FORUM ON GLOBAL HEALTH TO HONOR BUSH:President to Receive First International Medal of PEACE

ON WORLD AIDS DAY: President to Receive First ‘International Medal of PEACE’ for Humanitarian Initiatives

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 24, 2008 – Dr. Rick Warren will present President George W. Bush with the first “International Medal of PEACE” from the Global PEACE Coalition in recognition of his unprecedented contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS and other diseases during the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health, to be held at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.

At the Forum, Warren will engage both President Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush in candid conversation regarding past accomplishments and priorities moving forward regarding international health issues – including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. President-elect Barack Obama will provide a video-taped message addressing the future of global health.

“No U.S. president or political leader has done more for global health than this Administration, which has raised the bar on America’s role and responsibility for providing critical humanitarian assistance around the world,” Warren said. “Over the past eight years, the President and Mrs. Bush have traveled the globe as they and their staffs have worked tirelessly to bring awareness and solutions to pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, and we are privileged to honor their efforts on World AIDS Day.”

The “International Medal of PEACE” is given on behalf of the Global PEACE Coalition for outstanding contribution toward alleviating the five global giants recognized by the Coalition, including pandemic diseases, extreme poverty, illiteracy, self-centered leadership and spiritual emptiness. The Coalition is a network of churches, businesses and individuals cooperating together to solve humanitarian issues through the PEACE Plan, an effort to mobilize 1 billion Christians to Promote reconciliation, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick and Educate the next generation.

During the Forum, Warren will recognize President Bush and his Administration for their implementation and success of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has provided $18.8 billion since 2003 to combat global HIV/AIDS. Congress has recently authorized an additional $48 billion for ongoing efforts to address this pandemic as well as tuberculosis and malaria over the next five years.

“As my wife Kay and I have been implementing the PEACE Plan in 68 developing countries, we have seen firsthand many of the hundreds of thousands of lives that have been saved through PEPFAR and the President’s Malaria Initiative,” Warren said. “I hope that this Forum will show the American people that our global health programs represent more than compassionate humanitarian efforts, but are also a strong, prudent pillar of American foreign policy.”

The historic event will be appropriately held at the Newseum, a 250,000-square-foot museum of news, located at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Sixth Street, N.W., in Washington, D.C. Dedicated to offering visitors an interactive experience of how and why news is made, the Newseum will make news in and of itself by hosting this Forum, which will be the first original broadcast inside its 535-seat theater.

Leading representatives from the U.S. Congress; faith- and community-based organizations; non-governmental organizations; the diplomatic community; multilateral groups; foundations; local churches and representatives from other private sector entities are being invited to attend this invitation-only, ticketed event.

Saddleback Church has historically observed World AIDS Day by hosting a Global Summit on AIDS and The Church, drawing thousands of participants and featuring global keynote speakers and informative sessions led by experts in business, government, medicine, non-profits and ministry who are working locally and globally in an attempt to end AIDS.

The Summit, held the past three years at Saddleback Church, was strategically and historically unique, built entirely around a practical “local church-based” strategy designed to mobilize millions of congregations around the world for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

The Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health will be held in lieu of this year’s Global Summit on AIDS and The Church. The Saddleback Civil Forums were established to promote civil discourse and the common good of all. The most recent, The Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency, was held at Saddleback Church in August and featured presumptive presidential nominees Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain to discuss issues of leadership. The two-hour event featured each candidate, separately, in a conversational question and answer format with Warren.

“In addition to my primary calling to proclaim the Gospel message, these Civil Forums further my three other life goals: helping individuals accept responsibility, helping the Church regain credibility and encouraging our society to return to civility,” Warren said.

Founded in 1980 by the Warrens, Saddleback Church is located in Lake Forest, Calif. With an average weekly attendance of 22,000, it is one of the five largest churches in America. For additional information about the Saddleback HIV/AIDS Initiatives, visit www.HIVandTheChurch.com or www.RwandaHealthcare.com.

EDITOR’S NOTES: A live, five-camera switched feed of the entire program will be provided to any networks or outlets interested in downlinking or carrying video or audio of this program. It will also be live-streamed to www.SaddlebackCivilForum.com. Contact Greg Flessing at 530.888.7676, or via e-mail at greg@freshairmedia.com.

One can be very generous with other people's money.
US taxpayers should be the ones getting a medal.

One can be very generous with other people's money.

Truer words have never been spoken. How about letting the charities do their job instead of taking away from people to balance out the poverty level.

I’m sure since you all seem to hate Bush so much, you’ll be jumping for joy with obama. I for one, will miss this great man, and within six months, i’m pretty sure you’ll be wishing he was back.

No, I won’tbe jumping for joy about Obama. That does not mean that I have any regard for George W. Bush. I don’t. He has done his best to undermine conservative principles and emulate tax raising, socialistic programs. What is truly unforgivable is his attempt to force amnesty for millions of illegal aliens on America.

Rick Warren is not high on my list of favorites either. That trip to Syria was stupid, since it gave a propaganda boost to that rogue nation. Warren should have known better. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to fight AIDS and other diseases right here at home?

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