Buildings to go blue for diabetes awareness   (November 14, 2007)

Today, November 14, is World Diabetes Day. In December 2006, the UN passed Resolution 61/225 in support of diabetes awareness. This Resolution urged governments to implement national policies for the prevention, care and treatment of diabetes as part of the development of their healthcare systems.

And after dusk tonight, landmarks like the Empire State Building in New York, the Sears Tower in Chicago, the Prudential Tower in Boston, Los Angeles Airport, San Francisco City Hall, the London Eye, the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, the Sydney Opera House, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa will be lighting up in blue.  (A list of the blue-buildings is at WDD Monument Challenge.)

Professor Martin Silink, President of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the organization that leads the World Diabetes Day campaign, explained the significance of the lightings: "These buildings are lighting up as beacons of hope for the 246 million people living with diabetes worldwide. The illumination of so many landmarks is a prominent statement to governments everywhere: the global diabetes epidemic can no longer be ignored."