Howard Buffet, Humanitarian Photographer

Howard Buffet, philanthropist, humanitarian, farmer and more was a guest on the Charlie Rose show recently.

Buffet said “Technology can not fix everything” and we need to be aware of that. Also, that we Americans are winners of the womb lottery. We did nothing to deserve being born here rather than so many other places in the world where we might live in poverty.

He showed some of his recently published photography book entitled “Fragile - The Human  Condition”,  documenting the circumstances many live in outside of the US around the rest of the world. Some of them were depressing and some were joyful and colorful. All of them shown by Rose were compelling.

He said his mother was his best friend because she gave him everything “except maybe good looks”, including the admonition  to be forthright and to consider others.

Rose showed a 2004 video of her talking about her own spirit and how she loves what she does in their foundation and how she respects those who have made a choice to serve others.

What did Warren Buffet contribute to Howard? Impromptu sayings, that sink in later, like “it takes twenty years to build a good reputation and 5 minutes to destroy it”; little bits of advice taken to heart, that caused him to live his life differently and better than he might have.

Howard Buffet said he was so lucky just to be able to observe his father in action, interacting with others, doing business and giving advice to business partners.

Howard says he is a Republican like his grandfather was but very much unlike his Democrat father about which he grinned and said it caused him some problems at home.

Charlie asked Howard what he can give back to his father, when the time comes and Buffet replied his father can trust him; he will carry on as his father, the legendary Warren Buffet would like him to do. He joked that his father is in great shape and very active and could outlive his son.

Howard Buffet wants his legacy to be that he took his photography and the family foundation to the next step, although he said he does not yet know what that is. Regardless, he said it will not be a game changer but does want to find a way to better impact policy in the US.

Everybody wants to be a lobbyist.