Global Dignity Day Tuesday October 20, 2009

A global event that demonstrates the inspirational and inclusive power of hope
and self-respect

DAVOS, Switzerland--(Business Wire)--
"In a world where it seems no one agrees on anything; a world where politics
divide, where religion divides, and where race and even cultural borders seem to
divide, dignity is something that everyone can agree on," said the fellow Young
Global Leaders and Global Dignity (GD) Co-founders HRH Crown Prince Haakon of
Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen of Finland, and American "silver rights" leader
and Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant, as they
introduced Global Dignity Day 2009.

In association with the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL), an auxiliary of the
World Economic Forum, Global Dignity Day - an international event to promote
dignity and respect, takes place Tuesday, October 20, 2009, around the world and
in more than 30 countries this year.

The three co-founders of GD asked leaders everywhere to venture into their local
classrooms, houses of faith, non-governmental organizations, and schools to
teach "A Course in Dignity." Global Dignity Day 2009 builds upon the success of
dozens of successful "Dignity Day" events and the monumental accomplishments of
last year`s global demonstration, Global Dignity Day 2008, when more than 24
countries participated reaching youth in Austria, Canada, Hong Kong SAR,
Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Norway, Palestinian Territories,
Russian Federation, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, the USA, and even outer space
as Richard Garriott broadcast world-wide from the International Space Station
(ISS) as he orbited the Earth.

Global Dignity Day 2009 will empower and unite youth around the world agreeing
on one universal value - Dignity. The plan is to implement globally, the
universal right of every human being to lead a dignified life though an
understanding of the Five Dignity Principles:

1
Every human being has a right to lead a dignified life.
2
A dignified life means an opportunity to fulfill one’s potential,
which is based on having a human level of health care, education,
income and security.
3
Dignity means having the freedom to make decisions on one’s life and
to be met with respect for this right.
4
Dignity should be the basic guiding principle for all actions.
5
Ultimately, our own dignity is interdependent with the dignity of
others.

Organizations around the world participate to raise the awareness of students to
standards of living, with regards to health care, education, and humane
treatment. GD is a growing mission that aims to inspire and encourage dignity
for every person.

About the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGLs)

Established in 2004 by Professor Klaus Schwab, the Forum of Young Global Leaders
is a unique, multi-stakeholder community of the world`s most extraordinary young
leaders who dedicate a part of their time to jointly address global challenges
and who are committed to devote part of their knowledge and energy to
collectively work towards a better future. Together, they engage in the 2030
Initiative, a comprehensive endeavor, to understand current and future trends,
risks and opportunities both at global and regional levels, formulate a positive
vision for the world in 2030 and put forward concrete strategies and work
streams to translate their vision into action. Visit
(www.younggloballeaders.org).

About Global Dignity (GD)

Co-founded by Young Global Leaders, HRH Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway,
Professor Pekka Himanen, University of Art & Design Helsinki and Visiting
Professor at Oxford University, and John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO
from Operation HOPE, the mission of Global Dignity is to implement globally the
universal right of every human being to lead a dignified life. It is an
autonomous, non-profit and non-partisan project linked to the 2020 process of
the World Economic Forum`s Forum of Young Global Leaders, where young global
leaders from politics, business, academia, and civil society have joined
together to work for the improvement of the state of the world and people based
on five principles of dignity. For more information on about Global Dignity, see
www.globaldignity.org.

About World Economic Forum (WEF)

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an independent international organization
committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in
partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a
foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, the World Economic Forum is impartial
and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests.
The World Economic Forum is under the supervision of the Swiss Federal
Government. For more information, visit www.weforum.org

About HOPE Global Initiatives (HGI)

HOPE Global Initiatives was developed out of the organization`s leadership role
in hosting Ambassadors and Heads of State visiting Southern California, as well
as the founder`s former role with the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development, Geneva, Switzerland, as their first ever goodwill ambassador to the
United States. The role of HOPE Global Initiatives is to promote and advocate
the benefits of education, financial literacy, self-reliance, economic
empowerment and dignity as tools for vastly improving the quality of life in
developing countries, with a particular focus on developing countries on the
African continent. The role has expanded to serve underserved communities
throughout the world. HOPE Global Initiatives is a program of Operation HOPE.
For more about Operation HOPE and its programs to go www.operationhope.org.

Operation HOPE
Sherry T. John, 213-891-2908
sherry.john@operationhope.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009