Giant condom overlooks Buenos Aires on AIDS Day

Published on December 1st, 2005

Sightseers in Buenos Aires got a shock Thursday when the city’s most famous landmark, the obelisk, was covered with a giant pink condom on World AIDS Day.

City officials used cranes to unfurl shiny pink cloth over the monolith in a campaign promoting condom use to prevent infection with the HIV virus that causes AIDS.

“It seemed like we could have the biggest impact by putting a condom on the most important symbol of the city,” said Sandra Castillo, an organizer of the campaign.

The obelisk, which is identical to the Washington Monument but smaller at 220 feet (67 meters) tall, is a popular tourist site.

Looked pretty cool on TV. You know Keith Olberman had to feature it — along with “appropriate” commentary.

8 users responded in " Giant condom overlooks Buenos Aires on AIDS Day "

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# 1 0x1d3 said, on December 1st, 2005 at 7:11 pm

Yeah I just saw it on TV, I love that show!

# 2 Patrick Weber said, on December 1st, 2005 at 8:05 pm

But anyone with half a brain knows that condoms do NOT prevent aids.

The aid’s virus is small enough to pass right through the latex used in condomes thus transmitting the virus regardless if the latex is there or not.

# 3 Rob said, on December 1st, 2005 at 8:13 pm

Thank you Patrick. Working in a volunteer center I see this ALOT.

Sorry, this just looks stupid.

# 4 Awake said, on December 1st, 2005 at 8:53 pm

Patrick… please provide a reliable reference to your ‘porous latex’ statement. Many years ago, there were condoms made out of sheep intestine lining, which were porous to viruses, but I am sure that you are absolutely wrong concerning the latex.
And I love satements starting with ‘anyone with half a brain knows…’, because the statement is most often easily nullified by ‘anyone with a complete brain’.

# 5 Chris said, on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:55 am

I’m going to have to go with Awake on this one. All the information I’ve seen says the same thing: latex condoms work to prevent HIV/AIDS; sheep intestine ones don’t. Verifiable information either way would be useful.

# 6 agile said, on December 2nd, 2005 at 6:28 am

The Obelisco is unprotected today:

http://www.guiafe.com.ar/fotos-argentina/details.php?image_id=142

# 7 MikeR said, on December 2nd, 2005 at 10:13 am

So latex is porous to the AIDS virus? Thousands of health care workers must now be running for HIV tests because their latex gloves didn’t protect them from the virus.

# 8 RTaylor said, on December 2nd, 2005 at 11:44 am

Condoms are very effective at preventing HIV infections. Are they 100% effective, no nothing is. Most of the reported pregnancies that results with condom use is user error or, “the one night we we’re out”. Condoms like alcohol should be bought in sufficient quantities. The trips to the store to buy more beer results in a lot of DWI’s.

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