October 17, 2007

16,000 Eyes on AIDS

A photo petition started in 2003, which shows the eyes of people who are “watching” to ensure that world leaders keep their promises to fight AIDS, has reached 8,000 pair of eyes. According to the World Health Organization, 8,000 people die of AIDS worldwide each day (news.independent.co.uk, 10/17).

ActionAid, an international antipoverty organization, began the photo petition in 2003, using digital cameras to gather photos of supporters’ eyes and encouraging people to attach a personal message.

"We wanted to make sure that we showed the ordinary people behind the campaign—that's where the idea of eyes came from," says Fionnula Murphy of ActionAID.

Earlier this summer, ActionAid used some of the eyeballs from the petition to create collage representations of several world leaders, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.