By Staff
President George W. Bush will be awarded the International Medal of PEACE today at Washington's Newseum by Dr. Rick Warren on behalf of the Global Peace Coalition during the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health.
Today, Dec. 1, is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.
This award recognizes the President's tireless efforts and unprecedented contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
"No world leader has done more for global health than President Bush," Warren says. "The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved millions of lives in the past five years, so it is fitting that he be awarded the first International Medal of PEACE."
"Through PEPFAR and other humanitarian programs, President and Mrs. Bush and their respective staffs have been instrumental in initiating and sustaining the largest humanitarian commitment to a single disease in history," Warren adds.
"All around the world, lives have been saved and improved because of PEPFAR's battle against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis."
Founded in 1980, Warren's Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., averages weekly attendance of 22,00.
It is one of the largest churches in America.
The International Medal of PEACE is given to honor outstanding contributions toward alleviating the five "global goliaths" – giant problems negatively impacting society worldwide, including pandemic diseases, extreme poverty, illiteracy, corruption and injustice and spiritual emptiness.
The Peace Coalition is a network of churches, businesses and individuals cooperating together to solve humanitarian issues through the PEACE Plan, an effort to mobilize millions of Christians to Promote reconciliation, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick and Educate the next generation.
The Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health will also feature video tributes from President-elect Barack Obama, United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, His Excellence Paul Kagime, president of Rwanda, U2 singer Bono, philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates and Dr. Michael Kazatchkine, executive director of The Global Fund.
Speaking from their own experiences and personal involvement with global health issues, each of these influential government, business and advocacy leaders will affirm President Bush for his leadership in global health through the success of PEPFAR and Bush's malaria initiative.
They also affirm the Warrens for the PEACE plan's success in engaging all three sectors of society – public, profit and faith – in the battle against pandemic diseases and commit to work together to maintain future momentum.
"Together, people of faith must create partnerships with other people of good will to team-tackle the five global giants," Warren says. "The battle is so enormous, we'll only win by mobilizing the talent, energy and resources of all Americans in all three sectors of our civil society."