Positive Steps Against AIDS

THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 9 — On a trip to Southern Africa to visit AIDS hospitals, columnist David Brooks expected “to find unrelieved sadness.” Instead, because of the recent confluence of three factors, “something positive has happened.”

The first, he reported, “is the spread of antiretroviral treatment programs. Second, some African governments have gone on the offensive against the disease. And third, the U.S. and other countries are pouring in money to pay for treatments.”

Now, he reports, “a positive test is not a death sentence. Something can be done.”

Program Boosts Birth Rate

ASSOCIATED PRESS, June 12 — The Australian government's $3,000 bonus for every baby born starting in 2004 has helped to reverse the nation's declining birth rate.

The pro-natal program of Prime Minister John Howard — slated to increase to $4,000 for every baby born beginning in July — has played a significant role in halting the nation's declining fertility rate, said Peter McDonald, the Australian National University's head of demography. He predicted the fertility rate would rise to 1.8 births per woman in 2005 as the effect of the baby bonus deepens.

Conscience Respected

LAS VEGAS SUN, June 15 — A provision that would have forced pharmacists to fill birth control prescriptions — regardless of moral objections — was cut out of a bill before the Nevada Legislature.

Under the rejected provision, a pharmacist who refused to fill a doctor's prescription twice could have been disciplined by the state Board of Pharmacy. Punishment could include license suspension.

While a key state senator told the daily newspaper there was little support for the measure in Nevada, Planned Parenthood is backing “must-fill” bills in several states and Congress.

Music Video Sends Message

WORLDNETDAILY.COM, June 16 — Entertainer Nick Cannon, 24, has released a rap-music video that features the story of his mother nearly aborting him and “sends a powerful pro-life message that is striking a chord with fans,” said the Web news site.

Cannon, a film actor and comedian who played host on two Nickelodeon shows, appears in the video portraying himself as an unborn, pleading with his mother to let him live.

The video has been consistently voted in the top 10 at the music-video rating site 106 & Park for some weeks.