World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV(AIDS) in anyway they can. On December 1, 2011 Rising Voices invited [1] global users to tweet about how World AIDS Day is being commemorated in different communities. The hashtags #WAD11 and #WorldAIDSDay was already being used to provide a snapshot of what is happening around the world on this theme. Rising Voices recommended use of the hashtag #BlogPos and #WAD11 and encouraged tweets in any language mentioning the country.
We expected that the tweets may include information about:
* How is your community commemorating World AIDS Day?
* What are some of the ongoing issues related to HIV/AIDS facing your community?
* What are you doing to help fight stigma or raise awareness in your community?
* What role does citizen media play in the fight against HIV/AIDS?
Here are some of the Twitter messages sent out on that day. Some carried personal messages:
@T4AApparel [4]: #blogpos #WAD2011 we raise awareness for HIV one tie dye tee at a time!
@mammysou [5]: Create a generation free of HIV. #WorldAIDSDay #Blogpos
@AdVerse4490: [6] The LGBT community is at-risk for HIV in T&T. Not because of unsafe sex, but unsafe spaces. LGBT Discrimination = HIV #WAD2011 #BlogPos
@Zeyadsalem: [7] (Zeyad Salem) Imagine a person w a chronic disease and cannot speak up coz people would defame him and deny him the care he needs #WorldAIDSDay #Blogpos
@3awadalla: [8] (Ahmed Awadalla) I was tweeting about HIV/AIDS today as it's #WorldAIDSDay. Remember to fight the disease but not people living with the disease. #BlogPos
@patientopinion: [9] RT @NHSinform: It's World AIDs Day! #WAD 30 yrs on and still no cure for HIV – prevention remains vital bit.ly/u9MaQe
@NelsonMandela: [10] “Yet we spend more money on weapons than on ensuring treatment and support for the millions infected by HIV” #NelsonMandela 2005 #WAD
@HydeiaBroadbent: [11] (Hydeia Broadbent) Stop thinking there is an image associated with AIDS. You can't tell by looking at someone if they have AIDS #WAD
Some had explanations:
Some Tweets shared news:@risingvoices [12]: What is #BlogPos? Short for “Blogging Positively,” coined by @mentalacrobatic to describe how citizenmedia can play a role in HIV/AIDS field
@georgiap: [14] (Georgia Popplewell) Trinidad & Tobago's Ministry of Health is conducting a 12-day HIV testing drive. Info at bit.ly/vrDpGW #BlogPos #WAD11
@mentalacrobatic: [15] (Daudi Were) Kenya’s national commemoration of #WorldAidsDay moved from Nairobi to Kisumu for 2011 #BlogPos
@UNAIDS : [16] Africa leads the way, 22 countries reduced new infections by a quarter. But 70% of all new HIV infections are in Sub-Saharan Africa. #WAD
@hausofjay: [17] (Marry The Night) Lady Gaga, the voice of M•A•C's campaign in the fight against HIV/AIDS, has raised more than $55 million, in support of those affected. #WAD
@UNDP_Europe_CIS [18] (UNDP Europe and CIS) 1/2 of #HIV infections in #EasternEurope & #CentralAsia in 2010 were due 2 drug users sharing needles bit.ly/kp4CjX #WAD
Some Tweets shared links to blog posts and stories:
@serina_k Serina [19]: Tribute to Ruthie, an AIDS orphan http://serinaserina.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/tribute-to-ruthie/ #BlogPos #WAD11
@risingvoices: [20] Egyptian blogger @3awadalla shared stories about the challenge of fighting HIV/AIDS stigma. is.gd/Gq82CL #BlogPos #WAD11
@iSchoolAfrica: [21] Thanks! “@risingvoices: Great work by young citizen journalists from @iSchoolAfrica in S.Africa on #WAD11 #BlogPos is.gd/k24B7V”
@stephenfry [22] (Stephen Fry) Many good places to visit to remind yourself about how dangerous as prevalent HIV still is HIVaware.org.uk & worldAIDSday.org #WAD
Videos and podcasts:
@sirajdhaka: [23] (Shahjahan Siraj) Bangladesh live channel machizo.com/live #BlogPos #WAD2011.
@UNDP_Europe_CIS: [24] (UNDP Europe and CIS) Condoms can save your life in more ways than you think – check out this video from #Montenegro bit.ly/sz9vfu #HIV #WAD
@solanasaurus [25]: The @globalvoices podcast marks #WAD11 w/ activists in #Kenya and #Egypt on sexual health education http://t.co/YXju1tG8 #BlogPos