Philanthropists in fashion.

[Prada]

On a positive note,...........
Im guessing a side effect of the recent summit.
Seems like everyone is jumping on board. Branson, Clinton, Angelina Jolie, Rupert Murdoch, Gates, a person I admire Warren Buffet. Even De Beers and Merck.
Of all the bulls*it going on in the world, I sincerly hope they all face the wrath of god.
To all those who work hard for mankind and those in less affluent, poverty stricken areas. I applaud you



http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...c=worldupdates

Clinton raises $7.3 bln to help tackle world woes
By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton wrapped up his second annual brainstorming summit on Friday with commitments worth $7.3 billion to combat illness, poverty, religious and ethnic conflict and climate change.

The 215 commitments secured during the three-day Clinton Global Initiative in New York were headlined by British billionaire Richard Branson's pledge on Thursday to spend an estimated $3 billion over 10 years fighting global warming.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton listens to progress reports at the conclusion of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York September 22, 2006. Clinton wrapped up his second annual brainstorming summit on Friday with commitments worth $7.3 billion to combat illness, poverty, religious and ethnic conflict and climate change. (REUTERS/Chip East)
While the 2006 initiative secured less than the 300 or so commitments made during the inaugural event last year, the value of this year's pledges almost tripled the $2.5 billion achieved in 2005.

"What Richard Branson did here is wonderful, but you don't need $3 billion to replicate it," Clinton told the summit, adding the aim of the initiative was simply to "create a piece of common ground in a highly contentious world."

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, chief executive of News Corp. also reminded people that commitments to tackle the world's woes did not need to involve a big monetary donation.

"We can do many, many things -- they're not multibillion dollar things -- but maybe they're more valuable," Murdoch said at the event.

Among the pledges made was a commitment to create a green fund expected to raise up to $1 billion and to be managed by former World Bank President James Wolfensohn to support investments in renewable energy.

Microfinance nonprofit Opportunity International pledged to provide $500 million in loans, savings, insurance, and training to help 50 million people work their way out of poverty around the world.

The world's biggest diamond producer, De Beers, pledged $2 million to help improve the lives of diamond miners in Tanzania, frequently exploited by middlemen and rogue traders.

Merck & Co. Inc. committed $75 million in a partnership with the government of Nicaragua to vaccinate every child born in Nicaragua over the next three years against rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea among children.

The initiative grew out of Clinton's frustration as president from 1993 to 2001 at attending conferences on important world issues that were all talk and no action.

Among those helping generate ideas and money at the summit were billionaire businessmen Bill Gates and Warren Buffett and 50 current and former heads of state, along with entertainer Barbra Streisand.

In a recorded message shown at the initiative, former South African President Nelson Mandela commended the 1,000 people attending the summit for accepting Clinton's call to action.

"This initiative is a global movement where every word spoken, every partnership discovered and every promise made can have a direct impact on the lives of millions of people across our planet for generations to come," Mandela said.


Copyright © 2005 Reuters

[Kärnfysikern]

Its a good trend indeed. Especialy combating illness, poverty and helping education.

The only sad thing is that they are to influenced by environmentalist bullshit when it comes to helping out the environment.

[Prada]

Its a good trend indeed. Especialy combating illness, poverty and helping education.

The only sad thing is that they are to influenced by environmentalist bullshit when it comes to helping out the environment.

Im willing to act like a true politician and turn a blind eye to that.,
Lesser of two evils