Whats happening

BY NASA MARIA ENTABAN

Ashraff Sinclair trying to

sell M.A.C products to a
customer last weekend.

IF YOU dont already know, today is

World AIDS Day (celebrated on Dec 1
each year) and organisations all over the
country have organised numerous events
for the public to raise awareness about
the fight against HIV and AIDS.
World AIDS day on MTV begins at
10am with a special VH1 news documentary, Tracking The Monster, which chronicles two emotional journeys to Africa by
actress Ashley Judd and soul diva
India.Arie, who tell their stories of volunteering with local projects in Kenya and
Madagascar.
At 2pm, tune into the intimate and
personal THINKHIV: This Is Me documentary filmed by young people who are
HIV-positive.
Staying Alive: 48Fest, is a 30-minute show that follows the trials of 48 young filmmakers from around
the world, writing and filming about HIV/AIDS within 48 hours. It airs at 2.30pm. The MTV specials will
close with Transit: The Movie, which will air at 3pm.

FRIDAY
1 December
2006

BY NIKI CHEONG

Chen hosts the programme which will look at a wide

range of issues related to HIV/AIDS. It will also
feature a conversation that took place between VJ
Sarah and a person living with HIV. VJ Dom, on the
other hand, will share with you his personal trip to
the doctor as he undergoes an HIV test.
Following that is Scissor Sisters Live At Red Square,
part of U2s Bonos fundraising efforts to fight AIDS
in Africa.

The Federation of Family Planning Malaysia

is holding H.U.N.T AIDS in Prangin Mall in
Penang to raise awareness on the cause. It will
be held from 1pm to 5.30pm tomorrow. There
will be explorer games, performances and lots
of fun in store for anyone who wants to participate and find out more about HIV/AIDS. For
details, call 04-282 5191.
In Kelantan, a charity run will take place
tomorrow at the Institut Kemahiran Belia
Negara in Bachok, organised by Pertubuhan
Masyarakat Prihatin (PMP). On the same day, a
comic book on HIV/AIDS will be launched, an
effort to educate young people about the virus.
Two weeks later, a theatre performance titled
Salah Siapa? will be staged at Dewan Jubli
Perak, Kota Baru. For more information on the
events, call 09-765 1596.
The Kuala Lumpur AIDS Support Services
(KLASS) Society will be running an awareness
campaign at its headquarters tomorrow. It is
located at 16-4 Jalan 13/48A, The Boulevard Shop
Office, Off Jalan Sentul, KL. Expect
games, performances and educational
talks all day. For more information, call
03-4045 6681.

Channel [V] also has an interesting

line-up of shows today starting at 1pm
with its World AIDS Day special Be Safe, Be
Informed, Be Alive. Hong Kong star Edison

For the cause

Buy makeup and support the fight against

HIV/AIDS at the same time! M.A.C Cosmetics has an
AIDS Fund, where all proceeds from the sale of their
Viva Glam VI lip glass and lipstick will go to people
living with HIV/AIDS. In Malaysia, this cause is
supported by celebrities such as Carmen Soo,
Catch Ashley Judd in
Nita, Johnson Wee, Ida Nerina, Aisya and
Tracking the Monster
Ashraff Sinclair, who spent last weekend proon MTV today.
moting M.A.C products and selling cards drawn
by kids with HIV in Kuala Lumpur.

Another event happening in Penang

is the Stop AIDS, Keep The Promise
Poster Exhibition & Awareness
Campaign, organised by the AIDS Action
and Research Group (AARG). It will be
held today at the Soc Science Complex
(C23), Foyer UAM, USM, Penang. To find
out more, call 04-656 5985.

COVER
STORY

Support the
cause in any
way you can.

IN MY final year of college, I decided to organise a public event to raise

HIV/AIDS awareness. While planning, my team and I approached
numerous individuals and organisations for help. While we expected
bigger companies to ignore the plight of a bunch of 19-year-old students asking for funding and sponsorship, I did not think that my
peers would give the same cold reception.
When a friend was asked to help with one of the activities, she
replied: Why are you doing this? You dont have AIDS.
Many years on, that conversation still sticks to my mind.
Over the years, Ive helped, albeit in small ways, to raise awareness
on HIV and AIDS, both in Malaysia and overseas when I was still
studying.
I am not sure what it is about the cause that got my attention. In
the beginning, I didnt even know anyone who was HIV-positive or living with AIDS, save for the few people I met while organising said
event.
These days, I know more than I would like to only because one less
HIV-positive friend means that the numbers worldwide are declining.
Thats just a fantasy, though, because the numbers are not dropping.
But amid the current situation, I've learned from my friends who are
HIV positive that it is possible to be positive about being positive.
I wear the red ribbon occasionally throughout the year, apart from
on Dec 1. When people ask what it signifies (which I personally find
surprising considering the red ribbon, together with the pink ribbon
for breast cancer, is probably the most recognised of all ribbons dedicated to a cause), I always say that I wear it so people like them can
ask me about it.
Its also my little way of contributing to the awareness of the cause,
and most importantly, in solidarity with the many friends who are living with HIV and AIDS.
Just last month, a friend of mine told me that he had just discovered that he was HIV positive. After all these years, I still didnt know
how to react to that he was the first friend of mine to find out that
he was HIV positive.
Im glad that I didnt overreact to the news, unlike many of his other
friends and even family members.
Sure, I feel sad, he told me, but geez, its not a death sentence.
In response, I said, I know, but not many people realise that.
Its moments like that that make me wish more people would don
the red ribbon, and get educated on HIV and AIDS so they can tell others about it.
Stopping the epidemic is one thing, but sometimes, what matters
even more is being an understanding friend.
UNAIDS estimates that 39.5 million people in the world are currently living with HIV, including 2.3 million children. In 2006, it is estimated that some 4.3 million people became newly infected with the virus.
The statistics also show that about half of those infected with HIV
were younger than 25 when they got it, and were killed by AIDS
before they turned 35.
A recent study has shown that within the next 25 years, AIDS will
become the third highest cause of death worldwide it is currently
fourth behind hearth disease, stroke and respiratory infections respectively. The report, found in the Public Library of Sciences Medicine journal, estimates that 120 million people could die in the next 25 years.
The numbers are staggering and despite all efforts, they are not
declining. Also increasing with the numbers is the chance that one or
more of them might be a friend or relative.
Isnt it about time we learn more about the cause, and together
spread the awareness?
Today is World AIDS Day. You can start by wearing the red ribbon
and tell everyone you talk to why youre wearing it.