Posts Tagged ‘afghanistan’

Angelina Wants to Be Like Audrey Hepburn

June 18th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff

It’s easy enough to say that actresses Angelina Jolie and Audrey Hepburn are two of the greatest beauties to ever grace the silver screen. But in a new interview with Brad Pitt’s gal-pal, she admits that she hopes to someday be able to help as many people as the Breakfast at Tiffany’s star.

Speaking on The Today Show about her role as a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador focusing on the plight of refugees, Angelina tells Ann Curry, "I’m lucky to be in this. And I’m sure Audrey Hepburn felt the same."

Hepburn spent almost 40 years championing the cause of impoverished children across the globe. In 1992, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work and, like Angelina, was also a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador.

"She was the fortunate one to be able to meet all those kids around the world," explains Angie. "You know, we’re just in a very fortunate situation that we get to be able to give a voice to these extraordinary people."

And, much like Audrey, who continued on her crusade until her death in 1993, Angie expects that she’ll be doing this work for years to come.

"There’s been refugees since the dawn of time," she says. "And I’m sure, you know, my children will be visiting and learning from refugees in the future."

Check out the entire interview Friday morning on NBC’s The Today Show.

Brad & Angie Pledge $1 Million to Aid Refugees

June 17th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff

For the second time in a week, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have dug deep into their pockets for a worthwhile cause. Only days after it was announced that Brad <a href="http://www.okmagazine.com/news/view/14940/Brad-&-Angie%27s-Big-Gift" target="_blank">had given a $1 million gift</a> to a hospital in Missouri, the couple have decided to pledge the same amount to aid refugees fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Earlier this week, Angelina — a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission on Refugees — recorded a public service announcement detailing the plight of the refugees and those harmed by the violence in the region. Both the video and the news of the donation are a prelude to World Refugee Day, which is being observed on Saturday, June 20.

“Please don’t turn away. Refugees are the most vulnerable people on earth," says Angie in the PSA. "Every day, they are fighting to survive. They deserve our respect. Please do not forget them. Remember them on this day. World Refugee Day.”

For more on World Refugee Day, visit UNHCR.org.

Angelina Makes Humanitarian Trip to Afghanistan

October 24th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

While Angelina Jolie can’t walk the streets of just about any city in the world without making headlines, the superstar actress managed to fly under the media’s radar for two days this week when she spent two days visiting returning refugees in Afghanistan. 

Angie, a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN’s refugee agency, spent Wednesday and Thursday of this week touring Afghanistan for the first time to meet and talk to former Afghan refugees as they attempt to reintegrate themselves into the country they once called home.

"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," says Angelina in a statement on the website for the UNHCR.

CLICK HERE for OK!’s Ultimate Angelina Gallery

On Wednesday, the Oscar-winner visited the Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, home to 20 percent of those who have returned since the Taliban was removed from power in 2002. Here, Angelina got to see first-hand how the large influx of returnees — 850,000 in Nangarhar alone — has caused a drain on much-needed resources.

And then on Thursday, Angie travelled to the capital city of Kabul, where the population has tripled in recent years, causing massive problems with the city’s ill-prepared infrastructure.

"Afghanistan has been struggling to absorb these massive returns," explains Angelina. "It’s understandable. It’s one of the largest population movements in recent history."

CLICK HERE for OK!’s Ultimate Angelina Gallery

Jude Law in Afghanistan on Peace Mission

September 2nd, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

For the second year in a row, Jude Law is visiting the war-scarred nation of Afghanistan, hoping to spread the word of peace in this most unlikely place.

"When I left Kabul last year, I was hugely moved not by the conflict that I have read so much about, but by the people’s courage and the people’s sense of hope," the actor told reporters in the country’s capital city on Monday.

Jude, along with film director Jeremy Gilley, are in Kabul to meet with Afghan president Hamid Karzai as well as several top United Nations officials. They are also there to promote the seventh annual observation of Peace Day, which was adopted by the UN in 2001 in the hope of inspiring a one-day cease-fire to conflicts around the globe.

"It seemed that they really want to make this day, the Peace Day, work. And they did," the Oscar-nominated actor said on Monday. "People recognize the day, because they recognize that lives could be saved."

Jude also sees Peace Day, which is to take place on Sept. 21, as being something very different from many existing holidays. "The world celebrates so many days that often separate and segregate us," he explained. "And yet there is none that ties us all together."

Harry’s Girlfriend Joins Him for Medal Ceremony

May 5th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

Prince Harry’s girlfriend Chelsy Davy smiled and chatted to his older brother Prince William in the front row at the ceremony at Combermere Barracks in Windsor, England, as a total of 170 members of the Household Cavalry Regiment were decorated for their service in Afghanistan.

Harry, 23, who is known as Lieutenant Wales in the Army, was presented with his medal by his aunt, the Princess Royal, in her capacity as colonel of the Blues and Royals.

He grinned and blushed as the princess pinned the Afghanistan medal on his chest.

Anne chatted with her nephew for around 30 seconds before moving off smiling.

Harry and his comrades were being presented with the medals for serving in Helmand Province during this year’s deployment.

The prince’s planned four-month tour of duty was cut short after 10 weeks in February when a news blackout agreement broke down and details of his deployment were reported around the world.

During his time in Afghanistan he served at Garmsir in southern Helmand and Musa Qaleh.

Among those watching the ceremony was the Prince of Wales, wearing a burgundy and navy tie, the colours of the Household Cavalry.

Prince Harry to Receive Medal

May 5th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

Prince Harry and his comrades from Afghanistan will march through the streets of Windsor as they receive their campaign medals.

The 23-year-old Prince, known as Lieutenant Wales, will be among around 160 members of the Household Cavalry who served there this winter to receive the decoration which will be presented by his aunt the Princess Royal.

The event will have be given added poignancy by the death on Friday of a member of Household Cavalry, Trooper Ratu Babakobau, 29, from Fiji, who was killed by a mine strike in Nowzad, northern Helmand. The regiment has a large Fijian component several of whom served alongside Harry in Afghanistan earlier this year.

The Prince and his brother William paid tribute to Trooper Babakobau over the weekend.

Harry secretly flew to Helmand Province in mid-December to work as a Forward Air Controller, having retrained after his earlier planned tour of duty to Iraq was cancelled because of the security risk generated by publicity.

But the intended four-month deployment was cut short after 10 weeks when a news blackout broke down at the end of February.

He qualifies for the Afghanistan Medal, having served well over the minimum four-week period required. It will be the second medal he is entitled to wear on regimental occasions, alongside the Golden Jubilee Medal, a gift from the Queen marking her 50-year reign in 2002.

He is the first member of the Royal Family to see active service in a theatre of war since his uncle Prince Andrew flew helicopters in the Falklands War 26 years ago.

During his time in Helmand he patrolled on foot 500m from Taliban lines, called in air strikes on enemy positions and commanded two Spartan light tank crews providing flank protection during an operation involving Afghan and US forces.

Prince Harry’s Brief Tour of Duty

February 29th, 2008 / Author: cwillett

Only a day after it was revealed that Prince Harry of England had been secretly serving in Afghanistan with the British military, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the youngest son of Prince Charles and Lady Diana is returning home.

Without being known publicly, the 23-year-old Prince had been fighting the Taliban in Helmand province as a battlefield air controller and Spartan light tank commander for the past 10 weeks. But after news of Harry’s not-so-secret operations were made public, he is now on his way back to England, amid concerns over both his safety and the safety of his fellow soldiers.

In a statement released Friday morning, the Ministry of Defence said: “Following a detailed assessment of the risks by the operational chain of command, the decision has been taken by Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of Defence Staff, in consultation with General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, to withdraw Prince Harry from Afghanistan immediately.

“This decision has been taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier.”

General Dannatt may be a name familiar to those who follow the Royals closely, as he had the dubious honor last year of announcing a U-turn on plans to deploy the Prince to Iraq after military intelligence picked up a series of specific threats to Harry and his comrades in Iraq.

No details are available on when he will arrive home.

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