World AIDS Day is December 1st. Check out some small actions you can take to make a difference.

Let’s face it: life is hectic. We’re all busy rushing between working at our jobs, running after our kids, volunteering for school, sports, or in the community, and doing our best to balance our checkbooks in shaky times. Aside from the organizations we are already involved in, there are so many causes, so much suffering in the world, that we can sometimes feel powerless in facing challenges that are facing us all on a global scale.

This is when it’s important to remember that if every one of us takes even a few small actions, together we have the power to make a significant impact. With over 1 million Americans and 33 million people worldwide living with AIDS, the fight to find a cure, educate our youth, and help the families whose lives have been scarred by AIDS remains one of the most important issues facing the global community.

Here are a few things you can do to use your personal power to help make a difference this December 1st, World AIDS Day.

1. Use the Power of the Internet

Do you or your organization have a blog on blogspot.com, wordpress.com, or on your own site? If so, by taking a few minutes to remind all of your readers and friends about World AIDS Day, you can get a few people talking, and they will talk to more people, creating a ripple effect. BlogCatalog has joined with NIDA and AIDS.gov to promote awareness of World AIDS Day, and lists ways bloggers can take small actions to make a big difference on their Bloggers Unite website. Even if you don’t have time to write a post, you can simply put up a badge on your site like the one we have posted above.

{sidebar id=2} Not a blogger? Do you have a MySpace or Facebook profile? The AIDS.gov Facing AIDS campaign is encouraging everyone to take a picture of themselves wearing a red ribbon and upload it as a profile picture on Facebook or MySpace, and to add it to the Facing AIDS Flickr group. You can also find more ways to use social networks like Facebook and MySpace on the AIDS.gov blog .

2. Use the Power of the Dollar

‘Tis the season for shopping. As you stock up on stocking stuffers, gifts for colleagues, and other presents, consider buying items from companies that give back. Here are some ways to shop and support AIDS-related efforts at the same time.

ALDO Fights AIDS Love for Life Bracelets

ALDO has already given over $10 million to AIDS-related causes. This year, in partnership with YouthAIDS, ALDO has created stylish reusable tote bags for only $10, a limited time product line available at all ALDO stores and online at www.aldoshoes.com.

ALDO will donate all net proceeds to YouthAIDS.

Product (RED)

Nine major companies, including Starbucks, the Gap, Apple, Emporio Armani, Microsoft, and more, have joined in the (RED) initiative, started by Bono and Bobby Shriver. (RED) was set up as a way to allow private companies to contribute revenue to the The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Products available through Product (RED) range from computers to coffees, shoes to gift cards. A diverse range of recording artists, including Coldplay, Jay-Z, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, and many more, have also joined in this project to offer exclusive recordings through (RED).

You can start shopping (RED) at http://www.joinred.com/Shop.aspx.

Find more ways to make a difference on World AIDS Day on the AIDS.gov blog .

World AIDS Day is December 1st. Check out some small actions you can take to make a difference.

Let’s face it: life is hectic. We’re all busy rushing between working at our jobs, running after our kids, volunteering for school, sports, or in the community, and doing our best to balance our checkbooks in shaky times. Aside from the organizations we are already involved in, there are so many causes, so much suffering in the world, that we can sometimes feel powerless in facing challenges that are facing us all on a global scale.

This is when it’s important to remember that if every one of us takes even a few small actions, together we have the power to make a significant impact. With over 1 million Americans and 33 million people worldwide living with AIDS, the fight to find a cure, educate our youth, and help the families whose lives have been scarred by AIDS remains one of the most important issues facing the global community.

Here are a few things you can do to use your personal power to help make a difference this December 1st, World AIDS Day.

1. Use the Power of the Internet

Do you or your organization have a blog on blogspot.com, wordpress.com, or on your own site? If so, by taking a few minutes to remind all of your readers and friends about World AIDS Day, you can get a few people talking, and they will talk to more people, creating a ripple effect. BlogCatalog has joined with NIDA and AIDS.gov to promote awareness of World AIDS Day, and lists ways bloggers can take small actions to make a big difference on their Bloggers Unite website. Even if you don’t have time to write a post, you can simply put up a badge on your site like the one we have posted above.

{sidebar id=2} Not a blogger? Do you have a MySpace or Facebook profile? The AIDS.gov Facing AIDS campaign is encouraging everyone to take a picture of themselves wearing a red ribbon and upload it as a profile picture on Facebook or MySpace, and to add it to the Facing AIDS Flickr group. You can also find more ways to use social networks like Facebook and MySpace on the AIDS.gov blog .

2. Use the Power of the Dollar

‘Tis the season for shopping. As you stock up on stocking stuffers, gifts for colleagues, and other presents, consider buying items from companies that give back. Here are some ways to shop and support AIDS-related efforts at the same time.

ALDO Fights AIDS Love for Life Bracelets

ALDO has already given over $10 million to AIDS-related causes. This year, in partnership with YouthAIDS, ALDO has created stylish reusable tote bags for only $10, a limited time product line available at all ALDO stores and online at www.aldoshoes.com.

ALDO will donate all net proceeds to YouthAIDS.

Product (RED)

Nine major companies, including Starbucks, the Gap, Apple, Emporio Armani, Microsoft, and more, have joined in the (RED) initiative, started by Bono and Bobby Shriver. (RED) was set up as a way to allow private companies to contribute revenue to the The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Products available through Product (RED) range from computers to coffees, shoes to gift cards. A diverse range of recording artists, including Coldplay, Jay-Z, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, and many more, have also joined in this project to offer exclusive recordings through (RED).

You can start shopping (RED) at http://www.joinred.com/Shop.aspx.

Find more ways to make a difference on World AIDS Day on the AIDS.gov blog .