Pop Stars Record PSAs for Population Services International AIDS Prevention Project

Various pop stars -- including Justin Timberlake of *NSYNC, Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys, Shaggy, Nelly, Eve, Shabba Ranks and Jermaine Dupri -- have joined with Population Services International, a not-for-profit social marketing company that coordinates HIV prevention programs in more than 50 countries, to produce a series of public service announcements asking young people to take steps to prevent HIV transmission, according to a PSI release. The television and radio ads, which will air in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the United States, were produced and directed by Artists Against AIDS Worldwide in conjunction with the Africa Alive! Youth AIDS Initiative. The ads focus on abstinence, condom use, HIV testing and "other health behavior" with messages such as, "Regardless of your race, whether you are male or female, gay or straight ... AIDS kills and it doesn't discriminate. If you're gonna have sex, latex condoms work. Carry them. Use them." Each artist also recorded a message for PSI's YouthAIDS project, launched on World AIDS Day 2001 to raise HIV/AIDS awareness among young people. PSI President Richard Frank said, "We are grateful to these artists for donating their time and considerable talent to helping us fight AIDS around the world. We believe that one of the most effective ways of influencing the behavior of young adults is to offer them realistic options to protect themselves, delivered by credible role models. We believe these messages do that" (PSI release, 3/8).