Sushila Kukathas in Bangkok
From China's northern city of Fujian to the islands of Fiji, from the steppes of Mongolia to the shores of Macau, hundreds of thousands of people gathered at Red Cross Red Crescent locations to remember friends, colleagues and loved ones affected by HIV/AIDS. The release of 50,000 balloons with messages of support in twenty Asian countries was part of events to mark World AIDS Day on December 1st in the region.
To commemorate the day, and spread the message "I Care - Do You?' about people living with HIV/AIDS, 20 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Asia organised a colourful array of events in their capital cities as well as in many outlying regions.
At each event, thousands of balloons and message cards were distributed to members of the public, volunteers and guests. People wrote personal words of support and encouragement not only for those known to be living with HIV/AIDS but also for the thousands of anonymous lives touched by the disease. The messages were attached to balloons emblazoned on one side with the Red Cross Red Crescent symbol and on the other with a large red ribbon. In addition, there was a simultaneous release across 20 countries of 50,000 red and white balloons with messages of hope that floated across the skies.
In Thailand, more than 500 people attended a special 'Thien Song Jai' or Candlelight Night celebration on the grounds of the Red Cross Anonymous Clinic where at dusk, Patron Her Royal Highness, Princess Somsawali lit a giant candle in remembrance of AIDS sufferers. Prior to her arrival, thousands of people, many of them in carnival-like costumes, paraded down one of Bangkok's busiest thoroughfares waving balloons distributed at the official World Aids Day ceremony in nearby Lumphini Park. For a few minutes, traffic in the busy metropolis came to a standstill as police manoeuvred the colourful crowd towards the Clinic grounds. After releasing the balloons, the festive atmosphere continued with outdoor games organised by youth volunteers and a mini-concert hosted by popular local celebrities.
Across the border in Cambodia, celebrations for World AIDS Day started one month earlier with activities by the Red Cross planned to coincide with the birthday of its monarch and the annual Water Festival. From Kampot province in the east to Battambang in the west, Red Cross branches held special events. Thousands of people also descended on the capital Phnom Penh to participate in the month-long festival and many joined in the balloon campaign. At Wat Phnom in the city centre, 2,400 balloons were released during a ceremony by some 2000 people, including representatives of international organisations, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), embassies, Red Cross youth, volunteers and HIV/AIDS programme volunteers.
Half way around the globe, Cook Islanders marked the day by releasing balloons as part of their National Flower Day celebrations. Hundreds of folk thronged into the capital of Avarua to enjoy the many activities organized by the local Red Cross.
In Fiji the celebration took place in a number of locations, such as a prison in Suva, where inmates released balloons into the blue skies. The highlight of the main event in Suva was a special show by the Fiji Red Cross Puppet Theatre which travels around the country with performances on HIV/AIDS.
Every year, some 25,000 people in Fiji see these performances. The final balloons were released just before midnight, at the closing of Fiji Red Cross annual fashion show. In East Timor, 33 Red Cross volunteers, specially trained the previous week on AIDS issues, distributed 1,000 balloons and 1,200 red ribbons in four locations in the capital city. The training enabled the volunteers to answer the many questions posed by the public about the disease. Volunteers also took the time to distribute pamphlets on HIV/AIDS prevention in Tetun, Bahasa Indonesia and Portuguese.
China's participation in the event reflected the strength and size of the Red Cross there as staff and volunteers in seven provinces across the country released many thousands of balloons. Braving sub-zero conditions, more than 600 Red Cross youth members and volunteers congregated at the front gate of Beijing Western Railway Station to take part in a ceremony to release more than 1,500 balloons. The event was attended by famous local film and television personality and HIV-AIDS advocate, PuChunxi, who used the opportunity to encourage youth in the country to raise public awareness of AIDS.
Many of the 50,000 balloons drifted through cities, over mountains and across seas. They came down in urban centres and rural villages, picked up by all. The cards fixed on the balloons encouraged people to return them to the nearest Red Cross Red Crescent branch. The hope was that messages written on these cards made more than a few individuals pause and consider the plight of people living with AIDS and encouraged them to care.
Related links
More about HIV/AIDS and World AIDS day 2001