Clooney new Messenger of Peace
2008-01-19 13:09
New York - UN chief Ban Ki-moon has picked Hollywood heart-throb George Clooney, a passionate advocate for an end to war and famine in Sudan's Darfur region, as the world body's latest Messenger of Peace, an official said on Friday.
The Oscar-winning US actor was recognised for his tireless efforts to focus public attention on key international political and social issues, said UN spokesperson Michele Montas.
Clooney joins eight other internationally renowned individuals chosen to campaign for the UN drive to improve the lives of billions of people around the world.
Other UN peace messengers are Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Oscar-winning US actor Michael Douglas, British primatologist Jane Goodall, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan, Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim, Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho and Japanese violinist Midori Goto.
"You have seen first-hand the pain experienced by the victims of war and made it your personal mission to help end violence and human suffering," Ban said as he lauded Clooney's "dedication to raising awareness and mobilizing action on Darfur."
"I am deeply honored to receive this appointment," Clooney said. "I look forward to working with the United Nations in order to build public support for its critically important work in some of the most difficult, dangerous and dire places in the world."
Clooney has played a leading role in the international campaign to raise awareness of the humanitarian tragedy in Darfur, where at least 200 000 people have died from the combined effects of war, famine and diseases while another 2.2 million have been forced from their homes, according to UN figures.