Clinton Global Initiative Reactivated to ‘Address Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine’
'Democracy is under assault around the world'
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Former President Bill Clinton has announced the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) will be returning to "address" Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and climate change.
The former president wrote:
“Cooperation and coordination have never been more urgent than it is now.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has ripped the cover off of longstanding inequities and vulnerabilities across our global community.”
“The existential threat of climate change grows every day.”
“Democracy is under assault around the world, most glaringly in Ukraine where Russia has launched an unjustified and unprovoked invasion that has put millions of lives in grave danger,” he continued.
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“The number of displaced people and refugees worldwide is higher than it has ever been—more than one in 95 of all people alive on the planet today has been forced to flee their home—and rising," Clinton added.
Partners in the @ClintonGlobal community are on the ground in Ukraine and across the region to provide urgent critical care. Here's a look at some of these important efforts: https://t.co/QAtjiGnRiS
— Clinton Global Initiative (@ClintonGlobal) March 6, 2022
According to the Clinton Global Initiative website, it “convenes global and emerging leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.”
“Rather than directly implementing projects, CGI facilitates action by helping members connect, collaborate, and develop Commitments to Action — new, specific, and measurable plans that address global challenges,” it adds.
The Clinton Global Initiative ended when Hillary Clinton launched her presidential campaign.
The initiative will now convene between September 19 to September 21 in New York City.
“Just like the world we’re living in, the September meeting will likely look different than the ones we held before,” Clinton said.
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“But what will not be different is the spirit that has driven CGI from the very beginning—the idea that we can accomplish more together than we can apart,” the former president said in his announcement.
As Breitbart noted:
Past events have featured A-list celebrity speakers and top business executives such as Ben Affleck, Bono, and former Presidents Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter.
The initiative has also been sponsored by major corporations, from Coca-Cola, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Blackstone Group, Laureate Education, Monsanto, and Standard Chartered Bank. As the Washington Examiner profiled in 2016 upon the initiative’s downturn, CGI has drawn criticism for “its atypical method of operation.”
The last 5 years have ripped the cover off of longstanding global vulnerabilities, but I still believe we can accomplish far more together than we can apart. That’s why I’m looking forward to the next chapter of @ClintonGlobal. My letter here: https://t.co/SQAJFmIF6G https://t.co/S1cHCwUHFS
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) March 4, 2022
As The Washington Examiner noted:
“Instead of issuing traditional grants to groups in need, the Clinton Global Initiative’s primary function is to convene powerful figures from the business, political or entertainment worlds and encourage them to pledge contributions for future projects called ‘commitments.'"
“However, the group’s most recent philanthropic portfolio indicates fewer than half of the thousands of commitments made since 2005 have ever been completed,” it added.
“The charity’s financial structure has also raised eyebrows since most direct contributions go toward the annual meeting or salaries rather than philanthropy.”
