Ben Affleck Calls for Hope in the Congo

by Libby Pelham | More from this Blogger

17 Feb 2009 09:00 AM

Ben Affleck is a celebrity with a cause - the eastern Congo. Ben has been traveling to the Congo since 2007 to see the devastating effects on the war-torn country. He also filmed a documentary of his time in the country. It is believed that about three million civilians have been displaced since the fighting between the government and rebel troops started.

(This image is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.)

Ben wrote an essay that appears in the current issue of Time magazine. In the essay, Ben talks about his travels to the country. Titled "A Glimmer of Hope in Africa," Ben says in the essay that there has been decades of fighting and instability in the country, which has left millions dead and millions more on the verge of death. Ben wrote, "Most die not from war wounds but from starvation or disease...one in five children in Congo will die before reaching the age of 5." Children that do survive are usually forced to be soldiers for the rebel troops.

By speaking out, Ben is hoping to bring relief to the country and help it rebuild. Ben notes that he has seen positive changes, but that there is still along road ahead for the people of the Congo.

Tomorrow night, Ben is scheduled to attend an event for the International Medical Corps (IMC), an organization that works to help the eastern regions of the Congo, and the Children Mending Hearts organization, which assists IMC. The IMC provides medical care and food for those refugees displaced by all the fighting.

Held at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, Ben will not be the only celebrity name attending. Hosted by producer Grant Heslov, also scheduled to appear is Diane Keaton, Joel Madden, Felicity Huffman, Nicole Richie, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Spacey, Elizabeth Berkley, Hank Azaria, Tate Donovan, Heather Graham, Laura San Giacomo, and Kate Walsh. Sheryl Crow will be a musical guest while Anderson Cooper will receive a special humanitarian award for his coverage of Africa.

Learn more about Libby Pelham

Libby Pelham is a work-at-home mom located in Jacksonville, NC. She has a beautiful little boy, Will, born in July of 2004.

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