Sharon Stone v businessmen's basic instincts

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/article1089256.ece

It took just five minutes for a group of star-struck businessmen to pledge $1m (£540,000) to help fight malaria in the Third World, thanks to a little help from the Hollywood actress Sharon Stone. But it is taking them a little longer to deliver on their promises.

Nearly 18 months after Ms Stone announced at the World Economic Forum (WEF) that she was giving $10,000 to buy mosquito nets in Tanzania and implored those around her to do the same, most of the pledges have not been paid.

Although Ms Stone paid her donation immediately after the conference, most of the businessmen have been reluctant to cough up. Some even disappeared before officials could take down their names and the amounts they had pledged.

A senior official at the World Economic Forum admitted the pledges "definitely did not" raise $1m. "There was a show of hands, then it was a bit of a scramble getting the names down," he said. "Not everyone who raised their hand subsequently gave their name and details of their pledge to the WEF officials."

From what I've read, Sharon's a pretty smart cookie. I'm sure she saw this coming... if it comes as a shock to anyone, though, I'd be surprised.

i think sharon stone is just a nice lady trying to do what she can, but i'm not sure she saw this coming -- some years ago she had a brain hemorrhage or stroke of some kind, no longer remember the details, but some interviews i've read suggest that she is not quite as sharp as she used to be

be that as it may, she did her part and put up her own money in prompt fashion, it is the weasel "businessmen" who should be ashamed

i suspect this may often happen, even when i was a kid, i remember that one church we attended, where as it happened there was a daughter my age so i sometimes visited w. the lead preacher's family, there was a problem w. some of the well-to-do pledges not actually paying the pledges on time or at all

as a kid, i wondered why bother to pledge in the first place if you weren't going to pay, wouldn't that look worse in the end and in the eyes of god? just put in what you can afford in the plate every week like the rest of the hoi polloi, it's more honest

Bidnessmen turn stingy.

Gee whiz, what working person in the country would ever believe THAT?

I'm glad this isn't my field. I wouldn't care to be in the business of assembling pledges from people who have no intention of honoring them.

...if you want to be in the business of getting money from people who have no intention of paying you!

Always trying to publicize causes and help people. And spending their own money, too. When will they ever shut up and let the corrupt businessmen and corrupt politicians run the planet undisturbed?

:sarcasm: