Absolutely everyone can identify with a record attempt, no matter where you’re from, what language you speak, or how old you are. A record attempt is about setting ourselves a seemingly impossible goal and showing the determination to achieve it. Hence, the World Hepatitis Alliance organized the Guinness World Record attempt to celebrate World Hepatitis Day 2012 (July 28) by having the most people performing the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” actions in 24 hours at multiple venues around the world. Over 100 people showed up to both NYC and Boston attempts, and 50 people showed up in the San Francisco attempts.
These actions relate to a proverb known as the three wise monkeys covering their eyes, ears and mouth. There are many meanings attached to the proverb, but mostly it is used to refer to those who deal with problems by refusing to acknowledge them. This theme was chosen to highlight that, around the world, hepatitis is being ignored.
National Efforts
New York City
San Francisco:
Event Highlights Hepatitis as “Silent Killer”
Team HBV and SF Hep C Task Force led the community in celebrating World Hepatitis Day at Crissy Field this past Saturday, raising awareness about hepatitis while attempting to set a Guinness world record, with results pending.
In honor of World Hepatitis Day, these students joined the World Hepatitis Alliance’s global attempt to set the world record of having most people performing one action in multiple venues over 24 hours. 52 people came to Crissy Field on July 28th, joining four other cities in the U.S. and 23 other countries.
To show how the viral liver disease has been ignored, the event involved a “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” mime led by Christina Wang, member of Team HBV at Stanford University, Genevieve Jopanda, director of SF Hep B Free, and Robin Roth, Co-chair of SF Hep C Task Force.
Boston:
From the Boston Herald
Boston area medical students and local residents took to the Common [on July 28th] to raise awareness about hepatitis, trying to break a world record in the process.
In honor of World Hepatitis Day, the World Hepatitis Alliance tried to break the record for the most people to participate in an event at multiple venues over 24 hours. About 100 people came to the Common yesterday.
To show how the viral liver disease has been ignored, groups around the world, including Boston’s Team HBV, acted out “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
“The motions are supposed to show how hepatitis as a problem is being ignored,” said David Yang, president of Team HBV Boston, and a pre-med student at Harvard.