Blogging World AIDS Day

I plan to update this post throughout the day on Thursday December 1 with links to blogs and news items on the topic of World AIDS Day. Check back often for the latest!

Like what you see here? Subscribe to get the latest updates via Email or RSS/XML.

---

10:45: World AIDS Day is winding down. Thanks to everyone who posted on this important topic today. I'll leave you with these news items and blog posts:

AIDS Combat Zone friends/readers Niobium and Stroll both took a moment to reflect on World AIDS Day. Thanks guys!

National Public Radio's Marketplace told of India's strategy of providing free AIDS-themed cell phone games to millions of young people. You can listen online.

Visual AIDS posted a thourough round-up of AIDS related pieces in today's issue of the New York Times.

Nathan of Politics and Policy of HIV/AIDS made a post criticizing Pope Benedict XVI's stand against condoms as a way of preventing the spread of AIDS, and another applauding South Africa's decision to legalize gay marriage. South Africa is the 5th country lift the ban on gay marriage.

Texas AIDS Blog made a follow-up post listing World AIDS Day events in the lone star state.

Doug Ireland gives us the text of a speech by Poz Magazine founder Sean Strib on what's wrong with today's AIDS movement. Don't miss this one.

---

5:25 PM: I'm about to be late to class, but just wanted to throw in links to AIDSWatch and TerranceDC (aka Republic of T's Terrance).

More when I get back!

---

4:30 PM: I just found out from Kaiser that yesterday National Public Radio's Morning Edition featured a story about South Africa's Bishop Kevin Dowling, who I featured in a Sunday Surmonette last month. You can listen to it here.

Anzidesign reminds us that today is also the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks' arrest, and takes it as an opportunity to compare and contrast the plight of blacks in the civil rights era with that of seropositive individuals today.

J. Bernard Jones shares his deeply personal experience of just having found out last night that someone very close to him is HIV positive.

Nick's Bytes has posted the ribbon and a large collection of facts, figures, and links about HIV/AIDS

The Love Hater says it with poetry.

The Unconquerable Soul reflects on the fight against AIDS over the past year, and tells his own story of opening his eyes and protecting himself.

---

1:30 PM: I just got back from a Student Global AIDS Campaign demonstration. Our members laid down outside the Student Center holding up signs with AIDS awareness messages. We drew quite a crowd. I'll post the pictures once they get emailed to me.

The Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report has a listing of media events and also a good summary of worldwide efforts to push the message of World AIDS Day. Update: They also have a Compilation of Op/Ed news items on World AIDS Day topics.

My personal friend Bluestare put up a ribbon and provided an excellent link to a holiday buying guide featuring products and companies that support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. Thanks Andy!

Bejata is continuing to update his list of bloggers with World AIDS Day posts. I haven't checked them all out yet, but I encourage you to take a look. He's up to 28 sites now, including AIDS Combat Zone.

Housing Works has posted a series of updates today, including an upbeat assessment of the progress made against AIDS in 2005.

Dr. Peter Piot, director of UNAIDS, has released his World AIDS Day statement for 2005.

---

10:30 AM: Brothalove disspels several myths surrounding AIDS and gives information for folks in the Atlanta area who want to get involved or get tested.

J. Brotherlove gives us a touching story of how AIDS entered his life.

9:45 AM: Bejata has several good World AIDS Day posts, including news, statistics, and his own personal insight into what's driving the crisis. He also has his own list of blogs participating in World AIDS Day.

Google is displaying a red ribbon on their home page.

Walk Your Own Path lists facts about the AIDS crisis and his own suggestions on protecting yourself and those around you from HIV.

The Starr Report has a post on personal responsibility.

Lee's Space makes a post on World AIDS Day, another on HIV vaccine research, and pledges to post more on AIDS throughout December (Way to go, Lee!).

Advertising/Design Goodness shows us a powerful Doctors Without Borders public service announcement aimed at fighting AIDS in Africa (strongly recommended viewing),

Swaziland, the nation with the highest HIV prevalence in the world, has canceled World AIDS Day events because they interfered with a traditional celebration. Tell me, King Mswati, what good are your traditions if there are no Swazis left to celebrate?

Neighboring Lesotho has set a much better example, offering free HIV tests to all its residents, nearly 30% of whom are believed to be infected with HIV.

---

12:01 AM: In a rare display of cojones, the UK is leading the EU in denouncing America's role in "the resurgence of partial or incomplete messages on HIV prevention which are not grounded in evidence and have limited effectiveness." While the US is not specifically named in the statement (alas...), the connection is an obvious and timely one. Two Thirds of the $15 billion allocated under PEPFAR is earmarked for abstinence-only organizations.

On that subject, Carolyn has an insightful post on the abstinence issue at Texas AIDS Blog.

MTV will be airing a full-length film on AIDS on all MTV channels and several other broadcasters reaching many countries hard-hit by HIV.

Transit, shot on location in St Petersberg, Mexico City, Nairobi and Los Angeles, follows eight characters on a journey across four continents that sees them exploring emotion and sexuality in a candid and gripping way – all driven by a strong music soundtrack. Translated into 13 languages, including Mandarin, Hindi, Russian and Spanish, it is being offered completely cost- and rights-free – a practice for all Staying Alive programming.

For once in my life I have a reason to watch MTV...

For the podcast fans among you, I suggest checking out Mandrake Society Radio's podcast on World AIDS Day and the rising numbers of gay black men being diagnosed with HIV. Music and poetry are also featured, making for a very enjoyable show.

---

Now I'm calling the rest of you out: If you are on my blogroll, I expect a World AIDS Day post out of you. As an AIDS Combat Zone reader, you have a responsibility to help raise awareness at least once a year. The industrialized world hasn't kept its promises of fighting AIDS, and it's up to us to spread the word that more needs to be done. Spread the word. It's up to you.

Technorati Tags: World AIDS Day, WAD, HIV, AIDS, MTV, Keep the promise, PEPFAR