U.N. Foundation, Ad Council Launch Global AIDS Awareness Ad Campaign

The United Nations Foundation, in cooperation with the Ad Council, on Tuesday launched an advertising campaign intended to raise the public's awareness of the worldwide AIDS epidemic and encourage people to become involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The campaign, titled "Apathy is Lethal," will include television, radio and print ads. The television ads will use portrayals of children orphaned by AIDS and include a voice-over by actor Michael Douglas, who states that the number of children who have been orphaned by AIDS in the world -- 14 million -- is equivalent to the number of children under the age of five in the United States. The ads conclude with the tagline, "AIDS is preventable. Apathy is lethal" and encourage viewers to visit the campaign's Web site, www.apathyislethal.org, or call 1-866-AIDS-FUND for more information. "By getting involved in the Apathy is Lethal campaign every American can do something to help combat this epidemic," U.N. Foundation President Timothy Wirth said. The ads are available online (United Nations Foundation release, 11/12).