With small donations, big change
By Tara King
Are you wondering what everyone is so Inspi(RED) about? It's (RED), an inspirational and heartwarming campaign to raise awareness for global issues.
The organization (RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shiver in 2002 to draw attention and contributions to The Global Fund (www.joinred.com), an organization created to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
According to the organization's Web site, it was established with the support of world leaders and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to "dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world's most devastating diseases and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need by supporting locally driven strategies." To date, The Global Fund has committed $6.8 billion to 460 programs in 136 countries.
Several major companies, including Motorola, American Express, Gap, Emporio Armani, Converse and Apple, are already selling (RED) products and donating a portion of the proceeds directly to The Global Fund. The most popular of these products is, perhaps, the Inspi(RED), Treasu(RED) and Hamme(RED) T-shirts sold by The Gap.
With successful organizations like (RED) seeking to encourage compassion for people across the globe, it is sad to see how easily we forget about the people walking down the street next to us. How many times have we been in such a hurry that we don't hold the door open for the person behind us? How many times have we been so focused on a bad day that we don't smile at another person on the street?
It seems sad that while so many of our peers hope to change the world, we sometimes forget about making the world that we currently live in a beautiful one.
Just last week, I had a horrible morning. And to make matters worse, while I was walking to campus, I had to stop in the Safeway driveway to avoid being hit by a delivery truck. But something seemingly insignificant happened at this point: The truck driver actually stopped. He smiled at me and waved me across his path. I looked up at him and could see his very kind and happy eyes. I smiled, waved back and walked across.
This man made me realize that some people do remember to do the small things. Sometimes, it's the small gestures than can put life into perspective.
When you think that your actions can't have an effect on AIDS in Africa or orphans in India, remember that any small purchase can increase the scope and effectiveness of this organization. So go out and change the world. Go to the Gap, Apple or Armani, and buy something by product (RED).
Tara King is a senior political science major.