flying colours, and as Ben traveled back to MTV Staying Alive HQ Vanessa progressed to the 2nd part of her mission – to Robben Island in South Africa to take part in a debate on “Social Media and Mobile Technology for HIV Prevention”

But as if that wasn’t enough for one person to do, (even if she is Dynamite) check out some of our favourite posts from this week below:

Firstly the awesome picture Dynamite posed for with the amazing Desmond Tutu

Then she talked Prevention Revolutions, MTV and making condoms “cool” with our very own Chair of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation board and former Chief Executive of MTV Networks International, Bill Roedy.

http://www.vimeo.com/23357846

Next we catch her leading what looks like a gang of HIV activists armed with condoms, which they distributed in a South African township:

http://www.vimeo.com/23357391

And lastly we see her touch shoes and talk about sex in China with UN Goodwill Ambassador and Chinese media personality James Chau:

http://www.vimeo.com/22572476

So there you have it: Manage to get yourself through all 3 videos? I bet you’ll agree that #Dynamite has been BUSY!

And we hear there is plenty more to come – so stay tuned for more updates and check out www.dynamitesmission.com

Like what you saw from #Dynamite? Why not ask her something on Formspring or even tweet her some words of support @VanessaMdee.

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Bringing Shuga To The States

Posted by Guest Blogger on May 5th, 2011

By now, we hope ALL of you have seen Shuga – MTV Staying Alive’s sizzling Kenyan drama that looks at the lives – and sex lives – of a group of Nairobi college students.

The show has predominantly been shown in countries around Africa but we wanted to find out how an American screening would go down… Check out guest blogger Bonnie’s account of a recent screening at Boston University’s weekly event “Coffee and Conversation”.

We had the pleasure of having Georgia Arnold and Lupita Nyong’o, an actor who plays the gorgeous Ayira, come to Boston University. They called

Shuga “Kenya’s version of Gossip Girl,” and showed an episode during our weekly “Coffee and Conversation” in which a few students gather to talk about a salient topic.

That week we asked whether Shuga would succeed in America.

We watched steamy sex scenes, caught glimpses of the neon blue Nairobi club, felt the rhythmic rap of Kenyan vocals. We saw Ayira’s ambition, Violet’s free spirit, Virginia’s vulnerability and Skola’s arrogance come anxiety. There’s no doubt that young people can relate to these characters.

One powerful scene sticks with me. From the episode we watched, it was the last line:

“You need to get tested. Now.”

That person just told his partner he was HIV positive. I remember my hands trembling at that moment. Maybe it was the caffeine we were drinking, but it brings to mind whether Americans can handle Shuga. Is it too raw? It’s certainly not too racy.

A few students did see Shuga’s efforts to educate as well as entertain – the scene in which Skola, Leo and Kenneth got HIV tests and the nurse explained procedures. And Sindi, the virgin who always carries the condoms, chastises her friends for being slutty. However, this show is no Public Service Announcement.

I see that Shuga creates a relationship with its viewers. Sex, love, aspirations and vigor for life are common threads in the fabric of all societies.

But I’m a college student from Boston with a liberal bias. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the three-part series, I wonder how receptive conservative people would be. Imagine showing Shuga to some areas in the South, where prejudice still runs thick.

We may live in a selfish country that cares only about a certain type of censored TV. Remember when conservative American parents freaked out because MTV Skins revealed too much? The US version is relatively tamer than the UK version.

Imagine it on a US network. Whether good or bad, Shuga would definitely incite a response. It will also create action, urge people to move. One thing positive is that I’m going to get tested right away.

Really, the bottom line is that Shuga is a great drama. It’s intriguing, entertaining and relatable with a seriously important message. I urge you to watch it and tell me what you think.

Check out the first episode of Shuga below:

http://www.vimeo.com/7775923

Bonnie Tuballa is an International Relations and Public Relations double major at Boston University. She lusts life, adores humanity and craves a transparent world. Always a tweet away @bonbontub, Bonnie strongly believes in creating conversation that separates stigma from sex.

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Archive for May, 2011

24 Hour Party People: Poland

How To Have “The Chat”

The Numbers Game

International Masturbation Month

Brazilian Girls

Is It Ever OK To Have Sex With An Ex?

Angelikah: HIV Positive Dating

Dynamite’s Mission: An Update…

Bringing Shuga To The States

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