A Global Effort to Raise Compassion, October 20, 2008

Global Dignity, a worldwide mission which aims to inspire and encourage dignity for every person, announced today the first Global Dignity Day. In association with the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL), an auxiliary of the World Economic Forum, the international event and inaugural celebration of hope and dignity will take place simultaneously around the world on October 20, 2008 in over twenty countries, including South Africa, India, United States, Nigeria, Turkey, Norway, Finland, Jordan, Austria, Japan, Poland, Mozambique, Mexico, England, Canada, Venezuela, China, Belgium, and Singapore. Global Dignity Day goes so far as to reach outer space!

"It is not enough to merely acknowledge that all human beings have inherent dignity. Our actions must reflect the dignity of others," said HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, co-founder of Global Dignity. The goal of Global Dignity Day 2008 is to empower and unite youth across the globe in a universal principle -- Dignity, at a time when the world agrees on little else, and to give thousands of youth in a single day with the knowledge and skills to obtain a human level of health care, education, income and security, but most of all a personal sense of dignity. It is a paradigm shift in thinking about our global challenges, a new language and a mindset to approach issues of poverty, peace, and progress.

"This is a message to all participants of Global Dignity Day. My name is Richard Garriott and I am on a space ship orbiting the Earth. The view is spectacular from up here. The world looks both beautiful and fragile. In one day I can look down on all of you without seeing any boarders that separates you. It really becomes apparent that we are all in this together. We really do have more in common than what separates us. By focusing on dignity as a powerful source for positive change you are all bringing the world forward. The future is in your hands. The next steps are up to you. That's it from space. I wish you the best of luck," said CEO Richard Garriott while broadcasting world-wide through the Amateur Radio Station on-board the International Space Station (ISS) as he orbits the Earth.

Since its inception, the co-founders of Global Dignity, HRH Crown Prince Haakon, Professor Pekka Himanen and American silver rights leader John Hope Bryant, inspired directly by YGL members, have in conjunction with World Economic Forum, seeded positive change by conducting a series of Dignity Day teaching sessions to hundreds of students around the world.

"The world has never before needed the unequaled power of hope and dignity more than it does today. In an environment where individuals cannot seem to agree on anything, from religious differences to differences of culture and forms of government, or even forms and definitions of free enterprise, and the definition of capitalism itself, the one thing we can agree on the world over is we all want and need more dignity," said John Hope Bryant, chairman, founder and CEO of Operation HOPE, who also serves as vice chair of the U.S. President's Council on Financial Literacy. "Operation HOPE supports Global Dignity through HOPE Global Initiatives -- HOPE's international division to support programs and projects globally. We are proud to promote, advocate, help advance Global Dignity," said Bryant. "By formulating a globally shared dream, Global Dignity and HOPE Global Initiatives are perfectly aligned in promoting opportunity around the world, to empower each individual to believe in his or her fundamental right to dignity, respect, and freedom, to make their own decisions in life."

Global Dignity Day 2008 builds upon the success of more than a dozen successful "Dignity Day" events. This event is a global demonstration of the inspirational and inclusive power of dignity, and the mission of the Dignity Project 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.

"We wish to be inspiration-based; commending and encouraging best practice and dignity centered leadership rather than criticizing shortcomings," added Co-founder Professor Himanen during his "Dignity Day" session in Finland.

YGL's who also participated in Global Dignity Day include:

NAME                     COUNTRY       NAME              COUNTRY
Alvaro Rodriguez Arregui USA           Mattias Klum      Sweden
Andrew L. Cohen          USA           Mugo Kibati       Kenya
Corinna E. Lathan        USA           Murat Sarayli     Turkey
Daniel Sachs             Sweden        Natalie Simons    South Africa
Daniel Shapiro           USA           Osayi A. Oruene   Nigeria
Eric C. Anderson         USA           Phuti Malabie     South Africa
Erik Charas              Mozambique    Salim Amin        Kenya
Gavin Newsom             USA           Sergei Guriev     Russian Federation
Jennifer Corriero        Canada        Shai Agassi       Israel and USA
Jon S. von Tetzchner     Norway        Shezad Rokerya    USA
Josef Penninger          Austria       Thomas Crampton   Hong Kong SAR
Kate Roberts             USA           Veronica Colondam Indonesia
Lily Habash              Palestinian
                         Territories