Ben Affleck Returns To The Congo

GOMA, Congo — Ben Affleck is talking to children and aid officials in refugee camps in war-torn eastern Congo in an effort to raise awareness of the conflict that has displaced at least 250,000 people.

The actor has visited the Central African country four times since 2007 and also has made a documentary about its problems.

"I'm not an expert in international affairs or diplomacy, but it doesn't take that to see the tremendous suffering here," he told The Associated Press on Thursday in Goma, the regional capital. "It's not something that we as human beings can, in good conscience, ignore."

Years of sporadic violence in eastern Congo intensified in August, when fighting heated up between the army and fighters loyal to rebel leader Laurent Nkunda.

Some fear the current crisis could once again draw in neighboring countries. Congo's devastating 1998-2002 war split the vast nation into rival fiefdoms and involved half a dozen African armies.

"I'm really glad that more people are paying more attention to (Congo) now but I'm really saddened that it's taken this uptick in violence to make that happen," Affleck said.

"The primary reason I am here is to urge people to give money to the NGOs and charities doing hard work in eastern Congo on meager funds," he said. "And if people out there have an existing relationship with a charity, to urge that charity to get involved in eastern Congo. To let people know, 'Don't just read the horror stories in the newspapers and turn off.'"

Affleck said he first became interested in Congo a few years ago, when Hollywood's attentions began to focus another African crisis, Darfur. After doing more research on Africa, he was shocked to learn about Congo's four-year war, during which an estimated 5 million people died.

"I thought a lot of people are advocating on Darfur. I'd just be a very small log on a big fire. I started getting interested in Congo and I thought, this is a place where I can have a really big impact," he said.

Decades of instability and conflict mean everyone in Congo has a compelling story to tell. And the country's stunning landscapes _ rolling green fields, riotous fields of flowers, sparkling lakes and even a moodily smoking volcano _ deserve their own starring role. Would Affleck consider putting Congo on the big screen?

"It's a big story," he said. "I think you'd have to make it about one person, and their story, their journey through the political reality here."

Comments

[ZimboChick]

Thank you Ben Affleck. I have respect for you and others that have a conciense

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

I wonder if Affleck is doing anything to help the peaceful gorillas who are getting butchered in the jungles due to the war.

[ZimboChick]

f----- you

[marymansour]

Those are a tragic aftermath of all these wars in the congo and Rwanda. If Fossey were still alive she would be defending them for sure.

[skunky93]

i wonder what you are doing to help them too? Oh wait...nothing. You're just full of useless comments.

[MarenS]

Quote from the story --"It's a big story," he said. "I think you'd have to make it about one person, and their story, their journey through the political reality here." - This story has already been done- check it out online at Hotzone.yahoo.com. Journalist Kevin Sites traveled to the Congo, posted video from his travels and wrote a book which goes into more details about his experiences. And, Sites has traveled to more war zones than any other Journalist and offers a more solid perspective based on years of experience, not just shock and awe of a first visit. Take a look...its phenomenal material.

[helenwheels]

Wow, I'm liking Ben Affleck more and more. This is not easy stuff to do. Good on him & I hope his documentary gets a lot of attention.

[Doomestic]

I worked there along a UN envoy from the Royal Jordanian Army last year, but it was relatively stable till I left. Sad to see how the conditions worsened significantly.

[Clavis]

Can't knock a man's efforts to bring attention to a crisis that deserves all the attention it can get. Thanks, Ben! AFFLECK!!!

[viewfromuphere]

"can't knock a man's efforts"....read a couple of posts higher...

and to everybody with a knock...what have you been doing lately.....for anyone

[Halsey]

Women for Women is showing again (on HBO I think)...THIS show..brought the strength and suffereig of these women home....put my own sorry life in perspective..We don't have a CLUE..and thanks to Dr. congo an Ben..we will see the horror

[marymansour]

Affleck and Damon put their money where their mouthes are. Good for both of them - Damon with his recent Haitian trip and Ben in the Congo.

[godlessliberal]

Good for him, I think it is wonderful when celebrities use their star power for good. Even if it is only for PR (not saying this is the case with Ben Affleck) it still brings awareness to forgotten areas all around the world.

[sf girl]

Although I don't think he is doing it for publicity (he can just make films to do that), clearly Affleck doesn't have to go to the Congo--he could be kicking back in his home in Brentwood and living the good life. I agree that it's great when celebs use their starpower for good causes because most of us don't have the means to just take off for weeks at a time to visit war-torn countries. And unlike the Paris Hiltons of the world, people like Affleck, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and others talk the talk and walk the walk and they're not just throwing money at causes, they're actually going to these places to witness what's going on first-hand.