TWO NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS TO SPEAK AT LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IN BANGKOK JUNE 23-27
OAK BROOK, Illinois, June 1, 2008—Nobel Prize Winning economist
Muhammad Yunus and environmentalist Adil Najam will speak to more than
18,000 members of Lions Clubs International (LCI) and their families in
Bangkok, Thailand, as part of the association’s 91st Lions Clubs
International Convention. Convention events will be held Monday, June
23, through Friday, June 27, at the IMPACT Convention Center.
Presiding
over the convention will be 2007-2008 International President Mahendra
Amarasuriya, of Colombo, Sri Lanka. President Amarasuriya has led the
association through a year of notable achievements, including efforts
to eliminate the transmission of river blindness in Colombia and the
distribution of the 10 millionth dose of medicine to fight trachoma in
Ethiopia.
Lions clubs expanded their global effort over the past
91 years. Currently the association has 1.35 million members in 206
countries and geographic areas who are dedicated to improving their
communities and the world.
At the convention, LCI will recognize the successful
conclusion of Campaign SightFirst II, the association’s fundraising
effort to combat preventable blindness. Lions surpassed their $150
million initial goal earlier this year.
Highlights of the convention will include:
A spectacular Parade of Nations, beginning at 4 p.m.
on Tuesday, June 24. An estimated 10,000 Lions from 110 countries, many
in native dress, will march, along with floats and 25 marching bands.
Presentation of the 2008 Lions Humanitarian Award to
Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammand Yunus, founder and managing
director of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, in recognition of his efforts
to help the economically disadvantaged. The award includes a grant of
US$200,000 for continuing humanitarian work.
A keynote address on the environment and global
climate change from Nobel Prize-winner professor Adil Najam of
Pakistan. Najam shared the 2007 Nobel Prize with Al Gore as a member of
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Election of the 2008-2009 Lions Clubs International President, Albert F. Brandel, of Melville, New York, USA on Friday, June 27.
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest
service club organization. In addition to its efforts toward conquering
blindness, the organization has made a strong commitment to community
service and helping youth throughout the world. To learn more about
Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org.
