The Aids cause is no longer a fringe movement. It has become mainstream. The cause now belongs to governments, world leaders and corporate people. From a marginalised movement championed by gay activists in America, it has become a multibillion dollar industry supporting research institutions, governments, NGOs and pharmaceuticals.

This year's International Aids Conference held from July 11 to July 16 in Bangkok was no different. It was a reflection of how huge and how rich the Aids industry has become.

The organiser paraded the record number of participants and abstracts received as if figures reflected the conference's success. A total of 17,000 delegates and 3,000 journalists descended on Bangkok for the biennial gala which costs US$17 million of which almost 10,000 participants paid US$1,000 to get in.

However, the organiser - Stolkholm-based International Aids Society - said its theme was an attempt to bring back the focus on people. Access for all is to provide access of treatment and prevention services to all infected people and access to resources to scientists, community workers and leaders in the public and private sectors.