Celebrities making strides for social justice
Angelina Jolie to visit flood-ravaged Pakistan to raise awareness for humanitarian crisis
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CELEBRITY Social causes
Graced with money, influence, and visibility, celebrities hold an immense power in today’s world. Some use that power to evade the laws of regular citizens, while others decide to use that power to help said citizens.
Angelina Jolie is probably the greatest example of a celebrity using their power for good, and her efforts have yet to wane. Now, the actress is set to visit flood-ravaged Pakistan to draw attention to the unfolding humanitarian crisis, the International Rescue Committee reports. Record monsoons have submerged a third of the country’s land, claiming the lives of more than 1,500 people, and impacting an estimated 33 million more as the floods have washed away homes, roads, railways, livestock, and at least four million hectares (9.8 million acres) of diverse agricultural land.
Pakistan produces less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but it ranks consistently in the top 10 countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The IRC says Jolie, while visiting operations assisting displaced people, "will see first hand how countries like Pakistan are paying the greatest cost for a crisis they did not cause" and, it adds, Jolie's visit will hopefully "prompt the international community – particularly states contributing the most to carbon emissions – to act and provide urgent support to countries bearing the brunt of the climate crisis."
Many stars have partnered with organizations or have become UN Goodwill Ambassadors, and many other have taken a stand on their own with their own foundations.
Everyone knows the world is in need of help, whether it’s social inequality or the impending environmental collapse. Sometimes the pressure to change the world is too much for people to think about if they’re already struggling to provide enough for themselves. That’s where the celebrity aid really shines. They fill in the gaps, often with money, but also by raising awareness and influencing the masses, so they can return a slice of their good fortune to the world.
Through humanitarian action, these A-listers bring to light serious issues such as poverty, hunger, social injustice, and natural disasters, helping thousands of vulnerable people around the world. Click through to see a heartwarming list of celebrities who have taken a stand for the issues they care about.
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