Attending the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meetings is an exhilarating experience. This unique event, which is hosted by former President Bill Clinton and coincides with the opening of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, brings together leaders from corporations, nonprofits, and governments around the globe to address BIG social and environmental problems. While there was an interesting smattering of celebrities in attendance – and an awards ceremony with musical performances by Sting and K’aan – the central focus is on numerous meaty commitments that are made to solve or ameliorate the problems. The results are uber-impressive, with promises to spend billions of dollars and massive hours pursuing creative, measurable approaches to issues such as AIDS eradication, sanitary drinking water, expanded educational opportunities, and preventing environmental degradation.
