Nobel Peace laureate Borlaug’s biography wins Print of Peace Award

Coralville Iowa August 3 2006 – Organizers of the August 1-6 International Read For Peace Week which kicked off August 1 with Dial-An-Author-Reading involving US, Canadian and UK authors have announced the book “The Man Who Fed The World” as winner of their 2006 Print of Peace Award aimed at encouraging writing, publishing and reading of books that promote peace.

The 250-page biography of Iowa-born Nobel Peace laureate Norman Borlaug written by Dr. Leon Hesser and published by Durban House Press, with “Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borlaug and His Battle to End World Hunger” as subtitle has its foreword written by President Jimmy Carter and endorsements from President George H.W. Bush and former Democratic presidential hopeful Dr. George McGovern.

Its author, Dr. Hesser, a long time comrade-in-agriculture of Borlaug, retired from US State Department as director of US government’s worldwide programs to increase food production in developing countries.

International Read For Peace Week founder, Paschal Eze whose nonprofit Family Reading Ministries, Inc. also issues the Family Friendly Book Awards notes that “the book locates peace in global food security, a point underscored by the fact that millions of people facing starvation today are in parts of the world that are armed conflict-ridden.”

Besides, as Rev. Eze further explains, “the book spoke true volumes about a man who stands tall as a lighthouse, an unusual reference point in selfless service to the world community, and we are not oblivious of the fact that Hesser himself has also been walking along the same path, offering people real hope and help in meaningful living and conscientious responsiveness to the world family.”

Thus, the award honors both Borlaug and Hesser.

“What a pleasant surprise!” was how Florida-based Hesser reacted to news of the award which would be conferred at the 5.30pm August 4 2006 “Building Bridges of Peace Through Books” symposium at the community hall of John F. Kennedy Mall Dubuque Iowa where he would speak alongside investigative journalist Bankole Thompson whose book, Ignoring The Underprivileged, looks at how the media deliberately ignores issues affecting the poor and the oppressed in the world community.

The August 1-6 International Read For Peace Week described by Paul V. Rafferty of UN Observer and International Report Office at the Hague as “a wonderful idea” worthy of emulation, connects book readers with peace lovers around the world, and encourages individuals to read a family-friendly, non-violent book for at least one hour during the Week with family, friends, colleagues and neighbors in demonstration of their hope and commitment to global peace.

For more information, please visit http://www.readingspree.com or call Shanita Michelle at 1-3193519695.