domingo, 7 de diciembre de 2014

Extensive listening: The giving pledge

CBS' 60 Minutes aired The Giving Pledge at the end of 2013, a segment about billionaires who have committed to give away half of their wealth in order to solve the world's most pressing problems.

This is the way reporter Charlie Rose introduced the documentary:

"Today, the wealthiest 400 Americans are worth over $2 trillion. Together, it's been reported they own as much wealth as the bottom half of American households combined.
While resentment towards the super rich grows, there may be a silver lining taking shape. It turns out a lot of those rich people are giving staggering sums of money away, in what is being called a golden age of philanthropy.
And this surge in generosity is not by accident. Much of it is the result of an ambitious and targeted campaign called The Giving Pledge. It was started by an influential trio: Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. We waited for the opportunity to get them together to learn more about their new club for billionaires. Membership comes with just two requirements: be worth at least a billion dollars and be willing to give half of that away."

You can read the transcript here.