Tag: Bono

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The Year of Philanthrowoman

The start of the New Year means that it is time, yet again, to gaze into our philanthrocrystal ball and make our annual predictions. We did OK last year but are hoping to do even better in 2013. Our top theme among our 20 predictions is that 2013 will be a breakthrough year for women […]

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Did It Work?

‘The Year of Fighting Over What Works’ was our headline prediction for 2011. So how did we do? Let’s take a look at the 10 scenarios we saw when we peered into our philanthrocrystal ball back in January. 1) “A battle is going to rage over the relationship between profit and philanthropy.” And some. Within […]

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The End of Aid’s Golden Age?

As rock star and aid champion Bono lies prone in his sick bed with a back injury that has forced him to cancel his forthcoming festival appearances with his band U2, he will be wondering not just about how to spend his summer but what to do next in his campaign for more aid for the developing world. While he can […]

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Is Michael Edwards Wearing Any Clothes?

Our old sparring partner Michael Edwards has been banging the drum against philanthrocapitalism again. We actually agree on more than Michael admits – particularly that philanthrocapitalism needs transparency and accountability to succeed. And he is willing to give some grudging credit to Bill Gates for his recent pledge of $10 billion to develop vaccines against […]

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Don’t Vote for a Free Lunch!

Invoking the name of Robin Hood (Britain’s famous bandit who, according to the legend, “robbed from the rich to give to the poor”) aid lobby groups, celebrities and philanthrocapitalists such as film maker Richard Curtis, have launched a high-profile campaign for a new tax on banks to fill the gaping hole in the public finances. Not […]

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The Year of Giving Dangerously

2009 showed that the philanthrocapitalism revolution is here to stay, as mega-giving by the likes of Bill Gates and the mass philanthrocapitalism of organisations like kiva.org and donorschoose surged ahead despite the economic downturn. So what does 2010 hold in store? Gazing into our crystal ball, we see philanthrocapitalism continuing to surge ahead as givers […]

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Only the Super Rich Can Save Us

Warren Buffett invites to Maui a group of his fellow elderly super rich, including Ted Turner, George Soros, Bill Gates Senior (father of the Microsoft billionaire), Bill Cosby, Barry Diller, and Yoko Ono. They decide to launch a movement using their money and connections to clean up America – not least by masterminding a campaign […]

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Celanthropy the Geldof Way

“Futility” was aid champion “Sir” Bob Geldof’s verdict on what he had achieved nearly a quarter of a century after the former Boomtown Rats vocalist organised the Band Aid song that mobilised a massive public campaign to help the starving people of Ethiopia. Geldof was speaking on a panel moderated by Michael at Forum 2000, […]

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World Aids Day

Today is World Aids Day. The increasingly successful, though still far from won, fight against HIV/Aids is a battle that has seen philanthrocapitalism at its most effective. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has delivered considerable resources and used its public voice to drive a wide range of initiatives, including working with Bono’s campaigning and […]

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Make three wishes

The annual TED Prize has been announced. The winners get $100,000 each plus the chance to make “One Wish to Change the World. No Restrictions”. In February, they will get the chance to make their wish in front of the trendy do-gooders at the annual Technology Entertainment Design Conference, and hopefully persuade them to help […]