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Nudged in between Thanksgiving and all the various gift-giving holiday celebrations that follow, is the lesser-known celebration: World AIDS Day. Albeit not as fun or as glamorous as other noted holidays, World AIDS Day certainly demands attention.

On December 1st, nonprofitshoppingmall.com is joining individuals and organizations from around the globe to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic.

One of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS is through effectively educating yourself and others about the disease. Our intention is to open your eyes to something you may not know about the AIDS virus and we strongly encourage you to pass this information along to the people you love.

THE STATS:

• An estimated one million Americans are living with HIV.
• There are now 80,000 people living with HIV in the UK.
• HIV is increasing in every region of the world.
• 33 million people are living with HIV worldwide:
  • 30.8 million are adults
  • 15.5 million are women
  • 2.0 million are children under 15
• There were 2.7 million new cases diagnosed in 2007.
  • 2.3 million of these adults
  • 370,000 of these children under 15
• There were 2.0 HIV-related deaths in 2007.

Sources: UNAIDS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and www.AIDS.gov.

WAYS YOU CAN TAKE ACTION:

Here are some easy ways you can help reduce the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS:

• 1. Take a picture of yourself wearing a red ribbon. Be creative!
  
• 2. Add the photo to your social network profiles, Twitter, blog, and/or website before December 1st. Leave it up for at least a week.
• 3. Add your photo to the “World AIDS Day 08” Flickrgroup!
• 4. Encourage your friends to do the same and to promote HIV testing!
• 5. Copy the code below to add a “Facing AIDS” badge to your profile, blog, or website.
  
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  • <a href="http://www.aids.gov/world_aids_day.html"><img src="http://www.aids.gov/images/facingaids_group2.jpg?src=724687" width="150" height="159" alt="Facing AIDS - World AIDS day 2008" /></a>
  • <a href="http://www.aids.gov/world_aids_day.html"><img src="http://www.aids.gov/images/facingaids_female2.jpg?src=724687" width="150" height="159" alt="Facing AIDS - World AIDS day 2008" /></a>
  • <a href="http://www.aids.gov/world_aids_day.html"><img src="http://www.aids.gov/images/facingaids_male2.jpg?src=724687" width="150" height="159" alt="Facing AIDS - World AIDS day 2008" /></a>

• 6. On December 1, Participate in a Blogging Call to Action. Go to http://unite.blogcatalog.com/ and have your voice join-in with thousands more to help make a difference.
• 7. To find HIV Testing Centers near you — Text: Your Zip Code To: KnowIt (566948) or visit www.hivtest.org.
  
• 8. Shop at nonprofitshoppingmall and choose Staying-Alive (MTV’s AIDS awareness foundation) to receive a percentage of your sales.

Do your part in the fight against AIDS. Get tested. Know the facts. Be vocal. YOU are the difference, so get out there and spread the word!!!

One of the world’s deadliest diseases – malaria – is an indiscriminate killer, affecting all age groups and primarily found in the worlds poorest nations, whose populations are least able to combat it. WORLD MALARIA DAY was established in order to raise awareness for and understanding of malaria as a global emergency that is both preventable and curable. It replaces ‘Africa Malaria Day’ which has been commemorated on April 25 since 2001.

Africa Malaria Day was a day that was set aside by African governments committed to rolling back malaria and meeting the United Nations malaria-related Millennium Development Goals. But now Member states of the World Health Organization agree that greater awareness is needed. It is hoped that with an internationally recognized WORLD MALARIA DAY, communities and organizations worldwide will mobilize and get involved in this continuing battle.

You can help by shopping online here and choosing The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as your nonprofit. The Global Fund provides more than two thirds of all international malaria funding.