Angelina Jolie Has a Vital Voice

Thanks Jared for the new thread.

She Escaped Strife, but Embraced Those Scarred by It
Burmese-Born Charm Tong Is Among Activists Honored for Contributions to Women’s Causes
By Nora Boustany
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, April 8, 2008; Page C02

Charm Tong was born in Burma’s conflict-lacerated countryside 26 years ago. She was 6 when her parents stuffed her into a straw basket strapped onto a donkey and sent her to join a caravan of villagers snaking its way through lush jungles to an orphanage inside the Thai border. Their desperate choice seemed a better option as the country’s repressive military regime moved through some 1,400 farming villages, taking ethnic Burmese from their lands and forcing them into labor, often after torturing them.

In that orphanage, Tong learned to read and study English. By the time she was 16, she was working with refugees and migrant workers who crossed the 2,000-kilometer border between Burma and Thailand. She listened to their heartbreaking stories, soothing them, counseling them and organizing women’s networks among border villages.

For her leadership, she was one of six honored last night at the Kennedy Center by Vital Voices Global Partnership, a nonprofit group dedicated to the empowerment and advancement of women around the world. The hall was packed with about 500 guests, including ambassadors, donors and A-listers, among them first lady Laura Bush and actress-activist Angelina Jolie, both of whom presented awards.

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Introducing Tong, Mrs. Bush, who has embraced the cause of Burma’s oppressed as the defining mission of her East Wing legacy, spoke of incarcerated democracy activist and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and about the repression of the Burmese, women especially. She described how unarmed monks protesting a spike in gas prices were beaten, arrested and killed. Mrs. Bush described Tong’s efforts to form the women’s action network as well as her work on the eye-opening 2002 report “License to Rape,” about 600 women who were violated. Tong also has been to a school for the children of refugees coming from Shan province; Mrs. Bush said the students call Tong “a candle in the dark.”

Mrs. Bush has become this administration’s point person on the Burmese crisis, picking up the phone to express her outrage to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, hosting Burmese democracy activists at the White House, giving dozens of interviews on the subject and writing her own op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal marking Suu Kyi’s birthday.

Jolie, greatly pregnant and radiant in a flowing taupe gown, stepped onto the stage to speak glowingly of award recipient Mariane Pearl, the widow of Wall Street Journal correspondent Daniel Pearl, who was killed in Pakistan. Her book, “A Mighty Heart,” was made into a film in which Jolie portrayed Mariane Pearl. Last night the actress talked of Pearl’s special gift as a mother and an example in “courage, hope and tolerance.”

Also honored were Kakenya Ntaiya, an education advocate from Kenya; political corruption activist Laura Alonso of Argentina; and human-rights advocate Khin Ohmar of Burma. United Arab Emirates minister of economy and foreign trade Sheikha Lubna al-Qasimi, the first female minister in her Persian Gulf state, was presented the Global Trailblazer Award and introduced by CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer.

Sen. Hillary Clinton appeared confident and relaxed in a blue pantsuit, taking time off from her presidential marathon to help host this event, as she does every year with her Republican counterpart from Texas, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. The senators had made it to the evening “against all odds,” said Vital Voices co-founder Melanne Verveer, who was Clinton’s chief of staff when she was first lady.

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The event grew out of the Vital Voices Democracy Initiative, created in 1997 by Clinton and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright to make the promotion of women’s causes a U.S. foreign policy goal.

In an interview Friday, Tong described her life. After fleeing her home, she saw her parents briefly, every two or three years; to get to her, they had to trek for a week or longer along the same tortured and dangerous routes she took as a child. “I thought they did not love me,” she said. She described the brief encounters with her parents as “happy, tearful and heartbreaking.”

“You arrive from school one day and they are there. The next day you hurry back from school and they are gone. They would tell me what was happening and say, ‘We cannot give you anything except this opportunity.’ ”

All she can remember are blurred patches of her childhood, scurrying from village to village for safety. Her parents bundled her and her younger sister along with rags, pots and pans as the children fled from the soldiers, who ransacked huts, killing and sexually assaulting those who resisted.

“With time I began to understand. Fresh out of junior high I began hearing about and seeing the scars from all the atrocities,” she noted. By the time some women shuffled across the northern Thai border, they had been raped six to eight times. “They arrive with nothing,” Tong said. “You never forget their faces. So many women believe it was their fault and ask us if they had done anything wrong. We were traumatized just listening to them relive their horrors,” she added.

One case that tore up Tong’s soul was that of Nag Hla, who was only 17 and six months pregnant when she escaped from her village of Laikha in 2002. She had been gang-raped from 10 in the morning until 4 that afternoon, Tong said, “her husband blindfolded and tied to a tree, close enough so he could hear” his wife’s screams. Hla set off on foot and delivered her premature infant alone.

Thai government officials estimate that 3 million Burmese have taken up residence in Thailand over the years. Many who cross from Shan province, where Tong was born, find there are no refugee camps for them when they arrive, she said. Instead, they settle together or with Thai families as stateless, undocumented farmhands. Tong is active in organizing other women stationed along border passages to teach refugees about reproductive health.

Tong became a global advocate at 17, when she went to Geneva in a delegation of seven Burmese to address the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in 1999. Before an audience that included members of the military regime, Tong shook as she spoke and broke down tearfully as she testified about the women she had met along the border.

“I was lucky. I went to school,” she says now with measured gratitude. She began reading a newsletter on human rights violations from Shan province at an early age. “It game me more answers than I found in school and it inspired me to do something to help.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/07/AR2008040702744.html?sub=AR

Cook,

If you’re around, I left you a reply on the last thread.

God, keep blessing and watching over the Jolie-Pitt family.

Thanks Jared ! I love seeing beautiful Angelina.

Go Angie.

nice,
The answer to your question is good genes.

As always, BEAUTIFUL. Simply BEAUTIFUL !!

# 15 nice @ 04/08/2008 at 2:00 pm Brad’s wife looks gorgeous as usual.
How come she never gets the puffy pregnant face most of us get?

…That is because she is tall, lanky and naturally skinny like me…oh and us brunettes are beautiful.

high cheek bones, defined face……..we have so much in common…a good man and good kids, oh I could go on and on.

And I get to stomp on Brads ol’ stomping grounds, caves, lakes and all….life is good……….

lovely!!!!!!! thanks jared

Fefe,

…he has it now, and wait awhile so he can get it… maybe, just before you leave, he might have received it and read it…then, you can contact up top and request…maybe wait til tomorrow…I think he’s a student too…he might not get to it right away…NO shenanigans?…it’s just you…good enough?…who’s going home on dwts?…I watched the Yankees last night before and during the game…no, the coach could’ve called time-out during regulations but, he relied on the greatness his players had been giving him all season…of course free throws could’ve helped and good coaching works too which wasn’t the case here at the end…we agree to disagree…I love you waayy too much…what can I do…

is it just me it see that Mrs Jolie Pitt is pregnant with twins

this is from perezhilton:
SIGHting
Spotted: Angelina Jolie with her boys, Maddox and Pax, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in D.C. on Monday.

Mrs. Pitt goes to Washington!

Oh come on, play nice, just dont bother about the haters!
Nice and Sasha: Angie did in fact get puffy- but during the last month before she gave birth, I’m so jealous lol

Jared, you’re really making this a great morning. Thank you.

It must have been quite an incredible evening with all these incredible women at such an event. Way to go Angie! She has the sexiest bump ever.

i love angie,but is amazing how trolls are first in the thread,angie is so very beautiful,am sure she had a good time with BFF mariane

Gorgeous, courages, amazing, and I’m talking about Angelina and Mariane. So in awe of Mariane and I’m so happy that these two women found a bond and a true friendship.

I just bought AMH and will be seeing it for the first time and so this is very cool seeing them together here.

Thanks JJ

jpf.

Angie looks absolutely GORGEOUS!!
I love her dress.
THUMB UP FOR ANGIE!!!!

Hey dear jj friends, i haven’t written in a while, but i just saw this great article about how angie and marianne met- its a jem!!! there is also a great relaxed picture of the two of them- their first meeting, they took their kids to an existential play- mad and addam were three!!! i love it
- enjoy

http://www.jensjuice.com/2007/04/angelina-jolie-marianne-pearl-do.html

She looks like a damned trollip in that stupid dress. Very overdressed and very wrongly dressed for the occasion. Hey Angelina - Washington DC ain’t Vegas.

#46 Anonymous–
Wow, such ire. She is beautiful and she is a movie star so she is dressed for the occasion! Sorry you are so repressed and such a hater that you can’t see style and inner beauty when it is right before your eyes.

Anonymous @ 04/08/2008 at 2:31 pm

She looks like a damned trollip in that stupid dress. Very overdressed and very wrongly dressed for the occasion. Hey Angelina - Washington DC ain’t Vegas.

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Obviously, you’re just jealous. We’re all stunned by her and then you’re here saying that she’s wrongly dressed. What do you want her to wear?

anonymous, she was overdressed and wrongly dressed? well what did you wear to the 2008 global leadership awards? i’m sure angelina would be waiting with baited breath to hear your input since you know the proper dress for this venue.

Fefe,

…in the subject box, write request cook’s e-mail…only you should get this…shenanigans?…you’re not a guy?…I mean: don’t pass the e-mail, no viruses, and don’t f ucking be a guy…comprende?…if you can’t do it, then, leave it alone…you asked and I don’t EVER do this…be smart and don’t do or be anything I mentioned is what I accept.

Love Angie!

http://www.theocseries.blogspot.com

Someone here is in alot of pain because of Angelina’s beauty …

This picture looks fake. Is it just me?

She is lovely. So is Marianne. Very pretty women. Nice dress on Angelina.

Anonymous @ 04/08/2008 at 2:31 pm

She looks like a damned trollip in that stupid dress. Very overdressed and very wrongly dressed for the occasion. Hey Angelina - Washington DC ain’t Vegas.

——

Tell that to your beloved cultish TC who dressed Suri with an oversized stupid dress to play in the park not to mention the nailpolisher on a 2 years old !

The poor kid had even the evil creepy look she tends to display these days…i bet she hated that dress !

TO: #46 Anonymous @ 04/08/2008 at 2:31 pm

“WHEN YOU JUDGE OR CRITICIZE ANOTHER PERSON, IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THAT PERSON; IT MERELY SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT OUR OWN NEED TO BE CRITICAL.”

Beautiful dress, beautiful hair, beautiful skin, beautiful bump, just an overall beautiful lady.

Angel ,I think Papa Pitt helped Angelina pick out that dress.Angelina just has a glow about her.But just think she is carrying Brads child.And to have Brads love,and all her little children who love her immensely.

Love this wonderful woman, she is a good example to be truthful to oneself and to follow the dreams of one’s heart.

Nicole m @ 04/08/2008 at 2:53 pm #60

This picture looks fake. Is it just me?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Poor dear, you still can’t believe she is pregnant for the second time with Brad Pitt’s child. right? I bet you’re thinking Jared photo-shopped the bump. Wait….. what about the other sites that have the same picture? LMAO. There is no end to your stupidity ,is there?

Angie and Marianne are good friends.So nice to see Angie present Marianne with award.I’m off shopping…Fans have a good day.

What a gorgeous lady. Even with child, Angie is oozzzing with sex appeal. Not all pregnant ladies can pull this off.

Thanx Jared for the new thread.

I think this #60 Nicole m >/b> poster is the same Nicole poster who is a fan of Brad and hated Angie. I think she wants Brad to be with that person who shall remain nameless. Pathetic

Hope this link works…it

Actress Angelina Jolie speaks at a meeting about education for Iraqi children held by the Council on Foreign Affairs in Washington April 8, 2008. Jolie is a co-chair of the Education Partnershship for Children of Conflict.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES)

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Angelina-Jolie/ss/events/en/080101jolie

thanx jared

aj and mp both looking gorgeous

Lady G @ 04/08/2008 at 3:32 pm
Hope this link works…it

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It works, Thanks Lay . Wow, her bump is even more prominent in this dress. That is one gorgeous woman.

Ok, this is the 1st time that I joined whatever this is call blog ? sorry am a novice.
Just to answer those negative people, if you dislike angelina jolie so much why in heavens name do you put so much energy and time on the comments.
Have you persons or people never heard of the Law Of Attraction,
When you want something you just manifest on the things you want happen. It also applys to the negative energy you focused on. Ever experience not wanting something but getting it? Well, stop giving your energy on something that you don’t like. Because you doing them (BP/AJ) and the fans a big favour!
May the divine healing energy engulf your every core of your being/s.

Here are more photos of Angie leaving the COFR meeting. Holly looks pregnant too.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa279/images_023/80563687.jpg

Angie looks quite tall next to other women in thispic, does someoneknow how tall she is? Thanks…

Last one from Angie exiting COFR meeting. The others have the watermark across her face.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa279/images_023/80563681.jpg

She looks so beautiful.She is huge.

Supernova - Angie is supposed to be 5′ 7”.

Rita - LOL! I keep thinking the same thing.

Take care BAMPZS fans.

A second pregnancy usually let you grow further than the first one…bodytissues are already elastic…

Thanks Faye,

Thanks JJ for the new thread. She is as gorgeous as ever. I like her pink maternity dress.
Anoble: I am done reading Atlas Shrugged. What an astounding story of intellectual men & woman. Breathtaking & lots of suspense. At the end Dagny Taggart & John Galt succeeded & their love story continues. An appropriate story for Brad & Angie, I hope they make this movie together.
God bless the Jolie-Pitt’s.

Fefe,

…so, you understand everything…just, get e-mail, and send it, comes to me…jared doesn’t see it…I’m so passionate about you…let’s slow down again when you get the address…just send it directly to me…I’m not tech savy either…however, I believe you understand and have what you need…it will be okay…if not, tell me…and we something else…I love you bad girl.

Soopx, you are right someone here is in a lot of pain, because Angie is carrying another Brad Pitt genes (baby or babies). That hurts.

Good afternoon to all of the beautiful BAMPZS fans. Ohmygawd, we have three Angie threads. This family is so beautiful and giving. and people wonder why they look tired sometimes. Or why they don’t have time to worry about lies in the tabs. Because they are too busy doing meaningful and good things for people who don’t read tabs or even care what is being said about them in them.

So Angie took Pax with her and Maddox. This should still any negativity about leaving him at home. I bet the boys had a great time. I’ve been there and I had a great time.

She truly looks beautiful in that dress. Marianne looks pretty also. This pregnant woman does more in one day than some women who are not pregnant do in a week. She is very strong not just physically, but in her committment to her family and her beliefs. Peace.

Sweet Jesus! This woman is huge! When is her due date?

T

Thanks for all the new thread Just Jared. AJ looks amazing. She is one beautiful pregnant woman. Congrats to M. Pearl and all the other award winners. AJ is an exceptional woman who is leading by example. I wish her a happy and safe pregnancy. She is glowing.

Thanks Lady G and the fans for all the pictures and articles. They were very inspiring to read. Best wishes to BAMPZS + more.

She looks SO stunning!!

http://celebritysource.blogspot.com/

#110 @4:41…dj, what would it take to make you stop this? Just name your price…

addictedtoBAMPZS(+2?) @ 04/08/2008 at 5:50 pm
#110 @4:41…dj, what would it take to make you stop this? Just name your price…
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She’ll stop when Brad goes back to Jennifer. In other words, never.

An-gie An-gie An-gie! Love that girl.

CLINIQUA @ 04/08/2008 at 6:27 pm

my god how proud brad must be of this woman…man, from escorting fugiston to the people’s choice awards and hanging with chris the hairdresser…to a life of beauty and purpose. Amazing.
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LOL…So true, so true!

There is no secret about how much we love our Angie.

my girl angie is gorgeous as always! always a humanitarian she has the biggest heart! i love her more! LOVETHEJOLIEPITTSFOREVER!!