IT’S WORLD AIDS DAY & WE’RE TURNING TWITTER (RED) – LITERALLY!

December 1 is World AIDS Day.


Twitter, (RED) and our new (PRODUCT) RED partner, NIKE, are coming together to do something that’s never been done before. We’re asking everyone to help us turn Twitter (RED) – literally.


When you use #red or #laceupsavelives on December 1 on Twitter, your tweets will turn the color red.*


Why #red?: It’s the color of an emergency. AIDS is a preventable and treatable disease yet 33 million people in the world have HIV. 22 million of whom live in Africa.


Why #laceupsavelives?: 100% of the profits from the sale of the new (NIKE)RED laces goes to the Global Fund and to football-based programs that help fight AIDS in Africa.


From Ashton to Pete to Ryan to Serena to Maxwell, (RED) friends are planning to tweet in red to show their support. We hope you will too. Help turn Twitter (RED). On World AIDS Day we will show that One Color Unites Us.


You’ll also see a few other things on Twitter turn (RED) for the day including the Twitter homepage.


Thank you to our great friends at Twitter for dedicating their time, energy, resource and ideas to make this happen.



Follow us @joinred


*Tweets will also turn the color red when the following words are used (though no hashtag will be needed): World AIDS Day, AIDS, Africa, HIV

A Killers Christmas Song for (RED)

The Killers are, in many ways, the first (RED) artist.

Four years ago, in late November, they called up and told us they'd recorded a Christmas song for (RED) and asked exactly where to send the proceeds. That was a beautiful thing, and every year they keep upping the ante. Last year’s song, “Joseph, Better You Than Me” featured Elton John and Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys. This year’s song was recorded with their colleagues in rock, Wild Light and Mariachi El Bronx. It’s called “Happy Birthday Guadalupe” and it finds that wistful churning gear of the Killers at their best. Director Chris Callister created a video that tells a spooky tale of lost love set in the desert, filled with otherworldly spirits, angels, skeletons and Luke Perry as a wandering cowboy.

The Killers are donating all the proceeds from the song to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. “Happy Birthday Guadalupe” is available from today on iTunes and on Amazon.

Announcing (RED)’s new partner: NIKE

Lace Up. Save Lives.

Today is a very exciting day. It’s the launch of (NIKE) RED in 13 countries around the world. Nike has created Nike (PRODUCT) RED laces – designed to fight AIDS in Africa. 100% of the profits go to the Global Fund and to Nike football-based programs (ie: soccer!).


(NIKE) RED launched today at NIKETOWN in London with Bono and some of the world’s best footballers - Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Denilson (Arsenal), Lucas Neill (Everton), Clint Dempsey (Fulham) and Seol Ki-Hyeon (Fulham). It was incredible. The world press turned out to see this partnership come together.

Check out some of the coverage below:


Nike CEO Mark Parker, Didier Drogba (Chelsea), (RED) CEO Susan Smith Ellis, Bono and Prof. Michel D. Kazatchkine, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, help launch (NIKE) RED. Read More here.



We’re working with Nike to leverage the power of sport to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa. Together we’re focusing on two initiatives: Educate and Medicate. Our aim is to ensure that HIV positive people in Africa have access to the medicine they need to stay alive and to continue to build education programs through the power of sport.


The first product to be introduced are (NIKE) RED laces. The laces are specifically designed for football boots. But anyone can wear them. You, me, Drogba, Bono….and wear them in many ways. Bono’s been wearing them on the U2 360 tour and ‘Man of the Match’ Drogba actually wore them during yesterday’s Chelsea v. Arsenal match. Have a look.

So simple, yet so powerful! Lace Up Save Lives. Buy them at NIKETOWNS around the world or online here.

Jen @ (RED)

Raising Their Voices for (RED)

December 1st is World AIDS Day, and friends of (RED)™ will be raising their voices to share their personal views on how ONE COLOR UNITES us and why they got involved with supporting (RED). You can read:

- John Legend’s ‘The Good News on AIDS’ at DailyBeast.com

"Many people hear it’s World AIDS Day and brace themselves for a barrage of depressing statistics. Instead, let me throw you a curve ball: We have made impressive progress in the fight against AIDS, and should celebrate our successes..." Read full story here

- Google's ‘We’re Going (RED) for World AIDS Day’ on the Google Blog
"HIV/AIDS has cut a swath of destruction across the globe—infecting more than 60 million people, leaving 14 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa alone. But a global movement to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, along with scientific breakthroughs in treatment, have reversed the momentum in recent years…" Read full story here

- Kelly Rutherford’s ‘Caught Caring’ on People.com’s Celebrity Baby Blog

"...Consider this — Left alone, an HIV positive pregnant woman has about a 40% chance of passing the HIV virus on to her child during childbirth. But, if the woman receives a treatment that costs just $26 during her pregnancy and during birth, the chances are lowered to as little as 1 -2%…" Read full story here

- James Frey on losing his son in his guest blog on Babble.com
“…But we, you and I and our families and our friends and our coworkers, can change it for the children in Africa who are living with AIDS. We can give them the gift that we have been given, and that so many of us take for granted…” Read full story here

- Biz Stone, Founder of Twitter on How ‘AIDS is preventable and Treatable’ on Twitter’s Blog
“…Personally, I was struck by how effective treatment can be—someone on death's door can be brought back to life in as little as 90 days. This transformation is called the Lazarus Effect and it has more impact than you can imagine…” Read full story here

- Fashionista June Ambrose’s ‘(RED) is Hot’ piece on Stylelist

"Today ONE COLOR UNITES US! That's the theme at (RED) this World AIDS DAY…The commitment to (RED) is also easy: (RED)'s partners are some of the hautest brands around, from Apple to Bugaboo! Yes, you can go shopping and feel good about it…" Read full story here

- James Boyce’s ‘Deeply in the (RED) This World AIDS Day’ post on huffingtonpost.com

"…It is natural and I think expected that it is hard for everyone to always focus on something like AIDS, and especially AIDS in Africa. It is an overwhelming issue and one that seems so distant…" Read full story here.

- Bruce Mau’s ‘Seeing (RED) for Joy and Hope’ on Adage.com

"A few years ago I was in the car with my wife – who is part Nigerian – listening to a man on the radio speaking about AIDS in Africa and complaining that no one was doing anything about it. It struck us because what he was saying couldn't be further from the truth.." Read full story here

And, our own CEO, Susan Smith Ellis, blogging about how you can make a difference this World AIDS Day on Huffingtonpost.com
"The basic idea of (RED)™ is transactional conveyance; I buy a (RED)-branded product, be it an Apple iPod, a Nike shoelace or a Gap tee-shirt, and a percentage of the profit from that sale goes to the Global Fund... Somewhere in Ghana or Rwanda or Botswana, someone gets antiretroviral medication which keeps them alive or reduces the likelihood that they will transmit HIV to their unborn or just-born child. And so that someone, who otherwise might die or be destined to die, lives or bequeaths a more promising life instead. It's a good deal…" Read full story here

Susan will also be posting on the Facebook Blog and is the guest columnist for PR Week this month.

Thanks to all who spoke out in support of (RED). Be sure to keep an eye out for more of these great posts on World AIDS Day!

DECEMBER 1 IS WORLD AIDS DAY - ONE COLOR UNITES US.

HELP TURN FACEBOOK & TWITTER (RED)

SEE HOW (RED) PARTNERS INCLUDING GAP, DELL & STARBUCKS ARE GIVING MORE

December 1st is World AIDS Day – a time to honor all who are affected by AIDS. Cities, brands, organizations and people are coming together from all over the world to make one statement. That ONE COLOR UNITES US. And that color is (RED).

Here’s how you can get involved. Help us turn Facebook & Twitter (RED) on December 1st:

Facebook: Share our video & make your profile picture (RED). Get everything you need at: www.facebook.com/joinred

Twitter: We’ve been working with our good friends at Twitter to do something really exciting. We're turning the color of tweets red for the day! Just use #red or #laceupsavelives to turn your tweets red. Find out more at: @joinred or just click here.

What else can you do on December 1st? This World AIDS Day, (RED) partners are making increased contributions to help fight AIDS in Africa:

Starbucks: 5 cents for every hand-crafted beverage in US & Canada, and 5p/5 Euro cents for every espresso-based beverage bought in UK & Ireland.

Gap: 1% of all revenue at participating US and Canada stores.

Dell: Doubling their contributions on DELL (PRODUCT) RED™ products in US, UK and Japan. Until December 2nd.

Bugaboo: As always Bugaboo will be contributing 1% of their total revenue to the Global Fund.

Click here to see all (RED) partners.

33 million people in the world have HIV. 22 million live in Africa. It costs around 40cents a day for the 2 pills that are needed to help keep someone living with HIV alive. Yet, more than 70% of the people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than $2 a day. Because of you, to date $140 million has been sent to Africa through (RED) partners and events, which has supported programs that have helped reach 4 million people.

Thank you for fighting AIDS in Africa. Thank you for being (RED).

ONE COLOR UNITES US on December 1st

Chrysi @ (RED)

Latest AIDS stats from UNAIDS: Progress is being made, but 'Africa still worst hit'

The annual statistics for HIV/AIDS infections from UNAIDS were published this week. World health officials say the data is ‘encouraging’, but there is still much work to be done. The number of people infected globally stands at 33 million, the figure it has been at for the last two years.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the latest figures cite that 3,800 people die each day from AIDS. 1.4 million people annually. While this figure is a decrease from 4,100, it is still too high. And, sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most affected. In 2008, the region accounted for 67% of HIV infections worldwide, 68% of new HIV infections among adults and 91% of new HIV infections among children.

In an interview with Reuters, UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe said: ‘The major problem we are facing today is inequality. It is very important we don’t continue to have 400,000 babies born with HIV in Africa every year. That is something that we world can deliver. That is why we are calling for a virtual elimination of transmission from mother to child by 2015.’

We couldn’t agree more.

Read more at http://budurl.com/unaidsbl

One Color Unites Us: Cities go (RED) on World AIDS Day

On World AIDS Day, December 1st, 2009, cities will go (RED)™. This includes our millions of supporters, our partners, their products, their thousands of stores, our websites, their websites, our media partners, and, iconic landmarks around the world. When Bono and Bobby Shriver founded (RED), their intent was to bring the power of consumers, the private sector and the public sector together to eliminate AIDS in Africa. In that spirit, leaders from cities are helping us bring awareness to the AIDS pandemic by turning their cities (RED) on World AIDS Day.

What does it mean to go (RED)? In a show of solidarity, 13 cities are illuminating landmarks the color RED for the day. Here are the cities and landmarks to watch out for. If you’re in the area take a picture and post it on our Facebook wall: www.facebook.com/joinred.

Baltimore, MD: The Washington Monument in Baltimore
Boston, MA: The Zakim Bridge
Chicago, IL: CNA Building. The AIDS ribbon and the words “FIGHT AIDS” in lights on the side of the building
Columbus, OH: City Hall & the Columbus Public Health Building will be (RED) for the entire week!
Dublin, Ireland: City Hall
London, England: the London Eye and the Trafalgar Square Fountain
Los Angeles, CA: the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles and the pylons around LAX airport
Pittsburgh, PA: the City & County Building and the needle on top of the Highmark Building
Providence, RI: City Hall, 1 Financial Plaza, 111 Westminster Street and the Skating Center at Kennedy Plaza
Salt Lake City, UT: The City & County Building
San Francisco, CA: City Hall & Coit Tower
St. Louis, MO: Civil Courts Building
Torrance, CA: Girl Skate Park

Enjoy the (RED) skyline for the night! Check out what these cities might look like on December 1st…

Los Angeles, CA: the pylons at LAX


San Francisco, CA: City Hall & Coit Tower


Stephanie @ (RED)

Want to discover great tunes while fighting AIDS in Africa? There’s an app for that.

Say hello to our new Special Edition: the Shazam (PRODUCT) RED TM Special Edition App helps fight AIDS in Africa.

Here’s how it works: You buy the (SHAZAM)RED App. You discover great tracks. 20% of the price is contributed to HIV and AIDS programs in Africa. It's that simple. And that powerful.

It’s available from today in 22 markets and eight languages. Costs £2.99/ €3.99/ $4.99, depending on location, from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/



Shazam is the world’s leading mobile music discovery provider, with over 10 million downloads on the iPhone and iPod touch alone. Lovin’ that tune?TM Create music moments, discover, buy and share for a unique music journey.

Here’s what Music Week in the UK are saying about (SHAZAM) RED: http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1039255&c=1

Enjoy!

Even More Love from Starbucks (PRODUCT) RED

Starting today our friends at Starbucks will contribute $1 US to help fight AIDS in Africa & give you an exclusive holiday gift – the Starbucks & (RED) CD ‘All You Need Is Love’ - when you spend $15 or more. You’ll get exclusive tracks from Playing for Change, U2, Dave Matthews Band & John Legend. Available at participating Starbucks in US & Canada. Limited supplies – so get yours quick!


Find out more at www.StarbucksLoveProject.com. Create a ‘Love Drawing’ and Starbucks will make an additional 5 cents contribution to fighting AIDS in Africa (up to 1 million drawings).

That’s not all. There’s a new (STARBUCKS) RED Card this holiday with a mini-me version too. Each time you pay for your purchase with the Card through Dec 31st 2010, Starbucks will contribute 5 cents to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

Thank you. $140 million to Africa So Far.

The latest numbers are in. (RED) partners and events have contributed $140 million to date to the Global Fund to fund HIV/AIDS programs in Africa.

Because of you, (RED) funds have supported programs that have reached more than 4 million people with testing, counseling and medication.

And to quote our CEO Susan Smith Ellis, the impact that you have when you buy (RED) ‘truly transforms lives as people gain access to medicine, regain strength and can return to being active children, parents, workers and community leaders.’

Here’s to the next $140 million….

WORLD AIDS DAY 2009. Giving More: Starbucks, Dell, Gap

World AIDS Day is Dec 1 and this year, (RED) partners including Starbucks, Gap and Dell will make special increased contributions to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

STARBUCKS: Will contribute 5 cents for every hand-crafted beverage in US & Canada, and 5p/5 Euro cents for every espresso-based beverage bought in UK & Ireland on Dec 1

GAP: Will contribute 1% of all revenue at participating US and Canada stores on Dec 1

DELL: Will be doubling their contributions on DELL (PRODUCT) RED™ products in US, UK and Japan for the full week of Nov 26 to Dec 2

And as always Bugaboo will be contributing 1% of their total revenue to the Global Fund.

(PRODUCT) RED items are available in more than 60 countries – giving shoppers so many ways to give great gifts while giving back this holiday.

Give (RED). Save Lives.

(RED) Pop Up Shops Opening on World AIDS Day

Ready to shop (RED) TM for the holidays? In addition to finding (RED) at all of our great partner retailers this holiday season, this December you can find an array of (PRODUCT) RED TM branded products under one roof at the (RED) pop up shops in London, Tokyo, San Francisco and New York. Stop by and pick up great gifts that give back from (RED) partners including Apple, Bugaboo, Converse, Dell, Emporio Armani, Gap, Hallmark, Starbucks and special editions Solange Azagury-Partridge, Girl Skateboard, Channel Islands Surfboards and Timbuk2. (Selection will vary by location). Hope to see you there!

(RED) Pop Up Stores are located in Gap Flagship stores:
New York: The (RED) Store, 680 Fifth Avenue (at 54th St), NY, NY 10019, USA
View Map
Open Dec 1 – Jan 3

San Francisco: The (RED) Store, Flood Building, 890 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA
View Map
Open Dec 1 – Dec 17

Tokyo: GAP Flagship Harajuku, 1-14-27 Jingumae, Shibuya Ward, Tōkyō Metropolis, Japan
Open Dec 1 – Dec 25
View Map

London: The (RED) Store, 376-384 Oxford Street, London, W1C 1JY
View Map
Opens Dec 1 - Dec 21st

Check your local store for hours of operation.

Here are some pictures from the store in New York:



And in Tokyo:


San Francisco:


And London too:




Happy Shopping!

(STARBUCKS) RED launch in the U.K. & Ireland: Watch the video.

We love this video! It’s for the announcement of our (STARBUCKS) RED launch in the U.K & Ireland that happened this week. The (STARBUCKS) RED Card lets you turn ALL your purchases at Starbucks (RED). Every time you use your (STARBUCKS) RED Card in the U.K. and Ireland until 31st December 2010, Starbucks will contribute 5p/5 cents to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.



The (STARBUCKS) RED range in the U.K. & Ireland:

(STARBUCKS)RED Card

Use your card to turn ALL your purchases at Starbucks (RED). Until 31st December 2010 Starbucks with contribute 5p/5c to the Global Fund.

Available: At participating Starbucks stores in the U.K. and Ireland.

Price: You decide how much money you want on the card. 5p/5cents contributed each time you use it.

(STARBUCKS)RED Tumbler

Make a difference for the environment and save money at the same time. Use the (STARBUCKS)RED Tumbler and get a 25p/25 cents discount too.

Available: At participating Starbucks stores in the U.K. and Ireland.

Price: £9.95/€12.00 with £3/€3 being contributed to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

Fall Out Boy (RED)NIGHTS Video

Pete Wentz we agree! With (RED) “You can be Bruce Wayne & Batman”. Check out this great video from their show and watch how you can channel your inner superhero.



For additional pictures and videos check out http://www.joinred.com/rednights/#concerts/night9

(STARBUCKS) RED – Now available in the UK & Ireland too

Our favourite coffee brand in the U.K & Ireland has now turned (RED). And we couldn’t be more excited!

We’ve extended our partnership with Starbucks so that all of you who live in the U.K. & Ireland can now buy (STARBUCKS) RED too. There are two products to choose from, now available at participating stores in the UK and Ireland:

(STARBUCKS) RED Card

The (STARBUCKS) RED Card lets you turn ALL your purchases at Starbucks (RED). Every time you use your (STARBUCKS) RED Card in the U.K. and Ireland until 31st December 2010, Starbucks will contribute 5p/5 Euro cents to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. All those pennies add up and can make a real difference – especially as the medicine that’s needed only costs around 20p/ 20c a day per person.

Price: You decide how much money you want to load on the card. 5p/5c contributed each time you use it.

(STARBUCKS) RED Tumbler
Want to make a difference for the environment and save money at the same time? Use the (STARBUCKS) RED Tumbler and get a 25p/25c discount too.

Price: £9.95/€12.00 with £3/€3 being contributed to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

(STARBUCKS) RED items are now available in U.S., U.K., Ireland and Canada. Find your nearest Starbucks store and do something good everyday with (STARBUCKS) RED.

Dashboard Confessional Postpones North American Tour

We’ve just heard from the Dashboard Confessional guys and unfortunately they’ve had a family situation and have had to cancel their North America Tour, including the two (RED)NIGHTS shows they were going to play. Here’s the statement from the band. Chris, John, Scott, Mike – we wish you the best and we’re thinking of you and your families.

“Dashboard Confessional will postpone their scheduled North American tour on behalf of their latest album “Alter the Ending”, due to a family issue within the band. “Due to a family situation that is beyond our control, we have to cancel our upcoming tour with New Found Glory, Never Shout Never, Meg & Dia and Single File. We don't take this lightly but family has to come first. As this is a last minute development, we are still figuring out what we will do- as soon as we know, you will know. We apologize to everyone who planned on coming to the shows. We will find a way to make it up to you.” Chris, John, Scott, Mike / Dashboard Confessional. The band is still performing with the Louisville Orchestra on Saturday, November 7th and plans to re-schedule the proper North American tour in 2010.”