Activity spotlight: share your plans with us

14 November is less than 100 days away and information about events and activities around the world is starting to come in. Here are some highlights of what we've been made aware of so far:

• In Nigeria, the SIDCAIN (Strategies for Improving Diabetes Care in Nigeria) Team will be conducting a series of awareness activities on 14-24 November. These include screening camps in the 25 and 31 NCD clinics in Ogun and Oyo States, a school health club cycling competition and a school club variety programme.
   
• In Slovenia, the Slovenian Diabetes Association (SLODA) and the Association of Radio Amateurs of Slovenia will mark World Diabetes Day for the fourteenth time with the special call signs S55T and S50G ("World Diabetes Day") to enhance the lives of people with diabetes and raise public awareness of diabetes nationwide and internationally. In previous years, 30,000 contacts have been made with nearly all "active radio enthusiasts" countries and over 630 hours of constant signals with information about diabetes have been broadcast. The global transmission from Slovenia will take place on 16-18 November on almost all amateur frequencies.
   
• In New York, USA, the 3rd edition of the Mahatma Gandhi Health and Peace Walk - "In his Footsteps - For Your Health" - will take place on 29 September in Marcus Garvey Park. The event is a unique and free public health initiative that seeks to encourage people to walk regularly following the example of Mahatma Gandhi, to enhance their wellness and fight the risk of chronic diseases. Mahatma Gandhi believed that every person had a duty to look after his or her body to stay healthy and to enable it to perform selfless service to others.

If you have a confirmed World Diabetes Day activity please share it with us and we will add it to our global events calendar.

Need inspiration? Consult our World Diabetes Day campaign book for some ideas on how you can mark the day.

Whatever you are planning, make sure to include the key messages and focus of the 2012 campaign in your activities. Read more about how we are expanding the circle of influence of the campaign in the latest issue of Diabetes Voice.

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Shine a light on diabetes: latest confirmed blue lightings

Since 2007, iconic buildings and sites all over the world have been lighting in blue - the colour of the blue circle for diabetes - to mark World Diabetes Day and raise awareness of diabetes. The lightings are testimony to the power of our combined efforts to alter the diabetes landscape and provide a strong visual element to attract attention to the diabetes cause.

We encourage blue lightings to be the centre for all World Diabetes Day-related grass-roots activities and events, reinforcing the link between the colour blue and diabetes, and strengthening recognition of the blue circle as the global symbol of diabetes.

This year's challenge is gaining momentum with more and more confirmed lightings coming in. Here are the latest to confirm that they will be going blue for diabetes in November:

• Century Tower, University of Florida, Gainesville FL, USA
• Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth, UK
• ADJ Headquarters, São Paulo, Brazil
• Arcos Viaduto do Chá, São Paulo, Brazil
• Monumento as Bandeira, São Paulo, Brazil
• Obelisco Ibirapuera, São Paulo, Brazil
• Ponte Estaiada, São Paulo, Brazil
• Bluewater Bridge, Sarnia ON, Canada
• Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, Harrisburg PA, USA
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto, Japan

Do you have a confirmed lighting? Let us know online or by contacting wdd@idf.org. If you're keen to light something but are unsure how to go about it, consult our Blue Monument Challenge Guide.

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Pin a Personality update

Our 'Pin a Personality' campaign continues to gain momentum with pictures of high-profile individuals wearing the blue circle pin being sent in from all around the globe. The latest personalities to be pinned include the Vice President of Tanzania Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal, Chilean Health Minister Jaime Mañalich, and Mexican actor, writer, director Chespirito. Visit our online gallery to see all the prominent individuals that have agreed to wear the blue circle pin for diabetes awareness.

Do you have a pinned personality to add to our gallery? post your picture on our Facebook or Twitter pages or send it to us at wdd@idf.org. Your personality can be anyone who you think would profile our blue circle to a wider audience or contributes to IDF’s mission to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide.

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Campaign roundup: t-shirts, posters and more

• Get your blue circle t-shirt! A selection of blue circle themed t-shirts in different colours and sizes are available to order from our World Diabetes Day online store. Blue circle pins and bracelets can also be ordered or requested from wdd@idf.org.
   
• Campaign posters: promote the importance of diabetes education and healthy environments with our 2012 campaign posters. Available for download in 17 languages.
   
• Campaign video: view and share our campaign animation "Diabetes: protect our future".
   
• Web banners: a selection of World Diabetes Day web banners are available for you to promote the campaign on your website or blog.
   
• Nominate your WDD hero: do you know someone that is active in promoting the diabetes cause or that are engaging, motivating and leading others to take steps toward creating healthier lives? Tell us the story and we will include it on our website, Facebook and Twitter to inspire others. See our Gallery of Heroes.
   
• Doodle for Banting: would you like to see a Google Doodle for diabetes on 14 November? Sign and share our petition.

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