The Changing Face of Service

We live in a time when no single government or alliance of nations can alone solve the scandal of poverty, the warming of our planet or the scourge of disease. Human and natural disasters require something more to fill the enormous gaps between people's needs and the capacity of bureaucracies to meet them. This explains why we've seen non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, proliferate.

Thank heavens. Populated by passionate experts and funded by philanthropic grants and widows' mites alike, these organizations are civil society's collective conscience. They represent the best of humanity in those dark and often dangerous places where the worst of humanity and Nature are on full display. One of the best NGOs of the 21st century deserves more attention for its efforts to combat today's most pressing global issues from HIV/AIDS to climate change. It's the Clinton Foundation, founded by my good friend, President Bill Clinton.

I know how strongly he believes, as he has said many times, that "in our interdependent world, we are all responsible for our neighbors, even if they live half a world away." It's generally well known how he has brought governments, businesses, charitable organizations and individual volunteers together in common purpose.

What's much less known are the foundation's early accomplishments. It has given small businesses from Harlem to Ghana the opportunity to survive and prosper. It has worked with the American Heart Association to help children avoid the hazards of obesity. It is assisting more than 40 of the world's largest cities combat climate change. And through the Clinton Global Initiative, a unique gathering of human beings committed to move from words to deeds, thousands of corporations and citizens have committed to relieve some of Earth's most intractable problems.

Simply consider the Foundation's HIV/AIDS initiative. In the past six years alone, it has helped save the lives of nearly a million and a half children and adults in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. How? First, it recognized the yawning chasm between the number of people needing medicine to survive the ravages of AIDS and those with access to that medicine. Second, it knew the price of that medicine proved a huge barrier to bridging that chasm. And third, it realized that delivering medicine to the people who needed it required construction of a strong infrastructure that would last years.

President Clinton and his foundation team set about meeting those challenges head on. They negotiated with the drug companies to lower the price of HIV tests and treatment dramatically; completed memorandums of understanding with governments and organizations to deliver medicine and aid and to provide expertise and equipment to make those deliveries work; and inspired thousands of volunteers and hundreds of thousands of contributors to bring both financial and people power to bear on this great cause.

What's happened? The price of pediatric HIV/AIDS drugs has dropped by nearly 90 percent. As a result, the number of children receiving life-saving treatment in the 33 countries where the Foundation is at work has doubled to more than 130,000. To me, these are not simply numbers. They represent the faces of boys and girls I have met, the families in rural communities I have visited, and a reason to believe in a brighter future for people and places where such optimism has been in such short supply.

At a time when the global economic landscape looks so bleak, it is especially fortunate that these non-governmental organizations are going where governments can't go to bring hope and combat hopelessness to so many people in need. We must celebrate their progress and communicate their advances, no matter how small they may seem to some. Believe me, they aren't small to those in the forgotten places or those neglected people of our time.

I look forward to the coming inauguration of Barack Obama, whose election as president has lifted the spirits of so many people worldwide. I am pleased that he has chosen Hillary Clinton as the next Secretary of State, because she has an abundance the virtues and skills needed for the task at this moment in history. I also am grateful that the profoundly consequential work of NGOs such as the Clinton Foundation will continue to serve the interests of humankind.

Comments

[lisa12345]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-russ-feingold/times-up-for-robert-mugab_b_149595.html

[lisa12345]

Hi Murewa--
First, I want to say that I appreciate the tone of your post. It is very friendly and shows a desire to discuss differences in opinion instead of name-calling, etc.
There is too much of that already.
Zimbabwe is a nation I care about because as a teen I was taught about the country by a volunteer who went there. I have tried to pay attention over the years, as much as I can.

I agree with what you say about there needing to be a balance of info so we hear all sides, even if we do not agree.

As for war or aggression--IMO, we need to have a policy that is pro-peace, not just for this country but for all countries. I think we need international policy that focuses on diplomacy and utilizing the UN. We cannot barge in on other's soil.
I don't believe in war. I understand humanitarian interventions, but even then I think we need to collaborate as a group with the UN. Many so called humanitarian interventions aren't. I believe when groups like Amnesty International ask us to actually care about something in the world, and give us suggestions they would like followed, we should consider doing it--for the right reasons.

Sorry to run on a bit, just wanted to be clear. I am going to try and post a link
to an article here that reflects a different viewpoint and also contains the mixed commentary below it.

[Murewa]

Thanks for the kind words. I love Zimbabwe too much to allow invectives to get in the way of logic and common sense!

Most people that know the Zimbabwe issue well and speak to it fairly, understand that the solution is very plain.
It involves:
-The British honoring their 1979 pledge to pay for land reform without preconditions (as imagine Germans instructing Isrealis on reparations!)
-Offering those of our White farmers that still wish to work the land, to accept much smaller farms and work cooperatively with their fellow Black farmers.
-The West removing sanctions on the country.
-Western corporations accepting that Joint Ventures with local indegenes is good for their business, not trying to own everything, making us mere employees.
-Stop using the Gaza strategy on Zimbabwe; destroy the country's economy in the hope that the natives will blame Mugabe.
-Offer Zimbabwe a clean break from Mugabe's violence and Tsvangirai's treasonous puppetism by asking both leaders to step away from power after a two-year transitional period.

Unfortunately, I doubt that the West (especially Britain) are willing to change course. They think that their Gaza strategy on Mugabe is working so well, they can still get their puppet Tsvangirai in power and proceed to repress any nationalistic sentiments that Mugabe's supporters still have with regards to the economy.

They are wrong! The nationalists, though few, have passion and determination on their side. They will not give up and its unlikely Tsvangirai will ever assume power.

[Norge]

Governments and corporations go where the natural resources are most easily exployted.
Darfur has but sand.

[stell]

Actually Darfur has oil. Congo coltan, Zimbabwe platinum, Nigeria oil, it's just that the extracting is done very covertly through the very skillful use of violence and deceit. Often it's done under cover of humanitarian or wildlife aid.

[Norge]

stell,

Exactly. Darfur has but sand on its' surface when one sees under the bodies of the vast suffering, starving dying peoples'. Without bandages on the heart, one would bleed to death.

[HyperInfluential]

I don't believe there needs to be a "gap" between bureaucracy and the people's needs. Oh, the gap exists all right, clearly. There just isn't any scientific reason why it has to be there. Government can and should provide for the general welfare of its people. We've been so blessed with our technology and vast breadbasket of resources that I'm sure the United States could at the very, very least provide for all her own people. There would probably be a great deal left over, too, to help those in Africa and elsewhere.

The only reason these things have not been done is that fascists disguised as Communists rose up in Russia, causing a backlash philosophy that government's purpose was NOT to take care of the people. "Government is the problem" became the mantra of the Right as they rose to dominate the USA, so that even when people from the left occasionally got in positions of power, they could not even introduce the idea of a living minimum wage, or even universal healthcare.

Now that the "invisible hand of the market" and "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" philosophies have been completely discredited, maybe we can take another look at ways government can help people. Then, NGOs can focus on truly being "extra help", doing things like enriching the educations of African children, rather than trying to save their very lives, something only a government has the organization and breadth to really handle.

[AnnfromCA]

What Clinton has done is absolutely phenomenal. I was amazed when I saw the donations, and I so agree with you....it's something that pulls together odd bedfellows, eh?

People of goodwill are everywhere.

[karela]

I am aware of all the good the Clinton foundation has achieved in people's lives across the globe. If I were Bill Clinton, I believe that I would accept donations for that work from all over the world. Why should certain countries, that are not necessarily friends of America, not be allowed to be charitable to people who are suffering? At least 130,000 children are alive who would not have been because they received medicine through the Clinton foundation. Many more adults are capable of parenting their children because the medicine supplied has helped them to feel less ill. What value should we place on those lives? What political divisions are more important? Bill Clinton is not a perfect man, but he genuinely cares for people. He has done an astounding amount of good for an astounding number of people in the brief eight years since the end of his presidency. That counts very heavily with me. So what if he makes his charitable donations to his own foundation. What other charity is doing a greater work? It would be a great travesty if his foundation's work were to stop or even slow down. Bill is a leader. People with money and power listen when he speaks. If they also give money to help keep millions alive and functioning, then he has made good use of the prestige that accumulated to him through his service as President. We should all do so much for mankind.

[mytwosense]

Et, er, me, tu (sic), Mr. Tutu! , I'm pleased to see a new US Administration at the helm for global assistance, assisting the good work of NGOers. What excites me most is that during the next four years, the US outreach will once again begin to promote real science, not some archaic religious thinking. I'll be thrilled to see, in the case if HIV/AIDS, that ALL preventive measure will emerge to help save the world's dying. I say good riddance to bad GOP/Far Right science, and hello to a more insightful and scientifically school of thought. To all -- salud, gesundheit, and cheers to everyone's good health!

[cayuse]

US Workers give 24% of all of their money to the government for Income and PAYROLL tax. That is allot of humanity in those dark and often dangerous place TOO. It would be nice if they had a say where it was spent. Like those who have gotten RICH without labor or genius but by money deals, inheritence and interest

[Murewa]

Bishop Tutu clearly knows the misery in Zimbabwe is largely due to western sanctions imposed on the country. However, all his public speeches on the country PRETEND that Mugabe, a man he PERSONALLY knows to have been responsible for growing Zimbabwe to be much stronger economically than at any time the country ever was under white rule, can all of a sudden be such a bad economic manager! Tutu also knows that ALL of Africa's leaders (including some favored by the West) acknowledge that the crisis in Zimbabwe is a fight between the West and Mugabe, and was NEVER about democracy or "dictatorship"! Yet, he acts like we are all dumb and blind; we can be easily lied to a repeated propaganda until we accept the west and his version of Zimbabwe!

Other than Bishop Tutu, Bishop Sentamu and Kenya's Odinga, there is NO African leader of note that agrees with what bthe West is doing in Zimbabwe!
What good is the "cloth" when man uses it as cover for nefarious men against poor African nations?

[Poboy]

"What good is the "cloth" when man uses it as cover for nefarious men against poor African nations?"

Good question.

I am sorry that someone who I respect enormously has been used by the Clintons in this exact same way.

Remember Clintons' actions or nonactions in Rwanda's genocide?

[cheforacle]

Are you cogitively incapable of recognizing a single man can do good and evil at different times. America was not the only negligent country in failing to deal with Rwanda. America's failure to act was inexcusable but his foundation's hard work has saved thousands of people's lives. The fact he has done wrong before does not mean he has not done a great deal of good. So many commentors are wrapped up in their political perception of Clinton they are incapable of accepting that he has done a lot of good both in and out of office.

[lisa12345]

I respectfully disagree. Mugabe is a very corrupt, thoughtless man who has caused terrible suffering in people's lives. It is time to put aside the notion that the West and the US are "bad" in all situations and always at fault for other's cruel and senseless behavior. It is about democracy,as opposed to corruption and totalitarian-like rule. The US is filled with good people, including on the far left, who are opposed to Mugabe. We are the "west," too.

Desmond Tutu is a wonderful, brilliant man who has used his power to do good in this world. Being of advanced intellect, he rightly sees through lies and deceit. Desmond Tutu's love for Africa drives him to advocate for the best solutions possible for the people of Africa, not the politically-correct pseudo-solutions that will only destroy Africa's chance to get the help she deserves.

[Murewa]

Lisa, based on your comments, I can tell you do not know much about Zimbabwe!
Yes, Mugabe has made many mistakes in running our country, but to say that he is "thoughtless" or that he has caused people to "suffer", is simply being overwhelmed by western propaganda!

A man that has spent over 50 years fighting for the rights of indegenes could hardly be described as thoughtless. A highly educated African who could have easily moved to work in western NGOs or the UN as similarly educated Africans were doing back in the day but instead chose to live in the bush and fight a war many many people thought was a lost cause. A man who advanced Zimbabwe from being an also run to the highest literacy rates in all of the third world during the first 20 years of his rule (before western sanctions). A man that created a STRONGER economy than any ever created by the white regimes that ruled before him. A man that also developed the BEST health care system in all of Africa until the sanctions of 2001.

The media will be able to convince many that do not know Zimbabwe before these western sanctions came into being. However, for someone like me that lived thru this experience, I would have to suffer memory loss first to go along with the false potrayal of Mugabe's rule in Zimbabwe.

[Murewa]

If Tutu has that much love for Africa, why does he call for war in Zimbabwe and yet is silent on stopping genocide in Sudan by military means as well?
Why is Tutu quiet about the distabilization (under the guise of antiterrorism) that the US causes in Somalia when the only people with credibility and support from their citizens, the islamists, are removed from power and an unpopular and unstable government installed there instead?

Have you ever wondered why Tutu's positions on African affairs are disturbingly tailored to British foreign policy?

Lisa, noone doubts that America is full of good and well meaning people. In fact, this is what causes me to write on Huffington Post. All I want is for those Americans with a progressive view to have BALANCED info on Zimbabwe. The current one-sided bile on the country is dangerous for everyone, especially those that truly mean well and might end up helping make the situation worse!

[Murewa]

Some of you might find my scepticism for Mr Tutu unsettling. It is my duty therefore to fill you in on why I feel this way;

As a leading member of the Church of England (Anglican), Mr. Tutu's causes, outrages and sympathies have suspiciously seemed to lie with British foreign policy interests! He shares rage and anguish over Zimbabwe unmatched with any for much, much worse suffering in African nations such as Sudan's genocide, DRC's never-ending invasions from its little western-backed neighbor of Rwanda, Somalia's unending civil wars, Guinea's coup, etc. Not once has our bishop ever called for military action in all of Africa's miseries other than Zimbabwe!!

Now, to most outsiders, the issue of Zimbabwe has largely been defined as the "good" opposition vs the "evil" of Mugabe's "dictatorship". To more than 40% of the citizens of Zimbabwe and a much higher majority of Africans elsewhere, the fight in Zimbabwe is an economic one between Mugabe and the West; who has the right to mineral and land assets in the country, the INDEGENES or western corporates? Mugabe has used very thuggish methods to transfer that ownership to African indegenes. The UK and US has responded by imposing financial sanctions against the whole country (pretending that the sanctions were "targeted" against Mugabe and his cronies).

[ZimboChick]

You and I know the politicking will not get us far. We were mortgaged by these people for 99 years at a time, some contracts that Mugabe entered into himself. Zimbabwe is too small to sustain hondo yeminda without plan B. That is what happened and now everyone is crying out 'The West'. Well Duh he fell into their trap and I am mad about that. Mugabe of all people knows how the white man's mind works. He could have gone about this whole land redistribution in a way that accommodated THE PEOPLE. The West DOES NOT CARE. All they want are their hunting rights, your gold, diamonds, tobacco...even your coal!! So what do they do when you deny them? They impose sanctions and/or bomb you. You best believe. So instead of tearing Tutu down, the one man who is nauseated by the whole scheme, let's try sticking together. Sometimes I sigh because we will never get far at this rate. I despair when Mugabe says the West brought cholera and people applaud. I truly do. We should take some of the blame. The West sux bal ls but we do too. Mugabe is a civil servant. How does he manage to build mansion after mansion?

[Zimbo Dude]

We have known for sometime that South African Mbeki was in solidarity with ZANU Pf, and not with the ordinary Zimbabweans. Regular folk in Zimbabwe pretty much had no friend because every SADC and the majority of influential African leaders like Obasanjo were cowering. Tutu might have liked Mugabe in the past because of his stance against apartheid. There is no reason for Tutu to feel indebted to Mugabe to an extent that he can't villify and shatter his ego when he is destroying Zimbabwe. If there was ever a point when the West made a mistake it's certainly not now, but in the past when they were bestowing the knighthood, and conferring honorary degrees whilst he was persecuting his people in Matebeleland.I find labelling Tutu as some bad guy hard to swallow. His call for using force against Mugabe comes with great passion of wanting to see democracy, and the rule or law restored in Zimbabwe. In fact, you can feel the desperation in his call because no one is willing to do the right thing, and make that extra step; the step that leaves Mugabe with no option, but to effect the unity deal in good faith. I am not opposed to all wars because some wars do eventually bring peace. Mugabe's welcome is long overdue, and time for diplomacy is slowy running out. Zimbabwe has a cancer in it's system, and that surgery needs to be perfomed now.

[OdysseusNemesis]

Desmond Tutu, I do not like you: I believe that you are a traitor to Africa. Over the years, you have allowed BBC to use you and Chief M G Buthelezi. The latter dropped out after the end of apartheid, but you are still hanging in there; occasionally, fetched, dusted–like an old book--by the BBC to do the dirty on some African leader--The last time, it was President Mugabe.

The clever BBC has found a replacement for Chief M G Buthelezi in Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, the “drama bishop.”

No where in this article did you mention President George Bush, who has done more for HIV/AIDS in Africa than all the past living presidents combined—maybe he is not your good friend, hence the omission.

[Murewa]

It is also important to note that while Tutu's praise of NGOs is sometimes deserved, he forgets to mention that many NGOs are infact the scourge of many unstable 3rd countries. In Zimbabwe, western nations have used NGOs as tools for political manipulation, investing more money in supporting puppet politicians than actually feeding the poor they purport to serve!

Sure, most of us are overjoyed by the Aids assistance, education investments and feeding programs from some of these NGOs. However, many of us have never bothered to look beyond the facade, behind the scenes where some of these NGOs' main objective is actually executed.

If for every poor child that is fed there is no hidden western contract for some rich NGO contributor, if for every AIDS pill donated, no political puppet has been lined up to cause national instability, then and only then, can we judge most of these NGOs as worthy of our respect.

Otherwise, history has taught us to carefully look this gift horse in the mouth!

[Murewa]

I remember meeting Bishop Tutu at Harare airport in the mid-80s when I was still a student at the University of Zimbabwe and he was coming from a meeting with President Mugabe. Back then, Mugabe was the most influential African leader thru whom both western leaders and anti-apartheid activist in SA would consult with respect to overcoming the apartheid era. My conversation with Mr Tutu was wide and general, but the most important message I took from it was his rejection of the use of violence to remove the white regime in his country.

So, it came as a huge shock to me when I heard him, together with his fellow Anglican Bishop of York, John Sentamu, talk about the need to militarily invade Zimbabwe because no its cholera epidemic! Mr Tutu did not talk about NGOs like Clinton's "invading" Zimbabwe with medication and doctors! He wanted soldiers with guns and bullets instead! Here was a man who wished no violence on his OWN country as it went thru its worst nightmares, who suddenly found himself qualified to wish war on OUR country!!

Since then, my respect for this man, a so-called man of the cloth, man of peace, has plummeted!

His praise for Hillary here gives me the shivers! Mr Tutu has been very consumed with a misguided rage against Mugabe, its clear he will try and do anything in his power to influence Hillary into agitating for his war pet project in Zimbabwe!

[ZimboChick]

while his praise for Hillary might be scary how do you suggest that we fix Zimbabwe? I am not for violence because that means me and my family will die but how do you suggest we stop the madness? Do you think that Mugabe is still the same leader that he was say.....15 years ago? Do you think that being colonised by the Chinese is the answer? People are dying. We are hungry. I just want your take on a solution to this.

[Murewa]

Very good questions, thank you!

No being colonized by the Chinese is definately not the answer. But TRADING with the Chinese, the Russians, the Malaysians, the Indians, anyone that expands Zimbabwe's economic links from the dangerous western lock it currently finds itself in will be very welcome indeed.

You know that the country has the second largest source of platinum in the world(which probably explains the western eagerness to replace Mugabe with a puppet). If the country could distribute the mining rights of this mineral to several countries (with each signing a joint venture with local businesses) we will be able to generate enough exports forex to finance the resonstruction of most of the nation's broken infrastructure.
The Angolans and the Congolese have signed very attractive mining deals with the Chinese (the western sour grape media have naturally been dissing these as "colonialism"!), Zimbabwe should enter into similar deals.
Once that is done, the western sanctions currently in force thru ZIDERA will no longer be as effective and the misery that they have garnered will eventually ebb.

I do not believe that Mugabe is still the same as he was 15 years ago. However, I believe that on land and mining, he is still 100% right! I believe that because of those two major issues, many Zimbabweans are willing to forgive the many mistakes he has been making, just so he sees thru these two issues against a very angry and aggressive western response to such.

[ZimboChick]

I do not believe everything that I read...especially about ZImbabwe but this I believe. Why is this ok Murehwa?

http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=4083

[Murewa]

I believe that too. I do not know if this is a matter of OK or NOT. It looks more like a a government dealing with a desperate food situation by resorting to animal slaughter.

Now, I know westerners have a problems with Africans eating "tourism" game. However, put yourself in the shoes of an African or his government, too poor to buy beef, do you think that preserving elephants for tourist will be a priority?

[Morcat]

Thank you, Archbishop Tutu for this post. Ignore the scoffers who comment. There can be no question that the world is a better place for your work, and for the work of the Clinton Foundation, especially regarding HIV/AIDS in Africa. Sometimes, we forget how precious those lives are that have been saved.

I'm grateful for the HIV/AIDS drugs -- that we have them, and that they are now available to more people around the world. We need something more now, though. We need a cure for HIV/AIDS. Too long, we have accepted the "It's too hard," excuse. Pharmaceutical companies will never develop a cure, because their goal is always to turn a disease into a chronic condition. It's their cash cow. We need to demand a cure. It isn't impossible; it will take money of course, but above all, it will take the will to do it. Why should so many lives be lost unnecessarily?

Please push for a cure. Anything less is unacceptable to civilized people.

[HyperInfluential]

Also cancer cure pls thx. There's no excuse for letting these diseases go on, now that they've cracked the stem cell and DNA codes. Once the President frees scientists from restrictions, and Congress tells the pharmaceutical companies they just have to suck it up and start working on more creative products, like cosmetic and anti-aging stuff, because the age of milking the dying is over, they can really cure things for the first time. It will be so momentous, like when they first discovered penicillin! I can't wait for that joyful day, everybody will take a holiday and go dance in the streets!

[SparkyDash]

Archbishop, I believe the timing of your words has benefitted me; I needed to read them. Not for any reason that need be written publicly here. Please know that your wonderful words, at a time of questions and challenge, clarified an issue of which I had been pondering. Thank you, sir.