Angelina Jolie Watch

Angelina Jolie has recorded a Public Service Announcement to bring awareness to Friday’s World Refugee Day.

“They have survived war, they have survived displacement, they have survived rape, they have survived hunger and disease,” Angelina says during the spot. “For those who have survived and for those who did not, we are thinking of you on this day.”

The dialouge is accompanied by photos of refugees around the world. An article penned by Angelina will appear in U.S. papers on Friday as part of the Word Refugee Day activities.

Other activities include a replica of a Darfur Village in London’s Trafalgar Square. Rome’s Colosseum will be lit with the refugee agency’s logo.

For more information got the UNHCR website.

I forgot to mention this but the forum was co-sponsored by Angie’s group Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. She founded the group with Gene Speerling last year as part of the 2007 Clinton Initiative. In this video from Tuesday’s conference, she’s talks about how transformative education can be to a child of conflict.

To read additional facts about children of conflict click below. I am eternally grateful to Angelina for her continued education on this subject. (more…)

Angelina wrote a thought provoking editorial this week for the Washington Post. Unlike most of the liberals( I think saying Angelina is liberal is a safe assumption-I’m also pretty liberal so no judgment here.) she thinks we should stay in Iraq.  Based on her Iraqi experiences in Febuary, she thinks this is the best course of action for the country, and the region at large. Here’s a snippet:

“My visit left me even more deeply convinced that we not only have a moral obligation to help displaced Iraqi families, but also a serious, long-term, national security interest in ending this crisis.

Today’s humanitarian crisis in Iraq — and the potential consequences for our national security — are great. Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East, won’t explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder?

What we cannot afford, in my view, is to squander the progress that has been made. In fact, we should step up our financial and material assistance. UNHCR has appealed for $261 million this year to provide for refugees and internally displaced persons. That is not a small amount of money — but it is less than the U.S. spends each day to fight the war in Iraq. I would like to call on each of the presidential candidates and congressional leaders to announce a comprehensive refugee plan with a specific timeline and budget as part of their Iraq strategy.

As for the question of whether the surge is working, I can only state what I witnessed: U.N. staff and those of non-governmental organizations seem to feel they have the right set of circumstances to attempt to scale up their programs. And when I asked the troops if they wanted to go home as soon as possible, they said that they miss home but feel invested in Iraq. They have lost many friends and want to be a part of the humanitarian progress they now feel is possible.

It seems to me that now is the moment to address the humanitarian side of this situation. Without the right support, we could miss an opportunity to do some of the good we always stated we intended to do.”

Read the article in its entirety here. 

CNN got this exclusive sit down with Angelina while she was in Baghdad. It features many of the quotes found in my previous post. Angelina says she came to Iraq to learn about the issues facing the region personally. Apparently the reporter almost asked her about being pregnant but Angelina dodged. I can’t find any he footage which happened at the very end of this video. I don’t know that it actually aired more than once on CNN if at all. I’ve posted a snippet of the transcript below.

Damon: There are reports out of Hollywood that… (laughs)

Jolie: But I don’t have to answer. OK?

Angelina chows down with the troops in Iraq today. Wonder if she’s eating for two or three.

Well it looks like we were wrong. Angelina wasn’t headed to Jordan but to Iraq. She touched down today in Iraq to highlight the plight of refugees. Angie’s trip included a visit with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Angie is concerned that there is no concrete plan for the nearly 2 million internal refugees. An internal refugee is one that has been displaced their own country or territory. Think Katrina victims who were forced to move after New Orleans flooded.

“There are over two million displaced people and there never seems to be a real coherent plan to help them,” she said. “There’s lots of goodwill and lots of discussion, but there seems to be just a lot of talk at the moment.”

“I don’t have the answers, but I know this is one thing that needs to be addressed and solved. (There needs) to be a real presence here to help count the people and register the people,” she added.

She’s is very concerned with refugee children.

“Of the two million internally displaced, it’s estimated 58 percent are under 12 years old. It’s a very high number of people in a very, very vulnerable situation and a lot of young kids.”

“So far, the different US officials I met with and different local people I’ve met with all have shared concerns, very, very strongly. They have spoken out about the humanitarian crisis, but there seems to be a block in.

“I don’t have the answers, but I know this is one thing that needs to be addressed and solved. (There needs) to be a real presence here to help count the people and register the people,” she added.

She believes refugee crisis will affect the entire Middle East.

“And a big part of what it’s going to affect,” she said, “is how these people are returned and settled into their homes and their community and brought back together and whether they can live together and what their communities look like.”

The UHCR hasn’t been able to aid refugees due to rampant violence outside of Iraq’s green zone. Angie even took the time to have an…institutional meal with the troops. She’s really taking bullet for the cause there.

Click HERE for video of Angelina eating with troops.

Click HERE for Angelina’s CNN interview.  

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This is her first stop(and maybe her only stop) on the way to Jordan. I checked Expedia and it usually takes about 20 hours to get to Jordan from Los Angeles. The shortest flight is 17 hours. Connecting cities are Frankfurt, Paris and London. If you click in the picture you can see Angie’s ticket for BMI airlines which specializes in cheap flights from the UK to the Middle East. Some of the major carriers probably have agreements with BMI. Jordan is a fairly stable but the US Department of State has issued the following warnings about traveling to the country.

The threat of terrorism remains high in Jordan. Transnational terrorist groups, as well as less sophisticated local elements, have demonstrated the capability to pose threats in Jordan. Al-Qaida in Iraq network in particular continues terrorist activities against U.S. and Government of Jordan (GOJ) targets in Jordan. The Al-Qaida in Iraq network claimed responsibility for the November 9, 2005 bombings of three international hotels in Amman, which killed 60 people and injured over 100.

AND

Terrorists often do not distinguish between U.S. government personnel and private citizens. Terrorists may target areas frequented by Westerners, such as tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, liquor stores, shopping malls, transportation hubs, places of worship, expatriate residential areas, and schools. In light of these security concerns, U.S. citizens are urged to maintain a high level of vigilance, to be aware of their surroundings, and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. It is especially important for travelers to be unpredictable by varying their times and routes and to maintain a low profile. Moreover, U.S. citizens are urged to avoid contact with any suspicious or unfamiliar objects and to immediately report the presence of such objects to the authorities. U.S. Government personnel overseas have been advised to take the same precautions.

I’m sure everything will be fine. Still, we need to keep a good thought for Angelina as she does this important work.

Update:  Angelina’s final destination was actually Iraq. 

PageSix scoped out Angie at LAX this afternoon where she boarded a plane headed for Jordan. Angelina is surely doing some UNHCR work. Only recently would she even allow a bodyguard to travel with her. I don’t see one on the picture but I’m sure he(or she) is lurking around somewhere. She’s said that when traveling for the UN she goes alone, carries one bag and flies commercial.

According to the Mayo Clinic here are some of things that pregnant women should consider when flying.

• Ask for an aisle seat or a seat at the bulkhead — which offers the most space and comfort — or over the wings — which offers the smoothest ride.

• Fasten the safety belt under your abdomen across the tops of your thighs.

• Get up and walk every half-hour or, if the seat belt sign is on, flex and extend your ankles vigorously and frequently to prevent blood clots.

• Drink plenty of fluids. Low humidity in the cabin has a dehydrating effect.

Wishing Angelina a successful and safe trip.

US Magazine reports(not the most reliable source but they’ve been known to get at thing or two right) insists that Angelina and Brad are set to sell their baby announcement to benefit charity. I have no idea how much these things go for but the Shiloh’s pics were rumored to have fetched $4 million bucks. Let’s just say the announcement earns them $1 million dollars. That money would allow the UNHCR to:

• Help 250,000 refugees trace their families.
• Give 15,625 people all whether shelters
• Put a survival kit containing blankets, stoves and other essentials in the hands hands of 2,500 refugee families
• Sink 800 clean water wells
• Provides 20,000 children with therapeutic feeding kits that could save their lives.

The press won’t stop until they get concrete confirmation or denial. I’d say that making a deal for charity is the best course and would  help a lot of people.

Stats Source 

Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Shiloh Jolie Pitt

Angelina has been named most liked celebrity humanitarian by a recent Reuters poll. That means people find her genuine and heartfelt. (Of course we didn’t need no stikin poll to tell us that but it’s nice anyway.)

According to Peter Walker, director of the Feinstein International Famine Center at Tufts University, people are impressed with how authentic she is. “People aren’t stupid,” he said. “They can really sense when it’s just an endorsement and when somebody really means it. Someone like Angelina Jolie comes across as having more integrity than some celebrities and a greater sense that she doesn’t just do this for the publicity.”

Polsters seemed particularly impressed with Angie’s work on behalf of international refugees. Since becoming a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, she’s visited 20 crisis spots throughout the world. Most visited camps in Iraq.

“She does this in a very low-key way,” said UNHCR spokesman Peter Kessler. “She goes out to see for herself, to get up close and very personal. She doesn’t travel with film crews, and I think that is real testimony to her dedication to the cause.”

Other celebs didn’t show so well. Madonna landed near the bottom of the list One respondent said, “Madonna seems to do philanthropy the way she’s done Indian culture, sex, and just about everything . Hope she doesn’t get bored of her adopted African kid.”(Wow that’s harsh)
Other do-gooders that showed up in the poll included Bono, Mia Farrow, Don Cheadle Bill Gates and our very on Brad Pitt.

Congratulations Angie. You’re having a banner couple of weeks.

Angelina Jolie

Update on the UNHCR’s Darfur funding goal:

Dear Refugee Supporter,

Last month, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) issued an urgent funding appeal for its humanitarian operation in Darfur, Sudan. Without the proper support, the agency will be forced to scale back its life-saving relief efforts in the region. In response to the pressing need we set a goal to raise $20,000 by the end of October.

Thanks to your generous support, I am pleased to announce that we exceeded our target - $20, 129! With your help UNHCR can continue its mission to protect and aid the victims of the Darfur tragedy.

In an extremely difficult security environment, UNHCR provides protection and assistance to many of the more than 2 million people displaced by the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. This year alone an additional 250,000 people have been forced from their homes.

In Darfur, UNHCR offers life-saving aid to those fleeing the conflict, providing access to basic relief items as well as shelter, medical care and education. With your thoughtful contributions, UNHCR can also continue to provide clean, safe water to displaced families, ensure counseling and assistance for victims of sexual and gender-based violence, and give protection to women and children.

Thank you for responding to our urgent appeal. UNHCR couldn’t do its life-saving work in Darfur without you!

Sincerely,

J. Michael Coburn
Acting Executive Director

The UNHCR aids refugees “fleeing across the border from Darfur” who “arrive in a remote, desert region[in Chad] where resources, particularly water, are scarce. Since early 2004 UNHCR has mounted a major logistics operation to move the vast majority of these refugees to camps at a safer distance from the volatile border.”

Unhcr, United Nations, Darfur

The IRC honored the UNHCR and it’s Goodwill Ambassadors with its 50th annual Freedom Award for their work on behalf of the world’s refugees. Angelina and the United Nations High Commissioner(Antonio Guterres) accepted the award for the UNHCR team. Angelina was unable to attend due to her shooting schedule but she did send a video message where she applauded the strong partnership between the UNHCR and the IRC.

Former Freedom Award recipients include include Winston Churchill (1958), former US presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton (200), Madeline Albright(1998) and Burmese Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (1995).

In 2006, the IRC assisted more than 15 million conflict-affected people around the world. Here’s a look at some of their recent achievements.

• Gave over 3 million people access to clean water and sanitation.
• Trained more than 10,800 educators, and supported schools attended by 316,000 children, more than half of them girls.
• Their doctors,nurses and community health workers served more than 6 million people with primary and reproductive health care.
• Reached some 5 million people through our health education and HIV/AIDS prevention programs.
• Counseled and cared for nearly 140,000 survivors of sexual violence.
• Educated some 1,560,000 men,women and adolescents on the prevention of sexual violence.
• Reunited over 2,400 separated children and former child soldiers with their families and cared for another 9,300 young people.
• Resettled 5,000 newly arrived refugees and asylees and provided services to 18,000 other refugees in the United States.
• The IRC helped over 6,400 refugees settle into new homes, schools and communities in the United States.

Congratulations to Angie and the rest of the UNHCR team. Keep up the good work.

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angelina jolie, unhcr, united nations, united nations high commissioner for refugees, irc, international rescue committee

The UNHCR is looking at the plight of the Internally Displaced Person and how to best deal with this unique population.

Like refugees, they are hapless civilians often caught up in an endless round of civil conflict or persecution. There are an estimated 25 million of them around the world and they are sometimes known by the clumsy bureaucratic acronym of “IDP” – an Internally Displaced Person. What is the difference? When a fleeing civilian crosses an international frontier, he or she becomes a refugee and as such receives international protection and help. If a person in similar circumstances is displaced within his or her home country and becomes internally displaced person then assistance and protection is much more problematic. UNHCR currently helps over 12.8 million of those internally displaced, and a lively international debate is underway on how to more effectively help this group.

Below is a list of Internally Displaced populations that currently receive aid from the UNHCR. Most IDPs are not under the jurisdiction of the UNHCR even though they have been driven from their homeland by war, conflict or other life threatening conditions. Essentially they are just like refugees but have not crossed into another internationally recognized country

Colombia 3,000,000
Iraq 1,834,400
Uganda 1,586,200
Sudan 1,325,200
Dem. Rep. of the Congo 1,075,300
Côte d’Ivoire 709,200
Azerbaijan 686,600
Sri Lanka 469,200
Somalia 400,000
Georgia 246,000
Serbia 227,600
Lebanon 200,000
Russian Federation 158,900
Timor-Leste 155,200
Central African Rep. 147,000
Bosnia and Herzegovina 135,500
Afghanistan 129,300
Chad 112,700
Nepal 100,000
Myanmar 58,500
Montenegro 16,200
Burundi 13,900
Croatia 4,000
Congo 3,500

When populations cross international country lines in an effort to save their lives they are generally given food, water and shelter. International law requires basic humane treatment. When people flee within their own state, the same safeguards don’t apply. The UNHCR is working hard to figure out how to best serve this population. For more information go HERE.

internally displaced persons, refugees, unhcr, angelina jolie

We know that Angelina and the UNHCR work extremely hard for refugees but I didn’t know a lot about the organization’s history or just basic information for that matter. Because I’m on a research kick, I did a little bit of research about this humanitarian organization.

Check out these facts about the UNHCR:

• The UNHCR was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly.
• The UNHCR stands for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
• The group’s mission is to protect the well being and rights of refugees.
• The UNHCR offers assistance to refugees regardless of race, nationality or religious preference.
• The United Nations defines a refugee as “A person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it..”
• The original mandate was a three year mission to help European refugees of World War 2.
• The organization relies completely on voluntary contributions from countries, corporations and individuals.
• The UNHCR seeks to repatriate refugees to their homeland if conditions warrant. If conditions are not subtable for repatriation, the UNHCR seeks to integrate or resettle refugees in other countries.
• António Guterres is the current High Commissioner. His term expires in 2009.
• Angelina is one of seven current Goodwill Ambassadors.
• Goowill Ambassadors use their celebrity to bring attention to the plight refugees.

“Refugees have done more for my heart and my spirit than I can ever express in words.” -Angelina Jolie

To donate to UNHCR go HERE. Every little bit helps.

Photo Notes: Angelina Jolie with the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma in New Delhi, November 2006.

angelina jolie, refugees, unhcr, united nations

Nearly sixty years ago the United Nations created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I try and look at this every once in a while to remind myself what Angelina, and perhaps in some small way this blog, is working so hard to educate people about.

I take a great deal for granted. If you are reading this, you probably do this same. Reading this declaration helps you remember that Angelina is not just a beautiful Hollywood star but a woman that seeks justice in the world. One of her tatoos reads, “Know your rights” and is a direct response to this document.

Document after the jump.

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