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New Peace Envoy Clooney Pleads for Darfur

Sees 'hope' after first mission to Africa

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 1, 2008 3:56 AM CST
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(Newser) – Actor George Clooney was officially designated a United Nations peace envoy yesterday—but he had already wrapped up his first mission. "If I'm going to go somewhere that cameras are going to follow me, they might as well follow me to places that people should be looking at," said Clooney, just back from a trip to Africa. Clooney spent two weeks in Darfur and other war-torn areas, where he pleaded for member nations to contribute funds to help UN peacekeepers do their job.

Clooney has been a passionate advocate of helping the people of Darfur, where violence has killed hundreds of thousands of people and made many more homeless. He said UN peacekeepers have brought hope to the region. "They feel for the first time that this is the moment the rest of the world, all the nations, united, are stepping in to help them," he said.

In this undated photo released by the United Nations and African Mission to Darfur (UNAMID), U.S. actor George Clooney, right, who was recently designated as a U.N. messenger of peace, talks with a delegate from Darfur's civil society, left, during a meeting in El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan,...
In this undated photo released by the United Nations and African Mission to Darfur (UNAMID), U.S. actor George Clooney, right, who was recently designated as a U.N. messenger of peace, talks with a delegate...   (Associated Press)
Actor George Clooney poses for a picture with members of the United Nations staff after a ceremony marking his designation as a U.N. Messenger of Peace at U.N. Headquarters, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Actor George Clooney poses for a picture with members of the United Nations staff after a ceremony marking his designation as a U.N. Messenger of Peace at U.N. Headquarters, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. ...   (Associated Press)
Actor George Clooney is shown during a news conference held at United Nations headquarters where he was designated UN Messenger of Peace, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/David Karp)
Actor George Clooney is shown during a news conference held at United Nations headquarters where he was designated UN Messenger of Peace, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/David Karp)   (Associated Press)
Actor and new United Nations Messenger of Peace George Clooney speaks to a reporter at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Actor and new United Nations Messenger of Peace George Clooney speaks to a reporter at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)   (Associated Press)
Actor George Clooney, second left, signs autographs for UN employees at United Nations headquarters where he was designated UN Messenger of Peace, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/David Karp)
Actor George Clooney, second left, signs autographs for UN employees at United Nations headquarters where he was designated UN Messenger of Peace, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/David Karp)   (Associated Press)
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