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President Bush receives “International Medal of Peace”

President George W. Bush was honored on the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day with the “International Medal of Peace, ”given by Pastor Rick Warren on behalf of the Global PEACE Coalition during the Saddleback Church Civil Forum on Global Health, reports Jeremy Reynalds, correspondent for ASSIST News Service.

A news release said the award, given in recognition of President Bush’s contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS and other diseases, came on the heels of his announcement that his Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) had fulfilled its commitment to support treatment for 2 million people ahead of schedule.

"I insisted on measurable goals because I felt lives needed to be saved," the news release stated President Bush said.

He explained the success of the program was accomplished, in part, by aligning authority and responsibility through partnership with local leadership on the ground.

President Bush said in the news release, “When we got started, there were 50,000 people getting anti-retrovirals in all sub-Sahara Africa, and we set a goal of 2 million people by five years. Today, we are able to announce that we are over 2 million in less than five years."

The Forum, held at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., provided an opportunity for Warren and his wife Kay to engage both President and Mrs. Bush in conversation regarding their inspiration for PEPFAR, which began in 2003, and the results it has achieved globally.

"No man in history – no world leader – has ever done more for global health than President George W. Bush, and I think we need to recognize that," Warren said in the news release. Prior to the Bush Administration, there was no concerted effort by the U.S. to fight HIV/AIDS and other global pandemics.

"They call what's taking place in Africa, 'the Lazarus effect' – people given up for dead now realizing there is life," President Bush said in the news release.

He added, “What the American people have to understand about this initiative is that it is in our national interest to help save lives. It is really good foreign policy; it is good national security policy – to deal with hope when we can find it. It is obviously in our economic interest to have a vibrant, growing group of consumers, but it's also in our moral interest – we are a better nation when we save lives.”

Referencing Warren's comprehensive PEACE Plan, which aligns government with faith and business leaders to collaborate on solutions for global needs, President Bush stressed the important role of the faith community.

The news release reported he said, “I believe that when people join organizations to love their neighbor, that is a powerful incentive for effectiveness on the ground. Government is justice and love comes from a higher government, higher calling – from God. People from across America, motivated by faith, are already involved in the process, so why not bring some order and focus. That is a proper role of the government in this case, and it's working.”

Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Warren were invited to join the discussion after both men acknowledged that their spouses were catalysts behind their great interest in global health. Mrs. Bush shared stories of the people who touched her life on her three independent trips to Africa and experiences traveling the globe with her husband on behalf of PEPFAR, and other initiatives with their daughters, Jenna and Barbara.

"Nothing makes a parent more proud than when their child becomes a contributor," said President Bush in the news release. "I suspect that if people got to see what our girls got to see, they would want to help save lives, too. One of the real challenges is to make sure that American consciences are raised and people understand the plight of their fellow citizens.”

The news release said that one of the ways the Bushes plan to help Americans understand this is by continuing their work after leaving the White House, particularly through a new Freedom Institute in partnership with Southern Methodist University, the alma mater of Mrs. Bush.

The news release said President and Mrs. Bush also discussed the importance of continued funding for PEPFAR – even in the current difficult economy – because of its cascading effect on other great needs around the world. One focus was the link between HIV/AIDS and President Bush's African Education Literacy program.

Prior to the awarding of the "International Medal of PEACE" at the conclusion of the program, video tributes to President Bush were shown from United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon; former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda; Bono, musical artist and humanitarian activist; philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates; and Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of The Global Fund.

After the award presentation, a special message from President-elect Barack Obama was shown, during which he congratulated President Bush for his accomplishments with HIV/AIDS and addressed the future of global health.

"This epidemic can't be stopped by government alone, and money alone is not the answer either," the news release reported President-elect Obama said. "All of us must do our part…We as leaders must continue to sound that call and encourage others to see themselves as leaders in this fight – and we must reaffirm our own commitment to confront and defeat this disease once and for all."

Warren concluded the Forum by emphasizing that though much has been done, there is a lot more to be done.

The news release reported he said, “My challenge to you is, 'What are you going to do?' Warren said. "Will you say, 'That was nice and that's good, and I'm glad our country's doing it.' Or will you say, 'I'm in.' Because it's not just a matter of a nice thing to do; it's a matter of life or death. It's a matter of fact that when people are out hurting and we do nothing, our love vanishes and it's all about that."

The "International Medal of PEACE" is given to honor outstanding contribution toward alleviating the five "global goliaths" – giant problems negatively impacting society worldwide, including pandemic diseases, extreme poverty, illiteracy, corruption and injustice and spiritual emptiness.

This was the first award given by the PEACE Coalition, which is a network of churches, businesses and individuals 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.

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 largest churches in America.

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TAGS: USA President George W. Bush World AIDS Day International Medal of Peace Saddleback Church Civil Forum

[12/04/2008]

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