AppleInsider Staff
Apple brick-and-mortar retail outlets around the world on Monday changed their iconic Apple logos red in recognition of World AIDS Day, which in 2014 is commemorating its 26th year of supporting those affected by the disease.
Australia was the first to have its Apple Stores adorned by the special red signage, a symbolic gesture Apple started in 2012 to show support for the estimated 34 million people currently living with AIDS, as well as remembering the more than 35 million who have died from the virus.
The color is a nod to the instantly recognizable red ribbons introduced in 1991 to raise awareness for those battling HIV.
Until recently, Apple has been reluctant to tinker with the prominently displayed apple-shaped iconography as it serves as an Apple Store's lone signage. Since the change in policy, the company has colored its normally white logo only a few times, including subsequent World AIDS Days and this year's Earth Day, which saw Apple Stores color the logo's "leaf" portion green.
Prior to its overtly public show of support, Apple has been a longtime partner of PROJECT(RED), an initiative cofounded by U2's Bono to help end the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Since 2006, the company has raised over $75 million for the global fund through sales of (RED) branded products like iPods and accessories.
Apple just last week announced a special campaign created in partnership with a handful of developers that offers exclusive (RED)-themed in-app content through the iOS App Store, proceeds from which go to (RED)'s global fund. In addition, the company handed out iTunes gift cards with select purchases on Black Friday — each card representing a donation — and will gift to (RED) a portion of all Apple Store retail sales taken in on Cyber Monday.
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7 Comments
Whoa was it coincidental that the Apple's bite match the Ferris Wheel! That's great photography.
I would have kneeled down a bit, but yep.
Now all Apple needs to do is tint the leaf green and they are decorated for the holiday sales (formerly called Christmas).
Macky: it might interest you to know that Hannukah, which usually falls around the same time of year, pre-dates Christmas by at least 3,500 years and has always involved gifts and feasts, and was of course Jesus' own religion. Christmas itself originated from an effort to convert members of other religions, such as Pagans with their celebrating of the Winter Solstice, December 21 -- and in point of fact has very little to do with anything that is historically-based on the life of Jesus, and was more of an effort to supplant the existing Pagan, Roman, and other holidays. This is why we have the odd traditions of mistletoe, Christmas trees, most of the carols, the Yule Log (et cetera), and why it falls on that particular date. Due to the increasing diversity of a world that celebrates multiple (more legitimate) holidays around the same time as Christmas, it is entirely appropriate for people of any faith (or no faith) to use the term "holidays," "holiday season" "yule time" and so forth to refer to all of the holidays if they like. Likewise, it is entirely appropriate for you to say "Merry Christmas" and similar when you (or anyone) is focusing on that one particular day. Nobody is bothered by it either way except for imaginary people made up by deranged propagandists on a certain TV channel, but as people have wanted to become more inclusive and respectful of those who obviously don't celebrate Christmas (ranging from Orthodox Christians -- who celebrate it later -- to Jews, those of Chinese decent, Muslims,atheists and even to Jehovah's Witnesses), they may use the term "holiday" in the general sense -- not out of fear of offending anyone as pretend journalists who seek to divide people into "us" versus "them" would have it, but out of a very (in my opinion) compassionate and Christ-like desire to be welcoming to all people and faiths.
AAPL was tinted in strong red today too.. what a conicidence?