Whereas,  December 1, 2008, is the 20^th anniversary of World AIDS Day; and

Whereas,  World AIDS Day is the day when individuals and organizations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic; and

Whereas,  According to the latest data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World Health Organization, there is an estimated 38.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide; and

Whereas,  There are nearly 7,000 Oregonians currently living with HIV/AIDS and approximately 4,000 of those are residents of the Portland Metropolitan area; and

Whereas,  We share a commitment to mutual support with our sister city, Mutare, Zimbabwe, which is at the epicenter of the AIDS pandemic, and recently sent a City of Portland delegation on a humanitarian mission to Mutare with medical supplies; and

Whereas,  HIV remains a significant public health problem that requires a strong, sustained and coordinated international, national and local strategy; and

Whereas,  The World AIDS Campaign theme for World AIDS Day 2008 is Leadership: Keep the Promise and calls on political leaders to keep their commitment to reach universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010

Now, therefore, I, Tom Potter, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,”

   do hereby proclaim December 1, 2008 to be

World AIDS Day

in Portland, and encourage all residents to observe this day.