World AIDS Day... Do the (RED) thing.

Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day. How many of you knew that? How many of you know what the (RED) campaign is? Or further more, who Bono is?

This blog entry is dedicated to filling you in on the above questions. It's important, and you need to know about it. If you're already aware, read on just for good measure.

In short: (RED) was created by Bono, an anti-poverty campaigner who just happens to also be the lead singer of the band U2, and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA, to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world's most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT) RED-branded products. A percentage of each (PRODUCT) RED product sold is given to The Global Fund. The money helps women and children with HIV/AIDS in Africa. In January 2006, The Gold Fund determined that Rwanda as the first country to receive the (RED) funding.

Products such as Gap t-shirts, Converse shoes, red Ipods, a red American Express card, and red Razrs and Slvrs are being sold. Perhaps you can support the cause by purchasing one or more of these products. The Riggs are proud owners of two (RED) products.

But the (RED) campaign goes beyond just selling merchandise. It's absolutely exploded!

1. MySpace and Dazed & Confused magazine have joined forces to support World AIDS Day and (RED) by encouraging people across the globe to submit still images, illustrations, or animated sequences themed on the colour red. Visit www.myspace.com/dazedandconfusedmag to experience this 24-hour broadcast!
2. A new (RED) commercial is being launched in the UK this week.
3. American actress/model Veronica Webb is signing copies of Gap's Individuals book on Friday, from 6-8 p.m. at Besame Mucho in Key West, Florida.
4. Etc, etc, etc.

RESULTS: So you may be wondering what this cause has accomplished. Here are the facts.

(RED) product sales in the US in the first six weeks since launch have raised enough money to do ONE of the following things:

• Provide more than 40,000 men or women with ARV treatment for a year
(Note: These treatments are only a small portion of a person’s overall treatment and represent just one year of lifelong treatment.)
• Provide more than 2 million peer educators with HIV training
• Provide a year’s worth of school materials and daily hot meals for more than 86,000 children orphaned by AIDS
• Provide more than 1 million Rapid Tests which detect HIV and deliver instant test results.

The last thing I want to share with you is an excerpt from a speech given by Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-General.

"Accountability -- the theme of this World AIDS Day -- requires every President and Prime Minister, every parliamentarian and politician, to decide and declare that “AIDS stops with me”... But accountability applies not only to those who hold positions of power. It also applies to all of us... And it requires every one of us help bring AIDS out of the shadows, and spread the message that silence is death. I will soon be stepping down as Secretary-General of the United Nations. But as long as I have strength, I will keep spreading that message. That is why World AIDS Day will always be special to me. On this World AIDS Day, let us vow to keep the promise -- not only this day, or this year, or next year -- but every day, until the epidemic is conquered."

To conclude this entry, I thank you for reading, I encourage you learn more for yourself (http://www.joinred.com/), and lastly, ask that you would support the campaign in any small or large way you feel compelled.

Do the (RED) thing.