A MILLION BELLS RINGING ON DECEMBER 1 – World AIDS Day!
"The Bell is Ringing" is a grassroots initiative of concerned individuals, who decided to mobilize communities and individuals from around the world to join a united effort to raise awareness to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We call on every woman, man or child in our world to ring a bell for 60 seconds on Thursday, December 1, 2005, the World AIDS Day of 2005.
You are invited to be one of many who already joined in. Its simple, it's free, and it's meaningful: together we could generate an enormous campaign. Our greatest reward would be to hear 1,000,000 bells ringing around the world, making a collective noise for more awareness about HIV/AIDS and share the responsibility in prevention and care.
On Thursday, December 1st, 1,000,000 bells worldwide would ring for at least 60 seconds: school bells, hand bells, fire-brigade bells, church bells, tower bells, door bells, receptionists' bells, cow bells, innovative other bells – all qualify for the event. The sound of the bells will mark the opening of a global initiative on HIV/AIDS literacy. The aim is to increase literacy on HIV and AIDS, on its prevention, testing, care and support.
Press release
The Jerusalem AIDS Project
ISRAELIS INITIATE A GLOBAL RING A BELL CAMPAIGN FOR HIV/AIDS
In 20 Days 1,000,000 Bells will Alarm the World to HIV/AIDS, Setting a Guinness World Record
Seven young Israelis launched today (Nov.10th 2005) "The Bell is Ringing Initiative", which aims at mobilizing individuals and organizations to ring one in a million (1,000,000) bells on 1 December 2005 – World AIDS Day. Originated by the Jerusalem AIDS Project, the aim of this initiative is to raise awareness about need to improve HIV/AIDS literacy worldwide. Every day 14,000 new HIV infections occur globally and in Israel, every day a new person is infected with the virus of the preventable AIDS disease. The group is planning to set a new World Guinness Record in bells' ringing for a public health cause.
"Choosing the replica of the USA Liberty Bell, which is hanging in Jerusalem's "Bell Garden", to be the location of the global launch of the initiative was declarative", admits the initiatives' chair, Dr Inon Schenker, "we believe that the values encrypted on the original Liberty Bell should be applied universally also in HIV/AIDS. Besides, this is Jerusalem 's largest outdoor bell".
The Bell is Ringing initiative promotes any type of bell ringing on 1 December 2005 at 20:00 GMT . A unique bell could be rung digitally on their site: www.bells4aids.org
By now support to the initiative comes from Rotary, The Ecumenical Community, The International Federation of Medical Students, UNAIDS and even the professional ( UK based) organization of Bell Ringers.
The major countdown to 8 PM GMT and the Bells4AIDS.org event will be held in Jerusalem on World AIDS Day (1.12.2005). Read more... www.Bells4AIDS.org
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This November 28th marks 20 years, since being told I had six months to live on November 28th 1985. I can think of no better way to celebrate; than to join in The Bell is Ringing Campaign for World AIDS Day!
( In Canada; ring a bell -West coast 12:00 noon. East coast 3:00pm )
Bradford McIntyre, HIV+ since 1984
www.PositivelyPositive.ca
