I’m not going to pretend like I know what it feels like to have everything ripped away from you in a matter of seconds. I’m not there in Haiti. However, what I do know is that the images and videos from Haiti are moving. It’s so sad to see the heartache and the pain that these people are going through.
I posted a link on my website (listed above – I’ll keep this link on the site for future reference) with a link of websites where you can help the cause to help the victims and their families during this tragedy. This is going to be a monumental relief effort by the United States and the World, but we can do it.
When tragedies of this magnitude happen, we are no longer people separated by borders, we are people of the world. We are one species in this world.
So my question to you is – are you going to help?
Here are a list of websites which you can contribute to the cause:
If you can’t contribute financially then please encourage your family and friends to donate money to the cause. If nothing else, spreading the word could put these links to people who may be able and want to help. Together we can make a difference for all of those affected by this terrible tragedy.
Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day. “HIV/AIDS has been a global epidemic for more than 27 years.”1
WHAT IS HIV/AIDS?
HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system – the body’s defense against diseases.2 However, HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. When someone is described as living with HIV, they have the HIV virus in their body. A person is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope.3
There is no known cure, but there is treatment for people to keep the disease under control. Many people can live a healthy and active life if they get treatment for it. However, treatment is less effective if the disease is discovered late.
This makes World AIDS Day and important to raise awareness and urge people to get tested and if necessary treated for HIV/AIDS.
WHERE TO GET TESTED
Many locations are offering free HIV/AIDS testing on December 1st. This may vary from location to location so be sure to check with individual testing centers for information regarding testing and cost of the tests.
Planned Parenthood has numerous locations around the country and does offer HIV testing. Visit there website for more information on locations and testing information.
PREVENTION
There are numerous ways that you can protect and prevent yourself from getting HIV/AIDS. The first is getting tested for HIV/AIDS – even if you don’t suspect that you have it, it never hurts to be sure.
WorldAIDSDay.org states the common ways that HIV/AIDS are passed on:
Sex without a condom with someone living with HIV
Sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment
From an HIV-positive mother (to her child) during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding (but with effective treatment and care the risk of transmission can be greatly reduced)
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Bring Awareness. There is nothing more powerful then spreading the word. By making people more aware of HIV/AIDS you are helping make a difference. This is one area that could be improved for this issue. We need more people spreading information about HIV/AIDS. Spread the word by directing people to this website or by directing them to WorldAIDSday.org.
You can also raise awareness by purchasing a red ribbon to not only help the cause but to help people become more aware. Click here for more details on how you can help this cause.
Volunteer. Get involved by volunteering some of your time to help out the cause. While WorldAIDSDay.org is directed toward the United Kingdom, you can still get involved by starting an event in your local community, school and business. Click here for more information.
Donate. You can donate money by purchasing ribbons, buttons, posters. You can also give monetary donations as well. Click here for more details on how you can help this cause.
RESOURCES
Here are some other helpful websites! Be sure to visit them!
Did you know that “One in eight babies born in our country is premature. The rate of premature birth in America is higher than that of most other developed nations?”1 Today I would like to bring awareness and dedicate this post to preemies and their friends and families. November 17th is bloggers unite to try to bring awareness on this cause. However, we shouldn’t limit it to today – we should fight everyday. We can make a difference and I hope you share this information with people.
Many premature babies will face lifelong challenges. Babies who survive a preterm birth risk serious lifelong health problems including cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, learning disabilities, and other chronic conditions.2 Some babies don’t survive the first month. About one million deaths in the first month of life (28 percent of total newborn deaths) are attributed to preterm birth.3
Here is a video clip from the March of Dimes.
You can learn more about Premature babies at the March of Dimes.
Bring Awarness: Contact your local paper, news agency and blogs to publish information about premature babies. If you need help with writing or contacting news agencies, feel free to contact me.
Volunteer: You can make a difference by spending a little bit of your time helping others. Check out local March of Dime chapters.
If you have a personal story and would like to share it on the blog, feel free to post a comment. Please, please, please share either this post with your family and friends or please pass on the March of Dimes website to help fight for these babies. “We need to fight ― because babies shouldn’t have to.”
