Google philanthropy targets global warming, poverty, and disease

AFP, January, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) — Google's philanthropic arm on Thursday said it is taking aim at global warming, poverty, and pandemics with millions in cash and the Internet giant's global resources.

Google.org executive director Larry Brilliant said the group had a "brutal" job selecting priorities from the world's ills and crafting five core initiatives it felt best matched Google's strengths.

"It means we left some heart-breaking problems off the table," Brilliant said in a conference call with news reporters.

"How do you not take on female genital mutilation? How do you not take on the need for clean water? These problems we ...