Fed: Tim Costello wins peace award

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2008
Fed: Tim Costello wins peace award

MELBOURNE, Dec 12 AAP - World Vision Australia chief executive Tim Costello has won
an award highlighting his work for peace, social justice and the alleviation of poverty.

The Peace Organisation of Australia (POA) will present Mr Costello with its Australian
Peace Award at a ceremony in Melbourne on Friday.

A committee with members including past winners Dr Helen Caldicott, the anti-nuclear
campaigner and human rights advocate Julian Burnside, QC, selected Mr Costello for the
annual award.

Former Australian Democrats leader and POA patron Lyn Allison will present Mr Costello
with the award in Melbourne Friday night.

In a statement, Mr Costello said achieving peace was vital to ending poverty.

"Violent conflict severely hampers efforts to feed, educate and provide health services
to the world's poor. It is both a cause and symptom of deprivation and misery," he said.

"Dozens of countries are today at war with themselves or each other. Every bullet fired
in rage is a setback in the larger war against poverty. Without peace, we cannot have
sustainable development."

AAP jrd/goc/cmc

KEYWORD: COSTELLO

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