via The Associated Press

Best buds George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon have come together once again, but this time it’s not for a blockbuster movie premier. According to People, the attractive trio has rejoined to help launch an advertising campaign aimed to rally more aid to Myanmar, whose current government laws have made it difficult for aid agencies and relief workers to gain access to the devastated country due to last month’s cyclone Nargis.

The ad campaign is sponsored by the activist group Not On Our Watch, which is led by Clooney, Pitt, Damon, and other celebrity advocates. Last Wednesday, the group purchased an entire page in the Jakarta Post- the country’s Indonesian English-language newspaper, according to the Agence France-Presse.

"Burma’s neighbors have the power to help victims who remain desperately in need," the ad reads, which was signed by many surrounding countries’ presidents.

The ad claims that Myanmar’s ruling regime is putting thousands more lives at risk on top of the 138,000 people that went missing or died in the cyclone due to laws which have been preventing entrance from foreign aid since the disaster occurred.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, George Clooney teamed up with the Better World campaign with a ground-breaking PSA. The message: peace is hard. It's not just a celebrity endorsement, it's a full-time job. Click above to watch.

via washingtonpost.com

Here at CGG, we're mourning the death of Sydney Pollack, director of The Interpreter, Tootsie, and Out of Africa among many others. He died on Monday afternoon after a nine month battle with cancer at age 73. George Clooney, who worked with Pollack (who produced acclaimed Michael Clayton last year) and was his close friend, released a statement that said "Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better," Clooney said. "He'll be missed terribly."

George Clooney met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (left) in London yesterday, as he continued urging governments to speak out about China's foreign policy in Sudan. China is a major trading partner with Sudan, and Beijing has resisted United Nations efforts to force Sudan to accept U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur.

AP Photo/Downing Street, HO

As the Olympic torch--which is now in San Francisco--has been making its way around the globe, it has attracted protesters in London, Paris, and Istanbul. Activists are taking a stand against China's human rights record and China's support for Sudan, where years of bloodshed has taken its toll in the country's western Darfur region.

Clooney told reporters at the British premiere of his new movie, Leatherheads:

"I think the protests are good. They've been warned for a while that there was going to be some protests."

Clooney, who is a U.N. peace envoy, has publicly spoken several times about the genocide in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and about 2.5 million people displaced in three years of fighting between African rebels and government troops allied with Arab militia known as janjaweed. source

George has been really persistent and dedicated to ending the genocide in Darfur, which is why we love him so much. As Hollywood heartthrob and Celeb Gone Good, is there anything this man can't do?

Be like George, and DO SOMETHING! Click here for more information about genocide and human rights violations and what YOU can do to get involved!

Clooney and Don Cheadle continue to impress with their commitment to Darfur. 

The actors' nonprofit organization, Not On Our Watch, formed along with other Ocean's Twelve guys (Brad Pitt, Matt Damon), just donated $500,000 to the UN's World Food Programme.  (source)

Still half as much as Drew Barrymore gave the organization -- out of her own pocket! -- but half a mil is hardly chump change! . . . Bravo, boys.

Every penny counts.  To check how you can give, go here.

Yesterday, CelebsGoneGood told you all about George Clooney’s crusade for Darfur – and his attempt to get Omega watches (of which Clooney is an international spokesperson) involved.

Well, now Omega – a sponsor of the upcoming Olympics in Beijing -- has responded to Clooney’s public request for the company to speak out against China’s foreign policy in the Sudan. That is, they’ve responded with a non-response, saying that it is Omega’s policy “not to get involved in politics.” (source)

Added an Omega executive:

“We have full respect for his strong engagement in the fight for the good cause and share his opinion, especially concerning Darfur, and we are proud to work with a person who has such high ethical views.” (source)

But, um, they don’t get involved in politics.

What if Clooney said, “I’m an actor; I don’t get involved in politics”?

Here’s what CELEBSGONEGOOD thinks Clooney should say: “I no longer want to be a spokesperson for a company that doesn’t have a conscience.”

It’s almost a year to the day now that Clooney signed on to be a sponsor for Omega – and the company called him an “ambassador,” not a spokesperson, when they announced the deal. Veddy interesting…

George: There are millions of companies that would have you as its spokesperson. You don’t need Omega. As the title of the film you were involved with says: DARFUR NOW!

Doubling as Hollywood Heartthrob and UN Messenger of Peace, George Clooney has been persistent with his efforts to stop the genocide in Darfur. Clooney is putting pressure on one of the Olympic sponsors, Omega watches, to speak out over China's foreign policy in Sudan.

"I have talked with Omega (about China) for over a year and will continue to talk to Omega...I have and will go to the places I and China do business and ask for help." source

Clooney, who recently denied engagement rumors, continues to speak out against the crisis in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and over 2.5 million have been displaced.

A while back we got the chance to see a screening of the powerful and inspiring film, Darfur Now. George Clooney and Don Cheadle were featured in the film along with Adam Sterling, who recently visited the Do Something office in NYC!

The pressure to link the Bejing Games with the genocide in Darfur caught attention about a month ago when Hollywood director, Steven Spielberg said he could not be an artistic director for the ceremonies while keeping a good conscience.

"I have and will continue to ask China to use its considerable leverage with the government of Sudan."

Learn more about the crisis in Darfur and how you can get involved here!

Cloooooney!

If you've read this blog before, you're no stranger to the fact that I'm a sucker for persistence.  (Go Hayden Panettiere!  Save them whales!!!)  So seeing George Clooney's consistent efforts to raise awareness, change laws, and enact change on the ground in Darfur is really reassuring that celebs can "go good" for much more than just a publicity splash.

Here he is shaking hands with some of the kids at the Zamzam refugee camp in Darufr. 

I've posted about his new United Nations honor . . . the actor made an appearance yesterday in New York to officially be appointed as a UN Messenger of Peace.  (source)

Related Cause:    Genocide in Darfur

My heart is still feeling heavy from the Heath Ledger story and I hope to unclose some rich resources for you all to pick away at more info.  In the meantime, I am digging through the daily mix of charity and hilarity and will kick things off with a little Clooney news.

Last week, the actor/director was named as part of a small group of peace advocates to be a United Nations Messenger of Peace -- namely for his tireless work advocating against the genocide in Darfur.

On the heels of his appointment, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) -- a rebel group of soldiers in Nigeria -- requested that Clooney join them in the field for first-hand experience of the traumas and conflicts they face.  The request was apparently made in hopes that Clooney and "other credible peace makers of international repute to stop Nigeria from plunging into the abyss of war."  (source)

It remains to be seen whether Georgie-boy will accept the invitation . . .

Related Cause:     Genocide in Darfur

Those Ocean's boys are no joke! I am such a fan of their sustained attention to the crisis in Darfur . . . it seems that every few weeks they participate in a new charity fundrasier/awareness-raiser. They are not taking "no" for an answer and are refusing to let the genocide go untended to. Their latest effort? Forking up the chips for a poker tournament. Don Cheadle co-hosted the event along with poker champion Annie Duke. A few of that famous Ocean's 13 crew made sure to play their hands and were joined by a long list of other celebrities.

Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, Jason Alexander, Jennifer Tilly, Hank Azaria, George Clooney, Matt Damon, George Lopez, Danny Masterson, Mekhi Phifer, Ray Romano, Brad Garret, Adam Sandler, Gina Gershon, Shannon Elizabeth and James Wood all got in on the game.

The World Series of Poker flexed its social conscience Thursday evening as 170 celebrities and poker pros played a charity tournament to raise money and awareness for the human rights catastrophe in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Hank Azaria and Shannon Elizabeth were among the celebrities who braved the WSOP red carpet to play with the likes of Annie Duke, Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Phil Gordon and Daniel Negreanu in Ante Up for Africa .

Each player paid $5,000 to enter the tournament. Organizers have "suggested" that the winners donate more than 50% of the winnings to the Enough project and the International Rescue Committee – charities designated by the tournament because of their history of helping in Darfur.

Civil war has wrecked the Darfur region of Sudan , leaving more than 500,000 people dead and 2 million displaced refugees. (source)

Related Causes:      Genocide in Darfur