CBC Archives

Explain to students that in the early days of the AIDS crisis, many people, groups, and governments had different responses to the crisis. Ask students to list what they think those responses might have been and what group they would be linked with.

Next, write the terms “collective rights” and “individual rights” on the board. For current-day Canada, have students brainstorm a list of each. Be sure that students have identified freedom of speech, association, and expression, freedom of movement, and freedom of worship.

Divide the class into small groups. Direct groups to the Early Years of the AIDS Crisis topic on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Groups can investigate any clips they wish in order to list and describe the responses of various people, groups, organizations, and governments towards the AIDS virus and people with the virus.

Groups should compile their information into a chart indicating positive and negative responses, then share their charts with the class. As a class, students should discuss the validity of the various responses and recommendations and try to determine how people, groups, and governments should have acted in response to the AIDS crisis.

Ask students which of the groups in their lists do they think would support individual rights over collective rights? Which groups would support collective rights over individual rights? Why?

Then ask: Is there a time that the safety of a society should limit the freedoms of an individual? Were any of these freedoms threatened in the early days of the AIDS crisis? Have students explain and support any answers they give. This discussion might extend further to anti-terrorist measures enacted after September 11, 2001, as well as to dealing with the AIDS epidemic in Africa in the 2000s.

In groups, students can develop a plan that allows Canada to address the need to restrict the spread of AIDS through the population while respecting the rights of individuals. Encourage them to list at least five points in this plan and explain the kind of impact each point will have on both society and the individual.