What a great audience. We were just talking about sisterhood and there is great strength from that, as we all know. As their presence illustrates, the Vital Voices Global Democracy Initiative is about women coming together, from different countries and cultures, to pursue common objectives and ideals. This initiative carries with it a very simple message. The currents of change you engender are part of an ever-rising human tide, and the power of that tide is altering the world's social and political landscape day by day.
Power descends from knowledge.
And through Vital Voices, we are sharing knowledge about how to reform laws, win elections, grow businesses, acquire new skills and shatter glass ceilings. Through Vital Voices, we are strengthening the bonds between public officials and non-governmental organizations, and across every boundary of race, faith, background and tongue. And our network is growing with every new friendship made, enterprise launched, and partnership begun. So this afternoon, I want to thank all of you for your participation and support for the Vital Voices Initiative. And I want especially to recognize Swanee Hunt, our former Ambassador to Austria, who conceived this Initiative and who brought the first conference together back in 1997.