how (RED) is relevant

if you've read my last post you probably got a gist of my vision - a vision that i think is a vision of many - a vision that i think our generation will achieve

now i would like to introduce (RED) to you, and to this campus

(RED) is not a charity - as many of you know it's a brand that's designed to sustain a continuous flow of private funds to the Global Fund - which basically is a warchest designed by the UN to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB

(RED) as a brand partners with corporations that we are already familiar with and purchase from. these companies - which include Apple, Gap, Dell, Microsoft, Converse, Hallmark and Emporio Armani among others - produce (RED) marked producst and a significant portion from the sales of these products go directly to the Global Fund - without going through (RED)

this more than anything, is revolutionary - tapping directly into the market and introducting a world of mere buyers and sellers to a new chapter called conscious consumerism. a path that not only in the short term will help fight the diseases that are claiming a continent, but will also bring economic justice to the world

(RED) products aren't priced any higher than non-(RED) products and no, they aren't are colored red - but what it does do is give the average consumer not only a product that they want, but also save a life along the way

"there's a word i don't throw around that often - genius" - kevin spacey in "21"

(simon)

on a side note - i think "the dark knight" may or may not have changed my life ;)

7-1-08: genesis

it's officially the start of the second half of the year 2008.
a year that is filled with so much electricity - everywhere. we've got a historical election season underway, the summer olympics in a month, and many other things lie ahead

yet this world has its problems too - the ever rising gas and food prices, sales dropping everywhere... but the world still needs to see what the greatest problem we as a human race face today

extreme poverty and disease is basically erasing a whole continent and for so long the world has stood behind the sidelines and watched.

it's time that this ends - it's time that our generation rise and recognize that it's not okay that a child still dies because of a mosquito bite, that it's not okay that nearly 5000 lives are stolen on a daily basis in sub-saharan afica because of poverty related issues - it's time that we do something about it

this place is for everyone who stands for these issues - mainly for students and friends of the university of notre dame - as we join the global fight against this injustice

go irish, beat poverty - suck it injustice - go irish go

(simon)