Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday designated actor and activist George Clooney a U.N. "Messenger of Peace" to help promote global awareness of the world body's activities especially in its far-flung peacekeeping missions.
Clooney, who 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, will become the ninth U.N. peace envoy.
While many U.N. agencies have goodwill ambassadors to promote their 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, who made the announcement, said Clooney was recognized "for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues." As a Messenger of Peace, she said, he will have "a special focus on United Nations peacekeeping."
The eight other Messengers of Peace are actor Michael Douglas, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, primate expert Jane Goodall, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim, Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, Japanese-American violinist Midori Goto, and Olympic equestrian competitor Princess Haya of Jordan.
INDUSTRY REACTS TO DGA DEAL
A strike-weary industry greeted the tentative agreement between the DGA and AMPTP with a sense of relief, coupled with residual apprehension over whether the gains will be enough to get writers out from under picket signs and back behind keyboards.
"I've read the bullet points, and it is a step in the right direction, it shows that agreement is possible, and it brings a spirit of hope that hopefully will extend to the WGA and the AMPTP," said director Oliver Stone. "If it is not taken in that spirit, that would be most unfortunate."
While writers, directors, dealmakers, producers and execs were poring over specifics of the deal, most were trying to figure out if WGA leadership can now make a deal and walk away feeling satisfied with serving as the spear tip that helped directors get better terms than were being offered the writers.
Others expected top actors to seize the momentum of the deal to press SAG to try and make a deal that will eliminate the possibility of an encore strike when the SAG deal ends this summer.
George Clooney was among the first to applaud the first positive development on the labor front in the past three months.
"I'm very pleased with the new agreement and I hope it helps speed up the negotiations with the WGA," Clooney said in a statement.
JANE CLARK - DAILY SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL BLOG
WILDsound's Jane Clark is at the Sundance Film Festival and will write a daily blog detailing her adventures in Utah: meeting stars, parties and of course the films!
