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Clearly Angelina Jolie has not been sitting around her home in Berlin, wondering about how Changeling will do at the box office. That’s because she was too busy for idle thought – Angelina just wrapped up a two-day visit to Afghanistan. I had no idea she had even been planning on going, and that’s a good thing because it means the trip was kept very quiet, which is much better for her safety.
According to the UNHCR, Angelina viewed the current humanitarian situation so she could appeal for further international support, especially as they head towards Winter, where their needs will be even more critical.
Kabul is hosting an international conference in November to discuss how to strengthen and improve the humanitarian status in Afghanistan, so Angie’s visit was well-timed and important. Although she had visited with Afghan refugees in Pakistan twice before, it was her first trip into Afghanistan itself.
After visiting several areas of the country, Angelina said:
“The courage, resilience and quiet dignity of returnee families rebuilding their lives against the kind of adversity few of us can imagine shows the human spirit at its best.”
Many of the refugees have returned to Afghanistan since being displaced, but they’ve had to face a great deal of difficulty as they congregate in large numbers in limited, harsh spaces. Due to ongoing land disputes, economic turmoil, and unrest, few have been able to return to their previous homes. Meanwhile, about 3 million Afghan refugees are still scattered throughout parts of Pakistan and Iran and will require a great deal of help from the UNHCR to return to their own country. Angelina said:
“Afghanistan has been struggling to absorb these massive returns. It’s understandable. It’s one of the largest population movements in recent history.”
As a result, she is calling on the international community to commit to long-term recovery efforts and particularly to urgent aid before Winter hits.
Read the entire UNHCR write-up here.
I am so happy to know that even with a growing family, a film to promote, and Brad Pitt’s filming schedule in Berlin, Angelina has not lost site of the issues that are important to her.
(Photo above is from the UNHCR’s World Refugee Day conference in 2003 – as of yet there have been no photos of her visit to Afghanistan although the UNHCR site will probably have some up soon.)
dhc, :sigh: Unfortunately not. The negative nabobs of naysayers say that Angelina is doing it all for publicity & photo ops, it’s all a front and she’s using the refugees to feed her own ego, to get people’s forgiveness for being a homewrecker.
Village Voice critic J. Hoberman, in his ‘review’ of the Changeling called Angelina “Our Lady of Humanitarian Narcissism” (you can a post a comment on his review page – click on “show comments” above the article title, http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-10-22/film/angelina-jolie-suffers-for-us-all-in-changeling-zinedine-zidane-watches-a-good-game-in-a-21st-century-portrait/#Comments
and on the rottentomatoes comment page http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1191742_changeling/?critic=creamcrop, look for his pic at the bottom and click on the comment balloon – and give him your 2 cents like I did)- he made me furious. You have to register first – it’s quick.
Be sure to read his review first before posting, and keep it on point (no bringing up X, or overly complaining so that we seem to have a persecution complex) – if you can do it in a funny way, that’s the best. ;-)
I wish there weren’t all the people slamming her & claiming she does this for publicity for her movies! Who goes to Afghanistan as a mother of 6—for publicity for a movie? She has amazed me with her courage to visit the most horrific places & war zones alike (even while pregnant she went to Iraq). She is a TRUE humanitarian! If only more people took the time out of thier “publicity” schedules to help–IN PERSON–aid refugees & the poor & make the WORLD a better place for everyone!
I doubt she brought the twins with her–that would seem unlikely in a war zone–could you imagine what the press would say about her bringing her newborns there? I bet she is pumping (freezing the milk) &/or maybe the twins have switched over to formula.
She would still be amazing in my book for nursing twins for 3 1/2 months, although she’d be likely get flack for it either way.
This woman is relentless in her humanitarian work, you would think that with six kids she take a break,but she is still thinking of the less fortunate because winter in coming. I’m sure there will be refugees out in the cold and lots of suffering. So more power to her for caring and bringing the world’s attention at the same time. LOVE ANGIE ALWAYS. I wish in our own communities we will think of the poor and elderly this winter and volunteer our services or donate whatever we can.
Angelina is a young woman and I believe that there is a Nobel prize in the future for her. I always tried to teach my children that first impressions are lasting impressions. And this is what I think has happen with Angelina, she made mistakes as a young person and the people who do not have the intelligence to see that she has grown into a wonderful caring woman, mother and partner are not able to get past that.
Amazing woman! Her devotion and commitment to humanitarian causes is incredible! Gotta love her!
Bravo. She is a good woman and role model however don’t forget Pittwatchers the cause that she is standing for. Those poor people who are bedeviled on all sides just trying to find a roof over their heads and food to eat. May God bless Angie’s efforts and the Afghans needs.
I read this earlier today and was impressed that she managed to do this trip with such young twins. I wonder if she somehow took them with her, given she has been breast feeding, or if maybe they were able to be bottle fed? As of her last NYC trip she was still pumping (there was an article quoting a comment to an assistant about pumping). Even her most ardent detractors must admit she is incredibly committed to her humanitarian causes!
yeah first! :D