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Kate Blake

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$500 Billion - can this solve the big problems?

A solution to that quandary of how to solve the Big Problems?

Bill and Melinda Gates set up a philanthropic venture/idea called "Give it Away" where more than a hundred billionaires have already pledged half their wealth. They have set up various research and charities to tackle malaria, polio, hunger, etc and these people will also lend their expertise to source further solutions.

An Australian billionaire has just pledged five billion with his families consent. These people are reporting how well they feel after donating, and id like to know if their health improves also as recent research indicates that helping others increases all the good things in our body and decreases things like cholesterol, etc?

this is a very substantial way to seriously address those big problems that other conversations are discussing.  Just really wanted to share this good news and welcome your comments and hopefully more postings of Good News! 


Please Share how you personally are making our world a better place, or your ideas and congratulations that this is actually happening?

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Closing Statement from Kate Blake

Great participation, thanks everyone, and TED for the venue!

The most impressive part of this discussion was some sharing how they help others in order to make our world a better place.  This is the best we can do, our own personal contribution in our own localities.  What are you doing?

Was quite surprised by the number of people who were doubtful about the ability of more than a hundred billionaires to manage their funds!  Wonder how they became billionaires?

Some offered interesting projects with questionable costs, but again I would imagine that this group would have their research, projects and organisation well under control.

It would be great if we could all really rejoice that they are making such a huge effort and contributing so much expertise as well as funds - that this could happen within our life!  Well done "Give it Away" and all those involved!

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    Feb 23 2013: No. It cannot. It can temporarily treat the symptoms, but it cannot cure the illness. The illness is not rooted in money. Money is the viral mechanism for destruction. If we eliminate money without first eliminating the perceived need for it (the cause of the illness), we will simply invent another social virus.
    • Feb 23 2013: Do you really believe the world would be a happy place without money?
      Think about the times when we had no money while men were gatherer and hunters
      Do you think those people were happy all the time?
      What if they couldn't find any deer to hunt for months?
      They could be starving to death.

      Nowadays when something similar happens we can allways go to the supermarket and buy some food.
      Thats a positive aspect about money isn't it?
      It can keep us alive a little longer

      I believe you are confusing money with evil people.
      So i rephrase your sentence:
      Evil people are the roots of evil!
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        Feb 24 2013: .
        Money makes greed and
        greed makes evil.
        • Feb 24 2013: Without money there would be still greediness.

          For example, people with a very pretty girlfriend can become greedy and possesive.
          Some people with a very beatifull home can become greedy and possesive.

          Bottom line:
          Greediness is a personality trait, and that has to be discouraged.
          Money itself is only a trade commodity, which happened to be very effective in making our worlds spin around.
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        Feb 24 2013: ZX, I totally agree with you.If a person truly follow his conscience, nothing can control him, not even money.
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        Feb 24 2013: Good points ZX Style!
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        Feb 24 2013: Well, as I don't believe in evil, your reconstruction of my sentence doesn't make sense to me
        • Feb 24 2013: Oke that's allright, but now i am confused..
          Why is money worse than greedy people?

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