We love this video! It’s for the announcement of our (STARBUCKS) RED launch in the U.K & Ireland that happened this week. The (STARBUCKS) RED Card lets you turn ALL your purchases at Starbucks (RED). Every time you use your (STARBUCKS) RED Card in the U.K. and Ireland until 31st December 2010, Starbucks will contribute 5p/5 cents to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.



The (STARBUCKS) RED range in the U.K. & Ireland:

(STARBUCKS)RED Card


Use your card to turn ALL your purchases at Starbucks (RED). Until 31st December 2010 Starbucks with contribute 5p/5c to the Global Fund.

Available: At participating Starbucks stores in the U.K. and Ireland.

Price: You decide how much money you want on the card. 5p/5cents contributed each time you use it.

(STARBUCKS)RED Tumbler


Make a difference for the environment and save money at the same time. Use the (STARBUCKS)RED Tumbler and get a 25p/25 cents discount too.

Available: At participating Starbucks stores in the U.K. and Ireland.

Price: £9.95/€12.00 with £3/€3 being contributed to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

(RED) loves meeting up with old friends and last month in Kigali was no exception when we visited Rose again. She is looking terrific and thanks to the antiretroviral therapy she has been taking for around six years, Rose is strong and healthy and a leader in her community.

Rose was featured in our blog back in 2007 (read it here) and we re-cap, and update, some of her story here…

Rose learned she was HIV-positive in 1997 and had to deal with her husband dying of AIDS that same year. She was left to raise their three children on her own and life was extremely hard – a matter of survival in fact.

Shortly after selling her car and parcel of land to maintain her family and buy the antiretroviral medicine* she needed to stay alive, Rose ran out of money. A civil servant in Kigali she was then forced to leave her job as she became too weak and too ill to work. Rose even thought of suicide.

This was all prior to 2004 when antiretroviral therapy became available free of charge to people living in Rwanda. Now, the Global Fund and (RED) help finance the purchase of this vital medicine there and tens of thousands of people in Rwanda are able to access the medicine they need as a direct result.

Five years later and Rose is doing great! She is a leader in her community representing and protecting the interests of HIV-positive people who are less fortunate or informed than she is. She also counsels people living with HIV.

Rose is curious about the world and would have loved the opportunity to attend university. Her favorite book is Nelson Mandela’s biography because she finds his perseverance and strength so inspiring.

Knowing the difficult times Rose has been through herself, it seems she too has an abundance of strength and perseverance.

*Antiretroviral medicine disrupt the action of HIV - it stops or interfere with the reproduction of virus in the body. The immune cells are then able to live longer and provide the body with protection.

(RED)NIGHTS is our concert series that saves lives and now Wolfmother, The All-American Rejects, Built To Spill and more are turning their shows (RED). Here’s the line-up:

Built to Spill @ the Fillmore, San Francisco on October 31^st (buy tickets)

Built to Spill @ the Fillmore, San Francisco on November 1^st  (buy tickets)

Wolfmother @ the House of Blues, Boston on November 7^th (buy tickets)

A Fine Frenzy @ the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco on November 12^th (buy tickets)

The All-American Rejects @ the Tabernacle, Atlanta on November 22^nd (buy tickets)

Wolfmother @ the Wiltern, Los Angeles on November 24^th (buy tickets)

Brett Dennen @ the House of Blues, Chicago on November 28^th (buy tickets)

Brett Dennen @ the Wiltern Los Angeles on December 12^th (buy tickets)

So now these artists join the ranks of past (RED)NIGHTS shows by Katy Perry, Matisyahu and Fall Out Boy – to name just a few.  (RED)NIGHTS is a concert series that saves lives, and a portion of the proceeds from each night go to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

Need a new computer? Now Dell has even more ways for you to turn your Dell laptop (RED). Check out some of the great new designs by artists who have expressed their creativity and passion for (RED). Not only do we love the way the way they look but we also love that they help to eliminate AIDS in Africa!
Emil Kozak is a graphic designer from a small town in Denmark. He was inspired to take on graphic design as a result of his lifelong passion for skateboarding. The style is fresh and positive, but often with a message that digs deeper. Typographic, clean lines and few colors is often how Emil Kozak..s artwork is described. Yet, there is always an unexpected surprise: obscure references, playing with words, codes and hints. Emil designed several different lines of (PRODUCT) RED artwork, and here’s what he had to say about his ‘Grow Up’ concept:

Grow up is a series of illustrations depicting the process of plants growing up, from seedling, to sprout, to mature plant in bloom. Like the (RED) idea, the cycle repeating naturally.
Native of Finland, Klaus Haapaniemi has lived years in Italy and is currently living and working in London, UK as one of Britain’s leading fashion illustrators. This cultural diversity is reflected in the quality of Klaus Haapaniemi’s work, often drawing from history, nature and folklore to create iconic characters and unusual universes. Here’s what Klaus had to say about his (PRODUCT)RED season-inspired designs:

My work for (PRODUCT)RED is based on the simple idea that in each time of the year there should be a human thought for the people in need of urgent help. For Summer, red can be found in the flowers and bees. For Fall, red can be found in the clouds. I wanted to give the work a positive feel to complement the (PRODUCT)RED characteristics in a subtle way.
Andrew Lim is a Graphic Designer for Mother Design and Mother New York, working on branding and strategic design for a wide variety of companies. Here’s what Andrew had to say about his ‘Perception’ line of (PRODUCT)RED designs:

The maze-like pattern represents the HIV conundrum. The little pluses and minuses in this uniform and unending pattern speak to recognizing the problem and working towards a common solution, just how (PRODUCT)RED has create awareness and a sustainable flow of money from the private sector into the Global Fund, to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

Check out all of the Dell (PRODUCT)RED artwork here.

This week the United Nations issued their progress report on universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, medicine and care. There has been incredible progress over the past year. A million more people gained access to antiretroviral treatment — which means there are 4 million people now on ARV treatment around the world. Also, nearly half of all HIV positive pregnant women who need treatment to help prevent the transmission of HIV to their babies during childbirth are getting it and in many countries the number of people who had access to basic HIV testing has more than doubled.

These are incredibly positive signs in our fight against AIDS and much of this progress has been made possible by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — the organization that receives (RED)™ funds. The Global Fund, along with PEPFAR, are the largest funders of ARV treatment globally. And, (RED), because of you, is the largest corporate contributor to the Global Fund.

So, thank you! Thank you for helping to generate more than $135 million for the Global Fund to invest in this fight. 100% of the money that is sent to the Global Fund from our partner companies goes directly to Global Fund financed AIDS grants in Africa and increases access to prevention programs, testing, ARV treatment and support. As you can see, this is creating real results and making a big impact.

Read more about the recent progress report at what still needs to be done at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/world/01aids.html?scp=2&sq=AIDS&st=cse

Celebrities including friend of (RED), Scarlett Johansson are helping out with Hasbro Inc’s PROJECT ZAMBI Celebrity Charity Auction which benefits organizations dedicated to the care of children orphaned by AIDS in Africa. The 10-day auction features some great custom designed collectable elephants, each signed by a participating celeb with proceeds going to the celeb’s organization of choice that supports children orphaned by AIDs in Africa. Scarlett has chosen for her elephant to benefit the Global Fund, the organization (RED) works with to put monies directly on the ground in Africa.

You can bid for Scarlett’s elephant here. Auction closes on October 15^th. 

We’ve had so many incredible (RED)NIGHTS. Katy Perry, The Veronicas, Santigold, Matisyahu, Fall Out Boy, to name a few, but what can you say about a (RED)NIGHT that includes Bono, Gavin Friday, The Edge, Laurie Anderson, Larry Mullen Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Adam Clayton, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, a Virgin Prunes reunion and has a few surprises like Lou Reed and Lady GaGa? A lot actually.



Sunday’s (RED)NIGHT at Carnegie Hall in honor of Gavin Friday’s birthday was wild, surprising, campy and total rock n’ roll all at once. The night started off with a bang with all members from U2 on stage and one of the most incredible Irish artists - Gavin Friday, along with Flo & Eddie. They started the night off right with an incredible rendition of Children of a Revolution. A few more of my personal highlights were Courtney Love giving a heartfelt introduction to the reunion of the Virgin Prunes in over 20 years. The adorable Rufus Wainwright singing Mr. Pussy with Gavin and Scarlett. Then there was the tribute to Gavin and (RED) by Lady GaGa in the form of a sweet rendition of Poker Face that she wrote just for the occasion!! And an incredible version of The Last Song I’ll Ever Sing … by Bono. AND, of course, Joel Grey recreating his role from Cabaret! There were so many wild and crazy moments that I could go on and on…. You’re going to have to go check out (RED)NIGHTS for yourself. And look for more (REDNIGHTS in your area, it’s a concert series that saves lives. www.joinred.com/rednights

Read here for more on ‘Hal Willner Presents: An Evening With Gavin Friday and Friends’:

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/10/05/u2-join-lady-gaga-scarlett-johansson-and-more-for-gavin-friday-benefit-at-carnegie-hall/

http://www.spin.com/gallery/u2-lady-gaga-rock-nyc-benefit

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/10/gavin_friday_fr.html

We're so happy that the (RED) family is growing. Say hello to our latest addition - Bugaboo. Bugaboo and (RED) are joining forces around the world and empowering parents to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.Bugaboo has turned their whole company (RED) and is contributing 1% of their total revenue to the Global Fund to help fund HIV/AIDS programs in Africa – programs with an emphasis on the health of women and children.  
 


So as a parent, or a friend of one, when you buy Bugaboo you are also helping other mothers and children in Africa. Moms all around the world are already being spotted with the (BUGABOO) RED strollers from Christy Turlington, Gossip Girl's Kelly Rutherford to British model, Leah Wood.  
 



It's the very first time a whole company has turned (RED). Every and any purchase at Bugaboo helps buy life-saving medicine for someone living with HIV. So whether you choose from the (BUGABOO) RED selection or any other product, go and good things happen. Check out the range at www.bugaboo.com.   



Welcome to the family Bugaboo!