Today is World AIDS Day, so I’m reminding you that Mike is still running the (Red)emption campaign. If you haven’t already, go give your $10. If you have, thanks; now go find someone who hasn’t and tell them to give $10.

I’ve challenged my fellow b5media bloggers to pony up. In fact, I’ll put b5media in the tags, so if any of you blogging media types or members of other networks wander over here through Technorati or something, well, you should go give $10, too. And you should challenge your readers to do the same.

I’m not quite sure why I’m getting on board with this. I mean, I’ve got no personal connection to AIDS/HIV. To my knowledge, I don’t know anyone afflicted. The numbers are staggering – 40 million afflicted worldwide – but in many ways this is all something happening somewhere else, perhaps even on another planet.

It’s only $10… Canadian.

But it’s not happening on another planet. Those are 40 million men, women and children. 40 million mothers and fathers; husbands and wives; sons and daughters. 40 million people.

Here’s what I like about the (Red)emption campaign: It’s only $10… Canadian. This isn’t some fantastic request. It’s $10… Canadian. 99.5% of the people who might possibly read this can afford $10… Canadian. If you’ve got access to a computer, $10… Canadian, isn’t beyond your means.

So, go on, then. Give.