Gates doubles health vow

[icymist]

I'm not pleased with Gates and MSN after their giving in from a fundamentalist preacher. The Gay rights bill was then lost by just
one vote. After the cause was lost, MSN decided to back Gay rights. The Rev. Hutcherson claimed he WON this battle.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - Page updated at 09:13 a.m.




Gates doubles health vow

By Kyung M. Song

Seattle Times staff reporter

The race to solve the world's most pressing health problems through science and technology received a $250 million pledge yesterday from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The latest amount brings to $450 million the Gates Foundation will award researchers to tackle 14 specific public-health challenges in developing countries — challenges ranging from the development of vaccines that need no refrigeration to creating a single staple crop to help alleviate malnutrition.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced the grant yesterday at the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. The Gates Foundation committed the initial $200 million in 2003 to its Grand Challenges in Global Health, an initiative to fight diseases that, while uncommon in rich nations, kill millions of people in poor countries. The foundation expects to award the first of the $450 million worth of grants late next month.

Gates said that science and technology can be harnessed to achieve more groundbreaking advances in global health over the next decade than in all of the past 50 years.

(More)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002277559_gates17m.html

[AtLiberty]

1. While I applaud the Gates' generosity and compassion...

...I wish they'd also focus on the millions without health care coverage within our borders.

[icymist]

2. Gates doesn't just talk good game on schools (Seattle PI)

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Gates doesn't just talk good game on schools
Foundation pumps $2.3 billion into educational programs

By PEGGY ANDERSEN
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bill Gates raised some hackles with his withering assessment of American high schools, but at least the billionaire founder of Microsoft is putting his money where his mouth is.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has invested $2.3 billion since 2000 in new visions of education, with smaller schools and more personalized instruction to prepare young people for the working world and post-high school learning.

The foundation has programs in 42 states and the District of Columbia; it supports more than 1,500 high schools -- about half totally new and the others redesigned. Its three scholarship programs, designed to fill tuition gaps left by other grants and aid, have assisted more than 10,000 students.

At one of its schools, the Truman Center in Federal Way, about 20 miles south of Seattle, 12 teacher/advisers tend 208 students -- helping them figure out what they care about and how to pursue it. Two days a week are set aside for job-shadowing and internships in the real world.

(more)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/224559_egates17.html

Remember that this company, MSN, had just played it's share to loose a Gay rights bill by just one vote. They caved under pressure from a fundamentalist preacher. Do you want your future decided by such people?

[judy]

3. The H1515 thing was a horrible mistake...

One good thing about Microsoft though: it was a little too late, but they admitted their mistake, changed their tune, and said (Ballmer) that they would not remain silent again on issues such as workplace discrimination.

Hopefully the bill will pass next time it's up. I also heard that gay employees had full domestic partner benefits at Microsoft.

[icymist]

4. Who cares if MSN admitted their mistake????

This damage is done! Cannot be undone. MSN caved in to pressure from some threats from a fundamentalist preacher and therefore CANNOT EVER BE TRUSTED! Who cares what issues MSN is taking up now to support minority rights? They have shown a past of supporting agendas that suppress those rights. I cannot and will not support MSN.

As soon as I can afford to buy an Apple, I will be done with MSN! UIntil then, I use the access (paid by me) to say Fuck You MSN!

edit for spelling