Former president Bill Clinton has written in a Time Magazine cover story that Irish businessman Denis O’Brien’s move to make cash transactions available for the poorest in the world via cell phones was the number one idea in changing the world.
The Time cover story featuring Clinton holding a globe is entitled “5 Ideas that are changing the World” and O’Brien’s idea is rated number one.
Clinton writes, “Phones mean freedom” citing a 2010 U.N. report which found that cell phones are one of the most effective advancements in history to lift people out of poverty.
Thanks to O’Brien’s company, Digicell, 80 percent of Haitians now have access to a cell phone, Clinton wrote.
The chairman of Digicell, Irish businessman Denis O’Brien, “worked with a Canadian bank, Scotiabank, to provide a service that lets Haitians withdraw cash and make deposits and person to person transfers using their mobile phones” Clinton wrote. “By the end of 2011 this service had processed over 6 million transactions.”
Previous to this, only 10 percent of Haitians had a bank account, Clinton notes, and now African countries are starting to follow Haiti’s example.
“Smart phones help re-start the lives of many individuals but they also help millions of individuals help re-start the lives of others,” Clinton wrote.
O’Brien, 54, was recently rated Number 205 on the Forbes 400 list with a personal wealth of $5 billion built through Digicell. He is also known for his extensive philanthropy.
Forbes notes that, “O'Brien received the National Order of Honor and Merit from the Haitian president for his work helping Haiti recover from the 2010 earthquake. He funded the restoration of Haiti's century-old Iron Market with his own money, and has built 50 primary and secondary schools in the last 18 months.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.SeamusMor | Sep 26, 2012, 02:21 AM EDT
If you really want to change the world, use those cell phones for voting! Direct Democracy is the answer! Representatives represent their contributors rather than their constituents, with the result that public policy reflects the sum of special interests, not the common good.
Tom Mo | Sep 26, 2012, 01:37 AM EDT
"Smart phones help re-start the lives of many individuals but they also help millions of individuals help re-start the lives of others." Clinton wrote. Just what in God's name does that mean? Get a life James O'Shea, try bartending.
Tom Mo | Sep 25, 2012, 03:37 PM EDT
I'm confused. Celphones lift people out of poverty? Cash transactions via celphones? Where does the cash come from? Oh I see free stuff. The cash is free too. Right? Last time I looked Haiti is still impoverished. The misfortunate people are ruled by corrupt and brutal government. They need housing, food, and jobs. Not free effing phones.
Nicomax | Sep 25, 2012, 01:34 PM EDT
Reporting a glitch in this system: Nicomax did not pen the comment mentioning 50 Shades of Gray of expensive cigars. Nicomax is more concerned about administrations that brought about death and injury to our troops and ordinary citizens for no good reason.
bunkerhill | Sep 25, 2012, 01:22 PM EDT
Wow!! It is interesting that there are so many smart O'Briens. Watson and Collins are two other names that seem to produce a great many innovators. Hooray for O'Brien. Bill Clinton was one of the best Presidents we ever had, brought low by a group that was out to get him. Monica only "happened" to be connected to reporters and writers, a "nothing person" who somehow wound up in a position to bring Clinton down. We wish we had Clinton back today as he left the US economy in top order but there was a group that needed to take him down. Trampy Monica took her act to Italy at one point and was thrown out. She has never achieved the fame she thought she deserved for her deceitfulness.
Nicomax | Sep 25, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT
I thought we had finally reached the point of letting past presidential actions drift slowly into history without further recriminations. If this is not the fact, then can we pursue the arraignment of Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld before the International Criminal Court on war crimes.
Nicomax | Sep 25, 2012, 10:49 AM EDT
wonder what tune Clinton will be singing after the Irish exchange the 50 shades of Gray for the new Lewinsky $ 14 million cigar special
Padraig8 | Sep 25, 2012, 10:45 AM EDT
Denis, is a Capitalist who knows how to use his Money for a good cause not investing in Bain Capital.Bless you Denis. Tiocfaidh ar la
Mousemess | Sep 25, 2012, 09:40 AM EDT
Denis O'Brien = Donncha O' Briain