World Aids Day 2006

Today is World Aids Day - are you wearing a red ribbon? I have included some information about World Aids Day and the reason behind the red ribbon campaign & what we can do to help.. Aids can be prevented with education and support from the masses so today and every other day lets do our part in eradicating AIDS and giving support to those who has contracted HIV in being more understanding and tolerant ,,,,

Did you know that ...

39.5 million people living with HIV, including 2.3 million children,

During 2006 some 4.3 million people became newly infected with the virus

Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.

The theme for World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day was originally organised by UNAIDS, who chose the theme after consultation with other organisations. However, in 2005 UNAIDS handed over responsibility for World AIDS Day to an independent organisation known as The World AIDS Campaign (WAC).

The WAC’s slogan for their work is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise", which is an appeal to governments, policy makers and regional health authorities to ensure that they meet the many targets that have been set in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This campaign will run until 2010, with a related theme chosen for World AIDS Day each year.

This year's theme, "accountability", is designed to inspire citizens across the globe to hold their political leaders accountable for the promises they have made on AIDS. Targets such as the All by 2010 pledge made by world leaders last year, and the Millennium Development Goal to halt and reverse the spread of AIDS by 2015, are in serious danger of being sidelined or ignored, and much more needs to be done to ensure that these critical promises are kept. By supporting a broad movement of civil society organisations in their campaigning around this theme, the World AIDS Campaign hope to develop a sense of joint identity and common purpose and ensure that more people are made aware of the AIDS epidemic this year than ever before.

AVERT is raising awareness of this year's "accountability" theme by turning the borders and menus on our site black. To find out more about this campaign, please visit our Why Black? page or read our World AIDS Day press release.

World AIDS Day themes over the years have included:

• 2006 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise - Accountability
• 2005 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise
  
• 2004 - Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS
• 2003 - Stigma & Discrimination
• 2002 - Stigma & Discrimination
• 2001 - I care. Do you?
• 2000 - AIDS : Men make a difference
• 1999 - Listen, Learn, Live: World AIDS Campaign with Children & Young People
• 1998 - Force for Change: World AIDS Campaign With Young People
• 1997 - Children Living in a World with AIDS
• 1996 - One World, One Hope
• 1995 - Shared Rights, Shared Responsibilities
• 1994 - AIDS & the Family
• 1993 - Act
• 1992 - Community Commitment
• 1991 - Sharing the Challenge
• 1990 - Women & AIDS
• 1989 - Youth
• 1988 - Communication

The Red Ribbon

The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.

The red ribbon started as a "grass roots" effort, and as a result there is no one official red ribbon manufacturer, and many people make their own. It's easily done - just use some ordinary red ribbon and a safety pin!

What can I do to support World AIDS Day?

There are many ways in which you can support World AIDS Day. For example:

• Raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in your area
• Wear a red ribbon and ask others to do the same
• Protect yourself and your partners - this is the first and best way to stop the spread of HIV
• If you are worried - get tested.

At school or work, you can support World AIDS Day by:

• Having a dressing up, down or fancy dress day
• Putting up some posters - get people talking
• Making and selling red ribbons
• Organising a creative writing/poster campaign
• Setting up a debate or a quiz - there're lots of ideas for topics on our site
• Cooking an international meal or having a cake sale
• Arranging a sponsored three-legged race or balloon release
• Getting your friends, family, colleagues or pupils to express their feelings and expand their knowledge about AIDS
• Using your imagination!

World AIDS Day on the web

The internet is a great way to reach people all around the world - other people in many countries are reading this page right now. People now spend more of their daily lives online - at work, at school, at home. People shop, chat, make new friends, study and work online. If you want to get a message to as many people as possible, this could be the way to do it.

Think about:

• Providing information on your website about World AIDS Day, and about any local events taking place in your community.
• Asking your school, college or employer to provide information on their website.
• Listing your event on the World AIDS Campaign and/or National AIDS Trust website.
• Learning more about HIV and AIDS: AVERT.org has a great deal of information about the global epidemic, HIV and AIDS statistics and education. Other sites specifically related to the "Keep the Promise" theme can be found in our links page.

Information on this site is from worldaid . If anyone would like to read about children and aids you can go here here . Read about Zanana who is HIV positive and has given hope to others.

These personal stories of people who are helping to spread a message of hope and creating awareness about HIV and AIDS is worth the read - serves as a platform for those of us who would to try and make a diffrence.

Support the cause! Wear a red ribbon or host one on your site! Together we can fight this AIDS!