From Armenia to Zambia activists turned out by the thousands for World AIDS Day on Wednesday, singing in mighty cathedrals, lighting candles in city squares and playing sports. The United Nations has dedicated this year's observance to improving protection for women and girls. Nearly half of the 39.4 million people infected with HIV worldwide are female.  December 1, 2004

Nations Pledge to Eradicate Ignorance About AIDS
The world's two most populous nations promised on Wednesday to eradicate ignorance about AIDS, a disease dismissed at first as a Western evil confined to drug users, homosexuals and prostitutes.
Reuters  - December 1, 2004

Brazil: New Offensive Against Drug Patents
The Brazilian government announced Tuesday that it would break the patents on several medications to prevent the financial collapse of its widely praised public health programme that provides antiretroviral drugs free of charge to people living with HIV/AIDS.
Inter Press Service  - December 1, 2004

If Unchecked Asia Could Be Another Africa - U.N. Envoy
Although about 13 years behind, Asia-Pacific societies could collapse like some in Africa as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Inter Press Service  - December 1, 2004

AIDS in India, China and Russia Nears 'Tipping Point,' U.N. Says
The head of the United Nations' AIDS program warned yesterday that India, China and Russia are "perilously close to a tipping point" that could turn their small, localized AIDS epidemics into gigantic ones capable of disrupting the world's response to the disease.
Washington Post  - December 1, 2004

Asia Marks World AIDS Day Amid New Warnings
Activists handed out condoms to passers-by and pamphlets urging people not to inject drugs, challenging conservative social mores in Asia as the region marked World AIDS Day on Wednesday with vows to fight harder to halt the disease's spread.
Associated Press  - December 1, 2004

Brazil to break Aids drug patents
Brazil says it intends to break patents on commercial anti-Aids drugs as part of its battle against the disease. Correspondents say Brazil has often threatened to produce drugs without the permission of the company holding the patent, but now looks set to do so.
BBC  - December 1, 2004

Tough challenges remain in AIDS fight
By the time World Aids day has run its course an estimated 14,000 more people in the world will have become infected with HIV. Nearly 40 million people globally are living with the Aids virus and within two years, six million more are expected to die.
BBC  - December 1, 2004

AIDS Day Is Observed Around the Globe
From Armenia to Zambia activists turned out by the thousands for World AIDS (news - web sites) Day on Wednesday, singing in mighty cathedrals, lighting candles in city squares and playing sports.
Associated Press  - December 1, 2004

World AIDS Day 2004
Official site of World AIDS Day, with press releases, articles, factsheets and more.
UNAIDS  - December 1, 2004

Yahoo! News Full Coverage - AIDS-HIV
News coverage of World AIDS Day 2004.
Yahoo! News  - December 1, 2004

If not now, when? HIV, drugs and prevention (report)
At present, there are two contradictory beliefs that both encourage inaction on the global AIDS crisis. The first is that the crisis is so huge that there is little the world can usefully do. The other is that antiretrovirals (ARVs) – drugs which control the HIV infection and prevent its progression to AIDS – can eradicate or at least control the pandemic. Both these viewpoints are wrong. This is a report by UK development organization Christian Aid.
Christian Aid (UK)  - December 1, 2004