| Clinton initiative raises more than $8 billion

Clinton-initiative-raises-more-than-$8-billion NEW YORK - The Clinton Global Initiative gathered more than $8 billion in pledges at this years summit, surprising its organizers who had worried that the recession would lower the level of support.

The philanthropic effort started by former President Bill Clinton aims to tap wealthy donors for funds to try to solve some of the worlds most pressing problems, from poverty to climate change.

We were concerned, and we actually came into this CGI with more sponsorships than we had last year, under adverse circumstances, Clinton said on Friday at the closing session of the four-day summit.

The meeting brought together heads of state, financial leaders, corporate bosses and rights activists looking to deal with issues in education, health, energy and the empowerment of women.

Celebrities Bono, Brad Pitt and Quincy Jones turned out for the summit. The politicians included President Barack Obama and leaders of Argentina and Rwanda. Also in attendance was the managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

Ahead of the event CGI Chief Executive Robert Harrison guessed that the value of the programs to be unveiled would be less than the $8 billion worth of commitments made in 2008 but more pledges of action than the 250 commitments last year.

The fifth annual summit this year saw 282 pledges of action with a value of more than $8 billion.

The new commitments include plans to increase female employment in Africa, expand micro-insurance and distribute vaccines that would prevent cervical cancer.

Chief executives from Exxon Mobil Corp, Dow Chemical, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Coca-Cola Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Kraft Foods helped the 2009 summit see more participation from companies than in any prior year, Clinton said.

Clinton started the Clinton Global Initiative to bring together the public and private sector to discuss solutions to problems in four areas — climate change, poverty, global health and education.

Hillary Clinton speaks on hunger
In the closing address, Clintons wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, outlined steps to deal with world hunger in the closing address.

She spoke about a new approach from the Obama administration in dealing with hunger issues — a food security initiative that attempts to help people around the world grow, buy and sell the food they need instead of focusing primarily on emergency food aid in times of crisis.

Food security is not just about food, but it is all about security, economic security, environmental security, even national security, she told attendees. Massive hunger poses a threat to the stability of governments, societies and borders.

Since 2007, there have been food riots in more than 60 countries, she said.

Mrs. Clinton said the new approach would include working with countries to implement plans that would help them improve their agriculture as well as plans that would invest in infrastructure and technology that would make farming more productive and selling agricultural produce easier.

She said the efforts also would focus on women, who comprise the majority of the worlds farmers.

After she spoke, Bill Clinton lauded the program, saying he and other presidents had erred in focusing on emergency food aid and moving away from agricultural development to deal with global hunger.

One of the mistakes that I and all my predecessors made when we stopped helping people feed themselves from 1981 forward, is we forgot the dignity element of being able to feed yourself, he said.

This is a big deal, and it can change Americas relations with people all over the world.

Fridays conference closing was a family affair, with the entire former first family present.

Hillary and Bill Clinton came into the session together, followed by daughter Chelsea Clinton. In introducing his wife, Clinton described her as the best public servant our family has produced.

Hillary Clinton returned the praise, expressing her pride in her husband for what he has accomplished through the conference.

- | Clinton initiative raises more than $8 billion |