Monday, December 1, 2008

TODAY'S TWD: WORLD AIDS DAY

From Wikipedia:

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 33.2 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005, of which more than half a million (570,000) were children.

The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world. Since 1995 the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.

It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics.


Therefore, here is a partial list of some of the Toobworld characters who have passed away from AIDS:
Cindy Parker Chandler, 'All My Children'
Gill Fowler, 'EastEnders'
Mark Fowler, 'EastEnders'
Michael "Stone" Cates, 'General Hospital'
Jesse McKenna, 'Life Goes On'
Dr. Robert Caldwell, 'St. Elsewhere'
Richard Cross, 'Murder One'
Robbie Gerth, 'Oz'
Nat Ginzburg, 'Oz'

There are many others who have tested positively for HIV in TV shows, and finally TV writers have gone beyond the easy out of an over-the-top dramatic storyline in which the character dies. Instead, there are characters - like Robin Scorpio of 'General Hospital' and Jeannie Boulet of 'ER' - who have contracted the disease but are still able to live out their lives on their shows.

Day Without Art (DWA) began on December 1st 1989 as the national day of action and mourning in response to the AIDS crisis. To make the public aware that AIDS can touch everyone, and inspire positive action, some 800 U.S. art and AIDS groups participated in the first Day Without Art, shutting down museums, sending staff to volunteer at AIDS services, or sponsoring special exhibitions of work about AIDS. Since then, Day With(out) Art has grown into a collaborative project in which an estimated 8,000 national and international museums, galleries, art centers, AIDS Service Organizations, libraries, high schools and colleges take part.

For our own part, this will be the only posting for the day.....

BCnU!
Toby O'B

2 comments:

Jennifer Roland said...

Thanks for sharing information about this important day.

Toby O'B said...

Thanks for visiting, Jennifer!