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