With World Aids Day arriving this Saturday a group of hardy companions, led by P6 and the Social Sciences Student Union, took to the streets to dismiss the taboo around the often controversial issue of HIV/AIDS through the medium of…Flashmob!
At midday the group of volunteers – clad in their finest red attire – left their meeting place on Boltufsplatsen and walked on two separate routes before converging in Stortorget to lie down in the shape of the red ribbon that is the symbol of World AIDS Day.
“Our aim is to raise awareness of World AIDS Day and to try and break the silence surrounding HIV/AIDS in Sweden,” explains organiser Ella Schyler.
“The ground was pretty cold but it was worth it to make a stand against the silence and stigma that still clings to this issue,” said volunteer Mehdi Bendkia.
The spectacle proved quite the draw for passers-by with many stopping to take photos and the information leaflets being given out by the volunteers.
“That’s why we chose to do a flash mob here today, so we can reach out to as many people as we can,” says organiser Ella Schyler.
The plan seemed to work as Masters student Niels Kouwenhoven dismounted his bike to find out what was happening:
“My first thought was ‘What is that?’”, he remarks, before continuing: “With the shape of the ribbon I initially thought maybe something to do with breast cancer. I didn’t actually know World AIDS Day was coming up – I do now of course.”
Despite catching the interest of those in Stortorget, there remained a lingering feeling among the participants that more should be being done to promote such an important day and issue.
“We just wish we could have had a bit more publicity. The problem is that there aren’t many of us who want to actively bring the subject to the public eye, many people in Sweden still hide from the issue,” said organiser Caroline Sundberg.
But this event was
never going to end the taboo or change the opinion of all, as recognised by volunteer Susanne Ehn:
“It is just a different way to raise awareness and if we can get a few people to move past the stigmatisation and not forget the importance of this issue, then I think we have succeeded today.
