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Clinton wonkparty outshines U.N. meeting Clinton wonk party outshines U.N. meeting
(about 1 hour later)
NEW YORK — Which party would you rather go to: The one that begins with Leonardo DiCaprio, Eva Longoria and a rocking house band, or the one that begins with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff?NEW YORK — Which party would you rather go to: The one that begins with Leonardo DiCaprio, Eva Longoria and a rocking house band, or the one that begins with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff?
Oh, and one of the gatherings this week in New York City also has former president Bill Clinton and his wife — you might have heard of her — former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton. Plus a due-to-give-birth-any-second Chelsea Clinton.Oh, and one of the gatherings this week in New York City also has former president Bill Clinton and his wife — you might have heard of her — former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton. Plus a due-to-give-birth-any-second Chelsea Clinton.
That event is the Clinton Global Initiative, which also boasted comic Seth Meyers and of-the-moment singers Jason Mraz and Aloe Blacc on the opening night Sunday, if you’re keeping score at home. That event is the Clinton Global Initiative, which also boasted comic Seth Meyers and of-the-moment singers Jason Mraz and Aloe Blacc on opening night Sunday, if you’re keeping score at home.
Did we mention that Matt Damon is going to talk about clean water?Did we mention that Matt Damon is going to talk about clean water?
The meeting was established in 2005 as a three-day do-gooder wonkathon that took advantage of the spotlight of the other gathering — the annual United Nations General Assembly — to draw attention to development issues and other concerns. The meeting was established in 2005 as a three-day do-gooder wonkathon that took advantage of the spotlight of the other gathering — the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting — to draw attention to development issues and other concerns.
Ten meetings later, the Clinton Global Initiative now outshines the U.N. gathering, at least when it comes to star wattage. It also serves as an annual company picnic and convocation of the faithful for the Clintons’ far-flung political and business networks.Ten meetings later, the Clinton Global Initiative now outshines the U.N. gathering, at least when it comes to star wattage. It also serves as an annual company picnic and convocation of the faithful for the Clintons’ far-flung political and business networks.
The whiff of a potential Hillary Clinton presidential run was everywhere as Greater Clintonia gabbed and gossiped in the lobby of the New York Sheraton, alongside the sort of Aspen-sleek corporate types and earnest advocates who attend sessions such as “Reimagining Finance for Social Impact: Planning For Scale.”The whiff of a potential Hillary Clinton presidential run was everywhere as Greater Clintonia gabbed and gossiped in the lobby of the New York Sheraton, alongside the sort of Aspen-sleek corporate types and earnest advocates who attend sessions such as “Reimagining Finance for Social Impact: Planning For Scale.”
“President Clinton is here! And so is Bill!” emcee Meyers joked Sunday, after Hillary Clinton opened the glitzy awards banquet that inaugurated the gathering. (Bill grinned and applauded from the audience.)“President Clinton is here! And so is Bill!” emcee Meyers joked Sunday, after Hillary Clinton opened the glitzy awards banquet that inaugurated the gathering. (Bill grinned and applauded from the audience.)
Of course it isn’t really fair to compare UNGA and CGI, as the natives of both lands call the gatherings. But probably only the Clintons could build an organization that is now in many ways a bigger draw than the august world gathering it was designed to complement. Of course, it isn’t fair to compare UNGA and CGI, as the natives of both lands call the gatherings. But probably only the Clintons could build an organization that is, in many ways, a bigger draw than the august world gathering it was designed to complement.
Brazil’s president will be the first of more than 150 leaders expected to address the United Nations beginning Wednesday morning. Rousseff is actually something of a rock star among world leaders and a fascinating story for foreign policy geeks because of her tough-talking persona. But it’s a good bet that the Hollywood Reporter and US Weekly don’t have assigned seats for her address, as they did for the CGI opening. Brazil’s president will be the first of more than 150 leaders expected to address the United Nations beginning Wednesday morning. Rousseff is something of a rock star among world leaders and a fascinating story for foreign-policy geeks because of her tough-talking persona. But it’s a good bet that the Hollywood Reporter and Us Weekly don’t have assigned seats for her address, as they did for the CGI opening.
“There is a little sizzle with the substance,” said CGI spokesman Craig Minassian, “but it draws people into the substance.”“There is a little sizzle with the substance,” said CGI spokesman Craig Minassian, “but it draws people into the substance.”
On Monday, the once-and-maybe-future presidents embraced warmly after Bill Clinton introduced Hillary Clinton. He outlined the accomplishments claimed by CGI: 430 million people in 180 countries helped by the pledges — or commitments, in CGI parlance — that participants must make to try to solve climate change, women’s deaths in childbirth, the lack of libraries in rural societies or a host of other problems. On Monday, the once and maybe-future presidents embraced warmly after Bill Clinton introduced Hillary. He outlined the accomplishments claimed by CGI: 430 million people in 180 countries helped by the pledges — or commitments, in CGI parlance — that participants must make to try to solve climate change, women’s deaths in childbirth, the lack of libraries in rural societies or a host of other problems.
That adds up to action valued at nearly $100 billion, and 27 million people with greater access to safe drinking water, Hillary Clinton said. They are very big on big data at CGI. That adds up to action valued at nearly $100 billion, and 27 million people with greater access to safe drinking water, Hillary Clinton said. They are big on big data at CGI.
“The last thing we want to do is just get into a rut where we just do the same things over and over again,” she said. “We have been asking ourselves, ‘How can we continue to reinvent philanthropy and business as effectively in the next 10 years as well as we have done in the past?’ ” she said.“The last thing we want to do is just get into a rut where we just do the same things over and over again,” she said. “We have been asking ourselves, ‘How can we continue to reinvent philanthropy and business as effectively in the next 10 years as well as we have done in the past?’ ” she said.
Membership costs $20,000 annually for corporations and other large organizations but is free for many charitable and advocacy groups. Membership is also by invitation only and is capped at about 600 slots. There is no shortage of applicants. Membership costs $20,000 annually for corporations and other large organizations, but it is free for many charitable and advocacy groups. Membership also is by invitation only and capped at about 600 slots. There is no shortage of applicants.
“We have not renewed” some members who did not carry through on their pledges, Minassian said.“We have not renewed” some members who did not carry through on their pledges, Minassian said.
“At first I asked people to come to New York when the U.N. was meeting and the world leaders were coming, which guarantees that you could join the world’s worst traffic jam,” Bill Clinton joked. “And then I asked people to come to a meeting where you had to make a commitment to do something, and do your best to keep it, and keep coming.” “At first, I asked people to come to New York when the U.N. was meeting and the world leaders were coming, which guarantees that you could join the world’s worst traffic jam,” Bill Clinton joked. “And then I asked people to come to a meeting where you had to make a commitment to do something, and do your best to keep it, and keep coming.”
Those commitments began as back-of-the-envelope sketches of ideas and promises, and now keep about 100 people employed year-round shaping, refining and measuring the progress of each member’s performance.Those commitments began as back-of-the-envelope sketches of ideas and promises, and now keep about 100 people employed year-round shaping, refining and measuring the progress of each member’s performance.
It is that culture of expectations that sets CGI apart from other “thought leader” gatherings such as the World Economic Forum, which holds an annual uber-glossy gabfest in Davos, Switzerland.It is that culture of expectations that sets CGI apart from other “thought leader” gatherings such as the World Economic Forum, which holds an annual uber-glossy gabfest in Davos, Switzerland.
“This is Davos with action items,” said John Wood, who credits CGI with nurturing his library- and school-building project, Room to Read. “It forces you to say what you are going to do, what is your time frame, how are you going to do it.”“This is Davos with action items,” said John Wood, who credits CGI with nurturing his library- and school-building project, Room to Read. “It forces you to say what you are going to do, what is your time frame, how are you going to do it.”
There is some cross-pollination between CGI and UNGA. President Obama is set to address both organizations this year, for example. But many business and development professionals hobnob at CGI without getting anywhere near U.N. headquarters. There is some cross-pollination between CGI and UNGA. President Obama is set to address both gatherings this year, for example. But many business and development professionals hobnob at CGI without getting anywhere near U.N. headquarters.
Not to mention the Hollywood contingent and their causes.Not to mention the Hollywood contingent and their causes.
“The world is now at a turning point, and climate change is the defining issue of our time,” DiCaprio said as he accepted a CGI Global Citizen award. “The task before us to protect this planet will require the largest movement in human history.”“The world is now at a turning point, and climate change is the defining issue of our time,” DiCaprio said as he accepted a CGI Global Citizen award. “The task before us to protect this planet will require the largest movement in human history.”