Pledges at Clinton Gathering Reach $7-Billion

Political, corporate, and nonprofit leaders pledged more than $7-billion in business investments, charitable donations, and other commitments as part of a conference here organized by former President Bill Clinton on ways to fix global problems.

The event, which gathered about 1,000 world leaders, business executives, charity officials, and the occasional Hollywood celebrity, requires participants to make a commitment, usually monetary, to fight endemic poverty, religious strife, or other social ills.

The largest of the 215 promises came from British entrepreneur Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin corporate conglomerate, who said he would dedicate an estimated $3-billion over 10 years to curb climate change by developing alternative energy sources.

The contribution, which will be given to nonprofit research groups and invested in cutting-edge environmental technology companies, will come from his personal profits from Virgin's airline and railroad businesses.

"I hope this contribution will help in a small way our children experience our beautiful world and encourage others to do what they can," he said.

While not a traditional philanthropic gift, Sir Richard said his goal was not to make money. He said any proceeds from the new commercial ventures would be reinvested in other environmental efforts, adding that he expected some of the efforts he will finance to fail.

"Some will be profitable, some will not be profitable," he said. "But the only way global warming is going to be beaten is to invest in new fuels that can actually replace fossil fuels."

Sir Richard, nicknamed the "rebel billionaire" for his flamboyant style, said former Vice President Al Gore persuaded him to make his pledge when the two men met last year at Sir Richard's home in London.

Safe Water

The Clinton meeting stressed the connection between business and social purposes, but several large donations were also announced at the event.

Computer entrepreneur Steve Case and his wife, Jean, promised $5-million to get clean water to sub-Saharan Africans.

The U.S. government also contributed $10-million to the project, which was announced Wednesday by the first lady, Laura Bush, at the start of the 3-day conference.

The grants will support PlayPumps International, in Washington, which will build water pumps attached to merry-go-rounds. The charity already has built about 700 such devices, which move safe drinking water into storage tanks as children turn the merry-go-rounds.

"PlayPumps are fueled by a limitless energy source: children at play," Mrs. Bush said during the conference.

The Clinton Initiative is a highbrow meeting with the feel of a slick telethon that brings together an unusual collection of do-gooders. During a break between sessions, for instance, the mom of basketball star Michael Jordan chatted with television actress Alyssa Milano, just a few minutes before she met Patty Stonesifer, chief executive of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Tension Points

Yet the conference wasn't all goodwill and amicable handshakes; there were some disagreements.

After Mrs. Bush unveiled the PlayPumps gift to Africa, Pervez Musharraf, president of Pakistan, urged attendees to assist poor South Asians as well.

"We deserve the attention, too," he pleaded. "We would like to be helped in that [way] also," the Pakistani president said, referring to water projects.

Mr. Clinton's event sets itself apart from other business and civil-society conferences in that participants must make a charitable promise - and fulfill it - or they will not be invited back.

According to Jay Carson, Mr. Clinton's spokesman, "less than 20" of 2005's Clinton Global Initiative participants were removed from the guest list.

The William J. Clinton Foundation, which runs the conference, tracks the commitments and promises to hold people accountable.

Despite this, Mr. Carson, declined to name the banned parties. "We didn't say we would either, A, chase them down to their houses or B, beat the commitments out of them or that we would embarrass them with the international press corps," said Mr. Carson.

For a list of commitments made during the event, visit the Clinton Global Initiative Web site, http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.