World AIDS Day 2009

Here is a PDF of current facts on the global AIDS epidemic. "More than 4 million people in low- and middle-income countries had access to HIV treatment at the end of 2008, up from 3 million at the end of 2007. This represents an increase of 36% in one year and a 10-fold increase over five years. ...However, despite considerable progress, global coverage remains low: in 2008, only 42% of those in need of treatment had access (compared with 35% in 2007)."

World AIDS Day 2008

World AIDS Day

Here are World Vision's World AIDS day materials, full of global stories and opportunities to act.

I am a witness. What can I do?

A writeup of the World AIDS Day liturgy offered today by our friends in the Theology, Culture, and U2 class at Fresno Pacific. Includes PDFs of texts and the sermon.

Here's a nice roundup on progress on AIDS in Africa. Also, check out (RED) stuff for today.

Keep The Promise

... is the theme of World AIDS Day tomorrow. Are you ready for a new podcast? "The World AIDS Day ONEcast will feature former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, Bono, U2 lead singer and co-founder of DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade for Africa) and Chris Martin of Coldplay, along with members of the faith community and other ONE supporters."

World AIDS Day - 1 December 2004

The African Well Fund, a charity founded by U2 fans, invites you to join their virtual vigil.

World AIDS Day - 30 seconds of exegesis practice

Since this is a U2 blog, here's some U2 content for the World AIDS Day Link and Think: one of my favorite Bono quotes on AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

I think deep down, if we really believed in equality, we would go to the side of our brothers and sisters in Africa. What I would say is we don't really believe in equality. ...You think of these Jewish sheep-herders walking in, in front of Pharaoh, you know, without their shoes, and the pharaoh is going, "You think you're equal to me?" And they look in the Book, and they go, "Yeah... That's what it says here." And it's like "you're mad, you're out of your mind." --Well, it's true. And we accept that now between our own borders. We accept that women and Jews and blacks and Irish are equal and have equal opportunities, but we don't really believe that for the rest of the world -- because if we did, we would not be letting two-and-a-half million Africans die next year.

World AIDS Day - 46664

Watch Nelson Mandela and additional video clips from the 46664 AIDS benefit concert in WMV format.

World AIDS Day - Link and Think

Today is World AIDS Day, and U2 Sermons is participating in Link and Think, a chance for blogs to share information on AIDS. I'd like to highlight first the charity to which Get Up Off Your Knees' royalties are going, The AIDS Support Organization in Uganda. You can read how we decided to give them the money in the book FAQ.

If you have followed alerts from DATA (who have just vastly improved their website) or Stop Global AIDS, you've seen references to the importance of full funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria. Why not visit the Global Fund today and learn why. You can also donate to the Global Fund online; no amount is too small.

Another opportunity if you're in the USA: Church World Service will help you write the President to ask that the US keep its promise on AIDS funding in the 2005 budget request.

I don't know who these people are, really, but the Global AIDS Prayer Partnership has a very detailed (specifically Christian) prayer guide, day by day, for aspects of the global AIDS crisis.

African Well Fund virtual vigil

The African Well Fund, a charity created by U2 fans to bring clean water to Africa, invites you to light a candle in their virtual vigil leading up to World AIDS Day.