Lawyers at the United States State Department have banned high-profile U.S. diplomats from participating in the fundraising phenomenon that has swept social media in recent weeks - The ALS "Ice Bucket Challenge".
In an unclassified cable issued earlier this week, the department lauded the unique effort to raise money and awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, but said it violates internal policy.
"There are firmly established rules preventing the use of public office, such as our Ambassadors, for private gain, no matter how worthy the cause. Thus, high-ranking State Department officials are
unfortunately unable to participate in the ice bucket challenge," the cable sent to all U.S. diplomatic missions reads. "We sincerely wish the ALS Association continued success in its ice bucket campaign, and in its fight against Lou Gehrig's disease." "There are firmly established rules preventing the use of public office, such as our ambassadors, for private gain, no matter how worthy a cause," the cable said. - NPR notes.
The ice bucket challenge has raised nearly $42 million and attracted such notable participants as President George W. Bush, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Bill Gates, Simon Cowell.
"By the time the cable was sent at least one high-ranking diplomat, Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro, had already participated and had challenged U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power to douse herself with ice water for the cause. But by then, Power and the other ambassadors got the memo." - The AP noted.