Clouds move
Clouds move
By Derrick Fine, ©2007
"Clouds move. In the same way as you and I move out of the shadows into the light when we find the strength to recover from life's knocks.
This book is about moving out of the clouds into the sunshine on personal issues like our sexuality and our HIV status. I wish to encourage open talking around HIV/AIDS and the greater visibility of people living with HIV.
This book is for you, the reader. What I have written is about me, but it's really for you. If I am able to make your path a little easier, I will achieve something beyond my wildest dreams.
Clouds move is not just my story, but the story of many people close to me. It's not just my story, but the story of many people living with HIV.
It's not just my story, but the story of many people affected by HIV.
This is not only my HIV story, but also the story of the different parts of my life. I tell my story to advise you, to warn you, to entertain you and to guide you. Above all, to share with you. My experiences, my ups and downs, my mistakes and my wisdoms. Our lessons, our spirit and our legacy as human beings.
While this book and the Openly Positive series of stories aim to reduce stigma around HIV/AIDS, I have changed some names, places and identifying features to protect privacy.
I hope that Clouds move inspires an Openly Positive series of other, different stories waiting to be told by voices that have not been heard.
Thanks for sharing my journey."
"Time to show
Our faces
Our voices
Our names
Telling tales of positive living…"
Derrick Fine, Clouds move, 2007
About the author
Derrick Fine was born in Cape Town on 17 November 1958. He lives in Kommetjie just outside Cape Town. After attending the Wynberg Boys' Junior and High Schools, Derrick completed a BA LLB at the University of Cape Town.
Derrick was an activist in lesbian/gay and detainee support organisations, an attorney in a law firm, a paralegal training officer in the Legal Education Action Project at UCT and an education officer at the Constitutional Assembly. He is a consultant specialising in human rights education materials, plain language writing and editing, and communication skills training.
Derrick has lived with HIV since 1999, and does HIV/AIDS writing, editing, training and research work as a consultant and for The Openly Positive Trust, including a focus on positive living with HIV, positive language in writing and speaking about HIV, and HIV awareness materials in plain language.
Click here to watch an interview with Derrick.
Where to buy?
From 19 November 2007 onwards, Clouds move was available nationally at a wide range of South African bookstores and Pick n Pay hypermarkets.
Books will also become available at selected bookshops internationally.
If you would like to buy Clouds move online, please visit kalahari.net to place your order and your book will be delivered to you.
Clouds move at a glance:
|
Author |
Derrick Fine (South Africa) |
|
Sub-title |
My journey of living openly with HIV |
|
Language |
English |
|
Content |
59 short chapters and seven poems dealing with issues such as coming out, disclosure, access to treatment, loss, love, grief and hope |
|
Visuals |
23 colour and 73 black-and-white images, including personal photographs, Zapiro cartoons, posters, pamphlets and news clippings |
|
ISBN number |
978-0-620-394-76-5 |
|
Number of pages |
264 |
|
Format |
Square (210mm x 210mm) with full colour soft cover, fold-in bookmarker flaps and threadsown |
|
Publisher |
The Openly Positive Trust |
|
Design |
Designs4development |
|
Distribution |
PSD Promotions |
|
Availability |
November 2007 |
|
Website |
|
|
|
Learning tools
Clouds move ends with these learning tools and reader aids
- Lessons and questions for discussion
- Positive language guidelines for HIV/AIDS communication
- A glossary of terms, abbreviations and acronyms
- References and useful reading.
The idea is to use the lessons and questions for discussion, together with the positive language guidelines, on your own, in awareness workshops or in support groups. The glossary will aid understanding, particularly of medical and foreign words, while the references will help with further reading, information and getting help.
Example: personal feedback to Derrick on Clouds move
"I respect you immensely for what you did and how you did it. Your book tells people in the same situation that the love of friends, companions and family is paramount and that is the main reason why you are healthy and happy with your life."
Lessons and questions for discussion
Based on Derrick's story in Clouds move, these are summarised under 8 topics:
- Stigma, denial, silence and discrimination
- HIV testing
- Safer sex
- Disclosing, getting support and educating others
- Coming out about your sexual orientation
- Taking antiretrovirals
- Visibility and participation as people living with HIV
- Facing the future with hope.
Positive language guidelines for HIV/AIDS communication
These guidelines, each with practical examples, have been developed by Openly Positive to encourage us all to use positive, non-stigmatising language when we write or speak about HIV and AIDS, and people living with HIV and AIDS.
For example, the guidelines encourage us to use language that:
- Recognises HIV as one part of who we are
- Humanises people living with HIV and AIDS
- Contextualises and is precise
- Is inclusive and is consistent.
