Austrian magazine prints with HIV-positive donors’ blood
JOBURG - Media has been in a frenzy after the release of the news that Austrian magazine, Vanguardist, has gone to print using the blood of HIV positive people instead of the regular ink in an attempt to rid the world of the stigma that surrounds those who are infected with the virus.
“Nothing can harm you holding the magazine, and nothing can harm you holding an HIV-positive person,” said editor-in-chief, Julian Wiehl.
The magazine is usually only published online, but in the spirit of the #HIVHeroes edition, the editor used the blood of three HIV-positive donors mixed with ink to publish the first print edition.
Marcus Low from South Africa’s Treatment Action Campaign said he was happy with the measures the magazine had taken to combat the stigma associated with HIV-positive people.
“People have a fear of blood – an unfounded fear because contracting HIV through normal contact is zero,” he explained.
He also said that anything that helps challenge the stigma is useful and said the publication did that in a smart way.
There were only 3 000 copies printed in German and English which sold for €50 each (about R687).
All proceeds from the sales of the special edition will go to charity.
