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BILL CLINTON HAS said that he hopes the ‘One Percent Difference’ campaign in Ireland is one that the rest of the world can learn from.
The former US president was speaking at the Ray Murphy Memorial Lecture on Philanthropy organised by Philanthropy Ireland and the Forum on Philanthropy at a dinner in Dublin’s Conrad Hotel tonight.
“The ‘one percent’ thing is a great idea,” Clinton told an audience of 250 people, saying that “it is the right thing, it is the smart thing to do”.
The initiative is aimed at getting people to give one per cent of their time or their income to good causes.
Clinton praised the Irish government’s generosity through the years claiming that Ireland has been at the forefront of humanitarianism since the foundation of the United Nations.
“Ireland is the only country in the world since the UN was created to have had somebody in some other country trying to keep innocent people alive, every single solitary day since the UN was born,” he said. “You’re the only country who can say that.”
Philanthropy, Clinton said, is important for Ireland because there is always going to be a need for it where the government cannot provide and the private sector cannot produce.
“That’s where the charitable sector should be stepping into,” he said.
Bill Clinton greeting attendees at the dinner in Dublin tonight:
Clinton said that philanthropy can help in the fight against the effects of climate change and said the last thing Ireland wanted is to lose economic recovery “because of some natural disaster”.
He said that Irish communities which are vulnerable to the effects of climate change could have a “reinforcement strategy” against climate change, but said this would not be possible “unless you’ve got a steady stream of adequate philanthropy coming down”.
He concluded: “I hope once again before long the rest of the world will not only be admiring but learning from you.”
Vice-chairman of Philanthropy Ireland, John Healy, said there were challenges facing philanthropy in Ireland but said that Clinton’s appearance would help raise the profile of the ‘One Percent Difference’ Campaign.
“Ireland’s recovery is everybody’s business. In times of crisis we should all try, within our means, to do a little more,” Healy said adding that “everyone’s contribution is equivalent in appreciation and value”.
The event was attended by a number of politicians including Health Minister James Reilly, Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty, Senator Katherine Zappone and the chair of the Oireachtas Finance Committee Ciaran Lynch.
Other well-known faces at the dinner included the media mogul Denis O’Brien, former RTÉ broadcaster Anne Doyle and Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy.
Earlier Clinton met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny at government buildings on this his first visit to Ireland in more than two years.
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I’m sure he did say that…. But his speech looks something like this:
“The rest of the world could learn from [insert current country on cash cow talk circuit here]“
Tiny are you saying we punch above our weight?
Tony even!
Ehhhh.
Not to trust bankers and developers❗️
Thanks Bill
Dermot wins. That’s the smartest comment of the day.
You’re in for it now Tony.
I think we can all learn a thing or two from Bill
Yeah how to be a sleazeball, two faced war criminal.
Plus 1 Dermot.
Yeah, like how to get your d**k sucked on the job by an intern, lie about it and still be viewed as a respectable public figure. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s a talent you can teach.
Slick willy.
Most certainly was after Monica ;)
Sorry I’m wondering how Clinton is a war criminal? The USA wasn’t involved in any war during his Presidency was it? Gulf War was George Bush.. Iraq and Afghanistan were George W Bush (and Obama)?? Am I wrong here??
Wrong Brendan. When Clinton was president the USA dropped more bombs than under any other previous president. Maybe he never declared war during his time but that didn’t stop him.
Since any other president since ww2 that should say
Clinton bombed Kosovo
What about Harold Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower both presidents during the Korean War ? and then there’s Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War ? Both countries heavily bombed by US forces. I think you might me making up your own history there !!
I think you mean the US airforce bombed Kosovo alongside a large number of other NATO airforces when they got the go-ahead from the United Nations after Serbian Forces committed numerous atrocities against civilians including attempted genocide.
NATO didn’t move quick enough for Kosovo.
As for presidential war criminals take a look at drone strike deaths. Obama “wins” hands down.
He also “wins” on a lot of other areas too. I mean, check public percetion of him versus Nixon and then compare what they have administered over.
You tool. Clinton dropped more bombs than got dropped in Vietnam or Korea? I suspect and hope you are only 15 and don’t know what you say.
Will this 1% stop charities canvassing outside every shop in Ireland and make you feel guilty when everyone of them knocks on your door coming up to xmas!!
Philanthropy is just anther word for hedge-fund , it has nothing to do with altruism , these “philanthropers” invest huge amounts of money in government tendered social impact bond schemes which have a guaranteed return , brown envelopes would be a common theme in the “charity” industry on a whole
Bull – to say so is to suggest that philanthropy is never genuine and that it’s only possible if you’re putting up large sums of money.
Everything from a random act of kindness right up to large contributions is philanthropy. Otherwise, it’s business. Don’t dirty the name of those who have been genuine.
Deasun, you do a disservice to the thousands of people who work in sports and community groups and charities on a completely voluntary basis. The donation of time is also philanthropy. I’ve worked in a non paid and paid capacity in the voluntary sector for 25 years and there is lots of room for improvement but your brown envelope claim is nonsensical and plain wrong. Also we do not (yet) have any social impact bonds in Ireland.
Ah thanks Bill, you make it all so much better
Are you sure that wasn’t a typo Ed and was meant to be a dinner organised by the Philanderers Society???
Google Clinton’s dead friends. How are ye!?!?!
It’s nice to be acknowledged by one of the most charismatic world leaders of the 20th century. Ireland has a long history of being incredibly generous when it comes to charity and philanthropy, some of the charitable donations per capita figures I’ve read are astounding. Can’t remember then off the top of my head of course, but I remember reading somewhere that the Irish people gave an average of something like £15 per capita during Live Aid? Something ludicrous like that. We’re a small country that bitches about each other too much, but we should pat ourselves on the back every now and then for leading the world at SOMETHING.
Good point Sean, and I don’t have the figures to hand either, but as far as I know, drilling down a bit, more people give in Ireland but give less than people from other countries. High earners here give a good bit less than their counterparts in other countries, as is the same for corporates. Increasing corporate giving was a big theme of last night’s lecture. And in case the issue arises, all of this is a totally different issue to taxation of corporates or rules for tax non residency for individuals, which is and should be a public policy issue.
We’ve had natural disasters in this country in recent yrs and survived. The only thing we struggle against is the unnatural, our corrupt governments developers and bankers. Talk us outta that one Big Billy
Clinton was in Ireland last November…
The author may have taken that quote from the independant who wrongly reported the same within the last week.
They must also have been consciously avoiding social media in order to have missed a lot of people sharing their mistake….
Bet he doesn’t feel our pain wants the rest of the world to feel our pain while they still make there big bucks.
What?
Clinton seems like a gentleman.
“Seems” indeed.
like all good grifters
Are we now to take advice from a war Criminal –
— and how much was this war criminal paid for this speech . His speechmaking had netted him $ 100 million since leaving office – and his wife is now joining in the act @$ $200,000 / throw .
”According to a CNN analysis of 12 years of federal financial records, former President Bill Clinton had his most active and profitable year on the lecture circuit in 2012, delivering 73 speeches for $17 million from mid-January 2012 through mid-January 2013. That brought his total haul in speaking fees since leaving the White House to $106 million. His previous record for annual speech income was $13.4 million in 2011.”
-as for travel -p”
WASHINGTON – Bill Clinton’s foundation has spent more than $50 million on travel expenses since 2003, an analysis of the non-profit’s tax forms reveal.
The web of foundations run by the former president spent an eye-opening $12.1 million on travel in 2011 alone, according to an internal audit conducted by foundation accountants. That’s enough to by 12,000 air tickets costing $1,000 each, or 33 air tickets each day of the year.”
This is a war criminal turned con man .- We do not need or want advice from such people .
I love how when anyone criticizes/questions Russia you get all whiny. CNN evil. Russian Television good!
That’s one stupid man I can’t stand every time he comes here our government fall over them selfs to please this man why he costs us thousands and it all goes in his pocket stay in America then again they don’t want you
This comment is hard to read^^^
An exposed proven liar..supporting known liars..
… and provide more opportunities for tax evading multinationals.
I agree I think we should evict all American corporations out of Ireland so we can return to the stone ages! Good idea!!! I’m sure FB, Google, PayPal our here only because they love Irish weather and accents!
There they go again, Global warming, put another 10 euro on a bag of coal, how did Bill get to Ireland swim, I’m sure he didn’t take a aeroplane, he’s so kind to the planet!
It’s airplane. Do you also say aeroport?
So many stupid anti-Clinton comments on this article. We’re really feeling the ‘brain drain’.
No it’s aeroplane on this side of the Atlantic, it’s airplane in American-English
There is a thing called being practical you know. How else would he get to Ireland exactly? I love/hate it when people make these stupid pronouncements of hypocrisy like they’ve proved something. As of yet there isn’t a method of inter-contental travel that is both as fast and efficient as an aeroplane. I’m sure that when they come up with one he’ll start using that.
As for the coal comment. What the hell are you at using coal anyway? Damn straight that filthy crap should cost more.
“Stupid”
Clinton is the king of the new #CharityIndustrialComplex.
(Clinton Global Initiative & Teneo.)
Fraudsters, Narcissists & Grifters.
No better audience than fawning Irish Politicians and assorted arse licking gombeens lapping it all up.
Teneo has nothing to do with Clinton, he has distanced himself from it, his former advisor used his connection with Clinton to leech off his contacts.
Actually there have been a series of articles of late that have established this connection.
Heres one of them from the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/08/14/us/politics/The-Overlapping-Clinton-World.html?_r=0
And here is the extensive article telling the tale of clinton and his merry men.
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114790/how-doug-band-drove-wedge-through-clinton-dynasty
Or you may prefer to read the NY Times Maureen Dowds article “Money, Money, Money, Money, Money.”
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/opinion/sunday/dowd-money-money-money-money-money.html
I am a tnr reader and if you read the article you will see that teneo has very little to with clinton and plenty to do with doug band using his access to clinton to create and drive his own company which if you read the article makes clear that clinton and band barely speak these days
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