To mark 2009 World AIDS Day a special amateur radio station
4U1AIDS will operate from UNAIDS Secretariat headquarters in
Geneva from 1-7 December 2009 and will be broadcast all over the
world via the amateur radio network. The initiative is to
encourage radio amateurs all around the globe to participate in
World AIDS Day.
As well as being a hobby, amateur radio is a public service which
offers support during emergencies and disasters when all other
communications channels (including mobile telephones, satellite)
are interrupted. One of its distinctions from commercial radio is
that it is not for profit and skilled amateurs operate without
payment.
The amateur radio operator community is global in its reach with
an estimated six million people throughout the world regularly
involved. They share an interest in what is happening in the
world and in reaching out to each other.
To mark this year's World AIDS Day a special QSL card will be
sent to amateur radio stations which have a radio contact with
4U1AIDS. Those contacting on any 3 amateur radio bands, will
awarded a special commemorative certificate while those
contacting on 5 amateur radio bands will be awarded a special
commemorative UNAIDS pennant.
World AIDS Day was first marked in 1998. It is a day of
remembrance, global solidarity and celebration and is an
opportunity to increasing awareness about HIV in order to reduce
stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV as well
as encourage HIV prevention messages.
Resources:
Related information:
World AIDS Day 2009 -
http://www.unaids.org/en/Conferences/2009/WAD_2009.asp
Partners:
World AIDS Compaign - http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/
Multimedia:
Contact:
For further information, please contact:
Andrey Fedorov, UNAIDS
E-mail: FedorovAB@unaids.org
External links:
4U1AIDS - http://www.dx-world.com/4u1aids/
www.aegis.org