George Clooney has been fighting to keep people’s mind on the violence in Sudan for years. And now he’s stepping it up with some help from some serious backers.
A group founded by George Clooney has teamed up with Google, Harvard, a U.N. agency and anti-genocide organizations to launch a project using satellites to watch Sudan.
Clooney’s Not on Our Watch is on the alert for any war crimes violations ahead of a referendum vote scheduled for Jan. 9 in which the south could vote to secede. The vote has revived fears of a potential north-south civil war, according to the Associated Press.
“We want to let potential perpetrators of genocide and other war crimes know that we’re watching, the world is watching,” Clooney said in a statement. “War criminals thrive in the dark. It’s a lot harder to commit mass atrocities in the glare of the media spotlight.”
Sean Penn, on the other hand, is already diversifying his interests in suffering Brown people, just shy of the one year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti.
Amnesty International (AIUSA) has recruited Sean Penn, director Paul Haggis and Harvey Weinstein to campaign against Jafar Panahi’s six-year sentence for “propaganda against the state.”
“As someone who has often gotten in trouble for opening his mouth, it is hard to fathom the idea of being incarcerated for six years simply for speaking my mind, or to be banned from making films for 20 years,” Academy Award winner Haggis (‘Crash’) said.
Widely known for being critical of Iran’s political regime, both Panahi and his collaborator, Mohammad Rasoulof, were sentenced to six years in prison and banishment from making movies for two decades on Dec. 18. Haggis, Weinstein and Penn have all signed a petition with AIUSA, and are urging others to support the cause. Since April, other filmmakers have signed the petition, including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Robert Redford and Francis Ford Coppola. Haggis is going to campaign more for the petition at the Capri Hollywood Film Festival on Dec. 28.
–
“The persecution that Panahi and Rasaulof are experiencing simply shouldn’t exist in this day and age,” said Larry Cox, executive director of AIUSA. “Their cases, and the campaign waged by Boniadi, Haggis, Penn, Weinstein and others, are emblematic of the work that Amnesty International has tackled head-on over its 50-year history. We are honored and grateful to have their support as we fight for Panahi and Rasaulof’s freedom.”
What would we all do without these selfless wealthy white men to come to our rescue?
Comments
Bossip Comment Policy
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.