to tackle big global challenges in bite-sized pieces

September 21, 2006 9:21 PM

Webcasts from the Clinton Global Initiative conference (all wmv, archived of past 2 days and live tomorrow) --covering energy, healthcare, agriculture, poverty, religious and ethnic conflicts, etc. They're trying to turn "practical ideas into meaningful action". More here, including a cool waterpump/merry-go-round thing.
posted by amberglow (10 comments total)

Finally some one has figured out a way to convert childhood enthusiasm into energy!
posted by delmoi at 9:25 PM on September 21, 2006

oh, IHT had a good thing about it too--they actually disinvited people and companies that came last year and promised to do stuff but never followed thru, which will help with greenwashing companies and stuff, i think.
posted by amberglow at 9:33 PM on September 21, 2006

covering energy, healthcare, agriculture, poverty, religious and ethnic conflicts, etc.

I'll be at the everything pavillion. huhhh, sighhhhh.
posted by longsleeves at 10:02 PM on September 21, 2006

You say playpump, I say Wheel of Pain.
posted by AndrewStephens at 10:48 PM on September 21, 2006

thanks much, amberglow - I was going to hunt this stuff down this weekend after seeing Big Dog talking about it on John Stewart. I think he is on Olbermann tomorrow night too.

Richard Branson's $3 billion pledge was nice - he credited Al Gore for urging him to do this.
posted by madamjujujive at 11:17 PM on September 21, 2006

Branson's pledge seems to be 49% other people's money. Any word on how they feel about it?
posted by IndigoJones at 5:12 AM on September 22, 2006

PlayPump previously on MeFi. Alas, due to ultra-frickin-mega-huge problems with ADSL here in Kenya at the moment, I can't reach that site.

I'll be sure to look at it later though.
posted by davehat at 5:32 AM on September 22, 2006

Crackin me up, Longsleeves. :)
posted by tadellin at 7:52 AM on September 22, 2006

The interesting thing is, Clinton in the last month or so has been getting a hell of lot of coverage -- airplay, news, nice profile in the New Yorker, on and on. He's having a fabulous time being ex-president. This conference just adds to the exposure he is getting.

Now, if it were anybody else, they obviously would be running for something, but he's not. But wait. Could it be that the Clinton PR machine has sought, so far with great success, to rehabilitate and pump up Bill (anyone recall that intern thing anymore?) specifically in order to remove any potential for him to turn out to be negative baggage for Hilary's run?
posted by beagle at 10:46 AM on September 22, 2006

Could it be that the Clinton PR machine has sought, so far with great success, to rehabilitate and pump up Bill specifically... for Hilary's run?

Of course. But I also think they are trying to impact the Democratic brand in the short-term, too. If people can remember the good things about Democrats (which, like him or not, Bill Clinton at his best exemplifies), instead of thinking of the truly reprehensible things the GOP has tarred them with in the last five years, then it could result in a short-term boost for the mid-term elections.
posted by psmealey at 12:57 PM on September 22, 2006