(Ted) Turner may extend life of U.N. Foundation [BARF ALERT]

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | July 20, 2002 | DON MELVIN, Staff Writer

[LurkedLongEnough]

CAMBRIDGE, England -- When Ted Turner announced five years ago that he was giving $1 billion of his personal fortune to the United Nations, the idea was to disburse the money in grants at the rate of $100 million a year for 10 years.

Then it would be over. The billion would be given. And the U.N. Foundation, which Turner set up to distribute the money, would presumably go out of business.

Now it appears that the Atlanta businessman and CNN founder may have created something bigger. On Friday, the board of the U.N. Foundation, meeting in Cambridge, England, asked Turner not to make it close up shop five years from now.

"At today's meeting, the foundation's board asked that the organization extend its life beyond the initial 10-year target," said Tim Wirth, the foundation's president and a former Colorado senator.

Cox Newspapers has learned that Turner is amenable to the idea. No decision was made by the board, and board members said they wanted to work with officials from the United Nations before taking any specific action.

Stretching out the life of the foundation could mean spending less of Turner's money on an annual basis, foundation officials said. But they said the foundation has become so skilled at creating partnerships and raising money through matching grants that it might still disburse more than $100 million per year.

Turner remains committed to the $1 billion total, said Jane Holl Lute, executive vice president of the foundation. She and other foundation officials said the proposal has been under discussion for nine months and has no relationship to the slump in Turner's wealth, which has shrunk as the stock market has plunged.

Instead, the reasons for the request were bound up in the organization's evolution into a far different organization than the one which only made grants in its the initial years, members of the foundation board said in interviews.

The foundation -- which, though its sister organization, the Better World Fund, led a successful effort to convince the United States to pay is overdue U.N. dues -- has come to play a vital role in assisting the the United Nations with public communication, they said. The foundation offers public relations expertise and also maintains a Web site with daily news about the operations of the United Nations.

The foundation also works in creating partnerships on issues related to health, population, children and the environment. Potential partners were starting to ask just how long the foundation would be around, the board members said.

"The United Nations Foundation is not a project that has a deadline and then it self-extincts itself," said board member Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi professor. "It is an institution."

It has found a "very important niche" in helping tell the U.N. story, he said, particularly inside the United States, and in helping create partnerships between private individuals and the United Nations -- something that had never been done before Turner's gift.

While board members said they wanted to coordinate any decision with the United Nations, U.N. officials on hand in England welcomed the possibility.

"The U.N.F. has been a wonderful partner for the U.N.," said Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette. "The U.N.F. knows the U.N. better than most, and that's why we can work together so cooperatively."

Another U.N. official, Bilge Bassani, became emotional when she talked about Turner's contribution to the strength of the United Nations.

"Whenever you talk to anyone at the U.N., we see him as someone who believed in us," she said. "We really feel very touched."

[LurkedLongEnough]

Ted Turner + U.N. programs = worldwide Johnny Talibans

[chainsaw]

I was under the impression that the $10 billion was not given outright. Only the interest from that sum was given for 10 year. At the end of ten years Turner gets his #10 billion back. Was my understanding about this wrong?

[MD_Willington_1976]

The UN will probly lease all of Teddy's land in Montana for their NWO concentration camps...Is Teddy really helping out America by doing this...Hell NO

The UN is not your friend

[madfly]

ping

[isthisnickcool]

Ted Turner has been hammered in the markets. He isn't giving billions of dollars to anyone.....

[Free the USA]

Index Bump

[Travis McGee]

Ted Turner is a traitor to his home country.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Always Right]

I can't think of a quicker way for Ted to piss away his money. Just what exactly is Teddy boy getting for his $100 million a year????

[MeekOneGOP]

WE NEED A KOFI BREAK !
DUMP THE U.N. NOW ! !

[wardaddy]

Amen.....and funds baby killing bigtime. Another nutcase with a microphone....maybe he should start buddying up with Steve Earle. They could share their medications.

[Libertina]

It has found a "very important niche" in helping tell the U.N. story, he said, particularly inside the United States

MD replies: the UN will probly lease all of Teddy's land in Montana for their NWO concentration camps

This is my greatest worry, that Turner will GIVE all his MILLIONS of acres INSIDE THE US to the UN (a sovereign entity inside our own country!!!!!!)

Remember there are towns that PROHIBIT the UN from being part, shouldn't we & Montana patriots begin NOW to get that type of legislation passed? Any comments from people knowledgable on this subject?

[TigersEye]

Ted Turner is a traitor to his home country.

That pretty much says all that needs to be said about Ted.

bump

[wardaddy]

I think Ted owns more land in New Mexico than any other state.

[madfly]

bttt

[Libertina]

Didn't know that, thanks. I thought the massive Bison ranch was in Montana. But the point is that where ever he owns extensive properties, the citizens might want to take precautions against him bringing in the UN. Or do you not feel this is a valid concern?

[F.J. Mitchell]

Does Turner get to write off that hundred million as a charitable donation-could explain his generosity. That should be illeagle though, since the UN is the most political organization on the face of the earth.

One thing sure though, Turner's support of the UN fully justifies our revulsion at the organization.

Get the UN out of the US and the US out of the UN. Maybe Turner can buy them an island somewhere, preferrably one with lots of active volcanoes.

[F.J. Mitchell]

You know darn well that the only legislation NOW is interested in getting enacted, is open season on the unborn.
Had to say that-devil made me do it........sorry.

[Libertina]

LOL OK you had me going for a minute there. Had to go back and re-read my post. Also serendipitous timing on your part because I'd just been on a (real) NOW thread and did NOT comment. Couldn't figure out if you'd read my mind or why you were replying to me about abortions! Good one, F.J.! Now.. about my original point???? :)

[bandleader]

Ted Turner can take his money and "Shove It Up His A**"!!!!