STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Have you visited eBayTM lately? The Worlds Marketplace where you can buy and sell practically anything keeps getting better. From consumer electronics to movies, find it all on eBay. What are you waiting for? Try eBay today. http://www.bcentral.com/listbot/ebay ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Standing on the spot where town criers first read the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Annan accepted the Medal and its accompanying $100,000 check." <A HREF="aol://4344:30.L100cQnD.363885.678741588"> 07/04: AOL News: Annan Receives Philly Liberty Medal</A> Want to send this story to another AOL member? Click on the heart at the top of this window. Annan Receives Philly Liberty Medal By RON TODT .c The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) - United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan was awarded the 2001 Philadelphia Liberty Medal on the Fourth of July for his moral leadership and commitment to creating ``a better, more compassionate world.'' Standing on the spot where town criers first read the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Annan accepted the Medal and its accompanying $100,000 check. ``Liberty is not just a cause for celebration today, but also a worthy crusade for our time,'' Annan told a crowd of several thousand. ``Where there is life, there is the thirst for liberty in all men and women regardless of faith, color or country.'' Annan said he would donate the money to a global AIDS fund being created by the United Nations to help direct resources where they are most needed. Annan, a 63-year-old Ghanaian who has been U.N. secretary-general since 1997, was praised for his character, his efforts to stop civil wars and his efforts to combat AIDS. ``Instead of opposing globalization, he has called on the nations of the world to consider the well-being of all peoples, and has affirmed the worldwide rights to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' - rights held so dear by the founders of our own nation,'' said Martin Meyerson, chairman of the commission that selects the medal recipients. Annan said he was ``very moved'' by the ceremony in America's cradle of liberty, referring to his own youth in a British colony whose struggle for independence drew inspiration from U.S. history. ``This is where it all began,'' Annan said. ``This is where people first came together and said, 'We have to stand up and assert our independence, our uniqueness, our freedom and our dignity.''' The ceremony, a parade and other events marked the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. The Liberty Medal was established in 1988 to honor individuals or organizations whose actions represent the founding principles of the United States. It is administered by Greater Philadelphia First, a regional business and civic organization. Past recipients include former President Carter, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, the late King Hussein of Jordan and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. On the Net: Greater Philadelphia First: http://www.gpfirst.com/liberty.htm Philadelphia's Independence Day events: http://www.americasbirthday.com AP-NY-07-04-01 1519EDT Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
