Saturday, September 23, 2006
Most of us were quickly bored with the UN kerfuffles, but the other game in town had outstanding success. I'm referring to the Clinton Global Initiative. I've read their weblog off and on today and I don't mind saying that it made me weep with joy. What they were able to accomplish this past week in unprecedented. Sadly, the only news being fed to us from there has bordered on salacious when it was reported correctly that Barbra Streisand networked with Rupert Murdoch, and Bill Clinton greeted Laura Bush.
Anyway, if you think there's no good news in the world, these final reports from the Clinton Global Initiative will delight you.
"The final session begins a little after 11 on Friday morning. All of the conference-goers stream begin milling and buzzing around the Metropolitan Ballroom. It's quite crowded. Yes, everybody is here. But wait! There is one person who is not here, and suddenly at 11:20, we realize who he is when a huge disembodied voice begins to speak to the throng. Suddenly, on huge overhead monitors, he is everywhere. Madiba! Yes, there is Nelson Mandela, seated, looking very relaxed in an African shirt, and speaking about how much the conference means to him. It's not a short message either -- he goes on for a few minutes, showing both his advanced age (88) and the force that still clearly drives him. At the end of his message, he introduces Bill Clinton, and the crowd rises as one. I believe I hear trumpets at this point, but Your Blogger hasn't been sleeping very much."
"Clinton begins with the news we've all been waiting for -- the final tally. Over the past 60 hours or so, CGI has raised 7.3 billion dollars. That is more than the GDP of about 70 nations, between #110 Nepal ($7.516 B)and #111 Paraguay ($7.247 B)."
Not too shabby.
Clinton Global Initiative weblog
2 comments:
Another interesting comment made Thursday morning by Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Karzai said the West had, at times, exhibited a "lack of morality when it applies to dealing with the rest of the world" because it often did not realize how its intervention or lack thereof would affect itself.
He noted that he had urged Western governments for years before the Sept. 11 attacks to help the people of Afghanistan. "But no attention was paid because you in the West were not hurt," Karzai said. "It was only us and that didn't matter, and that is wrong. Seriously."
Thanks for your input, Grant. Karzai's bold truths are refreshing, especially on the world stage for (hopefully) all to hear.
I wish more people could read about all the good that happened at the CGI. Truly a global blessing.
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