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