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| Ben Affleck |
We would like to Congratulate, a true friend of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congolese people, Ben Affleck on winning the best picture award for his at last night's Oscar award. This was a remarkable achievement as as Ben, Co-produced, directed and featured on the movie. Our hope is that Ben will continue to fight our cause and rally other influential people to expose the atrocities in our motherland. It will take our efforts as a people and that of influential people like Ben Affleck, for us to see lasting change in the DRC.
Here is a piece from Ben Affleck's acceptance speech. “It doesn't matter how you get knocked down in life, because... All that matters is that you have got to get up.” This just goes to show what an inspirational man this guy is.
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| Director-producer Ben Affleck accepts the award for best picture for "Argo" at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. |
DID YOU KNOW THAT Ben Affleck has visited the DRC more than 10 times #Fact
Well it all started in 2010, Affleck founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), which strives to increase investments from private and public funding sources to support Congolese-led programs that build sustainable community, raise public awareness about the needs in the region as well as to generate policy change that amplifies the U.S. government's engagement in the Congo.
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| Check out the website: http://www.easterncongo.org |
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| Check out the website: http://www.easterncongo.org |
One of the actor’s recent initiatives to support the DRC’s economic development led the actor to team up with chocolatier Joe Whitnney, owner of the Seattle-based confectioner Theo Chocolate, to kickstart organic chocolate production in Congo, by creating chocolate bars made of 100% Congolese cocoa. For the first harvest, which began in September 2012 and will extend through February 2013, Theo will export more than 300 tons of Organic, Fair Trade certified cocoa from Eastern Congo. Cocoa production is a strategic economic solution for the region, given that cocoa has no commercial value for the rebels and is, as a result, not considered a resource or a threat in the conflict.
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| Cocoa Production In DR. Congo |
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| Theo Chocolate |
In an effort to raise awareness on the situation in the DRC, the Hollywood actor has taken part in numerous conferences, meetings and panels. In July, Affleck took part in a Washington D.C. conference focused on child survival with distinguished participants, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, USAID Administrator Dr. Raj Shah, health ministers and practitioners from around the world. During the conference, he presented his experiences during his previous trips to Congo, during which he met children who were faced with key obstacles as a result of the militias’ activities and stressed that, without peace and security, Congo will not be able to reduce infantile mortality rate and provide its children an opportunity to grow up and contribute to their society’s development. While recently making an appearance on ABC’s The Week, Affleck urged the U.S. government to do more for the DCR, as he expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions in the African nation, where M23 rebels are carrying on an intense conflict with the government.
While recently making an appearance on ABC’s The Week, Affleck urged the U.S. government to do more for the DCR, as he expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions in the African nation, where M23 rebels are carrying on an intense conflict with the government.
Please click here to view the coverage of Ben Affleck's concern.
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| Ben Affleck expressing his concern for Eastern DRC at Congress. |
If you would like to know more about what Ben is doing for Congo please search for Eastern Congo initiative and follow the link: m.tmz.com/2012/12/19/ben-affleck-capitol-hill-congress-congo/
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