Thirty Years of Fighting AIDS
Thirty years have passed since the discovery of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, better known as AIDS.
It was 30 years ago, during the summer of 1981, that the American medical authorities officially recognized a mysterious pneumonia and a rare skin cancer. Two years later, Professor Luc Montagnier and researcher Françoise Barré-Sinoussi discovered the virus responsible for AIDS.
In 30 years, 25 to 30 million people across the world have died as the result of serious illnesses related to the AIDS virus. Today, more than 33 million people are infected with HIV.
Although enormous progress relating to its treatment has been made, allowing people infected with HIV to live longer and with fewer side effects, there is still no vaccine against AIDS. Two people are treated for every five new infections. Recognising transmission sources and thus avoiding them remains the most effective protection against the disease.
Though HIV infections can be avoided, its eradication still remains one of the biggest health challenges of our era.
Stina Fisch, born in 1977, is an artist and illustrator. She studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. She devotes herself to paper and pens, stories and figures, yoga and cats. Stina Fisch lives and works in Luxembourg. Her work has been presented to the public on a number of occasions.
5oth Anniversary of the Luxembourg Consumers Union
Although the first consumers association called “Verband für Konsumenten-Interessen” was formed in 1916, the origin of the Luxembourg Consumers Union (ULC) only dates back to 23 April 1961 when, at a demonstration bringing together the country’s principal trade unions, the idea to create an association of consumers came up. The formal act of constitution was adopted on 4 December 1961. Today the ULC and its membership of some 43,000 households, has made it a key actor in the country.
The primary mission of the ULC is to assist and advise members in litigation and to provide legal assistance, consultancy and expertise where necessary. The ULC constantly consolidates its structures and intensifies its dialogue with public authorities without neglecting its essential relationship with European institutions and other consumer organisations around the world.
The ULC gives its opinion on bills relating to its activities and also contributes to the development of other projects once they are started.
