World AIDS Day facts

World AIDS Day is this WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1, and Boston University has lots planned throughout the week. Starting Wednesday, we'll have a bunch of GSU link tables with red ribbons and free condoms! To raise awareness, the condoms will have facts printed on them:

-every 12 seconds, someone contracts HIV
-every 16 seconds, someone dies of HIV
-having an STD makes someone 5x more likely to contract HIV
-condoms can reduce the risk of HIV by 70-100%
-1 in 250 Americans have HIV
-HIV can be transmitted through oral, vaginal, and anal sex
-2/3 of college students do not consistently use condoms

Also, everyone should GET TESTED on the third floor of the GSU on Wednesday and Thursday from 1 pm to 4 pm. The testing is completely free and confidential. If you feel nervous about getting tested, check out the video we have of DMers getting tested themselves!

Finally, there are a few great events going on for those interested in learning about what living with HIV/AIDS is like in the US, how the epidemic is being fought worldwide and what you can do.

WEDNESDAY

Documentary: The Lazarus Effect, a film depicting the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs in Zambia. Sister Sheila, who works with HIV positive women in South Africa, will lead a discussion about HIV in developing countries following the film.
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Howard Thurman Center

Panel Discussion: The Face of AIDS In Boston. Panelists will discuss the social implications of living with the disease in one of the largest cities in the United States.
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Conference Auditorium

Candlelit Vigil: Remember those who have been lost throughout the years.
5:00 p.m.
Marsh Plaza

THURSDAY

Spotlight Speaker: Mark, owner of a video production company and former camper at Camp Heartland, a summer camp for HIV positive youth, will be speaking about the struggles of living with HIV.
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Conference Auditorium

More Information about Mark:
As someone living with hemophilia, Hepatitis C, and HIV, the hardest thing for Mark was not being able to talk to anyone, afraid of what people would think and losing friends. He gained the courage to speak about his experiences as a camper then a counselor at Camp Heartland, one of Dance Marathon's charities for kids with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

He has since started his own video production company, Markie Z Productions. He also works full time for AHF, a homecare pharmacy for hemophiliacs and people who are immune-compromised.See More

World AIDS Day 2010 is right around the corner...

Hey DMers!

We wanted to give a quick shout out to one of our BU rockstars Amey Owen! We recently got a chance to read through her blog, which discusses real world issues and ways to volunteer in the city of Boston! This week her article was about World AIDS Day 2010 and we definitely encourage everyone to check it out and see what she has to say: Magnitude

To find out what events are going on around campus this week check out the facebook event: World AIDS Day Events at BU - wear red!

And last but not least don't forget to WEAR RED on December 1st!

DM Love,

Steph, Maggie, & Eric


PS- For all you social media lovers on twitter use the hashtag #WorldAidsDay and #wearred to promote AIDS awareness!

Mother to child transmission eliminated in 4 years?!

The media reported today several important developments in the fight against global HIV/AIDS.

First, Pope Benedict XVI announced that using condoms to prevent HIV transmission was a lesser evil than preventing a possible pregnancy, a significant change from his previous statements that AIDS could not be cured with condom use. The Associated Press reports that this may encourage more people worldwide to use condoms.

Second, The Boston Globe reported a new study shows men may prevent contracting HIV from taking a daily oral antiretroviral pill.

Also in the AP article:

"UNAIDS on Tuesday announced a nearly 20 percent drop in new HIV infections around the world over the past decade -- largely due to increased condom use."

"The report also noted the success of efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus, and said it could be virtually eliminated by 2015."

Getting tested for World AIDS Day

Why is awareness important?

The New York Times published a page one story yesterday about the stigma and health challenges kids growing up with HIV today are still facing. The article emphasizes just how important awareness is- a theme that will be addressed in our speaker event on Dec. 2, with two individuals living with HIV.

Here's an excerpt that shows what's happening right near Boston:

Medication is not the problem for Elizabeth. Eighteen, white, from a wealthy Massachusetts suburb, she has been ostracized and tormented, “ ‘H.I.V. slut’ being yelled across the hallway, anything you can think of,” she said.

Elizabeth did not know she had H.I.V. until the age of 14, when her parents and physician appeared at her therapist’s appointment and told her.

“I couldn’t speak or really breathe,” said Elizabeth, whose mother was infected through a blood transfusion before she was born.

Read the article here.

Dance Marathon will be hosting Mark and Terrance, two individuals living with HIV, as they speak about their experiences for World AIDS Day on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. in the GSU Conference Auditorium.

150 Days Till Departure Celebration!

Our first big event of the year, 150 Days Till Departure Celebration, was so successful! DM camped out in BU Central this afternoon, chowing down on Upper Crust and T Anthony's and basically spreading the love around... the usual. Check out some photos from the event:

Emily Shapiro, our Morale chair, getting ready to register teams, dancers and moralers!

Hey, Community Service Center, thanks for stopping by!

Look at all the cards we made for Camp Heartland campers! We love you!

Great performance of "Rent" by BU on Broadway! Check them out at our main event, DANCE MARATHON, on April 2-3!