iNSTRID

This year's news from Samsung and LG Electronics indicates what the development of displays will look like in the near future. The central theme is energy-efficient, low-cost production, high resolution and flexibility.

Flexible displays are not a completely new thing, but only now can we talk about an emerging trend and truly high image quality. Until now, large electronics manufacturers have faced the demand for increasing the display quality of traditional fixed flat displays, and only in the last two years have they managed to meet the expectations of the most demanding clients. We are talking mainly about Super AMOLED, IPS LCD and P-OLED technologies.

   Today, we have the opportunity to meet several types of curved color displays, with only one of them also allowing active flexibility. The solution from Samsung used in the Galaxy Round smartphone is curved, but not flexible. The famous electronic paper is flexible, but black and white. With a fully flexible, colorful, energy-friendly and also shockproof display, LG Electronics came up with the 6-inch G Flex smartphone. You can bend and straighten this curved smartphone without worrying about it being damaged. This is thanks to the progressive synthetic materials used to protect the active part of the display and its technology itself with a certain degree of flexibility.

According to Ondřej Oubrecht, key account manager at LG Electronics, flexible displays have a very positive future ahead of them, not only in the mobile phone industry for end customers, but also for companies and even cities. “There is a great demand for these displays across markets and designers,” says Oubrecht, continuing: “The future also includes flexible displays on public lighting poles, for example. Then cities can return their investment in lighting faster thanks to renting displays for advertising.” He also adds that the upcoming trend of improving and using flexible displays should not be a short-term issue, like 3D displays were.

   The development and subsequent reduction in the cost of manufacturing flexible and/or curved displays will affect a wide range of different industries that we have until now considered more like science fiction. With gradual progress, we will likely see lightweight, flexible, durable and energy-efficient solutions suitable for use on food packaging and other products, as a complement to printing or in the aforementioned advertising industry.

   Small, flexible (or at least curved) displays will also find application in the gaming industry and virtual reality. Just a few days before the end of this issue of the magazine, the world was informed that Facebook had acquired Oculus, a company that develops virtual reality headsets. For an incredible two billion US dollars. It is in these “VR headsets” that flexible displays could represent a significant evolutionary leap.

   Flexible displays and the companies that develop and market them could be a lucrative space for investment. After all, this has been the case for technology corporations and even startups for several years now, and it doesn't look like this trend is going to change in the coming years.

Skalica is a city known not only in Slovakia, but also far beyond its borders. It is admired for its wines, delicious Skalica trdelník, rich history and valuable historical monuments. Personally, I am convinced that it is also gaining favor thanks to the atmosphere, hospitality and a diverse range of activities that tourists can try in Skalica. And just three years ago, golf was added to the list of leisure activities offered by the city.

Katarína Chovancová for UnitedLife

   For those who have not been to Skalica yet and are planning to, but also for those who have not heard of the course – Skalica is the first urban golf resort in Slovakia with a full-fledged infrastructure of an 18-hole course, located in the wine-growing part of the free royal city of Skalica. The Skalica course offers golfers the best training areas in the country, a pleasant homely atmosphere, beautiful views of the Skalica vineyards and of course a top-quality course that is a challenge for all age and handicap categories. Since we have moved into the last third of this year, I think it is the right time to recapitulate and evaluate the slowly ending 2013 season.

   From my perspective as a domestic player and a player with a plus handicap, the season in Skalica was different from the previous one. The first reason for this statement is the quality of the course. The greens were a stable 9 feet not only during tournaments, but also during the season, which I appreciated especially when preparing for valuable foreign tournaments. My second reason was the decision and subsequent implementation of the water well. All golfers who played in Skalica last summer and found their way there this summer must agree with me that it was an incomparable difference. The third reason for my bold statement is the riffles. The decision to let them grow was, in my view, one of the best that could have been made. Not only did the course get new contours thanks to them, but it also became much more attractive for the game. Even the player on the tee realizes that it is not enough to just stand up, hit and "I'll find it somewhere". He has to think a lot more, play tactically, choose different sticks and maybe even change his game strategy compared to last season.

   The Skalické course organized countless commercial tournaments throughout the year. It was the organizer of the Slovak Junior Championship, the Slovak Senior Championship, association tournaments, and hosted the prestigious PilsnerUrquell Czech PGA Tour, which, in addition to professionals from all over Europe, also allowed Slovak amateur players to participate.

   However, what the course had been preparing for all year was the tournament under the auspices of the European Golf Association (EGA), the European Boy's Challenge Trophy 2013. 11 countries, including Slovakia, participated in the tournament and the top three qualified for next year's European Boys' Championship under 18. I participated in this tournament as a referee and one day as a starter. Personally, I consider this tournament not only a very interesting experience, but also a great one.

   This was the first time I participated in a tournament like this, not as a player, but as part of the organizing team. The entire tournament took place in a peaceful atmosphere and despite the lower temperatures, the weather was kind to the players, the field was in top condition and everything went without the slightest problem. Not only the players, but also the captains of the individual teams confirmed that the tournament was a success beyond expectations and that everyone was extremely satisfied.

Behind the success of the entire tournament is the entire greenkeeping team of Vojtech Mrňa, the referees led by the head referee Ján Peč II., the entire team of Golf Resort Skalica and especially every single volunteer who decided to come and help in their free time.

Photo: archive Golf Resort Skalica

Každý by mal mať príležitosť rozvíjať seba, svoje schopnosti, vzdelanie a nadanie. Avšak vieme, že talent a nadanie samé o sebe niekedy nestačia a na rozvoj týchto daností sú potrebné aj peniaze. Preto chceme prostredníctvom našich programov podporiť takéto aktivity finančne. Nadácia United Philanthropy (UP) chce pomáhať ľuďom, ktorí majú záujem v živote niečo dosiahnuť a zároveň sú ochotní na sebe pracovať a rozvíjať to, v čom sú dobrí.

1. Program VUP: podpora vzdelávania, najmä vo vzťahu k mladým a nadaným študentom formou vyplácania štipendií
2. Program ZUP: rozvoj a zlepšovanie kvality zdravotnej starostlivosti
3. Program ŠUP: podpora športových aktivít mládeže
4. Program KUP: podpora rozvoja a ochrany kultúrnych hodnôt
5. Program HUP: ochrana ľudských práv a iných humanitárnych cieľov

   Program VUP: Uvedomujeme si zásadný význam vzdelania pre jednotlivca i celú spoločnosť. Preto naším prvotným a prvoradým nadačným programom bude program „Vzdelanie UP“, ktorý bude dlhodobo podporovať aktivity v tejto oblasti. Ľudský potenciál je najväčším kapitálom spoločnosti a podpora vzdelávacích projektov môže výrazne prispieť ku kvalitatívnej zmene celej spoločnosti. Chceme pomôcť odstraňovať ekonomické a geografické bariéry pri získavaní vedomostí a napomôcť rozvoju jednotlivcov a tým aj celej spoločnosti. Cieľom našej činnosti je podpora mladých ľudí, ktorí majú ambíciu naplno využiť svoj potenciál, rozvíjať svoj talent a aktívne hľadajú spôsoby vzdelávania nad rámec bežného štúdia.

   Program ZUP: Jedine zdravý jedinec, telesne i duševne, je schopný naplno rozvíjať svoj talent, nadanie a schopnosti a prispievať tak k naplneniu základného ľudského poslania – dosiahnuť šťastie tak pre seba, ako aj pre svojich najbližších, či ostatných ľudí. Našou snahou bude aj podpora projektov zameraných predovšetkým na udržanie a ochranu existujúceho zdravia jednotlivca a tiež na preventívne predchádzanie a skoré odhaľovanie ochorení.

    Program ŠUP: Šport, zdravá súťaživosť zbavená jednoznačnej snahy byť „nad druhým“, ale snaha byť aktívny a súťažiť s druhým, sú prioritou našej podpory športových aktivít detí a mládeže. Vzdelaný jedinec so „zdravým duchom“ si potrebuje športom udržať nielen zdravú a funkčnú telesnú schránku, ale aj spoznať a vedieť adekvátne zhodnotiť a riešiť víťazné situácie i prehry. Preto máme snahu podporovať športové aktivity na amatérskej úrovni, ako aj alternatívne športové aktivity.

    Program KUP: Vzdelaný, zdravý a športovo úspešný môže byť v dnešnej dobe už i počítač, či robot. Až kultúra a kultivovanosť z nás robí osobnosti a skutočne „veľkých ľudí“. Zdá sa nám, že dnešná spoločnosť, často pretechnizovaná, uponáhľaná a hľadiaca len po rentabilite či rýchlom zisku, zabúda na potrebu tejto stránky všestranne rozvinutého jedinca. Preto by sme chceli našimi programami podporiť i túto oblasť rozvoja ľudského jedinca, aby bol celostný.

  Program HUP: Jedným z princípov ľudstva, ktorý nás drží spolu a umožní nám prežiť do budúcnosti je spolupatričnosť, solidarita a pomoc odkázaným. Sú jedinci, ktorých prírodné živly, spoločenské pomery či iné okolnosti dostali do situácie, z ktorej sa bez pomoci ostatných ľudí a spoločenstva nedokážu dostať samotní a sú odkázaní na pomoc ostatných. Tým, ktorí sa do takýchto pomerov nedostali vlastným pričinením, nedbanlivosťou, závislosťou či nezodpovednosťou, chceme podať pomocnú ruku a finančne, materiálne, či inak zmysluplne podporiť ich vrátenie sa do normálneho života.

Vladimir Orth

Karibský ostrov Portoriko je známy aj ako Porto Rico alebo Puerto Rico, v preklade „bohatý prístav“. Domáci ho však nazývajú „La Isla del Encanto“, čo znamená „pôvabný ostrov“. Každý návštevník rozumie, prečo domorodci svoj ostrov označujú ako pôvabný. Snúbi sa v ňom pestrosť čistej prírody, luxusných hotelov, ale aj jednoduchého životného štýlu miestnych obyvateľov. Tento neveľký ostrov s rozlohou iba necelých dvanásťtisíc kilometrov štvorcových som krátko navštívil počas plavby Karibikom.

Vladimír Mego pre UnitedLife

   Požičaným autom vyrážame z hlavného mesta San Juan na severo-východe smerom na západ ostrova. Ešte pred vstupom do vnútrozemia už na okraji mesta zastavujeme v údajne najväčšom Bacardi liehovare sveta. Rodina Bacardiovcov sem presťahovala výrobu svetoznámeho rumu z Kuby po Castrovom prevrate v šesťdesiatych rokoch minulého storočia. Vôňa rumu a vanilky sa šíri až za plot obrovského areálu s vlastným prístavom. Zvažujeme prehliadku liehovaru, ktorú je tu možné podniknúť so sprievodcami, avšak pokračujeme ďalej na západ ostrova.

 Neďaleko mesta Arecibo, v pahorkatine medzi kopcami, je v priehlbine vyhasnutého krátera uložený najväčší rádioteleskop na svete s priemerom 305 metrov a plochou ekvivalentnou k rozlohe 26 futbalových ihrísk. Rádioteleskop je spätý s výskumom ďalekého vesmíru, mimozemských civilizácií, ale tiež Piercom Brosnanom alias Jamesom Bondom z filmu Golden Eye.

   Po obhliadke observatória sa presúvame ešte viac do vnútrozemia k ďalšiemu „naj“ ostrova Portoriko –
tretiemu najväčšiemu jaskynnému komplexu na svete. V parku Rio Camuy je 220 jaskýň a niekoľko priepastí. Z nich najväčšia, Tres Pueblos, má priemer jeden kilometer a hĺbku 120 metrov. Pre momentálne záplavy nie je možné ísť do vnútra jaskýň, tak sledujeme aspoň priepasť. Vraciame sa späť, osviežiť sa na pláži Isla Verde – údajne najkrajšej na ostrove.

  Pláž široká asi sto metrov sa tiahne v dĺžke niekoľko kilometrov, priamo v hlavnom meste. Je tu všetko, čo očakáva od známej destinácie náročný návštevník i oddychujúci dobrodruh – hotely, bary, reštaurácie. Snáď jediné, čo tu chýba, sú krásne Portoričanky. V disharmónii so všeobecnou predstavou o tmavých štíhlych čiernovlasých kráskach je väčšina tunajších „krások“ totiž dosť obézna a nepekná.

  Po vykúpaní v mori zostáva čas a tak vyrážame do rezervácie El Yunque. Opäť, ako množstvo iných krás tohto ostrova, aj El Yunque je čímsi výnimočný. Ide totiž o jediný dažďový prales na území USA a cesta z pláže hlavného mesta k nemu trvá autom iba trištvrte hodinu. Zamračená obloha a blížiaci sa večer dodávajú džungli, prístupnej asfaltovou cestou, tajomný ráz. Zo zákrut sa kde tu naskytá krásny výhľad na členité pobrežie. Míňame niekoľko vodopádov a džungľu plnú papradí s veľkosťou našich dubov, bambus s výškou elektrických stĺpov a rastliny, ktoré u nás pestujeme ako izbové, tu dosahujú neuveriteľnú veľkosť stromov. Je tu krásne, ale loď na nás nepočká, musíme sa vrátiť späť. Ostáva nám nalodiť a na plavbu k ďalším nádherným ostrovom Karibiku…

Breitling Emergency is a unique service that the customer acquires with the purchase of a wristwatch from the Emergency series. At the last Baselworld 2013 congress, Breitling introduced the second generation of the Emergency series watches, which, in addition to top-notch technical equipment, also have a special device for emergencies. If the owner of the watch finds himself in a critical situation, he just needs to use his watch as an emergency radio. This is activated after a relatively simple procedure, during which the watch becomes a transmitter sending an SOS signal and its own location on two internationally accepted frequencies. The watch uses the Cospas-Sarsat system for localization.

Immediately after the signal is picked up, a whole rescue team is dispatched to the transmitter location. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are. If you think this is just a demonstration of Breitling’s power without any real basis, you will be surprised – the first generation of the Breitling Emergency watch has already saved several pilots in distress. By purchasing a Breitling Emergency watch, the new owner undertakes not to abuse the emergency service. In such a case, he will have to pay for the entire trip, which represents a fine far exceeding the value of the watch itself.

   TAG Heuer Carrera od slávneho hodinára Jacka Heuera je šitá na mieru automobilovým pretekárom, ktorí ju po celých 50 rokov milovali. Od svojho zrodenia v roku 1963 zažila množstvo úspešných premien, ale jej srdce stále zostáva verné motoristickému športu.

   Majitelia švajčiarskej hodinárskej značky Heuer boli od nepamäti oddaní nielen hodinárstvu, ale aj športu. V roku 1963 Jack Heuer navrhol hodinky vyhovujúce špecifickým potrebám automobilových pretekárov s veľkým prehľadným číselníkom a puzdrom odolávajúcim náročným podmienkam automobilových pretekov. Jeho inšpiráciou bol „Carrera Panamericana Mexico Road Race“, najnáročnejší vytrvalostný závod sveta.

Prvú černo-bielu Carreru volanú aj „Panda“ si okamžite obľúbili špičkoví pretekári Európy aj Ameriky, dnes patrí k najcennejším zberateľským kusom. Medzi slávnych majiteľov Carrery patrili napríklad šampióni F1 Jackie Ickx a Clay Regazzoni. V čase, keď bol Heuer oficiálnym sponzorom a časomierou Ferrari, mali členovia tejto stajne Carrery z masívneho zlata so svojím menom a krvnou skupinou vygravírovanou na zadnom kryte.

   Od tej doby prešla Carrera radou premien. Model Carrera Calibre 1887 získal prestížne ocenenie La Petite Aiguille a tým vzdal poctu oscilačnému pastorku – vynálezu firmy Heuer z roku 1887. Ten je dnes jeden zo základných a najpevnejších pilierov moderného hodinárstva. V roku 2012 bol predstavený TAG Heuer Carrera Mikrogirder. Jeho presnosť je 5/10 tisícin sekundy, pracuje na ultravysokej frekvencii 7,2 milióna taktov za hodinu a jeho sekundová ručička obehne číselník 20× za sekundu.

Modelová trieda Clipper Chrono Diver Maxi od spoločnosti Hermes patrí k tým, ktoré si vyberajú zákazníci s vyhradeným vkusom a záľubou v potápaní. Model s názvom 038913WW00 je ideálnym reprezentantom tejto triedy.

Hermes venoval dizajnu týchto náramkových hodín zvýšenú pozornosť a aj napriek tomu, že sú tieto hodinky extravagantné a jednoznačne identifikovateľné, nepôsobia nevkusne alebo nevhodne. Hodinky majú výrazný kaučukový remeň, ktorý je vybavený „push button“ skladacou sponou, puzdro hodín je vyrobené z brúseného titánu s funkčnými detailmi z leštenej nehrdzavejúcej ocele. Výrazný strieborný ciferník so zapustenými ciferníkmi chronografu a bielymi číslami obsahuje svetielkujúce ručičky a dátumovku na 3. hodine. Chronograf sa dobíja prirodzeným pohybom, pričom má energetickú rezervu na 48 hodín, je ho možné používať aj pod vodou a pred poškodením ho chráni zafírové sklo.

Autumn is coming, when we are most susceptible to colds and various viral diseases affecting mainly the respiratory tract, which makes our everyday life very unpleasant. We feel generally tired, inefficient, we are constantly forced to clear our noses and the cough does not allow us to rest even during a night's sleep. The time of the flu has come.

   Influenza is an acute viral disease that spreads rapidly from person to person through the air. It is a serious health problem that can cause serious health conditions and even death in high-risk groups. According to the World Health Organization, about 1 billion people get influenza every year, of which 3 to 5 million people have a severe course of the disease. The risk of developing serious complications is highest in young children, the elderly and people with serious chronic diseases of the respiratory tract, cardiovascular system, metabolic, renal and immune disorders.

   Who should get vaccinated?

   Vaccination should be primarily aimed at people who are most likely to develop complications, or those who are most exposed to the risk of infection. The high probability of developing complications is in people with other, especially chronic, diseases, in people with reduced immunity, as well as in people older than 65 years.

   In healthy people, vaccination is equally effective, reducing morbidity by 70 to 90%.

   Flu vaccination is recommended for all children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. Athletes and those traveling abroad during an expected flu epidemic should also be protected by vaccination.

   Who should not be vaccinated?

   Vaccination should be postponed in patients with a febrile illness or acute infection. People allergic to chicken eggs should not be vaccinated. However, vaccines for allergy sufferers are now available, in which the virus is produced in cells other than those of chicken origin. Vaccination is generally not recommended for women in the first trimester of pregnancy and for children younger than 6 months.

   Why is it recommended to get vaccinated every year?

   The level of antibodies produced after vaccination declines over time and may be too low to provide protection the following year. Flu viruses are also constantly changing genetically, and immunity acquired from a previous flu infection or vaccination in the previous year may not protect against the changed flu viruses. Because the flu virus changes, the vaccine must be updated each year to include the most current strains of the flu virus.

   How does the vaccine protect you?

   Following vaccination, the immune system begins to produce antibodies against the viral proteins of the vaccine strains. If a person becomes infected with the real virus, these antibodies bind to the virus particles that have entered the body and are removed before they can damage tissue, so that people do not get sick or the disease is only mild. Sufficient protective levels of antibodies are developed 10-14 days after vaccination.

   When is the best time to get vaccinated?

   In the northern hemisphere, the best time to get vaccinated is between mid-September and the end of November. If you get vaccinated later, the vaccine may not have enough time to provide an immune response. For more information, contact your GP who will administer the vaccination.

   How effective is the flu vaccine?

   The effectiveness of a vaccine lies in preventing or reducing the course of the disease. The effectiveness of a vaccine against influenza depends on the immune status of the person, the age of the person vaccinated, the degree of similarity between the vaccine virus and the virus circulating in the population, the (sub)type of the virus, and the length of time between vaccination and exposure to the influenza virus. These factors make it difficult to say with certainty how effective an influenza vaccine is. In general, vaccination will prevent illness in 80% young adults and is somewhat less effective in older people.

    Is it possible to get the flu if you have been vaccinated?

   This is possible, especially in older adults, if they become infected shortly after vaccination. However, in those who become infected after vaccination, the disease is likely to be milder, without complications, and is less likely to require hospitalization or result in death.

   To support the body's immunity and prevent viral diseases, we also recommend the application of high-dose vitamin C (7.5 gr.), which is applied in repeated small short-term infusions into a vein. However, before applying it, it is necessary to ask your treating doctor whether its application is not inappropriate for you. For example, patients with a tendency to form urinary stones should not use this treatment, and may need certain additional examinations before its application.

   Finally, it is important to remind travelers who decide to visit exotic countries during the fall and winter that they should not forget to get vaccinated against diseases that could make their stay in that country unpleasant.

   If you think about your health and its prevention, autumn will be beautiful for you and full of fresh colors, which you can enjoy with the arrival of this year's Indian summer!

 1. About half of all mental disorders begin before the age of 14. It is estimated that approximately 20% children and adolescents worldwide, across cultures, have a mental disorder or similar problems. Yet the regions of the world with the highest proportion of people under the age of 19 have the worst levels of resources for treating such disorders. Most low- and middle-income countries have only one psychiatrist for every 1 to 4 million children.

  2. Depression is characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest, with psychological, behavioral, and physical symptoms. However, the causes of depression are primarily physiological, not psychological.

  3. On average, about 800,000 people commit suicide each year, 861,000 of them in low- and middle-income countries. More than half of those who kill themselves are between the ages of 15 and 44. The highest number of suicides among people is in Eastern European countries. One of the most significant and treatable causes of suicide is mental disorders.

  4. Speech problems occur mainly in lower-income families. The reason is the gradual loss of interest of parents in correcting their own children's shortcomings, as they have to deal with existential problems.

  5. Governments, donors and groups representing mental health professionals, patients and their families must work together to improve mental health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The financial resources needed are relatively modest: US$2 per capita per year in low-income countries and US$3-4 in lower-middle-income countries.

Computer genius, top businessman and manager, multiple times the richest person in the world, and the most active philanthropist today. These are just a few of the titles that belong to Bill Gates, one of the most iconic figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. 

   An exclusive foundation for personal development

   Bill Gates, whose full name is William Henry Gates III, was born into a family of a corporate lawyer and a teacher and a member of the board of directors of First Interstate Bank. In addition, his mother, Mary Maxwell Gates, also held the position of a member of the national board of the international non-profit organization United Way. Bill thus received an exceptionally good family, financial and moral background, thanks to which he became a student at an early age at the prestigious private high school Lakeside School and later at the renowned Harvard University.

   His interest in electronic devices was already evident during his high school studies. In the 1970s, computers were still at the beginning of their journey, which even today has not yet reached its destination. Young Bill already got a job at one of the local computer companies, which provided him with access to the then mini-computer PDP-10. Working with it became so interesting and valuable for Bill that soon, at the age of seventeen, he was able to prepare a complete program for creating a school timetable. For this program, he even received a scholarship of 4200 USD, which at that time represented a significant financial amount.

   In 1973, he enrolled at Harvard University, where he met Steve Ballmer, later the CEO of Microsoft. He brought another acquaintance from high school, Paul Allen, with whom he managed to create the so-called Altair BASIC programming language interpreter for the first commercially successful computer, the Altair 8800. It is here that the basic building block of the current Microsoft Corporation can be found.

   Micro-Soft

   In order for Gates and Allen to sell their programming language, they had to start a company. Therefore, in 1975, Micro-Soft was founded with a single product – the Microsoft BASIC programming language. The success of their work was so great that it determined the future direction of the company and created capital for aggressive expansion. This required all of Gates' time, so in his third year he left the prestigious Harvard and began to devote himself fully to the company. The most significant turning point in Microsoft's history came in the late 1970s, when it entered into cooperation with the giant IBM. At that time, IBM was preparing to enter the world of personal computers, and Gates became the supplier of the MS-DOS operating system. For a long time after that, this system was the basis of all personal computers in the world. Later disagreements with IBM led to the fact that Microsoft had to start building its own operating system, today's Windows. Microsoft first introduced the Windows operating system in November 1985 as an extension to the MS-DOS operating system in an attempt to respond to the growing popularity of graphical user interfaces. Windows eventually gained a dominant position in the global personal computer market and brought Gates immense wealth. Today, its share is around 90% and is declining, and Bill Gates has regularly ranked among the richest people in the world between 1996 and 2011, mostly in the first position.

   Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

   Over time, Gates' wealth became a phenomenon that even started to be joked about. He could have used this wealth to provide for his family and devote himself to the rest of his life, but instead, the need to make the world a better place prevailed. And Gates fulfills this need to an unprecedented extent. With his wife, he runs the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which covers over 20 different humanitarian goals. These include fighting diseases prevalent in third world countries, including HIV, pneumonia, malaria and tuberculosis, helping the homeless, developing new drugs, controlling the tobacco industry and providing financial assistance to the poor.

   The foundation was symbolically established on January 1, 2000, as if to suggest that just before the end of the 20th century, even the very rich should share their wealth with those who did not have it so easy in life. The turn of the 20th and 21st centuries became the most significant in Gates' life, because other talented people took over big business for him and he began to devote himself almost entirely to altruism. However, he still retained his analytical thinking and the desire to look into the future, which is why his foundation addresses not only the consequences, but also the causes of human misfortune.

   The foundation's efforts to improve the lives of people in third world countries through education and healthcare are unparalleled. However, the scope of the foundation's activities is much broader - for all its marginal activities, we will recall the huge volume of plant seeds preserved for future generations in specialized warehouses.

   To be good at all costs

   Like every great figure in history, Bill Gates has been the target of harsh criticism, especially on the topic of population reduction. He has been criticized for his activities related to controlled parenthood in poor countries. Despite this, Gates chooses the path of open discussion and emphasizing the importance of responsible parenthood. The fact that the world's philanthropists do not let themselves be discouraged has the potential to make the world an increasingly better place to live.

   "We believe that every person deserves the chance to live a healthy, productive life."

   Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation motto

Maria Synakova