According to the Brazilian AIDS Programme (as reported in the economist), condom use among young people in Brazil at first sexual intercourse has gone up from 5% in 1986, to 55% in 1998, to 65% in 2003.
This is good to hear because Brazil’s anti-AIDS campaign has been replicated elsewhere. Let’s hope for similar successes!
Fox Australia is reporting that the Vatican has declared evolution to be compatible with the bible. In a clear attack on fundamentalism and so-called “intelligent design”, a spokesperson for the pope said that the if one interprets the bible correctly, they will find plenty of room for Darwin’s famous theory.
Previously: Vatican respects science.
The Vatican has urged the faithful followers of Catholicism to respect science. Cardinal Paul Poupard warns that religion risks becoming “fundamentalism” if scientific reason is ignored.
In a similar vein, Copernicus’ body has been found.
The Summit of the Americas is underway in Argentina, and like previous Summits, protesters turned out in force. Ten thousand people have turned out to voice their concern about the un-democratic trade the OAS has in place. Some of the protesters are celebrities and nobel-prize winning intellectuals.
The protest was directed primarily towards to President Bush.
Malaria is still a giant problem for African nations and the Gates Foundation is looking to help the people living on the continent. The Gates Foundation is donating $258 million to various places to combat malaria over the next five years.