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World AIDS Day: Latest Resources for Information and Action
Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance E-Newsletter. 24 November 2005.
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Several new resources are now available in advance of World AIDS Day, 1 December 2005, including a key update on the HIV pandemic, translations of the ecumenical liturgy for World AIDS Day, a radio competition on "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise" and a global call to ring bells on 1 December.
AIDS Epidemic Update 2005
The 2005 annual report by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) has just been released. The joint report, which this year focuses on HIV prevention, gives new evidence that adult HIV infection rates have decreased in certain countries and changes in behavior to prevent infection - such as increased use of condoms, delay of first sexual experience and fewer sexual partners - have played a key part in these declines. The new report also indicates, however, that overall trends in HIV transmission are still increasing, and that far greater HIV prevention efforts are needed to slow the epidemic. With maps and regional estimates, the 2005 edition provides the most recent estimates on the epidemic's scope and human toll, explores new trends in the epidemic's evolution, and features a special section on HIV prevention. The full report, fact sheets and graphics are available on the UNAIDS web site at http://www.unaids.org
Response to report emphasizes World AIDS Day theme for 2005: "Keep the Promise"
The World AIDS Campaign (WAC) in response to the UNAIDS report, has called upon political leaders to recognize that unless they keep their promises to act and translate their words into concerted and sustained action, millions of men women and children will continue to die around the world.The Executive Director of the WAC, Marcel van Soest, commented: "The UNAIDS report shows again that the combination of political leadership linked to a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS that includes prevention treatment and care can reverse the growth of HIV. If that is also linked to the full participation of people living with and affected by HIV, NGOs, faith groups, trade unions and other community groups' real progress can be made and many lives can be saved. It is not new, and it is not rocket science, but it does demand sustained commitment." Van Soest continued, "In 2006 governments will be held to account on their response to HIV and AIDS and we can say now it is not only falling short in some cases it borders on criminal neglect and we cannot and will not allow it to continue." For more information see http://www.worldaidscampaign.org.
Ecumenical liturgy for World AIDS Day
"For the eyes of the Lord are upon us" is an ecumenical liturgy adapted for use on or around World AIDS Day 2005. It is available in English, French and Spanish, along with many other worship resources prepared for 2005, at: http://www.e-alliance.ch/hiv_resources.jsp
World AIDS Day 2005 Radio Competition
Are you a radio producer and feel that you have something to share about the impact of HIV and AIDS using a microphone? OneWorld Africa is organizing a global competition on the theme "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise" in the run up to the World AIDS Day commemoration falling on 1 December 2005. There are two categories for the competition - child focused messages/voices and adult focused messages/voices. All you have to do is submit audio public service announcements (PSAs) that convey HIV and AIDS campaign messages on the theme, "Stop AIDS: Keep the promise!". The best audio entry will receive a minidisk recorder or cash equivalent of US $500. Five consolation prizes of OneWorld Africa T-shirts will be awarded to deserving entries. The winner will also be announced in a press release. For more information, see: http://radio.oneworld.net/article/view/83060/1
Ring one of a million bells on World AIDS Day
"The Bell is Ringing" is a grassroots initiative begun by the Jerusalem AIDS Project to mobilize communities and individuals around the world to raise awareness of the HIV pandemic. They are calling for bells to be rung at 20:00 GMT for 60 seconds. Bells could be school bells, hand bells, fire-brigade bells, church bells, tower bells, door bells, receptionists' bells, cow bells, and any other innovative bells. For more information see http://www.bells4aids.org |
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