Dec. 1 is not when the fight begins. Dec. 1 is not where the fight ends. In fact the fight is all year, all the time. Dec. 1 just happens to be the day when everyone comes out to fight against HIV and AIDS.
For 17 years now the world has celebrated the fight against HIV/AIDS on Dec. 1 with World AIDS Day. This is a day for the world to come together and stand tall and proud against the fight to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. This is a day designed to have all groups of ages, all groups of ethnicity, and all genders to take pride in the fight against AIDS. World AIDS Day started as a summit of health ministers who joined together in London to develop a plan to fight the world spread of AIDS. This summit focused on programs for preventing AIDS; delegates for 148 countries also attended this summit.
By the end of the summit London had declared a declaration on AIDS prevention, which gave information on AIDS and the need to educate and defend human rights and dignity. Along with that, the director general of the World Health Organization announced that the WHO would promote an annual World AIDS Day and the first was to be held on Dec. 1, 1988. Since then, Dec. 1 has become a day to fight AIDS and honor those who have passed away from the disease.
Yesterday, ETSU did what it could to help its students spread the word about AIDS. Throughout the day ETSU provided three stations to help spread awareness of AIDS. In the Atrium and down in the post office of the Culp Center, red ribbons and condoms were being passed. Donations were also being taken for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatrics AIDS Foundation.
In Meeting Room 4A, free confidential HIV screenings were being done for all who showed. Then at 7 p.m., the CPA Multipurpose Room played host to those who came to watch the documentary, A Closer Walk. The documentary stars Will Smith and Glenn Close, who narrate it. The documentary is about the world AIDS crisis. It travels to Africa, central Europe and throughout the United States. It also includes interviews from doctors, patients and the Dalai Lama.
“[The best way to stop AIDS is] through education of AIDS and HIV,” said Gary Range, who works the Tennessee Department of Health. He is the HIV/AIDS surveillance resident for the North/East region. Range was one of two AIDS specialist conducting the free HIV screenings. “Use protection, know the sex history of the partner you are with and never take drugs, but if you have don’t share needles,” he said.
“Workshops and education efforts to increase awareness.”
Allison Lowe, an ETSU student who was helping pass out ribbons and collect donations, agrees that awareness and education help.
“The best way for people to help is to educate themselves or to help volunteer at events like these,” she said. “[What also helps] is to send money donations. Help those in need.”
One way to help is to wear the red ribbon. In 1991 the red ribbon came as an idea to a group of artists in New York called Visual AIDS. Then in April of 1992, 70,000 UK pop fans wore the red ribbon at Wembley Stadium.
Diana, Princess of Wales wore the ribbon for the first time at a concert of Hope on World AIDS in 1993. Since then the red ribbon has become a symbol of AIDS awareness and a symbol of respect for those who died because of HIV/AIDS.
Dec. 1 is not the only day to fight AIDS. Every day is a struggle for those who have AIDS. Every day is a fight. Every day is a day that those who have AIDS have a hope that a cure might be found. Wearing the red ribbon is a sign that you care, a sign of respect.
Allison Lowe knows that happiness when she sees someone wearing that ribbon. “It makes me happy,” she said. “It shows that that person cared enough to stop and take the time to educate themselves and aware themselves about AIDS.

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