Tutu withdraws from leadership summit

[STS]

In any event we need to differentiate between the substance as to why he pulled out, and the manner.

I take gripe with the manner he withdrew - but it seems everyone is only focussed on the substance.

that too, he didn't have to wait so long or say yes in the first place, but if that is how he felt then he had his reasons.

 

[Fudzy]

Discovery should sue Tutu. If you commit to something you should go through with it. Seems Tutu is losing it at his old age.

Mandela was president when the arms deal was done. We should never forget that.

Have you been to the website of the event? They certainly are making enough money with the ticket prices AND sponsors.

 

[IzZzy]

that too, he didn't have to wait so long or say yes in the first place, but if that is how he felt then he had his reasons.

Yup - whatever his reasons are, frankly I don't care but at least decline / pull out in a reasonable manner.

Do you work for discovery? Actively involved in this seminar?

No on both counts, so you can count me out as being biased.

I was merely correcting your interpretation. You implied that he said that Tutu had made a stand against them before, when he said no such thing.

Thanks, but I am pretty sure (when rereading the sentence) that my interpretation is probable.

Have you been to the website of the event? They certainly are making enough money with the ticket prices AND sponsors.

It seems that many have failed to notice that Discovery is but a sponsor themselves (with naming privileges). They do not own the event or manage it.

 

[hellfire]

He has a constitutional right you not attend. A true leader is wise enough to make the best statement honour his morals and choose not to associate a platform with lousy scum.
I hate Discovery as well, constantly declining medical payments with teeny weeny clauses, rather fitting that they support a war criminal.
Tutu just said F U to Bliar and discovery by consistently exercising his rights, and I'm glad he has done so.

*Tony not such a bad guy, he messed up by following the US, the US had the wool over most of the worlds eyes. All great leaders make mistakes, I'll name them but will probably derail this thread.

My gripe isn't with Tutu's reasoning, as has been mentioned by Izzzy. My gripe is the manner and timing of his actions.
Tony Blair didn't support the Iraqi invasion between Tutu's acceptance to speak and Monday morning. We're talking nearly a decade old issue. If Tutu finds the man so morally reprehensibly he should never have agreed to speak in the first place. I find it morally reprehensible that a so-called leader accepts a responsibility, accepts a generous donation to his foundation, and then fails, with zero remorse, to meet his commitment.
This isn't about constitutional or any other rights. It's about bad manners and reprehensible politicking.

I respect him for his decision, I'm entitled to. You're not entitled to tell me No, I'm not allowed to respect him.
I'll probably be cancelling my discovery accounts too, in protest of their promotion of warmonger Tony Blair.

Good for you, mate. Better close all the accounts with any company that has a shareholding in Discovery Group, or it won't be a proper protest of "warmonger Tony Blair". You'll probably have to close accounts at every bank, any investments you with brokers / companies in hedge funds, unit trusts etc. I'd say cash in your pension fund also - it's likely that there is some Discovery shareholding too.

In any event we need to differentiate between the substance as to why he pulled out, and the manner.

I take gripe with the manner he withdrew - but it seems everyone is only focussed on the substance.

^ This.

Have you been to the website of the event? They certainly are making enough money with the ticket prices AND sponsors.

You don't know that. You have no idea how much they have spent in paying for speakers, marketing, and everything else that goes into a seminar of this type. Most likely they are covering costs, and not making real money (by real, I mean compared to their business lines).

 

[LazyLion]

And where does Tony bLiar fit into that?

"he was officially confirmed as Middle East envoy for the United Nations, European Union, United States, and Russia."
"Blair will teach a course on issues of faith and globalisation at the Yale Schools of Management and Divinity as a Howland distinguished fellow during the 2008–09 academic year."
"On 14 November 2007, Blair launched the Tony Blair Sports Foundation, which aims to "increase childhood participation in sports activities, especially in the North East of England, where a larger proportion of children are socially excluded, and to promote overall health and prevent childhood obesity." On 30 May 2008, Blair launched the Tony Blair Faith Foundation as a vehicle for encouraging different faiths to join together in promoting respect and understanding, as well as working to tackle poverty. Reflecting Blair's own faith but not dedicated to any particular religion, the Foundation aims to "show how faith is a powerful force for good in the modern world". "The Foundation will use its profile and resources to encourage people of faith to work together more closely to tackle global poverty and conflict," says its mission statement.
In February 2009, he applied to set up a charity called the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative, the application was approved in November 2009."

- Sounds like he has considerable experience in the Humanitarian arena.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Blair

 

[Beri]

He retired a long time ago...... why is he still in the media......

 

[LazyLion]

Why wouldn't Discovery Invest be interested in capitalism? Where would any investment company be without it?

Where did I say they would not be interested in Capitalism?

But that does not appear to be the point of the seminar.

The speakers who have been chosen appear to have been selected for their humanitarianism rather than their capitalist ideals.

The themes have to do with making the world a better place, not amassing wealth.

BTW, what on earth would Desmond Tutu have to say to Discovery about Capitalism.
The man is a socialist and a religious leader.
I highly doubt they invited him to discuss investment strategies.

 

[LazyLion]

There was such a clear distinction in business 40 years ago maybe, but the great business leaders of today would see their roles, and that of their companies, as moving beyond 'making money'. What they call 'good citizenship' is the basic cost of doing business. Some businesses have neglected that point, to their peril. This is all covered well in the King reports on Corporate Governance which originated in South Africa but now enjoy international acclaim.

So what does Desmond Tutu have to do with all of that?
He has the business knowledge of a Peking Duck.

For that matter, what incredible business knowledge does Garry Kasparov have?
Granted, some of the speakers have a business background, but the point of the summit is not to give tips on which stocks are hot at the moment.
It is about making the world a better place.

Their website states..... "Questions are how we address some of the biggest and most complex challenges facing people and organisations today."

 

[2026]

So what does Desmond Tutu have to do with all of that?
He has the business knowledge of a Peking Duck.

Well, churches are some of the most profitable businesses in the world...

/flamesuit

 

[LazyLion]

Well, churches are some of the most profitable businesses in the world...

/flamesuit

haha, True! But then they would have invited Ray Macauley!

 

[entrepr]

- Sounds like he has considerable experience in the Humanitarian arena.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Blair

No doubt his spin doctors work hard at that site. Nevertheless, and without my even touching on the way he was unceremoniously shown the back door by his own party for his (mis) conduct in his final years, the site goes on to say:

"A Freedom of Information request by The Sunday Times in 2012 revealed that Blair's government considered knighting Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. The documents also showed that Blair was willing to appear alongside Assad at a joint press conference even though the Syrians would probably have settled for a farewell handshake for the cameras; British officials sought to manipulate the media to portray Assad in a favourable light; and Blair's aides tried to help Assad's "photogenic" wife boost her profile"

How about this for a legacy:

"Blair had been on friendly terms with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, when sanctions imposed on Libya were lifted by United States and United Kingdom.[129][130] Even after the Libyan civil war in 2011, he said he had no regrets about his close relationship with the late Libyan leader"

 

[entrepr]

So what does Desmond Tutu have to do with all of that?
He has the business knowledge of a Peking Duck.

For that matter, what incredible business knowledge does Garry Kasparov have?
Granted, some of the speakers have a business background, but the point of the summit is not to give tips on which stocks are hot at the moment.
It is about making the world a better place.

Their website states..... "Questions are how we address some of the biggest and most complex challenges facing people and organisations today."

Yes, that's the point I have been pushing on about so glad we're on the same page.

Tutu fits in for the reasons you stated below. Blair doesn't.

He has the potential - if he would admit that he made a few monumental mistakes with following Bush and supporting Assad and Gadaffi. That's the missing step.

 

[Fudzy]

You don't know that. You have no idea how much they have spent in paying for speakers, marketing, and everything else that goes into a seminar of this type. Most likely they are covering costs, and not making real money (by real, I mean compared to their business lines).

Well they certainly have enough sponsors too.

 

[2026]

Tutu fits in for the reasons you stated below. Blair doesn't.

Which makes Tutu pulling out even more absurd and irrational.

 

[entrepr]

Which makes Tutu pulling out even more absurd and irrational.

Yes, I guess that's why it was a really difficult choice and took him a while and a lot of consultation to make.

His dilemma is that on the one hand he has a really good message to deliver to that group, whereas on the other there is the 'legitimising' of blair and endorsing the decision of Discovery to invite such a controversial figure

 

[LazyLion]

endorsing the decision of Discovery to invite such a controversial figure

In your opinion. Discovery and the rest of the civilised world don't seem to share your opinion!

 

[lived666]

Which makes Tutu pulling out even more absurd and irrational.

Tutu wears a dress and talks to imaginery beings and you want rational?

 

[Haldex]

In your opinion. Discovery and the rest of the civilised world don't seem to share your opinion!

Your post 96 in this thread, thread one of 5 or 6 directly associated with said "controversial figure" and Tutu.

Beware everyone, the spokesperson for discovery and the civilised world has put his foot in it, not for the first time.

 

[LazyLion]

Your post 96 in this thread, thread one of 5 or 6 directly associated with said "controversial figure" and Tutu.

Beware everyone, the spokesperson for discovery and the civilised world has put his foot in it, not for the first time.

Um sorry, what? Were you trying to make a point there somewhere?
Do you mind trying again, cos that one failed utterly.