Branson pledges $3bn to Clinton environment initiative

[JohnWxy]

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=161143140&p=y6yy437zx



The second US annual Clinton Global Initiative has been crowned by a $3bn (€2.34bn) pledge from business mogul Richard Branson for battling global warming.
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He said the $3bn was the estimated amount of total profits from Virgin Group’s airline and train sectors over the next decade, all of which will be reinvested in efforts to develop alternative, sustainable energy sources, in particular biofuels.

Branson said he was inspired to make the 10-year commitment after a meeting with Clinton’s former vice president, Al Gore, a leading environmental activist who urged him to do more for the health of the planet.
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MY question is where is Bill Gates. IF he really wants to have an impact on the quality of life for every person on the planet, a significant commitment to invest in and to advance development of renewable energy from Wind Power to bio-fuels would be the single most important thing he could do.

Considering the current melting of the permafrost and the as yet ungauged impact this will have in terms of ACCELERATING THE RELEASE OF GREEN HOUSE GASES, his involvement in reducing fossil fuel consumption could be the most important investment he could make in the future of mankind.

[Uben]

1. This is an investment

Branson will be investing the $3 bln in alternative energy, which will probably make him the richerst man in the world! Do not mistake this for a philanthropic donation, which is what Gates and Buffet made.

[nam78_two]

2. At this point I don't care about the intentions

I am glad someone (with money) is taking the environmental crisis we are in seriously.

[JohnWxy]

4. I'm talking about Gates investing. I don't care how it's done. The

investment in Wind power and other renewables is fine with me. We are in serious trouble here. Gates could have a real impact. It's perfectly alright with me if it's an investment as is Branson's commitment.

The important thing is getting some real movement in this area. Gates investing in Wind Power and other renewables would be more important than all his charitable contributions. The melting of the permafrost is going to take us into uncharted territory in terms of CO2 increases. We need to be doing something NOW.

[poopfuel]

6. philanthropy, huh?

Or tax bonus

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sheldon-drobny/the-gates-and-buffett-fou_b_27780.html

[nam78_two]

3. I have been wondering about Bill Gates too

This is without doubt an issue that save the lives of millions and really change the future of this planet :shrug:
He is said to be Bush's buddy...that would explain wanting to flush the planet down the toilet I guess....

At least the google guys are on board

[JohnWxy]

5. Gates, more than any one person could play a role that is impossible to

gauge as to it's significance. Taking steps now to start reducing Co2 emmissions is so important. He could make a difference that could be of heroic significance down the road. MOst of the GHGs are produced in the U.S. if he started to take on this challenge here, he might even affect the attitudes around the world about taking action on this problem (or even here in the U.S.!!).

He really has a chance to possibly put himself in the history books like he never could have imagined.

[Pierzin]

7. Our Corporatocracy Isn't Going to Do a Damb Thing, so Some-

body should, and kudos to them for doing it!

Meanwhile our self-serving sycophantic demagogues do nothing but look to the next election, their next campaign donors, rech!

[Dogmudgeon]

8. Where is Bill Gates?

It only took me 15 seconds on Google to find out:

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm

He was also at the Clinton Global Initiative conference this past week, checkbook in hand.

Gates is a major philanthropist.

Don't let your animus toward Microsoft get in the way of the facts. I myself am extremely critical of the man's business, but he's not stingy about funding good causes. Andrew Carnegie was much the same way in an earlier era of history.

--p!