Posted on 01/11/2013 6:43:11 PM PST by JohnPDuncan
When Tony Blair visited Beijing a few weeks ago to open a prestigious conference on philanthropy, he showed he had lost none of the evangelical fervour that once dazzled British voters.
Giving an impassioned sermon to an A-list audience on the crucial role of compassion, the former Prime Minister spoke of how societies should be measured not just by what people do for themselves, but by what they do for others.
‘The best philanthropy is about changing the world,’ he proclaimed. ‘Flourishing philanthropy is an essential part of a flourishing society.’
Blair told well-heeled listeners paying nearly £1,500 a head how he found a new role after politics doing good deeds around the globe. He had seen how people’s lives had been improved through his efforts, he said.
It was the perfect start for China’s first major forum on philanthropy, where guests included Bill Gates, the multi-billionaire Microsoft founder who is giving away much of his fortune, and Andrew Forrest, Australia’s richest man and another generous charity donor.
‘We need philanthropy to lessen hostility towards the rich,’ Blair warned them. Heartfelt words for a man said to have raked in nearly £20 million last year, big chunks of it by delivering platitudes dressed up as profundities to gullible global paymasters.
It was the sort of event the former Labour leader seems to love: a private jet to take him there, a £3,000-a-night hotel suite, and networking with the super-rich. Yet his sanctimonious speech was little more than hypocritical hogwash coming from a man who, to my mind, has turned amorality into an art form.
For all his honeyed words about serving humanity, this is a man who used his contacts book from Downing Street to launch a lucrative career advising absolute monarchs, wealthy bankers and despots.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Sounds like jimmy carter. Some of these guys apparently don’t think they did enough damage while still in office...
Following in the footsteps of Mrs. Clinton’s wandering spouse. All depends on how you define “is”.
The entire generation of baby boomer leadership in NATO countries has failed their native populations. History will not look kindly on the follies of these men and women.
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005
Gerhard Schroder’s Next Big Job
By ADAM SMITH
After leaving office in November, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder wasted no time sprucing up his résumé. He took a job as consultant with Swiss publishers Ringier in November; he even attended a rural language school in Wales to brush up on his English. Russian, though, might have been a better choice. Only weeks after brokering, as Chancellor, a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a gas pipeline linking the two countries, Schröder earlier this month stepped into the role of project chairman. Set to start piping gas into Europe in 2010, the $5-billion North European Gas Pipeline is controlled by Gazprom, Russia’s state-run natural gas supplier.
Schröder appears not to have broken any rules — there are none governing the conduct of former Chancellors — but his close relationship with Putin triggered charges of cronyism from German politicians, as well as claims that he’s sold his country out.
http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1142152,00.html
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