Remarks at First Lady Laura Bush’s Reception on Literacy and HealthSecretary Condoleezza RiceNew York City September 24, 2007 (12:14 p.m. EDT)
SECRETARY RICE: Good afternoon. Thank you all for coming. I’d like to first extend a warm welcome to all the First Ladies who have joined us to support this important event. The road between literacy and health runs both ways. Good health and nutrition boosts one’s ability to concentrate and learn and literacy enables individuals, families, and communities to acquire basic health knowledge to promote good health practices and to prevent the spread of disease. Unfortunately, illiteracy affects every single aspect of people’s lives. It blocks their economic growth, it stymies their interaction with society, and as you all know, it limits their access to good health. We know now that literacy has a profound effect on the social and economic growth of communities across the globe. According to the United Nations, the World Bank and UNICEF, educating girls is the most cost-effective way to achieve human development and reduce poverty in the developing world. Put simply, by improving literacy, we create healthier families and more stable and more secure communities globally. Improving literacy so that families can live healthier lives is a natural calling for Laura Bush. As a mother and a public school teacher and a librarian, she has a wealth of experience in encouraging literacy and learning and she’s devoted her life to helping others reach their full potential. As the Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade, the First Lady has dramatically increased international awareness of the importance of literacy and education, and she’s willingly taken this message across the globe. In Tanzania, Mrs. Bush stressed the connection between a literate society and a healthy society, and reminded people that knowledge is the single best weapon on the fight against disease. In Costa Rica, the First Lady helped promote the powerful connection between literacy and economic independence. And in Jordan, at the World Economic Forum, the First Lady emphasized that education and women’s participation in a country’s economic and political life are keys to fostering responsible civic participation in new democracies. Mrs. Bush has said that literacy is vital to strong, free societies. Mothers who can read raise children who can read. Literacy strengthens families, just as it strengthens communities and societies. It’s been my privilege to know and to work with Laura Bush and to observe her lifelong passion for helping people. She is committed to expanding opportunity and empowering people by spreading literacy across the globe. I am therefore honored to introduce to you my friend and our First Lady, Laura Bush. (Applause.) 2007/803 Released on September 24, 2007 |
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