Clinton Global Initiative Starts Today
Former President Clinton and President Obama. Credit: Jim Watson for Getty Images
The meeting is a who's-who of global leaders. President Obama is addressing the opening session, and more than 60 current and former Heads of State will attend alongside Hilary Clinton, Kofi Annan and Al Gore. The CEOs of major corporations like General Electric, Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, and JP Morgan Chase will also be there.
And what green-global-minded gathering is complete without celebrities like Demi Moore, Matt Damon and Barbra Streisand? Oddly enough, Pam Anderson and PETA are not on the invitee list, but you know Angelina Jolie totally plans to crash -- she wouldn't miss an event like this!
The interesting thing about the Clinton Global Initiative is that these are active working sessions. Attendees work together to formulate an action plan to create change, and each attendee is required to make a "commitment," i.e. pledge to accomplish certain goals. There are follow-up tools and ongoing contact throughout the year to monitor and support the commitment.
And these aren't just "be a better person" pledges -- CGI members get real stuff done! The accomplishments listed on the site include:
- Cut CO2 emissions by 60 million metric tons
- Protected or restored 33 million acres of forest
- Given 48 million people access to better health care
- Funded 270 microfinance institutions, assisting 3 million micro-entrepreneurs
Want to be a part of the CGI team? Sorry, the only way to become a member is by invitation, and then it costs $20,000. (Of course, for most of the attendees, that's chump change, and $19,000 of it is tax deductible.) If you're determined to get involved, and you're an undergrad or graduate student, there is CGI University, a training institute for young activists.
For us older, less illustrious activists, we can make our personal commitment to donate goods, pledge dollars, or volunteer time on CGI project site MyCommitment.org. Not as glamorous, but free!
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