G.I. Jonny declares war on Captain Bareback

By Asavin Wattanajantra • October 10, 2007 - 10:51

G.I. Jonny was launched online and along with TV and radio will direct viewers to an interactive website.

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A toy doll fights HIV and AIDS, as G.I. Jonny leads the fight against Captain Bareback's crotch cannon, armed only with his protector shield and powerful fisting action.

It's all part of a series of comedy sketches specially commissioned by the BBC for an information campaign which attempts to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS among 16- 34 year olds.

The BBC's HIV awareness campaign started running on October 1st and will run for the two months leading up to World's AIDS Day on December 1st.

It launched with the documentary Stephen Fry: HIV and Me, and will carry on through BBC TV and radio programming.

The corporation recently revealed the results of a survey which revealed startling facts about the ignorance and complacency of young people about HIV.

It found that 89% of all 16-24 years rarely or never think about HIV when making decisions about their sex lives.

This comes at a time when young 18-24 year old heterosexuals are at increased danger from HIV with new diagnoses increasing in the last ten years, and the number of new infections among straight people now outweighing those in the gay community.

G.I. Jonny was launched online and along with TV and radio will direct viewers to an interactive website where more information can be found about HIV and AIDS.

It also gives you the chance to create your very own Jonny action figure which can be sent to friends and downloaded to Facebook.

Spokesperson for the G.I. Jonny launch, Simon Judges, said "The reason we did it this way was because the last HIV/ AIDS awareness campaign was 20 years ago.

"We've got a whole generation of young people who haven't had the message, and if you look at the stats there is such a level of ignorance that it doesn't cross young people's minds to make any decisions regarding their sex lives.

"It's just a fun way to carry the message across rather than force it."

Click here for the G.I. Jonny website.

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