Alicia Keys proves she can not only use her voice for singing: for many years she’s been fighting - just like us - for a HIV free generation. She has it right when she says that somehow, in America – and honestly, everywhere else – we got the idea that it’s not ‘our’ disease, that it’s something that’s ‘over there’ ,‘a gay disease’ or ‘a dirty disease’. Well, it is not. She made it her goal to prove so when starting her new campaign ‘Empowered’. For example, did you know that in America 1 out of 4 newly infected people is a woman? And not just ‘that type of woman’.
 
In 'Empowered' some of these women talk about their experiences of living with HIV. Women that are just like you and me: moms, students and businesswomen, each with a different story. One of them got infected during her marriage and another woman had HIV positive parents who didn’t know their status. There was one sentence that summarized it quite well: ‘And pretty much everyone who becomes HIV positive says: I didn’t think it could happen to me… Until it happened to me.’ But instead of keeping quiet about it, they decided to act and fight… To become empowered. ‘They reminded me that as women we are so unlimited in our power’ - something that Alicia Keys, but also our own Ninette Murk proves every day in the fight against AIDS.

Check out the interview here 

Source: Designers Against AIDS website

Laughter and condoms sounds like a weird combo? Well, we don’t think so and it seems that PIAS Comedy agrees.

For you guys who don’t know them, check out their website: Pias Comedy is part of are a big entertainment company, one of their offices is located in Belgium and is responsible for some of  the best comedians Belgium has to offer… And it looks like they’re also a fan of our message! The picture I included is their profile picture on Facebook. Coincidence? I think not. That promoting condom use and HIV awareness can be done in a funny and creative way is something we prove on a daily basis and it seems that PIAS got the same idea.  I would love to see one of their comedians doing a gig about safe sex – and to be honest, to hear their opinion on the whole condom snorting phenomenon – what do you guys think, good idea or not?

Source: Designers Against AIDS website

Have you watched "MIKA" the movie?  The movie has successfully gained the public attention because of its great story that was based on an inspiring book, “Waktu Aku Sama Mika”. Indi Taufik or better known as Indi Sugar, is the author of this best-seller book. She’s also the author of two other great books, titled “Guruku Berbulu dan Berekor” and “Karena Cinta itu Sempurna”.

Through her Twitter account, this super friendly author expressed her support for Bali Against AIDS: "No one should be judged for what they had. Keep fighting #baliagainstAIDS! :)" We are very happy because of your support, Miss Indi. Hopefully in the future, there will be many more creative authors just like you! And we’re waiting for your next great work! PS: To us at Bali Against AIDS, she’s not just inspiring but also fashionable. Take a look at the way she dressed up. Isn’t too cute? :)

The amazing "It Starts With Me" campaign from the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is now running in the UK. The concept of this project is simple and successful: we already have the weapons to defeat the disease and these weapons are the HIV tests, treatment and obviously CONDOMS. "But they are just tools - it is down to all of us as individuals to make it happen. ...You can stop HIV harming you and the ones you care about". How awesome is to be part of this huge change? It's not difficult; you just need to take care!
The campaign targets especially the most endangered communities in the UK, the gay and the black communities, so different online spots and online platforms were created in order to address both the categories. While the videos explain in detail how to stop the spreading of the disease, the "It Starts With Me" online platforms give you a wide range of practical information. You can find the nearest clinic in the UK where you can be tested - you just need to enter your zip code. You can also order a free postal HIV test that will be send to you. You need to wait some days though due to the current high demand of these tests - but this, in my opinion, is just more good news.
I really appreciate this campaign since the power of the individual is highly valued: fighting HIV is a day-to-day effort and not just a billionaire scientific international race. People are not stupid, they just need to know what to do and how, since we already have everything we need to make the difference. Big changes worldwide always happen when the whole concept on common people changes, there is no other way. It seems that Designer Against AIDS and the THT already knew this little secret. This is why we are so awesome! :P

Source: Designers Against AIDS website

Last week I saw some cute black metal boxes with white Chanel lettering filled with mints, for sale at Colette in Paris, which I thought would also be cool to carry condoms in. But today I saw something way, WAY cooler, on the Facebook page of my friend, former top model and now creative consultant at Dolce & Gabbana, Marpessa Hennink. On the photo you see a pair of quilted, high heeled boots with the typical read Chanel lining, featuirng a small pouch. "Perfect for condoms!", I mailed to Marpessa, who answered: "Bingo Ninette, that's what Karl meant when he gave them to me!". Imagine going clubbing wearing these boots, bringing home the man of your dreams and whipping out a condom from inside your boots at the moment suprème.... OK, getting a bit too carried away right now. I love Chanel and the creative genius that is Karl Lagerfeld -and I love them even more now. The hunt for those boots is ON! Photo by Miss Monde.

Source: Designers Against AIDS website

The first porn star we interviewed at the Berlin Porn Festival 2006 was Marcel Schlutt: a German fashion model, photographer and columnist. This guy has a lot of qualities, for besides being a model he is also a star in gay porn. He became known in the early 2000s as the host of the first German gay TV-show. This multi-tasker worked for Levi Strauss, Vogue, New Yorker and many, many more. DAA was lucky to bump into him in Berlin and made it hot for him!

Marcel claims to know a lot of people who are hiv+, especially in the gay scene. However, Schlutt is one of those men that realize the importance of safe sex. This porn star always plays it safe and wraps it up! After asking him about the fact that a lot of porn viewers don't like seeing condoms he replied: ‘ I honestly don't see why people would make a big deal out of this. Wearing a condom is natural, I never mind to wear one. Porn stars should always protect themselves and their colleagues.' One last word of advice from Marcel: Live your life but always play safe! In this photo, Schultz is wearing DAA T-shirt customized with tape by artist Dodi Reifenberg.

Source: Designers Against AIDS website

Condoms - A Guide On How NOT To Use Them
Did you guys ever hear about the condom challenge? If not, it’s best to keep it that way... A new trend has emerged in the world of youtube where youngsters snort condoms. You read that right, they snort condoms through their nose and let them come out their mouth.  They then proceed to upload their video doing so and see how many hits they get.  I know you’re all thinking it so I’ll just come out and say it: GROSS. What are you guys thinking?  That’s not what people mean when they say SAFE sex. I’m happy that you value condoms so much, but using them the regular way sounds a LOT more fun to me. 

And just to state the obvious: this can actually become dangerous. If something goes wrong and that condom decides to go up your windpipe instead of coming out your mouth… You can actually die doing this. I’m not the only one with this opinion. The trend has gone so far that even celebrities decided to speak out and ask these kids to STOP snorting condoms (http://www.thatvideosite.com/v/8760/condom-snorting-stop-it)

So, if you’re now staring at a condom wondering what to do with it, or if your condom is almost over date and it has to be used, don’t put it in your nose. Put it to good use and have safe sex. That’ll make me – and you -  a lot more happy! 

Source: Designers Against AIDS website

Raised in Senegal, growing up wasn't always easy for singer-songwriter Akon and music was what helped him go through his challenged youth, thanks to his father, a musician who passed on his passion for music. Akon turned things around: instead of seeing difficulties, he saw the possibilities. But music wasn't the only passion his parents passed on, both of them were -and still are- social activists. Now being a successful artist he wants to give back: to Africa in general and to Senegal in particular.

His foundation Konfidence raises money to give Africa a future. All money goes to schools, technology, awareness- and education programs for youngsters in Africa. We are very happy to introduce Akon and the Konfidence foundation as a new DAA friend! Have a look at this video, where Akon himself explains his vision.

Source: Designers Against AIDS website

Are you young people aged 10-24 years and passionate in movie making? If you are, then it’s time for you to show up your talents! This year, to celebrate International Youth Day, KISARA has an idea to create a short movie contest that could be joined by all creative young people! With theme “I’m Young with Choices and Responsibilities”, KISARA invites you to develop your brilliant idea into a 5-10 minutes short movie!

There are 5 sub themes to be chosen. They are: Young People and Unintended Pregnancies, Young People and HIV-AIDS, Young People and Drug Abusing, Young LGBT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender),Young People and their Dedication to Duty and Community. Isn’t it interesting? And of course, your short movie must be original!

Go participate in this contest to celebrate your day, International Youth Day! Bali Against AIDS really appreciate this kind of initiative because in the future, we can use these short movies to educate and to inspire young people all over the world! Of course using a fun way! Pop Culture!

More information please click here!

While searching for a topic for my blog entry I found that it would be the most interesting to write about a courageus performance called „Red Zone“ that happened in Belgrade, -in Knez Mihailova street- the most visited street in town- a few months ago. Author of „Red Zone“ is young Serbian artist Teodora Stamenkovic and the performance is actually part of an exam of the University Of Fine Arts in Belgrade. As Teodora explains, the idea was to reveal the erotic being which lies down under everyday clothes. She decided to take a sex abstinence of several months, so she could put herself in a position of „inner boiling“. The white clothes and the mask should symbolize purity, usually false moral and the protection that every human being has, without exception. She painted her body red in order to evoke the strength of sexuality, which can't be the hidden part of human nature, no matter how hard we try. In fact, the strength of the inner being dominates and it always strives to present itself in front of the world. We must pay attention to that as a society and talk about sexuality openly. That way we will also raise awareness about the negative consequences of risky sexual behavior and can help stop a further increase of new HIV rates.

Watch the performance here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBKfbXucuLs

Source: Designers Against AIDS website