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- Well... I am not going to give a speech at a big dinner this year, nor am I planning on writing a thesis on why World AIDS day is important. Please stop for a moment and educate yourself by going to http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/en/World-AIDS-Day/.
- If you aren't in the mood for education - but you are in the mood to shop, visit http://www.joinred.com/word_aids_day/index.html - where you can buy just about anything you could possible imagine to support AIDS education and healthcare.
You Watch (a great music video by The Killers). And Starbucks Gives. The Killers have just released “Boots,” their fifth annual Christmas song for (RED). It’s a gorgeous, nostalgic, exuberant retelling of “It’s A Wonderful Life.” You can buy it on iTunes here and proceeds go to the Global Fund, the recipient of (RED) funds. And Starbucks is making the video even more powerful. For every view on World AIDS Day, December 1, Starbucks will contribute 5 cents to the Global Fund. Check it out exclusively from Starbucks here (http://www.starbucks.com/share#/the-killers).
On World AIDS Day (December 1st), just as they did last year, Starbucks will contribute 5 cents to the Global Fund for every handcrafted beverage in their North American and UK stores (in the UK it’s 5p).
Since it's launch in 2006, (RED) has generated over $150 million for the Global Fund and over 5 million people have been impacted by HIV and AIDS programs supported by (RED) purchases.
From TIME Magazine:
From the Pope's comments on condoms to a promising new pill, this year has seen some positive steps in the battle against HIV/AIDS. But the fight is far from over.
In December 1996, TIME ran a story titled 'AIDS: Hope With an Asterisk.' Fourteen years later, that sentiment stands. Here is TIME's take on three bits of good news, asterisks included:
- Infection Rates A new report from UNAIDS says the epidemic has stabilized. The number of new infections is falling, as are AIDS-related deaths. Overall, 33 countries have seen their infection rate drop by more than 25% between 2001 and 2009, thanks, in part, to HIV prevention efforts. That's good news. *(But progress is uneven. Though infection rates are generally dropping in sub-Saharan Africa, they are rising elsewhere, especially in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Read 'Eve of an HIV Epidemic in Romania)
- The Pope The Vatican's conservative stance on condoms has frustrated aid workers and health experts for years. But there are signs of change. The pope recently told an Italian journalist that there are some cases (he used the example of a male prostitute) in which condoms can be used to prevent the spread of of HIV. *(The Pope's pronouncement was controversial, even within the church. He may back down. Plus, the Pontiff's stance is just one of several factors (including accessibility, cost and stigma) that keep people from using condoms. Read 'Catholic AIDS Workers Debate Pope's Condom Remarks.')
- The Pill Last month, a clinical trial found that a drug called Truvada (a combination of two antiretroviral drugs) reduced the odds of HIV infection in men. It is an approach called 'pre-exposure prophylaxis.' Some say it's the best news in years. *(It may, in fact, be great news, but it needs more testing. Also, the pill only works if you always take it. Studies show people are not so good at this).
