Brad Pitt Heats Up Clinton Global Initiative Session On Climate Change

Hello from the Clinton Global Initiative! Hollywood film star Brad Pitt just pledged $5 million toward rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans at the Clinton Global Initiative on Wednesday afternoon.

"We're prepared to break ground by the end of the year, but we need your help," the actor said of his commitment to helping rebuild the New Orleans area hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. "We will match dollar for dollar any and every single contribution up to $10 million."

Pitt is working with film producer Steve Bing on the 'Make It Right' project. The effort seeks to install 150 affordable and sustainable homes. Bing also pledged $5 million in matching donations.

The male half of the Brangelina celebrity phenomenon spoke of the work his group already had performed in support of the project. The three day event in New York is an opportunity for the keepers of 602 such 'commitments' to report progress on pledges they made at earlier CGI gatherings, and make new ones.

The star of last year's Oscar-nominated film 'Babel' also sounded off on architectural design. He joked that it was important to make the houses affordable, "and not have it look like a Prius," before he admitted that he owns two of the boxy hybrid cars.

Will that be it for the excitement? In our elbows out news cycle, Pitt's star power gives off light and has a gravitational pull. But do we care as much about Merck's work to spread its Gardasil vaccine to protect women and girls from cervical cancer and HPV, or the use of micro-loans through Kiva.org to offer up seed capital and help the world's poor?

There are certainly a lot of other good stories to tell here, and we're waiting to hear what comes next.

Comments

[FullOnReality]

if he really gave a damn he'd buy all that property and put a fence around it so that when the next hurricane comes there won't be anyone there for the president to drown.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Looks like there is still hope.

[Where is Jesus?]

This is good. He makes our own damned government look bad, as if anyone would have a hard time doing that! Bush has run away from it. the government has abandoned the people of the 9th ward for good reason. they want to build up the walls and build their white bread casinos and all. They never wanted the people to come back and build homes.

Be careful Brad, Bush might get pissed that you are making him look bad. He does not want you to succeed. He might send in his goons to get you out of the way of his profits.

[brooklyncitizen]

Bush doesn't neeed Brad or anyone to make him look bad. It is part of the corporist agenda, Katrina is an extreme example but we have all experienced this on some level; Central Florida Hurricanes, infrastructure collapses, poor public education, no universal health care, screwed over seniors, regulations that protect the corporations (mining industry,oil companies)....oh where oh where do our tax dollars go? (rhetorical)

[susiesorority]

This is off topic, yet related...has anyone picked up Naomi Klein's new book re disaster economics? Too much money to be made. I applaud this action, and at the same time, we can't pick up the slack for our government.

[LizM]

Does he do coastal restoration, too? Because, otherwise, the only thing he is doing is being criminally negligent by demonstrating a reckless and careless disregard for human life.

[Danind]

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Liz.

[LizM]

...a 'gift' of death and disaster...

[LITU]

I'm not into that celebrity bullshit, but as an American, Brad Pitt, rates pretty high.

[tbone99]

Brad - a man with real heart.It's great to see a a man who could have or do anything choose to help others in a big way and be a good dad and partner.May his blessings return many times over.

[MI6troll]

Kudos!

When Babs Bush made a piddling donation, she stipulated that it be used to buy software from the herpes-infected-by-a-prostitute-while-still-married-son Neil's company.

[LUNKHEAD]

GOOD FOR HIM.
I posted he was a jerk for not living in KATRINA land with anjie as they said, but this will do. Sustainable homes is good. KEEP GOING.
BUILD MORE HOMES LIKETHIS. The construction and real estate industries are screwing blacks out of housing with their bastard constructions and it shjould be stopped.

[Theda]

I read your post and I was angry at Brad and Angelina for not staying in New Orleans. But I also agree with you on this one.....$5 million is a wonderful gift to the city. More will come out of that. Yes, good for him.

[ceasenake]

Go for it Dude!

You've got 5 million to throw down a rat hole.

Brad is just about as crazy as his character in "12 Monkeys".

[LIR]

The only rathole lives within the fevered crevices of your depraved mind.

[SlippingInTheDip]

does Brad and his girlfriend pay taxes when they make movies overseas?

[leftcoastliberal]

Forget Clinton and Obama, I'm voting Brangelina 2008!

[Qbear]

I wish

[loki]

Im sure republicans are cringing in there seats over this. "How dare he use 5 million dollars to help someone else!!! He should invest that money and make more,and more and more until he has it ALL!!!!! Screw other people.. Money is the most important thing in life! "

[Jain]

THANK YOU BRAD AND ANGIE. Those who criticze you are just frustrated with a country that has been stolen and sold out - and some are angry coz they didn't speak out soon enough. Please keep up the positive efforts.

[PuffAndStuff]

Kudos Mr. Pitt, et al.!

It seems the government and many politicians in general have forgotten, or would rather choose to just forget, that the post-Katrina mess still exists. If the ward continues to wait on the government I'd bet they'd be waiting for decades before anything gets done.

If only everyone in this world was as charitable as Pitt and those working with him on this cause. Very respectable.

[askmeificare]

5 mill won't save the 9th ward.

[BeerHolder]

Neither will your lame comment.

[askmeificare]

Neither will your attitude.

[MamaMagda]

God bless Brad Pitt!