Sesame Street's HIV-Positive Muppet Raises Awareness

As the children's show Sesame Street celebrates its 40th anniversary this month, premiering its new season today, one cute and cuddly Muppet on its South African edition continues to help combat and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.

While Sesame Street is seen in over 140 countries, each version addresses local issues and has different Muppets. Golden-yellow Kami made her debut on the South African Sesame Street co-production, called Takalani Sesame, in 2002 in response to the country's HIV/AIDS problem. The world's first HIV-positive Muppet, she helps educate kids about the disease and confronts issues related to being HIV-positive. The name Kami is derived from the Setswana word “Kamogelo,” meaning “acceptance.” Sunshinestar110, blogging on U Don't Like My Opinion…That's Fine! talks more about Kami:

“Kami is a healthy HIV Positive, affectionate 5 year old orphan who is a little shy but quickly joins when approached in a friendly way, She also knows a lot about HIV, she lost her mother to the disease. When Kami was unveiled, with her mop of brown hair and she also wore a vest, wandering onto Sesame Street and wondering nervously if the residents will want to play with her. She didn't have to worry because the other Muppets enthusiastically welcomed her.”

Kami was introduced to help the many children in South Africa who are dealing with the HIV/AIDS crisis. South Africa is believed to have the highest number of people infected with HIV in the world — an estimated 5.7 million people. Approximately 280,000 of those infected are children 14 and younger and there are 1.4 million orphans in the country due to AIDS. In addition to the physical complications of having HIV, there's also the stigma and taboo that comes with having the disease, which makes it harder for people to receive adequate treatment and support. Takalani Sesame, which incorporates all 11 of South Africa's official languages, tries to help children address some of these issues head on through Kami.

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/11/11/south-africa-sesame-streets-hiv-positive-muppet-raises-awareness/

All the crazy ass conservatives threatened to block funding to PBS.

CTW stopped making new episodes of Ghostwriter because Gingrich's HoR passed funding cuts to public television. Nobody on the reich-wing gives two shits about public broadcasting...They've hated it since Sesame Street began portraying an interracial neighbourhood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnhcZGOvDfM

Of course, also there's Pat "Hitler would have been a good World Leader" Buchanan, showing his notrage about "PERVERSIONS HOISTED ON OUR KIDS!!"

Where the hell does he think an HIV positive 5 year old comes from?

*watches Pat Buchanan's head explode as he attempts to grasp the logical contradiction*

Anyone who is born in any state other than those listed above is an abomination...