(Byzantine Sacred Art Blog, 18 January 2008)--Famous Hollywood actor, activist and campaigner George Clooney in a statement to the Frankfurt daily News announced he intends to organize a protest with his colleagues against the unilateral declaration of independence of Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohija.
“With my coworker and friend Sharon Stone and her childhood friends of Serbian ancestry, I'll soon organize a protest against the attempts to grant independence to Kosovo,” the popular American actor said.
Clooney, who was among the first to support the Hollywood writers' protest and also backed the boycott of the Golden Globe awards ceremony, is well known as a fierce campaigner against any kind of injustice.
“I strive to use my popularity to help the mankind, to contribute to solving the number of problems afflicting today's world,” he said.
The New UN Messenger of Peace
George Clooney is a co-founder of Not on Our Watch, a humanitarian organization that focuses global attention on the plight of Darfur's people. The organization has raised more than $9.3 million for humanitarian efforts in the region.
The 46-year-old actor has been campaigning for an end to the 4 1/2-year war in Darfur and for humanitarian aid for the millions caught up in the conflict.
According to the AP, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon designated George Clooney as a U.N. "messenger of peace" Friday, January 18, 2008. He will become the ninth U.N. peace envoy.
While many U.N. agencies have goodwill ambassadors to promote activities ranging from helping children and refugees to promoting human rights, "messengers of peace" are selected by the secretary-general to promote the broader work of the United Nations.
U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said Clooney was recognized "for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues."
As a messenger of peace, he will have "a special focus on United Nations peacekeeping," Montas said.
Clooney will receive his designation at U.N. headquarters Jan. 31. He will also attend a meeting of countries that contribute troops to the 17 U.N. peacekeeping missions in countries from the Mideast and Africa to Haiti, Afghanistan and East Timor.
P.S. News as it was reported on Serbian TV (RTS) available on YouTube, thanks to our Dutch friend, JJ van Kempen.
P.P.S. Additional info over at SerbBlog: Ziveli Djordje & Sharon!
