A rts & E ntertainm ent Stars aiding humanity

ELIZABETH BRACHELLI STAFF WRITER EAB722@CABRINI EDU

It’s all in a days work for some celebrities.You may see them onscreen, on magazine covers or even singing in a concert located in an impoverished African country.

If you’re celebrity Angelina Jolie, you might be found there. Today’s celebrities are not only workingonscreen and posing for magazine covers, they are also working for humanitarian causes.

AlthoughJolie, a30-year oldactress, plays various roles onscreen while she also plays an important role as a concerned global citizen.It was reported by UN Works that Jolie is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a UN agency that currently assists 20 million refugees in approximately 120 countries.

But what’s her motivation?

Jolie said her children are her motivation. Jolie has adopted two children. She first adopted Maddox from Cambodia, and then her daughter Zahara, who was adopted this summer from Ethiopia.

Christine McLaughlin, a junior finance major,said, “She does it for the good of the people, not just for the media.”

Although Jolie’s motivation is her children, other celebrities like lead singer of U2, Bono, is a lobbyist for humanitarian causes and has different motives than Jolie. Bono is assisting people everywhere. Although Bono is known for his rock band, he is also known as being a part of a rock band with a purpose. It was reported by the Daily Texan that in 2000, Bono lobbied to get $115 million for debt relief in the foreign operations bill. Ayear later, there was $435 million.

Dr. Mary Laver, the director of applied social teaching, said, “The world is desperate for people to step up for others who aren’t in the spotlight. I like that Bono is willing to step into the world of policy both nationally and internationally. It influences people of every age.”

Also, Laver liked the idea of some celebrities that were willing to educate people rather than asking people to reach into their pockets for humanitarian causes. Like Bob Geldof, a singer and songwriter who organized Live Aid in 1985.

Live Aid was a concert that raised awareness of the famine in Ethiopia and it included Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, B.B. King and the Beach Boys as well as many other famous pop-singers and musicians at the time. The concert was 16 hours long and it raised $100 million for the people of Ethiopia who were dying of famine that had been brought on by the world’s neglect.

Laver said, “I appreciate Bob Geldof and his idea of Live 8. It was not just asking people for money but it asked that people educate themselves.” Live 8 was aseries of concerts and events across the world and it was staged to raise awareness of the global poverty. It took place this past summer in Philadelphia on July 2, with artists Bon Jovi, Will Smith, Maroon 5, Black Eyed Peas and Toby Keith. There were also concerts in Rome, London, Berlin, Moscow and Tokyo.

Like Jolie, Bono and Geldof many celebrities are following in their footsteps and questionably the spotlight.

Carrie Kirsch, a junior social work major,said, “I think they do it because they would want to. Where else would their money go?”

Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story.Please send your comments to: Loquitur@yahoogroups.com. The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.