This toolkit is 'information for action'. The first two pages are packed with useful information and discussion topics with articles that discuss "HIV/AIDS: The power of education for girls and women" and "Reducing the stigma of HIV/AIDS" as well as digestible facts on the current state of this pandemic. The second two pages are devoted to action, including ideas for being involved, resources, and where to find more information about local campaigns. FYI encourages everyone to wear the red ribbon as a sign of hope and solidarity for ending this pandemic and to share the information in this toolkit for a discussion to raise awareness.

Our World AIDS Day Prayer reflects on how we can make a difference in the lives of others.

Our 2006 World AIDS Handout provides current statistics on the global epidemic, as well as ideas on how you can be invovled in the fight for a cure.

• UN AIDS: Joint United Nations program on AIDS/HIV. A global source of information on the AIDS epidemic.
• Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance work on HIV/AIDS: HIV and AIDS Campaign. Keep the Promise.
• Ecumenical liturgy for World AIDS Day: available in French and Spanish "For the eyes of the Lord are upon us" is an ecumenical liturgy adapted for use on or around World AIDS Day 2005. It is available in English, French and Spanish, along with many other worship resources prepared for 2005.
• WHO HIV/AIDS Programme: WHO and its HIV/AIDS department work within the family of UNAIDS Cosponsors to facilitate multisectoral efforts to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
• 3 X 5 Initiative: "3 by 5" is the global TARGET to provide three million people living with HIV/AIDS in low- and middle-income countries with life-prolonging antiretroviral treatment (ART) by the end of 2005.
• AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa: a looming threat to future generations: While the tragedy of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been drawing increased media attention, one the most troubling aspects of it - the long-term impact on African societies of some 11 million AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa - has been featured less often.
• 46664: Join Nelson Mandela's 46664 campaign and sign the global petition.
• Response to report emphasizes World AIDS Day theme for 2005: "Keep the Promise" The World AIDS Campaign (WAC) in response to the UNAIDS report, has called upon political leaders to recognize that unless they keep their promises to act and translate their words into concerted and sustained action, millions of men women and children will continue to die around the world. The Executive Director of the WAC, Marcel van Soest, commented: "The UNAIDS report shows again that the combination of political leadership linked to a comprehensiveresponse to HIV and AIDS that includes prevention treatment and care can reverse the growth of HIV. If that is also linked to the full participation of people living with and affected by HIV, NGOs, faith groups, trade unions and other community groups' real progress can be made and many lives can be saved. It is not new, and it is not rocket science, but it does demand sustained commitment." Van Soest continued, "In 2006 governments will be held to account on their response to HIV and AIDS and we can say now it is not only falling short in some cases it borders on criminal neglect and we cannot and will not allow it to continue."
• The 2005 annual report by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) has just been released. The joint report, which this year focuses on HIV prevention, gives new evidence that adult HIV infection rates have decreased in certain countriesand changes in behavior to prevent infection - such as increased use of condoms, delay of first sexual experienceand fewer sexual partners - have played a key part in these declines. The new report also indicates, however, that overall trends in HIV transmission are still increasing, and that far greaterHIV prevention efforts are needed to slow the epidemic. With maps and regional estimates, the 2005 edition provides the most recent estimates on the epidemic's scope and humantoll, explores new trends in the epidemic's evolution, andfeatures a special section on HIV prevention. The full report, fact sheets and graphics are available on theUNAIDS web site at the above link.
• Radio Competition: Are you a radio producer and feel that you have something to share about the impact of HIV and AIDS using a microphone? OneWorld Africa is organizing a global competition on the theme "Stop Aids: Keep the Promise" in the run up to the World AIDS Day commemoration falling on 1 December 2005. There are two categories for the competition - child focused messages/voices and adult focused messages/voices. All you have to do is submit audio public service announcements (PSAs) that convey HIV and AIDS campaign messages on the theme, "Stop AIDS: Keep the promise!" The best audio entry will receive a minidisk recorder or cash equivalent of US $500. Five consolation prizes of OneWorld Africa T-shirts will be awarded to deserving entries. The winner will also be announced in a press release.
• "The Bell is Ringing": is a grassroots initiative begun by the Jerusalem AIDS Project to mobilize communities and individuals around the world to raise awareness of the HIV pandemic. They are calling for bells to be rung at 20:00 GMT for 60 seconds. Bells could be school bells, hand bells, fire-brigade bells, church bells, tower bells, door bells, receptionists' bells, cow bells, and any other innovative bells.