Today is World AIDS Day. A day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. According to Wikipedia, AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007, and an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007, 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 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children.

UNAIDS published reports about the AIDS pandemic, below are the latest news.

The global AIDS epidemic

- In 2009, there were 2.6 million new infections, down from 3.1 million in 1999.
- In 2009 there were 1.8 million AIDS-related deaths, lower than the 2.1 million in 2004.
- In 2009, some 33.3 million people were living with HIV compared to 26.2 million in 1999.
- In 2009, around 370 000 children were born with HIV, bringing to 2.5 million the total number of children under 15 living with HIV.
- The total number of children aged 0–17 years who have lost their parents due to HIV increased to 16.6 million in 2009.
- Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 60 million people have been infected with HIV and nearly 30 million people have died of HIV-related causes.
- One in four AIDS deaths is caused by tuberculosis, a preventable and curable disease.

Human rights and gender

- More than 90% of governments reported that they address stigma and discrimination in their HIV programmes, however, less than 50% costed or budgeted such programmes.
- Less than half of countries reporting have a budget for HIV programmes for women.
- Same sex relations are still criminalised in 79 countries and six apply the death penalty. Resource availability and needs
- In 2009, US$ 15.9 billion was estimated to be available from all sources for HIV, US$ 10 billion short of the US$ 26.8 billion needed for HIV services in 2010.
- Donor government’s disbursements for the AIDS response in 2009 were US$ 7.6 billion, lower than the US$ 7.7 billion available in 2008.

Needless to say the AIDS pandemic is still spreading in many countries even if big efforts have been made to treat and support people affected by HIV. Many organizations around the world dedicate a lot of time and money to fight AIDS so don’t hesitate to make a donation.

The Sama Gazette supports Join(RED) for a long time, so we invite you to visit their website and to take action. This year all the Sama Team staff is wearing a Sama pin with a red ribbon created by Max Dana for this special day, and we will also make a donation. It’s important to us to be committed and we will be even more in 2011!

NYC, London, Milan, Berlin and Paris: 5 cities. 120 hours of racing. 24 hour relays. (NIKE) RED’s TIED TOGETHER relay race is taking place in 5 cities, it started with NYC, today it was in Berlin and it will be in Paris tomorrow. This event is the occasion to help raise awareness about AIDS in Africa and to meet with ‘tied’ friends.

About the event (from the Facebook page):

We want you to join us for (NIKE) RED’s TIED TOGETHER relay race. Five cities. 120 hours of racing. 24 hours relays. Next Week we’re racing the streets of New York, London, Milan, Berlin, and Paris for 24 hours each to help raise awareness about AIDS in Africa – and we want your help! Please join us on Friday June 11th to help pass the baton during the last hour of the race in Paris (7pm – 8pm CEST). Walk, run, bike, skate or stroll with your Stroller to help raise awareness about AIDS in Africa. And afterwards join us for a BBQ and music at the finish. As part of the team, make sure you wear (RED) clothing – including your (NIKE) RED laces. You can buy (NIKE) RED laces here: http://bit.ly/IEHBj or at the stadium before we start the final hour – there you will also receive your own (RED) 24th hour shirt.

The meeting is tomorrow, Friday, June 10th, 7-10pm (local time) at Nike Stadium 9 rue Auguste Barbier, 75011 Paris. Several parisian shops will participate (La MJC, Lazy Dog, Colette, Pain O Chok…). You can find more information on the Tied Together Blog.

And if you go to the Nike Stadium, let us know, maybe we will there

• GAP (Product)RED Artist Ts (Women and Men), $28.00
• Emporio Armani (Product)RED Sunglasses, $195

• Flowe(RED) (UK only, sorry).
• (DIPTYQUE)RED Special Edition Candle, $68 (This is a French Boutique!)

• Hallmark (Product)RED Valentine’s Day Card (US Only), $2.99
• Get Pucke(RED) Up – Send (RED)kisses to your Facebook friends

• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @WendyBrandes
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @TheElders
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @Karl_Lagerfeld
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @bluenoterecords
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @lilyroseallen
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @ladygaga
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @joinred
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @EnoughProject
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @fecalface
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @DAVID_LYNCH
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @wired
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @thelittleidiot
• Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @diablocody

This time of the year is celebrated almost by everyone, whether you have faith or not. Whether you are into a religion or not. We also think this time of the year is more about giving than receiving. Share. Listen. Give a hand. Help. Of course we don’t pretend we are the perfect ones, on the contrary. But we can give, even if not much.

Below, a list of gifts and organizations for your consideration, if you want to give, of course…

Let’s start with (RED). You can buy plenty of (RED) Products from here. Products list:(NIKE)RED Laces, (STARBUCKS)RED Card, Gap (PRODUCT)RED, Apple iPod nano [ordered by the Sama Team], Dell Inspiron Mini 10v, Bugaboo (PRODUCT)RED, Ian Ginoza for Converse[ordered by the Sama Team], Hallmark (PRODUCT)RED, American Express RED Card, Emporio Armani, hazam iPhone App Special Edition, Timbuk2 (PRODUCT)RED, Girl Skateboard (PRODUCT)RED, Solange Hotlips, Channel Islands… From $4 to $1,500.

CNN published a Special Report: Impact your world. The introduction from CNN: ‘Take action on the news you consume! These resources include some of the highest-rated charities by CharityNavigator.org (an independent and non-profit organization that evaluates and rates thousands of charity groups based on effectiveness and financial stability) and are vetted by CNN journalists for credibility. CNN does not endorse any organization and information is provided as an inspiration for you to explore the best ways for you to impact your world’.

You can also check our posts from the ‘Raison d’être’ Category, concerning various organizations and events. Maybe you will feel concerned and donate money or some of your time:

Buy
- Buy (RED) Save Lives – JoinRED Fight AIDS
- RAISE Hope for Congo: Activism you can wear 

Read
- International Human Rights Day 2009
- World AIDS Day: Get (RED)!
- Aung San Suu Kyi: candles in Paris tonight
- Aung San Suu Kyi back to home confinement
- The (new) blood diamonds: it ain’t a movie…

Everyone is free to do whatever they want. We just wanted to give you some ideas if you want to give ‘differentely’ during Season’s greetings. We hope you enjoy this moment with family and/or friends. Our thoughts go to all of those in pain and in need.

In September we posted: Buy (RED) Save Lives – JoinRED Fight AIDS, then in November: Twitter Sunday: Favorites Tweets @joinred. Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day and today, more than ever, we have to work together because ‘AIDS is preventable and treatable’.

We will not give you numbers, you can find them everywhere on the Internet. We will not tell you what you have to do. But today is a special day, so at least once in a year, maybe we should take our responsabilities and do something. Protect ourselves and the others. Give a hand and don’t look away.

The Lazarus Effect is the title of the video published by Join(RED). ‘The miraculous power of AIDS medicine to give people the opportunity of a future where once there was no hope.  3800 people die everyday from a preventable and treatable disease: AIDS. Treatment costs around 40 cents a day. The results are nothing short of miraculous. Someone on death’s door can be brought back to life. In as little as 90 days. This transformation is called the Lazarus Effect.‘

Remember: Buy (RED) Save Lives, it’s really working. Buy Red products from top brands, and help fight aids in Africa. Use the consumeristic society we all live in to buy ‘useful’, it can do good!

Last September, we published an article: Buy (RED) Save Lives – JoinRED Fight AIDS. We really like what (RED) does and we wanted to invite you to think about buying (RED) products. Today for our weekly Twitter Sunday, we thought it could be a good idea to share with you our favorites tweets from (RED) on Twitter: @joinred.

Meet our old friend Rose from Rwanda. Shes HIV+ & on ARVs for 6 yrs. Shes strong, healthy & a leader in her community http://budurl.com/ribm
2:31 PM Oct 27th

Great news! Over the past yr a million more ppl had access 2 HIV medicine, now 4MM ppl r on them globally. Read/RT http://budurl.com/twtrarv
1:57 PM Oct 13th

Have you heard of the Lazarus Effect? It only takes 2 pills & less than 60 days to transform a life. Watch the video http://budurl.com/lazef
11:06 AM Oct 6th

The (RED) family is growing! Our latest addition is (BUGABOO) RED. 1% of ALL revenue goes to Africa. Welcome! http://budurl.com/bugtwtr
10:27 AM Oct 1st

(RED) is a great organization, buy (RED) products or at least, visit their website and follow them on Twitter @joinred, now you know where to find them!

Many Sama Gazette staff members got (RED) Products: Max Dana has a Dell Mini netbook,  Uncle_Louis got the Chuck Taylor ALL STAR x Africa Converse, Caramel bought a Special Edition iPod nano and I modestly signed up to the (RED) Newsletter. The Sama Gazette has been (RED) contaminated, that’s why we wanted to post a news about (RED).

If you still wonder ‘What is (RED)’, here is the official answer (read the (RED) Faqs):

(RED) is a business model created to raise awareness and money for the Global Fund by teaming up with the world’s most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT) RED branded products. A portion of profits from each (PRODUCT) RED product sold goes directly to the Global Fund to invest in African AIDS programs, with a focus on women and children.

As for the ‘Who is (RED)’:

Bono and Bobby Shriver created (RED) to engage the private sector in the fight against AIDS in Africa. Our partners include: American Express (UK only), Apple, Bugaboo, Converse, Dell, Emporio Armani, Gap, Hallmark, Starbucks, and Windows. Discussions are ongoing with other potential partners.

All (RED) Products are listed on this page. You will surely find something to ‘Buy (RED) Save Lives’. If you live in New York, (RED) organizes an event on October 4:

On October 4 at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall, (RED) unites a world-class line up of artists for a special (RED)NIGHTS concert “Hal Willner Presents: An Evening with Gavin Friday and Friends.” The star-studded evening will feature Laurie Anderson, Antony, Elizabeth Ashley, Bono, Adam Clayton, Andrea Corr, The Edge, Flo & Eddie, Joel Grey, Bill Frisell, Guggi, Scarlett Johansson, Courtney Love, Lydia Lunch, Patrick McCabe, Maria McKee, Shane MacGowan, Eric Mingus, Larry Mullen, Jr., JG Thirlwell, Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, Chloe Webb, plus special guests. Tickets for the event will go on sale beginning Wednesday, September 16 at 11AM EST via CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org and the box office. As is the case with every (RED)NIGHTS show, a portion of the proceeds from the concert will go directly to the Global Fund (theglobalfund.org). For more information, please visit www.joinred.com/rednights or www.gavinfriday.com.

When will (RED) come to Paris? We would be more than happy to deliver great coverage of the event. The Sama Gazette has definitely been (RED) contaminated!