There is a thoughtful and timely article on the ABC wires today about the sometimes complex relationship between celebrities and charity. It thoughtfully questions the mutual benefits (celebrities get free publicity) and timely because one of the more serious topics on this blog will highlight some of the charitable work of various celebrities. Because Angelina Jolie has been a significant factor on the blog so far, and this article just popped popped on my NetNewsWire today, I will start with her.
Most everyone should know by now that Angie is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations. In her work there she bring attention to the plight of various refugees around the world.
Here is a little information about the UNHCR from Wikipedia:
Headquartereded in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (established December 14, 1950) protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement.
The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. UNHCR's mandate has gradually been expanded to include protecting and providing humanitarian assistance to what it describes as other persons "of concern," including internally-displaced persons (IDPs) who would fit the legal definition of a refugee under the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization for African Unity Convention, or some other treaty if they left their country, but who presently remain in their country of origin. UNHCR thus has missions in Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Serbia and Montenegro, Sudan, and Côte d'Ivoire to assist and provide services to IDPs.
As of 1 January 2003, it reported a total of 20,556,781 falling under its mandate, including around 5.5m in Europe and North America. As of 31 December 2004, the agency reported a total of 9,236,500 official refugees (excluding an additional 4 million Palestinian refugees) [1].
As of 2004, the agency has helped an estimated 50 million people restart their lives according to their website. A staff of around 5,000 people in more than 120 countries continues to help some 20 million persons. UNHCR is also represented by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors.
Whereas many celebrity lend their names to worthy causes, Angelina has been especially involved. While her compassion is natural, she has gone the extra mile to educate herself on the issues and put herself in harms way to gather a deeper understanding of the daily lives of these political victims. She actually lived in a refugee camp for over a month. She wrote a book, Notes From My Travels, detailing her experiences around the world. You can check out the book on in the BOOKS section of my sidebar.
Nothing is more important, however, than Angelina's example in the adoption of Maddox and Cambodia.
I
ABC News:
Measuring the success of any charitable effort is always difficult. But Jolie may have made her biggest difference by adopting orphaned children — son Maddox from Cambodia in 2002, and daughter Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005.
Since Zahara's adoption in June, international adoption agencies say the number of inquiries about Ethiopian babies have doubled, though the highest adoption numbers remain in China, Russia and Guatemala.
"Anyone similar to Ms. Jolie in celebrity status does bring increased media attention, and does increase interest for other parents to come forward and help these children," Sarah Mraz, director of child programs at Wide Horizons for Children, a private, nonprofit adoption and child welfare agency, told Reuters.
Had you thought of the plight of orphans in Cambodia or Ethiopia before that? I had not. This weekend I will blog specifically about the orphans of Cambodia & Ethiopia.
In addition to her time, Angie has donated over $3M to various causes all over the world. That is a lot of money know matter how much she makes for a movie.
Check out where Angelina spends her time & money after the jump...
Meanwhile, go here to donate or to see how you can help.
Technorati Tags: Angelina Jolie, Celebrity, politics, Adoption, United Nations
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