CollegeCandy » aids awareness

World AIDS Day: You Can Make A Difference

Leah - Ryerson University — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:00:04 +0000

Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day – a day to take action towards informing yourself about how to protect yourself and others from HIV while reducing the prejudice of those infected. AIDS may seem like a problem only in the developing world, but it’s not. Over 1.1 million people in the USA have HIV. There remains a stigma around AIDS that can reduced the more we talk about it.

This year, some of your most-loved (or love-to-hate) celebs are giving up their digital life until their fans donate 1 million dollars by “buying life.” But you don’t have to be a celebrity with 5 million Twitter followers to make a difference.

As you sit in your dorm room (or lecture hall – we know you’re reading this in class!), you might be questioning what you can possibly do to make a difference – after all you are only one person. But, if everyone takes action, then collectively we can make some major strides. Even from that teeny, tiny room you call home.

Print out and put a poster on your door
I’m sure a lot of people walk by your room each day and chances are if there’s something different up on your door, they might take a second to stop and think about what the poster means, and maybe even generate a conversation with you about the topic.

Do your research
Read up on World AIDS Day. The best protection is knowledge. Spread what you know by talking to friends, or the random person who stops by your room after seeing your poster.

Test your knowledge
AVERT has lots of games and quizzes for World AIDS Day. Try one out and pass it along to your friends.

Wear a red ribbon
You can pick one up from your local MAC store. If you pick up a Viva Glam product while you are there, every cent of the selling price will go towards the MAC AIDS Fund.

Practice safe sex
If you’re going to have sex, don’t do it until you’ve had a conversation with your partner about safe sex. If you’re unsure about their sexual history, or they don’t want to talk about it, don’t do it. Once you’ve had a talk about HIV and STDs then make sure you use a always use a condom.

Get tested
If you’re having sex, go get tested. If you don’t know where to go, text your zipcode to “KNOWIT” (566948) to find a testing centre near you.

Get connected
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re connected online. Tweet about it using #WAD2010, post a statistic as your status on Facebook, or post a picture on the Facing AIDS flickr page. Use your connection to spread awareness.

Go to an event
I know this time of year is really busy, but if you have time, check out a World AIDS Day event in your area. Grab your friends and get out there. What else is there to do on a Wednesday night anyway?

Candy Dish: Hillary Clinton Joins the White House Staff

CC Staff — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:39:40 +0000

Hillary Clinton is officially Secretary of State.

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Today is World AIDs Day. What can you do to help?

B-Rock Brings Politics to the Streets

CC Staff — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:58:06 +0000

Young African American Democratic contender Barack Obama has made quite a splash as his 2008 presidential candidacy campaign pushes forward.

His popularity is high among America’s youth, as he promotes their culture and holds many of the same liberal views stereotypically attributed to this age group.

Another group Obama scores big with? The hip hop community.

Obama has appeared on the cover of this month’s Vibe Magazine and is nicknamed “B-Rock” within its pages, according to a recent report by CNN. Although, in the past, Barack Obama has been accused of criticizing rap music, his recent meeting with esteemed (and unforgivably raunchy) rapper Ludacris is said to have been focused upon “empowering the youth” and promoting AIDS awareness, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

Rappers seem to forgive Obama for his lack of musical support, as his name has been mentioned in a variety of rap songs such as “The People” by Common and Talib Kweli’s “Say Something”. In these songs, the rappers aquaint Obama with positive change and the empowerment of African Americans.

All of this free publicity contributes to Obama’s alternate style of approaching the election. Obama Girl unintentionally stirred up the public when she appeared in a video unsponsered by the candidate’s campaign. Now, a slew of rap songs (again, obviously not sponsered by a man who has apprehended the lewdness of rap and its disrespect against women) are cropping up left and right.

While it seems paradoxical for rappers to support a man who has insulted their art and avoids discussing rap music in order to avoid being pegged as a “rap hater”, it also shows that rappers care about the government as much they care about Bentley’s and half naked women…thank God.