On Thursday I talked to Nick Clooney, a journalist and the father of George Clooney, about their recent trip to Darfur, which raised more awareness of that dire situation in 10 days than America's top journalists had been able to do in two years. "George calls it his celebrity credit card, and he's willing to expend it when necessary," Nick said. "Stars have more power than politicians, than journalists. I'm not happy that that's true, but since it is, it's stupid for them to just aggrandize themselves or buy two more houses. George didn't go to Darfur for the publicity. He used the publicity for something that matters." [Globe and Mail]

FROM HOLLYWOOD TO DARFUR

The charity of Clooney, Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and producer Jerry Weintraub does not stop on the movie screen. They also came to the world's largest film festival to raise money and awareness for refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan.

"We're not politicians. We're not able to make decisions. We're not able to do anything except bring attention to something, and that's the thing we can do," Clooney said.

"Kids are dying from diarrhoea ... that just shouldn't be in this day and age, and it's that kind of thing that needs to be changed. Enough is enough," Pitt added.

The United Nations says some 200,000 people have died and more than 2 million have fled their homes since the conflict in Darfur flared in 2003 when rebels took up arms against the government. Four "Ocean's Thirteen" cast members -- Clooney, Pitt, Cheadle and Damon -- and Weintraub launched the Not On Our Watch Foundation to raise money and draw attention to the refugees. Earlier this week, they raised $10 million at a Cannes party, and in June they head to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Chicago for similar charity events

Clooney took issue with anyone doubting his motives.

"At what point does anyone think anyone of us needs more publicity?" Clooney said. "I'm not going to defend what I think is doing the right thing ... we are doing it because we all think we would be criminal if we didn't take it a step further."
[Complete Article]

’Thirteen’ the charm for Clooney and pals
By Stephen Schaefer
Boston Herald Entertainment Reporter

Friday, May 25, 2007 - Updated: 03:14 AM EST

CANNES, France - The dashing, debonair cast of “Ocean’s Thirteen” came to the Riviera for the world premiere of their starry heist sequel but were coy about whether “Thirteen” is the final chapter in the series. The glam guys, headed by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle, seemed divided about diving in for a fourth “Ocean’s.” When asked whether there might be an “Ocean’s 58” or an “Ocean’s 69,” Clooney replied: “That would be a whole different ‘Ocean’s.’ ” Director Steve Soderbergh shook his head and added, “Never again.”

But Damon, who this summer bids farewell not just to Linus, the “Ocean’s” burglar, but amnesiac Jason Bourne as well, kept his options open, saying he was “more sad” that he might not get to do another flick with the “Ocean’s” posse. “The Bourne thing I’m definitely done with,” he added. “We’ve ridden that horse as much as we can. Outside of feeling like a prostitute for putting out two No. 3s in one year . . .” “Better than three No. 2s,” Clooney instantly noted to laughter. Damon agreed. But does his vow to not be Bourne again mean that Jason dies? “I’m not going to say. I could just not do them anymore,” Damon said, adding that “the character lives on in the books,” so another actor could be born as Bourne.

Although the cast spent most of the press conference joking around, the actors did inject a note of seriousness into the proceedings. Two nights before their premiere, Clooney and friends raised $9.2 million for Darfur relief efforts with a charity fund-raiser on a yacht at nearby Cap D’Antibes. “We knew we were coming here and it’s a great international platform and chance to raise money and raise awareness, specifically about Darfur,” Clooney said. “Don, Brad, Matt and I have all been in that region in the last year and it’s a been a concern of (ours) for the last few years. We find there is a lot more attention in the United States than internationally on this issue.” Added Damon: “We felt we’d be remiss if we didnt try to direct some of those resources to this life-and-death struggle.”

As for “Ocean’s,” the stars showed they still had a few tricks up their sleeves. In the third installment of the series, the two smoothies, Clooney and Pitt, go soft and teary-eyed watching an Oprah Winfrey show. The scene and its tough-guy sentimentality brought applause from the Cannes press.

CLOONEY & '13' CREW RAISE A YACHT OF LOOT FOR DARFUR
24 May 2007
New York Daily News

Those handsome "Ocean's Thirteen" con artists - George Clooney, Brad Pitt (both at r.), Matt Damon and Don Cheadle - scored a cool $9.2 million on the French Riviera Tuesday night. But nobody's calling the gendarmes.

The only people likely to complain about Clooney's latest caper are the paparazzi. Most of them were left at the dock when the Oscar- winner and his crew shoved off on the 237-foot yacht that was the scene of the Not on Our Watch benefit for Darfur.

Among those piped aboard the RM Elegant (a Greek-registered vessel that ranks No. 49 on Power & Motor Yacht mag's list of the world's 100 largest yachts) were "Ocean's Thirteen" castmates Ellen Barkin, Andy Garcia, Scott Caan and Elliott Gould and charity co- skipper Jerry Weintraub.

Everyone looked their best. Tan-n-tuxed Clooney "was a dead ringer for Cary Grant" in "To Catch a Thief," says our spy. "Ellen looked fierce in a tight velvet dress. She has the most rocking body you've ever seen." Cheadle, who told Foxnews.com's Roger Friedman that he'll direct himself in a biopic about Miles Davis, appeared to already be channeling the jazz legend's style.

Guests paid as much as $25,000 a ticket for the Audi-sponsored cruise. Steven Spielberg personally chipped in $1 million and, we hear, OK! Magazine donated around $2 million (which may explain why it had the exclusive on coverage).

Pitt came without Angelina Jolie, who was having dinner with Mariane Pearl, whom she plays in "A Mighty Heart." He met up later with them and daughter Shiloh, who's about to celebrate her first birthday.

From E!
I just got an email from a friend who is at the Hotel du Cap, the ritzy hotel where all the major stars stay during the Cannes Film Festival. And as I write this, the hotel is packed with the ultrafamous. Angelina Jolie had been hanging out with friends in the lobby but almost went unrecognized because she was so dressed down. But then she got up and everyone saw her as she greeted Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana, who were coming in from the Ocean’s Thirteen benefit aimed at ending genocide in the Darfur region of western Sudan. A few minutes later, Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Don Cheadle walked in, followed by Andy Garcia and Ellen Barkin.

George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Matt Damon and Al Pacino are also expected aboard the £80 million 'mega-yacht' RM Elegant, moored off the Cap d'Antibes.

The charity event, aimed at helping to end genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan, has been organised by Warner Brothers at an estimated cost of £2.5 million and coincides with the premiere of the heist movie Ocean's 13. There will be a four-course banquet, including lobster, beef with truffles and a choice of five desserts. As well as an outdoor jacuzzi filled with floating rose petals, a full casino, magicians, circus acts, a surround-sound music system and interactive games console 'play area', clay pigeon shooting from the upper decks is rumoured to be part of the fun.

Surprise performers, rumoured to include the American rapper Snoop Dogg, will entertain guests while Clooney, who sang in the movie O Brother Where Art Thou?, is tipped to take to the stage.

Five hundred bottles of Krug and Cristal champagne have been shipped in at an estimated cost of £100,000.

It will be the biggest such event since the after-party for Matrix Reloaded four years ago - another Warner Brothers production. Sadly, while the theme of the evening is undoubtedly glamour, all female guests have been warned that they will be required to remove their designer stilettos while the men will also pad around barefoot to avoid damaging the deck. [Daily Mail]

What's hotter? Darfur or amFAR?

NBA’s Emeka Okafor Launches ‘Blood on Our Hands’ Campaign
Paul Freedman’s new documentary ‘Sand and Sorrow – The Tragic Story of Darfur’ narrated by George Clooney is closing The Monaco Film Festival.

New York, NY (rushprnews) May 15, 2007 – NBA Star - Emeka Okafor is set to launch ‘Blood on OurHands’ – a celebrity art campaign aimed at highlighting the International Community’s failure to curb the systematic rape, murder and genocide of the people in Darfur. The launch will precede the closing night screening of Peabody award winning filmmaker, Paul Freedman’s new documentary ‘Sand and Sorrow – The Tragic Story of Darfur’ which is narrated by George Clooney.

Held at the International Emerging Talent Film Festival (15th May, Monaco) NBA Star - Emeka Okafor, who is special guest and presenter at the festival’s WING awards, will be joined by Director of ‘Sand and Sorrow’ Paul Freedman, AMIS Peacekeeper from Darfur, Major Colince Ondova and John Prendergast, author of New York Times bestseller ‘Not on Our Watch’.

Emeka will be the first celebrity to place his blood-red handprints onto a painting crafted by leading British contemporary artist Sacha Jafri. Sacha’s painting features a haunting image selected by Paul Freedman representing his experience filming in Darfur “An empty expanse of nothing, but the burned out huts of hundreds of thousands of villagers, who have either been ousted from their homes, or murdered.’

The ‘Blood on Our Hands’ campaign will continue throughout 2007. Working with leading artists over the coming months, the Sand and Sorrow team aim to collect many more blood-red handprints on leading artists painting from, actors, musicians, human rights activists and politicians who share the view that action must be taken to end this terrible tragedy.

The ‘Blood on Our Hands’ paintings will show in an exhibition during 2008, before being auctioned, with the aim of raising over $1.5 million in funds for Darfur. [Source]

14 May 2007
People Magazine
Volume 67; Issue 19;

Correction In our May 7 issue, we said George Clooney is an advocate for the International Crisis Group. He works on behalf of Darfur with the International Rescue Committee ( www.theirc.org ).

HOT! HOT! HOT! The "Ocean's Thirteen" hot ticket premiere and "Reel Relief" benefit -- which will raise funds for the new "Not On Our Watch" relief organization earmarking the funds for the poverty- stricken Darfur region of the Sudan -- is set for June 7 at the AMC River East 21. The private party that follows is at the new Room 21.

Most of the stars of the movie, including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac and Ellen Barkin are expected to walk the red carpet. Co-star Al Pacino can't make it, and Brad Pitt may or may not attend -- depending on family stuff.

The evening is sponsored by VF Big Picture Show, Jerry Weintraub, Vanity Fair, Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures. Sugar Rautbord Public Relations is handling this event.

Now, this is not a cheap evening: A single ticket is $2,000, which includes the premiere, after-party and gift bag. . . . But for the big, big spenders, "The Blackjack Package" is $100,000 and includes 21 tickets to the premiere, after party with reserved seating, cast autographing, a mention by Weintraub from the stage and a pre-cocktail reception before the premiere. . . . Then there is a "High Roller" package for $50,000 and the Lucky Seven package for $13,000. The International Rescue Committee also is involved. So get your pennies ready for an exciting evening.

Clooney's Darfur film set for Monaco festival
Fri May 4, 2007 5:43AM EDT

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Sand and Sorrow," a documentary about Darfur produced and narrated by George Clooney, will serve as the closing night film of a new film festival in Monaco later this month. The International Emerging Talent Film Festival will take place from May 13-15 in Monte Carlo. It will open with the European premiere of Thom Fitzgerald's AIDS drama "3 Needles." In addition to screening "Sand," a panel on "Crisis in Darfur - Cinema Responds" will be presented on May 15. Panelists are expected to include Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times, the African Union's Major Reuben Colince Ondoua, director Paul Freedman and author John Prendergast, who co-penned "Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond" with actor Don Cheadle. [Reuters]

For four years, the Darfur crisis - the globe's worst humanitarian disaster - has dragged on and the world has watched as over two hundred thousand civilians were slaughtered.

As we mark the fourth anniversary of the start of the killing, we have come together to say that time is up.

The International Community must end its stalling and take decisive action. The perpetrators who carry out these atrocities must be challenged and stopped. While a long-term political process is pursued, there must be an immediate ceasefire, an end to attacks on civilians and full access for aid agencies.

Unless we all insist on it, this will not happen. 

This Sunday, a Global Day for Darfur will seek to instigate the end to this terrible status quo. From London to LA, from Berlin to Bahrain, right across the globe this date will be marked by events that will share in our indignation at the death and destruction. We urge anyone who shares our outrage to stand up and take part.

Blood-filled hourglasses will be held aloft around the world today, making it clear that time is up. The International Community must live up to its responsibility to protect civilians. 

Every second they delay is another second in which more blood is spilt.

Find out more about our work on Sudan (Darfur)
Find out more about Day for Darfur at www.globefordarfur.org

Signatories
George Clooney, Hugh Grant, Sir Bob Geldof, Don Cheadle, Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Sir Mick Jagger, Mark Knopfler, Thandie Newton, Emmanuel Jal, Mia Farrow, Mariella Frostrup, Alex James

Hourglass protests to highlight Darfur war Hugh Grant and actress Thandie Newton will join other stars including George Clooney, Elton John and Mick Jagger in a call for action to end the bloodshed in Darfur. Their public statement comes on the fourth anniversary of the conflict, which is estimated to have killed more than 200,000 people. (Observer 04/29/07)

A group of actors and musicians, including Elton John, Mick Jagger, George Clooney and Mia Farrow, have signed a statement calling on the international community to increase pressure on Sudan to bring an end to the atrocities. "As we mark the fourth anniversary of the start of the killing, we have come together to say that time is up," the statement said. "The international community must end its stalling and take decisive action." (AP)

Actors and musicians including Elton John, George Clooney, Bob Geldof and Mick Jagger called Saturday on world leaders to take "decisive action" over atrocities in Darfur. The statement was being released to coincide with the Global Day for Darfur Sunday, marking the fourth anniversary of the conflict. "The international community must end its stalling and take decisive action," the group, which also includes Hugh Grant, Mia Farrow and Mark Knopfler. "The perpetrators who carry out these atrocities must be challenged and stopped." The Global Day for Darfur was to be marked around the world by activists overturning 10,000 hourglasses filled with fake blood. The event has been organised by a coalition including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Protestors are to hold a march on Prime Minister Tony Blair's Downing Street office plus a demonstration outside the Sudanese embassy in London. The conflict in the western region of Sudan has led to 200,000 deaths and two million people being displaced, according to the United Nations. Sudan contests the figures, saying that only 9,000 have died. (AFP)

George Clooney is putting his resources to work at the Cannes Film Festival next month. He's lining up a screening of his movie, "Ocean's Thirteen," to raise money for the besieged Darfur region of Sudan. The film's producer, Jerry Weintraub, is helping put this together. The fundraiser, sources say, is set for May 22, two days before the Steven Soderbergh thriller has its official Cannes premiere at the Palais de la Croisette. That means "O13" will get two big parties. It must be a blockbuster. This also means good things for the people of Darfur and the people of Cannes. For the latter, it's expected then that the all-star cast of "Ocean's Thirteen" — including Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt, Ellen Barkin, etc. — will be in town for most of the week, including Wednesday night's amfAR dinner. For the people of Darfur, it means worldwide media exposure for a horrific situation. Clooney has been steadily working for Darfur for some time. Most recently, he flew over the Christmas holiday to China and to Egypt, looking to find allies in his quest to assist the Sudanese people. He's also appeared in front of the United Nations pleading a case that shouldn't be so hard to accept. Clooney, by the way, has set up a new charitable foundation to disburse all the money he collects for Darfur. He's joined by his "Ocean's Thirteen" producer Weintraub, Cheadle, Damon and Pitt. It's called Not on Our Watch, and Weintraub tells me it's already registered and ready to go. (Fox News)

Sudan urged to accept Darfur resolution. The suffering of people in Darfur is "unbearable" and the United Nations should consider stronger sanctions against the Sudanese government for not stopping violence in the region, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday. Merkel — whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union — made the comments at a celebration of the EU‘s 50th birthday in Berlin. "Even today, our thoughts are with the people in ... Darfur. The suffering there is unbearable," Merkel said. "We call on the Sudanese President (Omar) al-Bashir to finally accept the terms of the U.N. resolution. And I say openly: we must consider stronger sanctions." Darfur‘s cause has been taken up by celebrities and intellectuals around the globe. Darfur's cause has been taken up by celebrities and intellectuals around the globe.

In an open letter to Merkel on Sunday, actor George Clooney called on EU president Germany to take "decisive action" in the region in the face of al-Bashir's failure to respond to the U.N. resolutions. "The coming together of Europe's leaders this weekend is an ideal opportunity for the most stringent of sanctions to be put in place," Clooney wrote. "This genocide is happening on our watch. And what we do to stop it will be our legacy." ( CBS news)

The Last Word: George Clooney
The frustrated American
Newsweek International 

Feb. 12, 2007 issue - George Clooney has played everything from a doctor to a CIA operative. But these days, the 45-year-old Oscar-winning actor (and Oscar-nominated director) is reveling in his role as an activist. Since first visiting Darfur in 2006, Clooney has been an outspoken critic of the genocide currently taking place in western Sudan. Last September he addressed the United Nations Security Council, urging it to act in Darfur. In December he traveled to China and Egypt to meet with state officials to put pressure on the government of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. And January saw the U.S. television debut of "A Journey to Darfur," a documentary coproduced by Clooney and his father, Nick, a veteran television journalist. NEWSWEEK's Ginanne Brownell spoke to Clooney, who, lest anyone forget, is still a Hollywood actor. (He was recently voted People magazine's "sexiest man alive" for the second time and appears as a journalist in the new film "The Good German.") Excerpts:

BROWNELL: Why is there not more effort to stop ethnic cleansing and genocide while it is happening? The international community always seems to look back in hindsight and say, "We should have done something at the time." Do we never learn?
CLOONEY: Our problem is that the West and the United States have been able to broker things at other times. Obviously we did not do anything in Rwanda, but we played a big part with NATO in ending the Bosnian situation. We used to be able to do that. But [in] our [personal] meetings with all of the heads of government they said to us, "Your policies in Iraq have made it impossible for you now to threaten anything." We have no moral high ground. We have to look to anyone but ourselves to be able to broker some sort of a peace treaty. That is a very frustrating place to be.

The bigger name in the fashion/social cause department is George Clooney, and he’s still unconfirmed for the DesignersforDarfur benefit planned for the close of Fashion Week. This show should be more challenging from a design standpoint. Designers such as Ralph Rucci and Zac Posen agreed to create an outfit using only red, black, green and yellow - colors symbolic of Africa. (Boston Herald)


and there's this from the NY Daily News

"It was thought Darfur activist Clooney would come, but he is directing "Leatherheads" in the Carolinas for the next month. "