The Flip Side

No, not the Farscape type of Peacekeeper, the U.N. type.  I think he’s done plenty for Darfur to get that title.  Let’s hope he continues to do his thing.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named actor George Clooney, who has campaigned for refugees in Darfur, as a U.N. “messenger of peace” on Friday to promote the world body’s peacekeeping efforts.

Clooney is the ninth U.N. messenger — people chosen from the fields of art, music, literature and sports who have agreed to help focus attention on the United Nations’ work.
U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said Clooney would have a special emphasis on peacekeeping. She said he had been “recognized for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues.”

Clooney, who is currently in Sudan , will receive his designation on January 31 at U.N. headquarters.

With fellow actors Don Cheadle and Brad Pitt, Clooney, 46, has used his celebrity status to raise money for refugees through their “Not On Our Watch” charity and draw attention to the crisis in Darfur in western Sudan .
The United Nations is trying to deploy a peacekeeping force in Darfur , where international experts say some 200,000 people have been killed and more than 2 million driven from their homes in fighting between Sudan ’s government and Darfur rebels.

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle has been nominated in the lead actor category for the Spirit Award for his portrayal of  disk jockey, ‘Petey’ Greene, in “Talk to Me”.  I’ve got my fingers crossed for him.  He will also receive a 2007 Peace Summit Award (along with George Clooney) for his humanitarian work in Darfur.  This award will be presented by The World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome this December.  What an outstanding man!

Partners Don Cheadle and George Clooney Fighting the Good Fight

He’s most recognized for his work with “Genesis” and Peter Gabriel.  There’s something so pensive in Mr. Gallo’s work.  Even when his subjects are smiling, there seems to be something thoughtful behind the smile.  I love that quality in his photos. 

His website is not finished yet but when it is, it will be found here.

Here are some samples of his work:

Robert Deniro

Don’t get me wrong, he does a lot of female celeb portraits, but the majority of them were too huge for this blog.  Sorry guys.  Do take the time to look them up, because he really does great work.

Don Cheadle

“Not On Our Watch” is a book written by Don Cheadle and human rights activist John Prendergast about the crisis in Darfur .  I say crisis because there is so much going wrong in Darfur right now that you have to encompass everything from violence, disease, shelter issues, traumatized children, rape, and a host of resulting secondary problems.  I find the efforts of Mr. Cheadle and Mr. Prendergast admirable and have to include Don’s “Oceans” co-stars in his efforts to aid Darfur (George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Jerry Weintraub).  I would go into the many films Don’s been in and is currently working on, but frankly I don’t think he needs that at all.  What he does need (and deserves for all of the wonderful work he’s done for us) is to do what you can for the people of Darfur .  This kind of thing should not happen in our modern and integrated world.   And let me tell you people, this is no small thing.  These people are being obliterated.  Time to step up to the plate and do what’s right.

For more information on the crisis and what you can do to help go to:  http://www.savedarfur.org/content?splash=yes