Global Vision is the International Magazine for Business Executives.
Global Vision invites you the discover a new mega trend
in the history of philanthropy and global development.
The location is the ‘City that Never Sleeps’, New York.
The architect of this mega trend is the man who is
described by friend and foe as charismatic, persuasive and the ‘President of the World’ – Bill Clinton, former President of the United States.
Now in its second year, the Clinton Global Initiative mobilized a unprecedented $7.2 billion for development in low income countries. Clinton rallied support from across the entire political spectrum, from the global South to the global North.Virgin Atlantic’s Richard Branson, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, and media mogul
Rupert Murdoch were among the many prominent
entrepreneurs who came together at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York in September 2006. Liberia’s resident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Iceland’s President Olnafur Ragnar Grimsson were among the many political leaders from around the world in attendance.
Microfinance expert Muhammad Yunus from
Bangladesh, pop star Ahmad Salman from Asia and
Diana Krall, from the US,were among the many
talented individuals there determined to have an impact on the world.
The Clinton Global Initiative, an impressive three-day gathering of kings, presidents and subaltern NGO’s and CEO’s, is creating a new world order in philanthropy.
President Clinton is creating the facts on the ground and driving this paradigm shift. Philanthropists as well as the newly wealthy without significant history of philanthropy are interested in giving money now, so
that they are able see and feel the impact of their gifts during their lifetimes.Through the Clinton Global Initiative, philanthropy will set the agenda for development in low income countries, in partnership with the states or the governments. Governments have no choice but to join these engines of innovation and change: the principled entrepreneurs who see the whole picture, not only profit but the social and cultural
conditions that make profit sustainable.
Samina Ahmad, the manager and wife of pop star
Salman Ahmad who mobilized 1.5 billion viewers with his video clip and music against AIDS, said:“The Clinton Global Initiative was an exhilarating experience for us and we carried back a lot of positive energy and
are motivated to act on the commitment we made,
mainly to promote global health and women’s
empowerment in developing countries.We also wish to build cultural bridges through music,movies and the media in conflict ridden areas of the world.”These words reflect the heartwarming responses one could
hear from the hundreds of influentials gathered in the immense ballroom.
Jordan’s Queen Rania and King Abdallah spoke
eloquently and President Clinton described them as an essential bridge between the Arab Islamic world and the West in this time of uncertainty and frictions.The highlight of this year’s philanthropic feast was when Richard Branson, the billionaire and CEO of Virgin Atlantic Airlines and the multi-platform Virgin brand, pledged no less than $3 billion. He wants to use ethanol for cars and develop bio-based fuels for airplanes.
Global Vision interviewed a number of outstanding
guests including Paul Wolfowitz, president of the World Bank, novelist and writer Mario Vargas Llosa, and the president of CARE, Dr. Helene Gayle.
Sam Cherribi, Guest Editor
Global Vision, vol. 6 nr. 3, october/november 2006.
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