December 1, 2008

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Back in 1988, the World Health Organization and U.N. General Assembly first declared December 1 "World AIDS Day." This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual event dedicated to remembering those we've lost to the virus and to recommitting with vigor to the fight against AIDS.

In the past two decades, the virus has claimed the lives of 20 million people. The deaths of people with HIV/AIDS have grown to more than 2 million each year. It's only recently, thanks to the lifesaving antiretroviral drugs currently available to HIV-positive people, that the number of annual deaths caused by HIV has begun to decline.

More than 33 million people are living with HIV around the world. The number of new HIV infections continues to outnumber AIDS-related deaths, suggesting that the AIDS pandemic will rage on for generations to come.

The world is aware of the figures and is trying to respond. Our country alone has pledged a whopping $48 billion in foreign aid to fight AIDS through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. And yet, with all the money and all the efforts of AIDS services organizations, governments, health care workers, relief workers and the families and friends of people living with HIV, we can't seem to mitigate the circumstances or stop AIDS.

We believe that the HIV community (both those who carry HIV and those whose lives it directly affects) has a great opportunity to play a role in the battle against HIV. Whether that's by raising funds or awareness, volunteering at an AIDS-related event, writing to local or national politicians to demand more funding and equal rights for people living with HIV, paying homage to someone who lost his or her life to the disease, or simply being a good friend to someone fighting the virus, there is so much we all can do to support one another and stop people from becoming positive.

Tell us what you're planning to do this World AIDS Day.

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Previous Comments:

Toby, Flagstaff, 2009-01-13 17:51:02
This year....it is going to be something for me to make....I can make a white afghan and make a red ribbon into afghan and make it into a frame for this year's WAD.....it would be something...also put the photos of all of our loved ones who passed away and put it right by that. That's the whole plan I will be doing this year. Hope all is going to be really good attention to pull for them to see and remembered their loved ones whom they lost.

Neen, , 2008-12-09 13:05:37
I spoke to a group of at risk women who had been involved with drug addiction and was able to share my story about looking out for yourself and personal empowerment. And to help educate them about HIV/AIDS. Several people had given no idea about possibly being infected and were going to immediately get tested that day. If I made a difference in just one persons life it makes me feel great!

JIMMY MACK, SOUTHAMPTON, 2008-12-09 11:46:03
I spent all day speaking at a local high school about my experience living with AIDS for the past 21 years and I've done this every yaer for the past 10 years.

Anthony J Raiola, Staten Island NY, 2008-12-02 09:24:42
I celebrated World AIDS Day by going to a small protest across the street from Gracie Mansion, then proceeded into Gracie Mansion for the Mayors annual WAD breakfast which I am on the list for every year. I stood there and listened to each speaker and Mayor Bloomberg as he stressed the importance of Prevention (getting tested and knowing your status) but not one word about his proposal to ELIMINATE(Scattered Site II AIDS Housing Program) which is also a major part of prevention. Go Figure?

Robert, Seattle, 2008-12-01 20:48:57
Membership Chair for Second Pride 2009 in Second Life...held a fundraising event for World Aids Day

Steve, Morristown, 2008-12-01 19:09:58
I live in the NYC area and both PBS stations are not broadcasting ANYTHING gay related, let alone having to do with HIV, AIDS or World AIDS Day. I think that is DISGRACEFUL and just wanted to bring this to everyone's attention. I also intend to let both stations know how disappointing their total ignorance is to the our community, especially those affected by HIV and AIDS. There is strength in numbers, so maybe they'll be more responsible with their future programming if we all did the same.

posforlifetwo, waynesville n.c, 2008-12-01 17:09:55
Today I saw part of the quilt for the first time with my daughter. And I was truly moved ,being positve myself for 23 years I never realized those who have fallen before me, where just as Iam ,only trying to live.

Jose H. Villarreal, Del Rio, 2008-12-01 16:55:44
I live in a no tell, no hear, no see, small town. Full of prejudice, this little town of mine offers not much options to do on World Aids Day, so eveything I'm going to do, I'll go ahead and do it over the Internet. It's such a shame, but it's true. We don't have a group or community here that could offer support to HIV people. Fear reigns these regions, and fear and ignorance are the worst killers of all human deficiencies.

Patricia Clark from CARES, Kalamazoo, MI, 2008-12-01 15:09:28
Here at Community AIDS Service and Education resources we are hosting an open house with some panels from the AIDS quilt, luminaries for each of the 152 people in Kalamazoo County who have died from HIV and remembrance. On Friday we are having a juried art show downtown with a theme of "Stigma" and you can't get it from kissing. I will remember those we've lost and honor them by living as healthy as I can. After 17 years of living with HIV, i am healthy and happy.

Bill Moyer, Mt. Holly, 2008-12-01 14:10:26
...I'm spending the day reflecting. I lost 39 friends and my life partner of 18 years to HIV...feel really "beaten down" and very alone. Only two friends left from the original group I ran with when it all started..lots of "survior's guilt"...don't know why I'm so healthy and still here...great cause for relfection. Peace to you all!

Joseph, Stanford, 2008-12-01 12:54:56
I am going to get more directly involved in fund raising and awareness raising. The HIV advocacy movement is dead in the water and we are paying the price for our complacency. The ridiculous term "functional cure" combined with the stale PR efforts by AIDS organizations are threatening lives and eliminating our cobweb of safety net. New blood, new passion, new ideas are needed PRONTO. Silence still equals death.

Vickie, Kew Gardens Hills, NY, 2008-12-01 12:02:40
Ironically today is both my birthday and World's AIDS Day. I continue to hope that one day there will be a cure in my lifetime. That would be the BEST birthday present I could ever receive. I am HIV+ since 2002.

Annette Lizzul, New Jersey, 2008-12-01 11:11:29
I was asked to speak before my writing class today. I must compare some of the readings to my experience of living with AIDS. There's so much to say. I'm so grateful to be alive and will do anything I can to stop the virus from spreading. But I still wonder if a cure is probable in my lifetime. I think all things are possible, but probable is another matter. This is more than a virus,it's a social and political issue. All of these issues need to be addressed before there is a cure.

Wesley, TULSA, 2008-12-01 08:23:36
I celebrated my 25th Anniversary of infection with a PARTY!I wear my 25 year survival of AIDS like a badge of courage(or a big Brooch).My faith,family and partner of 23 years have as much to do with my continued success as does med compliance and avoiding reinfection. As I now feel like an AIDS DINOSAUR,Fibromyalgia & Epstein Barr infection give me MORE trouble than my AIDS.I encourage all newbies to seek out an "AIDS DINO" like myself to calm your fears of the disease.Here's to my seeing 50!!

kevin jackson, HOUSTON, 2008-12-01 04:57:56
I,WILL BE AROUND MY CITY ATTENDING LOCAL WORLD AIDS DAY EVENTS, ALONG WITH HITTIN THE GAY CHAT ROOMS AND SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT WORLD AIDS DAY. I ALSO WILL BE ENCOURAGEING ALL TO GET TESTED, ALONG WITH TELLING MY STORY OF 11 YEARS OF BEIN HIV POSITIVE.