Posts Tagged ‘Not on Our Watch’

23 Aug

Ben Affleck: Batman AND a Real Life Hero (plus other charitable Batmen)

Posted by Andrew Mersmann in Support, volunteer. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

batsignalThe news today about Ben Affleck being cast as Batman in the new film with that hero and Superman certainly has the interwebs in a tizzy. The new Dark Knight seems to eclipse all other news, cuz, really, nothing else is really going on in the world, right?

Well, regardless of the roles he plays, Ben is a true hero in his civilian life. Because his voice has the amplification of his career status, he is our nation’s number one shouter to the rooftops about the atrocities occurring every day in the  Democratic Republic of the Congo. His huge efforts on behalf of the Eastern Congo Initiative help the organization in their efforts to increase international investment, boost awareness of the war-torn region’s immense challenges, and affect changes in governmental policy on behalf of the African nation. In addition, Affleck smoothly moves into philanthropist roles with many other charities, quick to lend his name, clout, and direct effort to an array of causes here and abroad.

Let’s have a gander at the charitable work of others who have portrayed the Caped Crusader…

Adam West gave us the super-campy version of Batman that set the bar (either nosebleed high or subterranean low, depending on your preferences). He has, through the years, given his support to numerous charities, lending his name and talents to events, and occasional memorabilia to auctions to raise bucks for causes.

Michael Keaton also shows up at events as a celeb to raise the profile and raise funds for various causes. He has given particular weight to charities devoted to education opportunities and kids pursuing academic excellence.

Val Kilmer has spent many years in the philanthropic world, and directly supported, among others: First Star, shining a light on child abuse and neglect; Global Green, working toward green buildings and cities, food and water scarcity issues, and eco-causes; LIFEbeat, which is a music industry charity focused on youth and HIV/AIDS prevention; V-Day and its global work to halt violence against women and girls.

George Clooney is kind of the Grand Poobah of charitable famous folks, often putting more energy toward making the world a better place than he does toward movie-making. His Not on Our Watch charity—founded with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Jerry Weintraub, and David Pressman—works to end mass atrocities around the world. It is because of Clooney that many first heard of Darfur and Sudan and their outrageous situations. Clooney is also involved with dozens of other charities and philanthropic pursuits, and is well known for dropping giant chunks of change for causes and people he believes in, as well as the occasional stranger in need.

Christian Bale has a terrific focus on global ecology and animals, with his support of Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, WWF/World Wildlife Fund, and others.

 

31 Aug

George Clooney Challenges You, Me, and Hollywood

Posted by Andrew Mersmann in Inspiration. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Did you watch the Emmys? I missed them, sitting in a car on the way home from the airport, but I have always had a l0ve/hate relationship with awards shows. Hate the endless nature of the shows with brainless filler and even more brainless skits and poorly shot musical numbers. I do, however, kinda love the gathering of folks in an industry to which we tend to feel more connected than most. We feel like we know celebrities more than we actually do since we’ve seen them in our living rooms or blown up to 40 feet tall during intimate and vulnerable moments. Flip the coin again and I kinda hate rambling speeches and music playing people off before they’ve even begun to be gracious.

I was pretty darn pleased with George Clooney‘s speech at Sunday’s awards, that I just watched online this morning. When accepting the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, the always inspiring Clooney (who created so much of our awareness–still too low–of the genocide in Darfur, also created Not On Our Watch with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Jerry Weintraub, and jumped in with his fame muscle power to initiate America: A Tribute to Heroes in the wake of 9/11, Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope in 2005, A Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and most recently, the Hope For Haiti Now telethon.

His speech was brief, irreverent, and inspiring…like the man. “It’s important to remember how much good can get done because we live in such strange times where bad behaviors suck up all the attention in the press and the people who really need the spotlight, the Haitians, the Sudanese, the people in the Gulf Coast… Pakistan, they can’t get any [press].

When the disaster happens, everybody wants to help, everybody in this room wants to help, everybody at home wants to help. The hard part is seven months later, five years later, when we’re on to a new story…honestly, we fail at that, most of the time. That’s the facts.

I fail at that.

So here’s hoping that some very bright person right here in the room or at home watching can help find a way to keep the spotlight burning on these heartbreaking situations that continue to be heartbreaking long after the cameras go away. That would be an impressive accomplishment. Thank you.”