Ben Affleck - Grassroots Change in Africa

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2008/08/27/Ben_Affleck_Engaging_Africans_on_the_Ground

Actor Ben Affleck discusses grassroots efforts to encourage positive economic development in Africa. This program is taken from a panel discussion entitled "Combating Global Poverty," recorded at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, in Denver, CO, on August 27, 2008.

Complete FORA.tv Coverage of the 2008 DNC: http://fora.tv/topic/democratic_convention

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"Combating Global Poverty" – A program organized with the 2008 Rocky Mountain Roundtable, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver in collaboration with the ONE Campaign Vote '08.

Panelists include Madeleine Albright, Ben Affleck, Nancy Birdsall, John J. Danilovich, Tom Daschile, Hernando de Sota, Obiageli Ezekwesili, Donald M. Payne, Gayle Smith, Timothy E. Wirth, James D. Wolfensohn - National Democratic Institute

Ben Affleck is an actor, writer, and director who recently received the 2007 Best Directorial Debut award from the National Board of Review for his directorial debut with GONE BABY GONE.He first came to prominence in 1997 with the acclaimed Good Will Hunting, which he starred in and co-wrote with Matt Damon. For their work, they won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, as well as the Golden Globe Award and Humanitas Prize.

He has since starred in films including John Madden's Academy Award winning Shakespeare In Love, Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor, Roger Michell's Changing Lanes and Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl. He won Best Actor in 2006 and a 2007 Golden Globe nomination. He next stars in the upcoming Universal Studios motion picture, State of Play with Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren and Rachel McAdams, scheduled to be released in 2009.

In addition to being a successful actor, writer and director, Affleck is a longtime political activist and strong supporter of many charitable organizations. Affleck is a passionate advocate who travels around the world independently to gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of issues facing Africa today. In the last year alone he has made three separate trips to numerous countries on the African continent with a focus on the Great Lakes region.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• africans
• poverty
• poor
• development
• economy
• economics
• foreign
• aid
• dollars
• emerging
• markets
• international
• american
• foratv
• fora.tv
• fora
• tv

[Meinfus]

I don't understand why people think that celebrities using the attention they get to bring attention to important issues. It's idiotic. They're doing good work as opposed to sitting on their asses and not contributing at all. They're using their good fortune and fame to help. What the fuck is wrong with that?

[elysium1976]

I don't care about him as an actor... I don't give actors any additional weight. He might entertain me sometimes in a movie, or I might hate his work in movies. Big deal. That's not important. He's not important.

Speak about his ideas, about his experiences. He went to various places in Africa and spoke with people there. He _listened_ to them. He's passing on a collective message.

Listen to the message and address that, not the messenger.

[xxTHELEGEND456xx]

PTS

[stefan65593]

even if he may not have such a well defined speech or the best words(but who am I to judge that)...he is at least trying to make a difference and not being indifferent...we need more people like him... I guess you seen this movie because you searched for Ben, and not searching for Africa or how hard is life in Africa.

[juscurious]

So Affleck attended Occidental college and the U of Vermont. He never graduated from these esteemed universities. So he's really not that well educated in my book. That movie "Good will hunting" was a joke. And besides how is winning an Oscar a prerequisite for anything? I'm saying Ben is not a bright guy because his comments are generally stupid & simplistic. And what difference does it make who I am? We have only 500 words so how can you tell anything about me? You resort to 4 letter words!

[diesel828]

Affleck studied history in college. What would make him, or anyone with anything intelligent to say, unqualified to speak about something? What makes you unqualified? Certificates, degrees and paperwork don't make anyone more qualified than you and me.

[diesel828]

Actually, Ben Affleck is well-educated, is very well read and won an Oscar for co-writing a movie. Who the fuck are you?

[UTubes4Losers]

BLAH BLAH BLAH.Affleck is a MORON.George Bush has done more for Africa than any other human being in history.But the leftist biased media WILL NOT tell you that.

If Obama was doing what Bush was doing for Africa he would be called a hero because Democrats get a free ride from the media.

[UncleRico13]

What's with the beard John Walker Lind? Is the Taliban looking for a new leader?

[dusty7969]

And one idiot makes more noise than ten thousand.

[katough]

well said

[stephenetienne]

Ben Affleck and I would hold the same opinion. My point is neither Ben Affleck nor I are qualified to make such pronouncements. The Peace Corps has been running programs in Africa since th 1960s. There are other groups as well. They are doing well. Why has our culture let stardom become such a factor? Why wasn't someone with a solid history of involvement featured? Stardom is shallow.