| On June 16, 2006 Bill Gates announced | | | | countries such as Bangladesh, have not |
| that he would continue in a part-time | | | | brought the relief that was aimed at. |
| role within Microsoft to start focusing | | | | Child mortality through disease and |
| on a full-time career in philanthropy by | | | | hunger is higher than before. Clean |
| July 2008. A few days later, Buffett, | | | | water to every person is still a pipe |
| one of the wealthiest people in the | | | | dream. The end of abject world poverty |
| world, announced that he would begin | | | | as was determined to happen by 2015 is |
| matching the Gates' contribution to the | | | | nowhere in sight. |
| Gates Foundation. It's an astonishing | | | | What is even more significant is the |
| amount of up to $1.5 billion per year in | | | | fact that the Gates Foundation is |
| stock. | | | | managing the funds itself. Gates and |
| Bill Clinton, previous President of the | | | | Buffett could have handed over their |
| US, although not wealthy in the sense of | | | | Billions to existing charities such as |
| Gates and Buffett, has started the | | | | Oxfam, Habitat or WHO. The thinking is |
| Clinton Foundation. What Clinton can | | | | that one should tackle the issues of |
| bring to the Big Boys' Club are his | | | | health, fight against poverty and |
| connections. Watch Bill Clinton speak | | | | peaceful existence as if it were a |
| at TED on his vision for world change. | | | | business. |
| His Foundation has a special focus on | | | | With other words aid handed out will |
| health, leadership development, economic | | | | require measurable performance and |
| empowerment and reconciliation across | | | | results. This does not mean that |
| racial, ethnic and religious borders. | | | | charities such as Oxfam and the Red |
| Richard Branson, founder and big chief | | | | Cross are not required when natural and |
| at Virgin, has been involved in | | | | humanitarian disasters strike. The |
| humanitarian initiatives since the late | | | | business of world improvement will |
| 1990s. With activist Peter Gabriel he | | | | tackle projects that will require long |
| discussed with South Africa's Nelson | | | | term effort, such as fighting Malaria, |
| Mandela the concept of a group of | | | | TB or even building better river banks |
| dedicated leaders working towards | | | | in Bangladesh. |
| solving difficult global conflicts. | | | | The recent flooding of parts of Nepal, |
| Mandela announced the formation of this | | | | Bangladesh and India are a prime |
| group, The Elders, during his recent | | | | examples of where huge aid is required, |
| 89th birthday celebration. Desmond Tutu | | | | and not just for food aid. Every year |
| will serve as the chair. | | | | these areas are flooded, and yes some |
| There are many more. Al Gore has created | | | | years the flooding is heavier than |
| a huge awareness of environmental | | | | others, bringing immense hardships to |
| issues. George Soros, another super | | | | people. Predictable natural disasters |
| wealthy individual, has decided to | | | | can be combated. Technology and |
| attach himself to this campaign. He is | | | | know-how is available to tame the |
| of the opinion that the US, Europe, | | | | rivers, no matter the rain fall. It |
| India and China must be the quartet that | | | | requires huge investments which poor |
| handles climate change. The UN moves too | | | | countries such as Bangladesh do not |
| slowly. | | | | have, but the world does. |
| Companies are now jumping on board the | | | | The world has the technology and |
| movement to change the world. It is | | | | knowledge to combat disease, hunger and |
| becoming the business of world | | | | drought, find political solutions for |
| improvement. Amongst the big boys are | | | | peace and offer training to people to |
| Siemens, BP, Ikea, Walt Disney, Wal-Mart | | | | eventually become self-sufficient. |
| and many more. The cynic might say that | | | | Whatever initiatives are started to |
| shareholders demand social investment | | | | address the wrongs of the world, they |
| now. Let's not knock it. whatever the | | | | need to be applauded and supported. When |
| reason, all efforts at promoting social | | | | one sees pictures of starving families, |
| responsibility must be encouraged. | | | | people dying of manageable diseases such |
| What will these individuals and | | | | as AIDS or Malaria and many more other |
| organisations achieve that the world has | | | | evils, one needs to state that failure |
| failed at so far? The billions of | | | | this time is not an option. Der |
| Pounds, Dollars or Euros in aid that | | | | Spiegel features an outstanding article |
| have been pumped into areas such as | | | | on The Billionaire Samaritans. |
| Africa, parts of South America, Asian | | | | |