Efficiency in Humanity

"I try to live it, rather than talk about it, because there are enough second-hand car salesmen for God."
-Bono when asked about religion

On my flight to Brazil, I read the TIME magazine, December 19th issue that was dedicated to their person or rather persons of the year as it happens to be for this year. I think the choice of Bono, Melinda, and Bill Gates was excellent. Prior to reading the article, I knew that Bono was an activist, but I didn't realize that it was to such a great extent. I was impressed by his level of knowledge and by his savvy at working with people of all walks of life as the article revealed about him, "Bono...moves in political circles like a very charming snake, aptly named his organization DATA (debt, AIDS, trade, Africa) to capture both the breadth of his ambitions and the depth of his knowledge." Bono has power, money and knowledge as well as a name and face that's recognizable the world over and he's using this in tremendously sophisticated ways to make significant improvements for the world's poor.

Melinda and Bill Gates are as impressive as Bono in terms of their philanthropy. Everyone knows they are the richest people on the planet, but they are the biggest philanthropists in the world as well. What I was really impressed by them as a couple and what a deeply passionate relationship they have with each other and the world. At least once a year, they take a "learning tour" where they go to a places on the earth to learn about problems and successes in the third world. They go in without revealing to people who they are and talk with them about their lives. After such experiences Bill and Melinda spend hours discussing what they have seen and experienced. Another impressive fact is that they demand business-like efficiency from the projects they fund. They don't just give away money haphazardly, they want to know that they are getting a return in improved lives from the money they are investing.













"For being shrewd about doing good, for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice, for making mercy smarter and hope strategic and then daring the rest of us to follow, Bono, Bill, and Melinda Gates are TIME's persons of the year."

-Nancy Gibb
TIME magazine