Live From The Clinton Global Initiative

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2007-02-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

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A New Era Of Doing Good?

2006-09-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

So have I been overly impressed? Am I a starry-eyed Clintonista, blind to the dark realities? I don’t live in the middle of philanthropy issues in my daily life, but I am not aware of a get-things-done conference like this, and especially of this magnitude, occurring before.

The attitude here is: Of course you have to blend governments, business leaders and non-profits together like this. Tom Watson at News onPhilanthropy writes,

”Not surprisingly, business people stressed economic sunstainability and cost control; NGOs talked about partenrships and cooperation with government; government ministers generally provided "realism" about the political situations in various corners of the globe.”

It seems today - after listening to the arguments of so many leaders - like the most natural partnerships. And it seems that it is just accepted here that this is the way society’s challenges obviously should be approached. Now from my admittedly limited, outsider perspective, last I knew the various innovative ideas of venture/entrepreneurial philanthropy and public/private were supposedly still in formative, developing stages – yet here it’s almost as if these had been an operational strategy for decades, all the kinks worked out, “of course this is how it’s done”

In many ways this conference feels like a dam bursting, releasing an explosion of pent-up, problem-solving energy. I often describe blogging as information naturally finding channels in which to flow around the gatekeepers and I see something similar here. I think - at least I hope - there will be a ripple effect, spreading out and touching others. Of course, there are so many heads of companies and organizations ehre that if they do take any of this energy back with them, there has to be a ripple effect.

At Salon today, Joe Conason writes http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/09/22/clinton_initiative/ of Bill Clinton,

“the impresario and visionary whose foundation's goals merely include alleviating poverty, disease, and religious and ethnic conflict while cooling off global warming.”

And he says that the conference is,

“…raising the prospect of a world where America can lead again, with regained prestige and government competence. Whether intentionally or not, he is demonstrating what world leadership really means.
It is possible, although he would probably resist the idea, that the symbolic value of his conference is even greater than those huge dollar totals. At a time when American government seems oblivious or worse toward human need and environmental peril, the former president is raising the standard of practical compassion and challenging the priorities of conservatism. The message of CGI is that things can change and that ordinary people can act -- and that they should expect governments, corporations and institutions of every kind to act, too.” [emphasis added]

The level of public/private partnering happening here seems quite remarkable. Also, the spirit of “responsible business” is strong. It’s like our society has developed a thirst to finally see some positive role models, especially form the business community, stepping forward. I see that desire just as strongly within business as outside. I mean, even Wal-Mart is here, talking about sustainable and responsible business practices. (Could Exxon or Big Tobacco be next? Leave a comment.) Sure, there is a self-interest in building positive feelings about their brand, and profit to be made from energy efficiency, but I sense this could be part of a beginning of a new era.

Creating A Conference That Is About Getting Things Done

2006-09-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) conference is remarkable in its focus on results -- commitments for effective action. And we are seeing a lot of that. As of Wednesday afternoon attendees had committed to $5.7 billion in funding toward solving specific problems with specific actions. I've been writing about the conference theme of getting things done in "bite-sized chunks," and this is an effective approach. For example, a $1 million commitment to inoculate 10,000 children against Hepatitis-A in Honduras.

This, as far as I know, is a different approach from most conferences. And I expect that one result of this conference will be experiments in new kinds of results-oriented events in all kinds of fields. To this end the "working group" structure of the conference is worth commenting on.

I was involved in a results-oriented conference in March, so I know some of the challenges involved. The Commonweal Institute put on its initial Progressive Roundtable conference, bringing leaders of progressive-oriented organizations together to identify missing pieces of a much-needed needed progressive infrastructure. Participants brainstormed and deliberated for two days, and identified "12 urgent infrastructure needs that will help progressives advance their ideas and values more effectively." Following the conference, attendees developed 17 proposals that addressed the needs. Funders who attended, plus a number of others, requested the resulting proposals for review.

The conference was structured with similar features to the CGI. In common are

Facilitated workgroups.

Workgroups follow a scripted process.

Discussions generated a list of ideas that was transcribed.

The transcriptions were analyzed, and reported back to the larger group.

Tom Watson writes at News onPhilanthropy,

I listened in on a few of the off-the-record conversations at the tables, and there was generally a palpable energy level that produced - at a minimum - a smart and well-considered laundry list of possible solutions.

Both conferences followed a very results-oriented process, and the CGI places a very powerful emphasis on each attendee's making a commitment and following up. The main complaint I heard about the Progressive Roundtable were that it was too intense, trying to get too much done in a short time. The main complaint I have heard about the CGI is that transcriptions were not well-recorded -- that the transcribers might not have sufficient understanding of the topics to condense what is said to an accurate essence. And the extremely short period of analysis is not sufficient to identify the ideas generated.

But one huge advantage the CGI conference has going for it is President Clinton. First, his prestige creates a conference that people want to come to. He's had no trouble attracting world leaders and very high-caliber (and net worth) attendees. Everyone here understands that the conference is about getting things done, identifying areas where specific actions can trigger a high return, and that they are expected to make a commitment.

I had a discussion with two of the people responsible for putting on the conference last night over dinner. They said that it is going much better that last year's CGI conference - which is to be expected. We talked about some of the results-oriented techniques I outlined above.

I'm wondering if any readers of this blog want to contribute ideas for ways to create results-oriented events like this one? Do you have specific successful examples? Know of experts or resources for making it happen?

And, finally, will this conference "change everything" - raising the bar for philanthropic expectations?

Overheard

2006-09-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

I overheard a cynic, "This is more about publicity for the people involved, things that could be done in a press release."

Maybe so, but I think being on a stage with a former President is a motivator that makes things happen. Sure Branson might get a good press release, or Wal Mart builds its brand, but I suspect that there is a strong personal motivation to get that Clinton handshake photo for the wall.

So here's an idea for a great way readers of this blog can better motivate people and get things done: First: get elected President of the United States of America. Second: Serve two terms. Then: ask people to do good things.

Evening Plenary

2006-09-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

I'm at the dinner plenary now. President Clinton is on the stage trying to speak, but the attendees are still talking and he can't start. People are going "shhh" and clinking glasses. Talking over a President - this is one jaded crowd! Heh.

I'm in a special press area, kept away from the attendees. It looks like a very elegant dinner. There will be entertainment later, but they shoo the press away before that starts.

Kofi Annan is now speaking. He is discussing the perception of threat. Depending on where you live your perception of threat is very different. A person living on a small island nation sees global warming as the biggest threat. A person in New York might say terrorism. Another might say AIDS. We cannot ask people to be worried about our concerns and fears if we are not ready to worry about theirs.

A very short talk. Security, development and human rights go together.

Bill Clinton, introducing King Abdullah ... in my life I never wanted anything more than being able to do my part in reconciling the people of the Middle East. He talked about working with King Hussein on the last agreement that was signed, beore he died. He has tried to say to anyone who would listen let us not forget there is another Middle East out there - those who we do not hear because they do not speak without a gun or bomb in hand. People may enlist others to terrorism with religious rhetoric but they almost always have political motives.

King Abdullah speaks absolutely perfect English. To succeed we must take out dialog to a new level - the level of action. People, especially young people, need to see tangible results.

Sustainable development is a virtuous cycle. It will create and benefit from economic stability in the world. Developed nations must make a commitment to debt relief, assistance and fair trade policies. In the developing world we must choose sound economic measures, in a framework of partnerships. Next is the need for global understanding and respect. Must teach our young people the common bonds of our religions and civilizations. All faiths and cultures have a responsibility to advance respect for others.

Conflict resolution nowhere more important than in Middle East. The road to peace is harder than the road to war. Yet the road to peace is the road that President Clinton and his own father walked. It is time for a lasting just solution that addresses the central problem - the Palestinean-Israeli conflict.

As an international community we need to build the partnership of action, and keep that parties moving toward results. We must act now. With every day of delay lives a re lost and futures destroyed. As leaders we know that what we envision we can make happen.

One Theme - A Core Problem

2006-09-21T13:31:00.000-07:00

There have been several discussions of the East-West divide at this conference, and I am hearing a repeated statement that there is one core issue from which the tension springs.

Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, was asked in yesterday's Bridging Differences in Embattled Societies panel about steps to reduce conflict in the world. She said exactly the same thing as Pervez Musharraf, President of the Islamic Republican of Pakistan said Wednesday morning in the opening panel. Then, this morning, Her Majesty Rania al-Abdullah, Queen of the Royal Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan repeated exactly the same message. (Sorry, I just love the titles...)

I also remember hearing this in another panel, but forget which one.

Here is what they are all trying to get through to the conference, and through it, to the United States in general: The core problem - the root of the trouble in the Middle East and extending across to Pakistan, is the unresolved situation between Israel and the Palestineans. That is the core problem, and the rest of the problems in the region are not going to get better until that problem is addressed. And each time I heard this, it is accompanied with a warning that the tensions are increasing.

Did anyone other than me hear this message here? More importantly, will this message be heard by those with the power - and responsibility - to focus on finding solutions?

Building A Sustainable Future

2006-09-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

Before the luncheon plenary, President Clinton announced several commitments, including the bite-sized chunk of a program to vaccinate 10,000 Honduran children eagainst hepatitis-A, costing $1 million.

Peter Goldmark, Program Director, Environmental Defense moderate a panel of
Al Gore
John Chambers, President and CEO, Cisco Systems
Klaus Kleinfeld, President and CEO of Siemens
Dr, Muhammad Yunus, Founder and Managing Director, Grameen Bank

Al Gore was asked about what would be involved in getting the US and China on a path to sustainability.

The US is still the one nation best able to lead the world. We face a full-scale planetary emergency. The US should be the pace car, out in front, leading. Other countries, particularly China, need to see leadership from us to push them into increased ation. To get China on the right road we need to get the US on the right road. The debate over global warming is over. The debate now is how we can best craft emergency solutions to solve the crisis.

Mohammed Yumas was asked about micro-credit. He gave an example of a project with the beggars in Bangladesh. His bank gives loans to beggars, to help bring them out of begging. The loan is used to purchase merchandise to sell as they go house to house. “They’re going from house to house anyway.” Now as a result of this program more than 80,000 beggars are in business for themselves. The cost to set each up in business was a $12 loan.

Klaus Kleinfeld talked about Siemens finding ways to sequester CO2 produced when burning coal, and developing much more efficient turbines.

John Chambers talked about setting up network schools around the world, training people in skills setting up and maintaining networks.

Gore then talked about how it is government that sets the rules within which business competes. He talked about the need to change the tax structure to encourage businesses to solve the problems of pollution, particularly global warming. He proposes a revenue-neutral shift away from payroll taxes – taxing work – to taxing pollution. He says business will follow that and find ways to reduce pollution.

Kleinfeld said that tax incentives should also be part of the plan to help kick-start new approaches and technologies, and then the incentive reduced and eliminated so the business model becomes sustainable rather than dependent.

Chambers talked about how Cicsco didn’t even know what their CO2 output was so they conducted an audit –measured the CO2 footprint – that allowed them to see where to reduce.

Gore made an important point that business leaders need to start policing their colleagues to stop those putting out irresponsible misleading PR. He specifically mentioned Exxon, which is spending a lot of money putting out PR and funding organizations saying that there is no global warming, etc. and that this is polluting the public discussion of this issue.

He said we need to reawaken the conversation of democracy, with integrity, start having honest conversations, and stop having taboo topics and marginalization tactics.

The Whirlwind - Clinton Unscripted

2006-09-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

This morning’s press conference brings back the memories of Bill Clinton’s presidency – a time of competent, caring leadership dedicated to solving problems and improving lives around the world. Bill Clinton is a driving force and an amazing intellect and this conference represents Clintonism, applied.

An hour with Bill Clinton is an hour in an idea and policy whirlwind. Running for the presidency he said he would “focus like a laser beam” on the economy, but he is apparently able to focus like a laser beam on any subject that comes up.

“Salinas Foundation in Mexico could finance a …” “Although I know that they haven’t entirely solved the conflict with the Eritreans, Ethiopia could …” “4 to 1 is a good deal on the ration of ethanol over…” “Deforestation in Haiti is causing erosion of city hillsides while the soil washed into the sea is harming fishing…” “Rwanda economic project to double farm income, the need better seeds, better tools, power sources…” “All those things could bring net reductions in …”

He’s naming obscure geologists in Texas and discussing the level of tar sands… He points out that the cost of aggregating seawater that is used by a particular Saudi process to flush up oil in depleted wells…

All the while the force of his personality encourages the people at this conference – and around the world as he travels - to do more, give more, work harder to solve problems, stay focused on solutions that can be accomplished and remember that you can do so much if you apply yourself and that helping others helps us all.

Richard Branson and Virgin Transportation Group To Dedicate ALL Future Proceeds Toward Global Warming

2006-09-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

At a press conference today with Former President Bill Clinton Richard Branson today committed to dedicating ALL future proceeds from Virgin's transportation companies - airlines, trains, etc. - to reducing use of fossil fuels and fighting global warming. He estimates this will bring approx. $3 billion dollars to the global warming fight. The company is working to develop jet fuels that are environmentally friendly, enzymes to break down prairie grasses into ethanol, and other efforts.

Pres. Clinton called this "serious money."

Mr. Branson said this is because of his admiration for the work of President Clinton and his Clinton Global Initiative process. He said that Al Gore came to his house to ask him to take a leading role in the global warming fight, which led to this announcement.

"We just don't have any time left," said President Clinton. We are running out of oil, and climate change is beginning to threaten civilization. "It is a serious problem likely to produce calamitous results."

Mr. Branson said the shortages are showing up now, that his company's costs for jet fuel is up over a billion dollars in the last three years.

Photos from the press conference can be seen at Seeing the Forest.)

The Wait

2006-09-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Apologies for my absence. At 8:45 I got a rare seat in the press conference room for President Clinton's 9am press conference. It started at 10:15. Last week I was in a blogger meeting with President Clinton that went on for an extra 1 1/2 hours. (With a NY Times reporter cooling his heels in the lobby watching us through a glass window.) That was a good thing. THIS week I waited in a crowded hot room on the other end of that deal. Heh. I only hope he wasn't talking to the NY Times.

Unfortunately it means I missed the morning's panels.

So there's some news. Stay tuned.

Morning Plenary - Managing Diversity (Cont'd)

2006-09-21T05:51:00.000-07:00

President Karzai says it is a policy of others to turn Afghanistan into an extremist society, and take away its traditions of diversity. Hesays the current violence seems more political, to try to subvert, and turn demoralize people, not from extremist ideology. Calculated to try to subvert the movement to democratic society.

Bishop Tutu, asked about the Pope's speech, said there is no faith that he knows of that advocates violence and hate. If you use a knife to cut bread it is good, if you use it to cut someone it is bad. He says it is bad to slide into talking about "Muslim terrorism." He hasn't heard the guy who bombed Oklahoma or those fighting in Northern Ireland as examples of Christian terrorism. Most Christians would be appalled if you said that is a characteristic of Christianity - it is a perversion. He hopes that we get to learn that we can survive only together, be free only together, be safe and secure only together. God created us different not so that we should be alienated from one another but so that we can know one another. The totally self-sufficient is sub-human.

Regarding the Pope's remarks, Queen Rania said the timing was unfortunate. Not only the content enraged, but the reactions would not have been so violent if it had taken place at a diferent time in history. Hilights the need for more inter-religious and intercultural dialog between us. We have more in common than we have that separates us. The fact that he would choose to focus on the 1% difference rather than the 99% that binds us was unfortunate. We need a tolerance movement that makes acceptance part of our daily lives. The next phases of needed government and private sector reforms is to have a multicultural responsibility.

President Karzai, asked about American troops in Afghanistan, started by saying there is a serious misunderstanding of Islam in the West. It was the same people who blew up the towers in New York were making Afghanistan suffer, killing people, and Karzai and others were begging the West to come help, or it would eventually reach them. No attention was paid because those in the West were not hurt, and that was wrong. (Note - this echoes what President Musharraf said about lack of assistance for Pakistan - "high and dry" - following the USSR laving Afghanistan.) Do not take the voice of the bad as the voice of the people. We forget the epole because they do not have an organization that is their voice, we must stop takig the voices of kilers as the voice of Islam.

Bishop Tutu - you and I are frequently appalled by the amount of evil around in the world, but it makes us blind to all the good. But this conference and the incredible generosity exhibited here is part of saying this is a moral universe. This is a universe in which right and wrong matter and good will prevail. You and I are people who are made for goodness. This is why the people we admire are not the macho, the aggressive. The world reveres Ghandi, Martin Luthor King, Jr., the Dali Lama. It is because we are made for goodness, embracing one another, and that is what is going to prevail.

Morning Plenary - Managing Diversity

2006-09-21T05:25:00.000-07:00

This morning Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek moderates a panel of:

Rania Al-Abdullah, Queen of the Royal Hashemite Kindgon of Jordan

Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus

Bishop Tutu talked about how South Africa managed the transition to representative government. He said that the African culture understands that anger, resentment and the desire for revenge are corrosive, so the people were able to proceed without retribution.

President Karzai, asked about transition in a multicultural society, said they conducted a number of discussions with different elements of the country - tribal leaders, etc., to decide how to set up the country, what language to use, etc. In the current national anthem they mention 14 ethnic groups of the country. ("The poet was great, he shortened it a bit.") Q: What about the Taliban, who have roots in Afghan society? A: I am being tolerant. Those Taliban who are Afghans who are not associated with al Queda and not part of terrorism are part of the Afghan people. Other than those who have or are committing crimes, we want to have them back.

Queen Rania is concerned with just how much the roots of division between the East and West has deepened. These had existed on the fringes, but they are being pulled into the center by two forces. The first is the lack of knowledge we have of one another. The west does not see Arab diversity. The challenge for the 21st century is finding ways for us to understand each other, which she finds baffling in this day and age. Living in the same neighborhood is not multiculturalism, youhave to invite people into your own home. An ideology of hatred is turning into a culture of fear. Grievances that have not been dealt with turn into hatred. The Palestinean problem MUST be dealt with. This is the issue that is at the core of our region and in the heart of every Arab. This is fueling the extremism. It is critical for us to try to find a solution to this problem. (Note - as far as I know, every speaker from the region has said that this is the core problem that MUST be solved before other problems, including Iraq, can be addressed.)

The Queen says we must not keep ruling out diplomatic solutions and relying on military options.

Regarding Lebanon, over the course of two months the Arab public became much more radicalized. The moderate majority has shrunk and extreme voices are taking over. The voices of moderation and negotiation are being marginalized. People are not seeing the dividends of peace.

To be continued

More Coming

2006-09-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

I will be going to a press reception at 9 hosted by President Clinton, so you'll hear from me again late tonite.

Update - Sorry, the reception went on very late and I decided it was best to sleep so I could cover the 8am plenary.

Evening Plenary

2006-09-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

The evening plenary was a panel Ruth Simmons, President of Brown University moderating; Bill Clinton, Former President of the United States of America; Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bil and Melinda Gates Foundation; Hernando de Soto, President, Institute for Liberty and Democracy; and Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Former of the Federal Republic of Brazil.

Summarizing as best I can, Question for Bill Gates, What are the best first things philanthropy can to toward addressing inequity? Start with health, but all the inequities tend to be found together and reinforce each other. The positive cycles we see happening in many countries improving things are not happening all over, so we need to improve female literacy to bring down population growth, philanthropy can help kick-start the process.

President Clinton, i the short term the biggest problems are the ones that dominate the headlines. But half of the world are not participating. Global warming has the capacity to change everything, bring everything down. One big mistake is when there is the absence of a capacity to reward intelligence and effort. If people believe that there is a connection between their effort and their reward they will do well. The tragedy of poverty is that it breaks the connection between effort and reward.

President Cardoso: it is difficult to convince people in government that NGOs can help. It is also difficult to convince NGOs to work with governments. Then the problem of convincing corporations to work with government. CEOs are used to giving orders.

Hernando de Soto, The keys to lasting, sustainable change for the better are in law. We need law - not prohibitive law but facilitating law. Trade and development require concrete things to nail agreements and commitments between people - the legal tools to do so. People need an address which means they need property rights whinch requires laws. How do you put a company together, issues shares, again laws and the instruments given by law.

Gtes, China bringing so many people out of overty was through government -- very enlightened governemnt action.

President Clinton - India now has the largest middle class in the world. But it also has revolts because 2/3 of the population are not affected by the new economy. Global economy is not working for half the people in Latin America

End summary -- my observation is that this is a gathering of many of the smartest people in the world, all here to try to really and seriously work on how to solve problems. It is a wonderful thing to be here and be part of this. No wonder it is so crowded. The conference, every panel, every keynote comes back to how can we come back to practical, pragmatic measures to address problems. President Clinton ended the evening by saying to the attendees to always be thinking about the programs they might initiate, the things they might do, to make things better.

Bite-Sized Chunks

2006-09-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

I'm at the evening plenary. President Clinton is announcing several committments. One example, a million-dollar commitment to set up a program to train 200 corporate board directors on the issues involved with climate change from global warming. If you think about this, it is one of those bite-sized chinks out of the big global challenges. It is a real, constructive and effective approach that will get something done. And there are lots and lots of these coming out of this conference.

The way it works it the working sessions have panels, then they break into working groups involving the panelists and attendees. They brainstorm, and then someone steps up and says, "I'd like to commit to working on that." So I imagine that one discussion was about how to get members of corporate boards involved in guiding their companies to work on solving, and some brainstorming happened about how to accomplish that, and here we are.

I've been asking people about how the panels work, and how they feel about them, and will write about that. But right now President Clinton is about to talk.

Jimmy Carter

2006-09-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

I just met President Jimmy Carter. This seems like a good time to plug one of my personal issues. Looking back from today's issues and problems, I think that Carter's "Malaise" Speech was one of the great speeches in our history.

Discussion Topic

2006-09-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

Teklewoini Assefa, Executive Director of the Relief Society of Tigray (REST) is curently speaking in the Making Trade Work for the Poor panel. He is talking about things that might help farmers in Africa move from subsistence farming to surplus, so they can begin to have an income and have an interest in trade. In this morning's opening panel Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia mentioned the same thing.

This brings to mind Jared Diamond's book Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, which (among other things) theorized that the soil of certain regions enabled food production sufficient to free up enough labor for civilization to rise, while other regions were held back.

Will introduction of modern technology, irrigation, and microfinance help currently-poor regions to devote more time and resources to modernization? The comments are open -- discuss.

(Yes, I admit I had to look it up.)

Commitments

2006-09-20T12:06:00.001-07:00

Most of the attendees pay a pretty hefty fee to be here. But they also have to make a commitment to help to solve problems in one of the areas. Throughout the conference announcements are made about new commitments, and the personor representative of the company or foundation making the commitment comes on the stage to sign a large certificate.

As I am writing this, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright is in front of the Religious & Ethnic Conflict working group announcing a commitment from Seeds of Peace. I didn’t catch how much, or for what. Next she announced a $100,000 commitment for a conference on peace and tolerance and unfortunately I did not catch who it is from.

I am in the press room, looking at four HDTV panels of the working sessions, and there are people on each of the four stages, with the large certificates showing they have given a commitment. (Because the conference is crowded the press is largely excluded from the working/panel sessions but can watch them in the press room. I have earphones and can switch to hear what is said on each screen.)

Webcasts

2006-09-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

I just discovered that the Clinton Global Initiative is being webcast. Go to this page to see a variety of options.

Early Impressions

2006-09-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

The Clinton Global Initiative might be a little too much of a success: It’s crowded. (The staff calls it “oversold.”) The conference needs to be in Manhattan near the UN because it is designed around the UN’s yearly gathering of world leaders, but though it is only in its second year it looks like it is time to find a larger facility.

Except for all the security the conference is very much like any business gathering you might attend. The panels so far are very much the same, following the same format, and the panelists sitting on a stage in chairs, but not behind tables, and saying the same kinds of things you hear in panels anywhere else. And to me this is actually a surprise. Of course I didn’t know in advance what to expect of a panel of four heads of state on the stage, introduced by a former President, but it turns out that they’re just people sitting up there. (They’re just people trying to get things done -- this is something I will be returning to later.)

For example, I look up at one of four monitors and General Wesley Clark is in a panel on Energy and Climate Change, talking about the military having the same problems as every one, for example a large investment in legacy systems – in this case equipment that runs on different fuels, but they are standardizing on JP8…

Almost all of the men are in suits, women in nice business attire. During the first break people gathered in the halls outside of the meeting rooms, having coffee and exchanging cards. Networking.

Urgent Issues and Innovative Solutions Panel

2006-09-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

Due to the limitations of time and medium I will summarize the main points covered. Apologies for the length of this post. The format of the opening sessions was not conducive to live blogging and a lot was discussed. My plan is to cover the main topics of interest throughout the conference with shorter posts, but also to spend some time giving the flavor of the conference.

Immediately following the Opening Plenary Thomas Friedman hosted a panel discussion on Urgent Issues and Innovative Solutions Panel. The attendees were

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President, Republic of Liberia

Pervez Musharraf, President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Javier Solana, Secretary General, Council of the European Union

Alvaro Uribe Velez, President, Republic of Columbia

Friedman said they would follow UN rules, and proceed in alphabetical orer. The president of Columbia began by talking about how his country is working to restore security. When he took office there were 70 homicides per 100K population and now it is still far too high at 39. His government is working to make Columbia a modern democracy. Security and social cohesion go hand-in-hand in that effort, as well as providing access to institutions for the poorest people.

Illicit crops have destroyed vast portions of the rainforest jungle, but now through a UN-financed program they are paying farmers to grow legitimate crops and to restore jungle. So far 43,000 families are participating, and he is working to expand this. Paying is cheaper than crime and terrorism.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia talked about rebuilding the country from war, addressing the needs to kids who were forced into combat, and the need for people to work in villages identifying and helping solve what the villagers feel are their primary problems, so that the villagers have a stake in ongoing efforts. Her short point - they need "tools and seeds" to help farmers move from substistence to surplus so they can begin to have an income. She sounds very much like an investment banker, saying her country needs skills-training so they can attract investment capital.

Pervez Musharraf was asked about the issue of modernity and Islam. He said his government is working to transmit economic gains to the people of Pakistan - including clean drinking water. He said the remarks of the Pope have caused tension at this critical moment and were most unwarranted. He tried to correct misperceptions ("misperceptions" was a word he used a lot both about Pakistan and Islam) that Pakistan is aligned against the West. Until 1979 Pakistan was moderate and peaceful. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan has led to fallout. They took in 4 million refugees and were left "high and dry" with no assistance after 1989. The Mujahadin was strengthened and financed by the West, but Pakistan was left with no assistance whatsoever while they coalesced into al Queda. Then came the Taliban, then war. Simultaneously there were the tensions with Kashmir in their East. So they suffered the fallout of militancy on their East and West with no assistance. Now we need to understand the environment. We cannot address terrorism alone without addressing extremism. Talibanization is a mindset that must be curbed. There is no military solution. (from a later question) An important distinction to make is that the Taliban is local, al Queda was not local people. al Queda is being wiped out but the Taliban is rising due to resentment of the presence of foreign troops. Asked directly: "So we (the US) are part of the problem and part of the solution?" Answer: "Part of the problem."

Javier Solana talked about how providing security is fundamental to development. Without security there is no development and without development there is suffering. Responding to a later question about Islam and the West, he said that the divide is profound. The world cannot abide provoking just for the sake of provoking.

Musharraf then said this is a time to build bridges not burn bridges. At this time blasphemous cartoons are like salt in the wounds, when Muslims believe they are being targeted. There is a fringe of the Muslim world that believes that modernization = Westernization.

Finally he said that the number one problem - the core of it all, is the Palestinian problem. No other problem will be solved until that is solved. He wishes that President Clinton would come back to diplomacy.

Opening Plenary

2006-09-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

The conference opened with former President Clinton welcoming the more than 50 current and former heads of state who are attending. He gave a short talk explaining that the idea of the conference is an attempt to tackle big global challenges in bite-sized pieces, and asked the attendees for promises to take action. He pointed out that some projects with smaller budgets can have a very large impact, and that beyond just money pledges of time and talent can have an impact, too.

President Clinton then introduced First Lady Laura Bush, who spoke about global education and literacy - and had a big announcement.

Mrs. Bush talked about the goals shared by people in every country - the desire to have a better life for them and their families. Poverty, lack of education, endemic diseases have kept people from achieving their desires. She outlined different programs the US government is engaged in, including schools and teacher training for women in Afghanistan, malaria programs, and AIDs relief in 120 countries.

Then she announced a new public-private alliance to address the problem of lack of clean drinking water in Africa and other regions called Play Pumps. These are children's merry-go-rounds that are also pumps, pumping water out of wells, "fueled by a limitless energy source." Children playing brings up clean water. This program is funded in an alliance with Steve Case's Case Foundation and Ray Chambers' MCJ Foundation.

Immediately following these opening proceedings there was a panel on Urgent Issues and Innovative Solutions.

Morning Press Overview

2006-09-20T06:11:00.000-07:00

The Press Overview session was conducted by Jay Carson, Clinton Foundation Spokesman

This is the second Clinton Global Initiative conference. This conference comes out of President Clinton attending many conferences of world political and business, and coming back year after year to find everyone talking about the same things. Also, that he felt there was too much “speechifying.” So he set up this conference, at the same time as the UN gathering, around the idea of few long speeches, and working sessions where leaders have discussions on solving problems.

Attendees are required to make and meet a commitment, or they are not invited back. “A number of people”(less than 20) from last year, for example, were not invited back. Some of the commitments are very large dollar amounts – last year produced $2.5 billion in commitments toward solutions to the problems discussed.

There are four working areas for this conference, with discussion “tracks” of working groups:

Energy and Climate Change

Global Health

Poverty Alleviation

Mitigating Religious and Ethnic Conflict

Before the Conference

2006-09-20T05:19:00.000-07:00

It’s 7:30am and I am in the press “filing” room. (I couldn’t find the “posting” room for bloggers, so I came in here.) I’m waiting for the IT person who is rumored to be coming to tell us all how to log in to the special wireless that is set up for us. It has a nice, strong signal, but requires an ID and password. If you are reading this you’ll know that I did, indeed, get an ID and password.

Security is very, very tight. First, there was a bomb-sniffing dog out front. The metal detectors are set to a sensitivity that even flagged the strips on the credit cards in my wallet. And there were at least seven Secret Service watching the process as we came in.

The press accommodations here are very nice. We have a special area with several rooms. There is coffee, soda, water and pastries. Across the street there is even a restaurant that is set up to feed us -- for free. This means that the Clinton Global Initiative will get Good Press.

Introduction

2006-09-19T05:45:00.000-07:00

I would like to begin by introducing myself, and explain how I came to be invited to cover the Clinton Global Initiative.

My name is Dave Johnson, and I’m a blogger. Like most political bloggers I got started out of frustration with what I was seeing and reading – or not seeing and reading – in the so-called “mainstream” media. Day after day, it seemed to be the same tired old conventional wisdom coming from the same high-paid insiders, while the world was going insane around us. I could see for myself that things were clearly not the way the CW voices were saying they were, and something inside me just had to stand up on a soapbox and say so.

So I started my own blog. From the very first I have managed to produce at least one and usually several “posts” almost every single day, and when I wasn’t able to do that myself, I usually found someone to cover for me. Over time people stumbled across my blog, and some of them agreed with what I was saying. A few of those were also bloggers, and they linked to me, and eventually my blog was part of a network of leading progressive political blogs.

My blogging has led to some exciting invitations – for a “politics junkie” at least. In 2004 I was asked to cover the Boston Democratic Convention. That November I was asked to come to New Jersey to blog for MSNBC as a “Hardblogger” during their election coverage. This year I participated in two panels at the YearlyKos gathering of bloggers and blog readers.

I don’t make any real money from this, and it doesn’t matter. I have a few ads sometimes, and I think it probably about matches my server and bandwidth expenses. But money isn’t the point – not even a little bit. I blog because I feel that it is important to be involved and to lend one’s voice and experience to help guide the direction of our society. I can’t help it. I would probably be one of those early Americans who were hung because they just wouldn’t shut up about that terrible King George. (I might yet.)

So what is this whole blogging thing about? Who ARE these “bloggers” that you read about, usually with derision? I can answer that very easily and simply: Anyone can start a blog. Think about that for a minute. ANYone can start a blog. If people agree with what is being written at that blog, the blog gains readers. THAT is what is going on here. That’s all it is, but there are a lot of implications.

Blogging is just a way for people to make their voices heard. Because of the Internet’s amazing ability to bring people together we are seeing information finding ways to flow around the traditional gatekeepers. Blogging is one of the beginnings of that transformation. We are witnessing the beginnings of a true marketplace of ideas. So when you read about “the bloggers” and all the terrible things they are saying, and all the terrible problems they are causing, just remember – ANYone can start a blog. And that means that you are hearing someone complaining about the chaos of democracy.

Last week a dozen or so bloggers were invited to meet with President Clinton at his offices in Harlem. I was one of them and it was a fascinating and productive experience – for all involved. After the meeting I was invited to come back to New York this week to cover the Clinton Global Initiative as a blogger. It sure didn’t take me very long to say yes.

But I am not the sort of person one would expect to find meeting with a former President, or this week at an event attended by Kings and Queens, Prime Ministers, Presidents, business leaders … and high-paid insiders. (At least I don’t think I am.) Does this mean I represent the Voice of the People? (My friend Richard would say I represent the Voice of the Idiots.)

Tomorrow I will be blogging right here at the Live From The Clinton Global Initiative blog. I’ll post as often as I get time to send a few paragraphs out from my computer. (Will security let me bring a computer? Will there be wireless? Will the bloggers covering this be seated at a little card-table set up in the corner?)