![\"World-AIDS-Day-2014\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/320\/2014\/12\/World-AIDS-Day-2014.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nJust over three decades ago, when we knew only the devastation HIV inflicted, those living with it had to fight just to be treated with dignity and compassion, and since the first cases of AIDS were reported, tens of millions of vibrant men and women have lost their lives to this deadly virus. Today, we have transformed what it means to live with HIV\/AIDS. More effective prevention, treatment, and care now save millions of lives while awareness has soared and research has surged. This World AIDS Day, we come together to honor all those who have been touched by HIV\/AIDS and celebrate the promising public health and scientific advances that have brought us closer to our goal of an AIDS-free generation.
\n\u2013President Obama, Presidential Proclamation\u2013 World AIDS Day 2014<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nStatistics:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
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- Currently, 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the United States, with\u00a0nearly one in seven of those unaware of their infections.<\/li>\n
- Approximately 50,000 Americans become newly infected\u00a0with HIV each year.<\/li>\n
- More than 13,000 people with AIDS still die each year in the United States.<\/li>\n
- In 2013, 1.5 million people died from HIV-related causes globally.<\/li>\n
- Worldwide, 35 million people are living with HIV<\/li>\n
- Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region, with 24.7 million people living with HIV<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u2014 \u00a0U.S. stats from CDC Fact Sheet: HIV and AIDS in America: A Snapshot
\n<\/a>\u2013Global stats from WHO HIV\/AIDS Fact Sheet<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
What you can do:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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- Track the history of AIDS through 7 editions of TIME <\/a>over the last three decades<\/li>\n
- Educate yourself. \u00a0The CDC maintains comprehensive information about HIV and AIDS<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- AIDS.gov has a great list of resources\u00a0 here<\/a> for learning more, and here for getting involved<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Go to an event. \u00a0There are events going on all over the world today in honor of World AIDS Day \u2014 try to make it to one near you and listen to stories of those living with AIDS and strides made in prevention and treatment.<\/li>\n
- If you can\u2019t make it out but still want to hear stories, check out the \u00a0Let\u2019s Stop HIV Together<\/em>\u00a0campaign<\/a>, which uses videos as it \u201craises awareness about HIV and its impact on the lives of all Americans, and fights stigma by showing that persons with HIV are real people\u2014mothers, fathers, friends, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, partners, wives, husbands, and co-workers.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- Check out Minnesota Dept of Health\u2019s World AIDS Day Suggestions for Faith Communities<\/a>, and Emily Davila\u2019s Faith Advocacy Toolkit<\/a>\u00a0and see if you can incorporate some ideas in your community.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
And come hang out with us<\/strong> for tonight\u2019s Living in the Tension, where we\u2019ll watch How to Survive a Plague. \u00a0Details here<\/a>, and trailer below:\u00a0