Washington, D.C. (May 29, 2008) — In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping, on the occasion of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, the Better World Campaign today released a Public Service Announcement (PSA) featuring George Clooney entitled “Peace is Hard.” The PSA reminds citizens around the world that over 110,000 UN peacekeepers are currently deployed in some of the world’s most dangerous places to protect millions of conflict-affected victims, demobilize militants, and facilitate peace treaties that end conflict and foster reconciliation and reconstruction.
In January of this year, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon designated filmmaker, actor and human rights advocate George Clooney as a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a special focus on United Nations peacekeeping. Also in January, Clooney traveled with the UN to visit peacekeeping missions in Sudan.
“We owe all of the United Nations peacekeepers a debt of gratitude for the dangerous work they do to ensure that peace is preserved, civilians are protected, and elections are respected,” said Clooney. “These brave men and women go to places where few others will and risk their lives for peace. I am proud to continue my work with the UN to remind those in the United States and around the world that peace is not easy, and like war, must be waged.”
In 2002, the General Assembly of the United Nations designated May 29th as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honor the memory of the two thousand and four hundred men and women who have died serving the cause of peace. In 2007, 87 UN Peacekeepers died in the field. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in 1988.
The PSA was commissioned by the Better World Campaign and produced with cooperation from the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the UN Department of Field Support. The organizations expect the PSA to reach a global audience through YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, ThinkMTV and a variety of online and social networking portals.
SS+K, a creatively driven, strategic communications firm, with offices in New York City, Boston and Los Angeles, conceived and produced the PSA pro bono for BWC.
For more information about UN Peacekeeping’s 60th anniversary, visit www.un.org/Peacekeeping.
To learn more about the US role in UN Peacekeeping, visit www.betterworldcampaign.org/peace.
About the Better World Campaign
The Better World Campaign works to foster a strong relationship between the U.S. and the UN to promote core American interests and build a more secure, prosperous, and healthy world. The Better World Campaign engages policymakers, the media, and the American public alike to increase awareness of the critical role played by the UN in world affairs and the importance of constructive U.S.-UN relations.
Media Contact:
info_bwc@unfoundation.org
