How many billionaires does it take to change the world? It sounds like a riddle, but a recent move by the philanthropic duo Bill Gates and Warren Buffett may answer with more than just hyuks.

Gates and Buffett started an initiative that's asking the world's billionaires to give away over half of their wealth (while they're living or after death) to charity. Titled The Giving Pledge, the move has garnered a lot of press (they've recently signed on 40 pledges) but here's why it's important.

We're starting to realize there are enormous issue in the world and extreme problems call for extreme measures. In fact, extremity runs through this whole thing. The human brain has trouble wrapping its mind around a BILLION dollars. Now talk about several BILLLION and well, you can't take it with you and you couldn't spend it if you tried. The increasingly intense problems of the world demand drastic action, and all of us--including those with billions to give--are hearing the siren call.

The upside to these problems? Great times call for great measures, and The Giving Pledge may just be one of them. If anything, I think it sets a precedent for us to rethink some of our assumptions about philanthropy, the imperative for supporting social issues and what it means to give. After all, I believe that was some parable from Jesus (the man himself) who mentioned a pauper who gives away 50% of his income in a shekel is doing better than a rich man who tithes 10%. If these guys do better, they're on to something big--and Character Approved.

[Image: The Giving Pledge]