Show World AIDS Day Day encouraged to attend special World AIDS Day activities BY RYAN ANDERSON Associated Press PressA A special World AIDS Day commemoration was held at Salt Lake Community College on December 1 and a all l were encouraged to attend That night special candlelight vigils were held to remember those who have died of AIDS Students were invited to attend Utah's World AIDS Day commemoration tion activities on December 1 1st st at 1 00 pm p.m. in Activities Center Community organizationS organizations organizations provided free HIV testing g free food and games as part of commemoration Events and activities included live musical performances performances per per- by Midnight Lenny The Taylor Trio Emily Taylor and Matt Calder educational games Jr free HIV IV testing esting free food and refreshments The AIDS quilt was r ron on display throughout the building and community as were many booths throughout the facility At pm p.m. the winners of a youth poster contest contest contest con con- test will be announced and the winning entries will be posted at the center The candlelight vigil at the college started at pm p.m. with a nondenominational al interfaith service featuring performances and appearances by Salt Lake Mens Men's Choir G- G Force and a reading of the names of many who have lost their lives to AIDS Immediately following the service attendants proceeded outside for the candlelight vigil December 1 2001 marked the annual World AIDS Day This day of remembrance originated in 1988 after an international summit of health ministers called for a new spirit of social tolerance and a greater exchange of information on HIV World AIDS Day serves to strengthen global efforts addressing the challenges challenges challenges chal chal- lenges of the AIDS epidemic which continues to spread throughout every region of the world Salt Lake Community College was chosen chosen chosen cho cho- sen as the main site for Utah's World AIDS Day activities because e of its strong youth relationship and affiliations One in four new HIV infections occur in persons under the age of 22 22 and the theme of 2001 I World AIDS Day I care do you Youth and AIDS in the 2 1st Century was selected to highlight this thi problem and encourage all young people to become more aware of the risks of HIV HIV AIDS In addition to World n AIDS Day activities taking pl place ce on December 1st other organizations also will be commemorating the occasion by offering services and activities activities activities during the week of November 26 to December 1 These included November 26 Red ribbons were distributed at the University of Utah U of U and artwork at the campus were shrouded in n black to signify signify- the loss the art community corn com J m i y has felt t as a result of 4 AIDS a November 28 28 Movies were played in the U of U Union B Ballroom November 29 A portion of the AIDS quilt was on display in the U of ofU U Union Ballroom November 30 Weber State University displayed displayed displayed dis dis- dis- dis played a portion of the AIDS Quilt at the Union Shepard Building The Intermountain Harm Hann Reduction Project located located located ed at East South provided provided provided pro pro- vided free HIV testing from pm p.m. to OO pm p.m. December 1 1 A candlelight candlelight candlelight can can- vigil was held at the New Promise Church in St. St George It began at pm p.m. with a short service inside the church before moving outdoors outdoors outdoors out out- doors for the candlelight vigil As of 2000 million million million mil mil- mil mil- lion men women and children worldwide are estimated to be living with AIDS and million have haye died from AIDS In the US alone are newly infected infected each each year According to the US Dept of Health and Human Services there are currently 1658 cases of HIV AIDS in Utah For additional information information information mation contact Frank Evans or Heather Bush at at the Utah Dept of Health Bureau of HIV HIV AIDS |