First published on 19.02.2010. The Oscar’s are coming up so it is a good opportunity to delve into some divergent areas of celebrity activism. One of the most interesting competitions this year is for the Best Documentary category, where among…
Celebrities And Haiti
First published on 23.01.2010. The rush by celebrities to provide support for Haiti holds our attention by the sheer extent of the mobilization by star power. But after the show is over what should we make of this phenomenon? Is…
Bono’s Activist Touring Shifts To The G20
First published on 11.09.2011 Bono’s hybrid life was fully on display in Toronto last Friday. His life with U2 was presented in the form of the documentary “From the Sky Down” as the opening gala screening at the TIFF –…
The Different Faces Of An Ascendant Celebrity Activism
First published on 17.02.2008. We have seen in recent times an enormous extension of the global reach for celebrity activists. The leading lights of this phenomenon seem to be everywhere doing everything. George Clooney, after the announcement of his selection…
Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy
Oprah’s Star Power As A Catalyst For Political Change
First published on 07.01.2008. Obama Barrack’s success at the Iowa polls was due in large part to a groundswell of support from the disaffected (mainly because of the Iraq war) or those previously disengaged from the electoral process (especially youth…
Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy
The Sweep Of Celebrity Activism
First published on 17.12.2010 Celebrity activism continues to garner a huge amount of attention. The popular Guardian newspaper’s Development Blog currently features a Podcast on the role of celebrities in development. William Easterly wrote a typically provocative Op Ed in…
Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy
Richard Holbrooke – Combining The Worlds Of Diplomacy And Celebrity
First published on 22.12.2010 The tributes to Richard Holbrooke have concentrated on the core components of his career, highlighted by his diplomatic trouble-shooting in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Although his career as a US official dealing with front line conflicts…
Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy
Obama’s G20 Troubles
The first day of the French G20 is a good indication the U.S. is losing its dominant role — and even strong interest — in the G20. By way of contrast, with the pivotal role that the U.S. enjoyed in…
G20 Must Discuss What G8 Was Scared To
Winston Churchill once whipsawed a main political rival by saying that he was “a modest man, but then he has so much to be modest about.” The same could be said about May’s Camp David G8. In the past, a major…
Here’s How Singapore Can Stay in the Game
I have been spending the last few days in Singapore at a very interesting conference sponsored by Nanyang Technological University and the Asian Development Bank Institute on the theme of the evolving de-centralized global economic architecture. Such a theme highlights…
Posted in Diplomacy, Small Countries
