Archive for the 'Activism' Category

Brangelina to host the Democratic National Convention??

angie_hilary.jpgThat’s what an election insider is saying! However, if you remember, Angelina Jolie told Variety.com recently that she still haven’t chosen which presidential candidate she’ll vote for this November. The mother of six has said,

“I have not decided on a candidate. I am waiting to see the commitments they will make on issues like international justice, refugees and how to address the needs of children in crisis around the world.”

The election insider, however, insists that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are *really* in talks with a local promoter to host a charity event during the Democratic National Convention on August 25-28. The Jolie-Pitt tandem are apparently in “conversations” with an unnamed Denver doer, and are nailing down specifics, including the location. The big question: will they bring the twins?? ^_^

Brangelina to build AIDS clinic in Ethiopia

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Aside from their usual charitable reasons, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are building one for their daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt to manage when she grows up. The actress will be making a trip to Ethiopia soon to discuss building the AIDS clinic as part of the work of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, a charity Angie set up with her partner Brad last 2006 for humanitarian aid around the world. The mother of six told Britain’s Hello magazine:

“We will be building a Tuberculosis/AIDS clinic in Ethiopia. The one we plan for Zahara to take over when she is older.”

Angelina Jolie also hopes to take son Maddox to his native place Cambodia as part of a separate charity trip that the family is planning once newborn twins Knox and Vivienne Marcheline grow up a little. The stunning actress shared,

“The next trip for our foundation will most likely be Asia to follow up on the situation in Burma and our work in Cambodia. The boys have been asking to go there, so we will take them when Knox and Vivienne are a bit older.”

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Angie still can’t decide between Obama and McCain

angelina-jolie-changeling-cannes3.jpgThe pregnant actress recently told the German daily Frankfurter Rundschau in an interview: “Everyone thinks that I have made up my mind. But my decision is still very much open. I have listened very carefully for what Obama and McCain stand for, which is something that every voter should do. I will make my decision only after I know what both candidates plan to do in the areas that are important to me.” Of course, we all know what Angelina Jolie is interested in — refugees and Iraq. The Wanted actress said it is

“not possible right now to simply hand over the reins to the Iraqis and pull out. The U.S. has not only a moral obligation to help the Iraqi refugees, it is also a US national security interest to end this crisis.”

In the interview, Angelina Jolie also critized the Bush administration’s “highly questionable foreign policy,” but said that was not the reason why she and her family live mostly in France. She says, “French is the second language in our household, so it is good to be there right now.”

Jolie-Pitt Foundation donates $1 mil to Iraqi kids

WOW!! That will certainly go a looong way in Iraq! It just proves that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s love for children is by no means limited to their own eh?? =) The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict announced last Wednesday that the $1 million is to help kids affected by the war in Iraq. The organization will distribute the donation, made through the couple’s Jolie-Pitt Foundation, to four charities working on behalf of children who have lost parents, homes and schools in Iraq. Children in the U.S. who have lost parents in the conflict will also benefit. Angelina Jolie said in a written statement from Education Partnership for Children of Conflict (which she co-chairs):

“These educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal. We hope to encourage others to give to these great organizations.”

The money will be divided between the Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Program, which provides military children with counseling and educational support; Women for Women International, which will provide books, school supplies and other basic necessities to Iraqi women and children; the International Rescue Committee, which will repair three schools and offer classes for more than 2,500 students; and NineMillion.org, which will give school uniforms and learning materials to more than 2,000 displaced Iraqi kids. Last year, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation gave more than $300,000 to support the International Rescue Committee’s relief program for Darfur refugees.

Angie’s PSA for World Refugee Day

PSA is public service announcement dear readers =) And the very pregnant Angelina Jolie recorded one for World Refugee Day (held on June 20) to help raise awareness about the plight of millions of people at risk. The “Wanted” actress joined UN’s refugee agency during a February 2001 visit to war-torn Sierra Leone in West Africa, prior to filming Beyond Borders with Clive Owen. Since then, Angelina Jolie has been the Goodwill Ambassador to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. You can view her PSA below:

In the PSA above, Angelina Jolie explains what life is like for millions around the world while emotive scenes of refugees flash on the screen. Here’s what she says: “They have survived war, they have survived displacement, they have survived rape, they have survived hunger and disease. For those who have survived and for those who did not, we are thinking of you on this day.”

why Brangelina deserves the “most influential” title

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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were ranked No. 21 on TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. And their good pal George Clooney wrote an article explaining how and why they were deserving of the honor. Here’s a snippet of the article:

“As a team, actors Brad Pitt, 44, and Angelina Jolie, 32, have served as our goodwill ambassadors worldwide. They brought help to Pakistan in 2005, after a catastrophic earthquake killed tens of thousands of people and left millions homeless. They have tended to the poor and sick in Africa. And they’ve raised global awareness—and contributed $1 million of their own money—for the victims of atrocities in Darfur. Brad co-founded Not on Our Watch, an organization set up to focus global attention on Darfur and other hot spots.

Angelina has worked tirelessly through the United Nations on behalf of refugees around the world, touring border camps in Africa, Asia and Latin America and lobbying on Capitol Hill. The couple cares for three adopted children, from Cambodia, Ethiopia and Vietnam, in addition to their biological daughter.”

the many faces of Angelina Jolie =)

More pictures of the radiant pregnant actress while speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations on the desperate need for education to help bring about change and hope for the Iraqi child refugees. Angelina Jolie is really beautiful! Whether she is frowning, pouting or just looking serious =)

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MORE photos of Angelina Jolie HERE!

Angie’s CFR speech

During a speech in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, Angelina Jolie told the esteemed crowd of the Council on Foreign Relations,

“It is a fact that the best way to heal children in conflict and their trauma is to focus their minds on their future. This population we’re talking about is the future of Iraq. So to reach them now, to help deal with their trauma and refocus their minds on a possible future should absolutely be one of our top priorities.”

The very pregnant Angelina Jolie further added,

“We need these kids … to rebuild their country, to stabilize their country and eventually lead their country.”

Angelina Jolie arrives at the CFR forum

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And she looks great as usual! =) Oh yeah, CFR = Council on Foreign Relations. The 32-year-old pregnant humanitarian took time out of her busy schedule to speak at the “”Iraq, Education, And Children Of Conflict” forum before the Council on Foreign Relations. Angelina Jolie joined the council last summer. Lisa Shields, vice president of communications at CFR, said,

Angelina Jolie is accomplished in her field and has demonstrated serious interest in issues such as Darfur, international education and refugees. As such, her profile fits very well with other young professionals we’ve selected as the next generation of foreign policy leaders.”

More...

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Angelina Jolie in the Global Leadership Awards

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Picture above is courtesy of The Washington Post from the 2008 Global Leadership Awards at the Kennedy Center held last Monday (April 7) in Washington D.C. Pictured left to right: Vital Voices Global Partnership Chair Melanne Verveer, our fave Angelina Jolie, Mariane Pearl, Vice Chair of Vital Voices Mary Yerrick and Vital Voices President Alyse Nelson Bloom. At the gala, the very pregnant actress presented Mariane Pearl with the Fern Holland Award. Angelina Jolie told the gala attendees,

“[Marianne is an example of] courage, hope and tolerance.”

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