Press Release
"I've Got the POWER": On-line AIDS Prevention Photo Mosaic
30 November 2005
UNITED NATIONS, New York — On World AIDS Day, 1 December 2005, UNFPA encourages everyone to tell their friends and family members just two things that could save their lives:
1) HIV/AIDS – which spreads mainly through sexual activity and injecting drug use – has no cure and can strike anyone, anywhere in the world.
2) Protect yourself against HIV/AIDS by practicing abstinence, mutual fidelity and the correct use of condoms.
We often hear that action speaks louder than words. But in the fight against AIDS, speaking out about HIV/AIDS is one of the first and most important ways to prevent the spread of the AIDS virus and the stigma, discrimination, coercion and violence that often surrounds its victims.
To encourage public dialogue about AIDS, UNFPA has begun building what may become the world’s largest Internet-based photo mosaic and AIDS prevention tool. It’s called, “I’ve Got the POWER.”
The “I’ve Got the POWER” photo mosaic is inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt founded in 1987 by AIDS activist Cleve Jones. His goal was to put a human face on the disease and to apply public pressure on policy makers who have the POWER to stop AIDS by providing adequate funding for research and public education.
UNFPA’s goal is to get everyone talking about HIV/AIDS.
UNFPA invites everyone with an Internet connection to submit a photograph of himself or herself and a brief comment about AIDS to be placed in the “I’ve Got the POWER” photo mosaic world map according to his or her country of residence. When visitors to the “I’ve Got the POWER” website click on any individual photograph in the mosaic, a larger version of the picture will appear along with the comment. Comments may have to do with what a person is doing to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, or what the AIDS crisis means to him or her personally, or the honoring of a friend or a family member who has died of AIDS.
Contact Information:
