LOS ANGELES, July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Scarlett Johansson has become the
latest celebrity to join Oxfam's Global Ambassador program, officially
launched today. Johansson joined following a trip to India and Sri Lanka
with Oxfam where she visited a school for girls, and survivors of the
tsunami. She joins an influential group of international artists and public
figures including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Djimon Hounsou, Colin Firth,
Gael Garcia Bernal, Annie Lennox and Dame Helen Mirren, who support the
international humanitarian and development agency
"I want to be a part of the great work that Oxfam is doing, and am glad
that by being an Ambassador I can continue to be involved with the
organization," said Johansson. "Once you've met amazing people like the
Dalit girls I met on my trip you just can't turn your back. I was shocked
by a lot of what I saw, but seeing the fantastic work Oxfam was doing I
also felt that there was hope."
Actor Djimon Hounsou, said: "As an African, born and raised in Benin,
where cotton is the main source of income for farmers, it is important for
me to join forces with Oxfam, an organization that works to fight against
the unfair trade laws that keep farmers poor and unable to provide for
their families. Subsidies in developed countries are killing the chances of
hardworking farmers in Africa of earning a decent wage. It is an honor to
be able to represent Africa and Oxfam when I'm meeting with the powerful
politicians that create these laws."
Actor, Gael Garcia Bernal said: "I am a firm supporter of Oxfam's
campaign because I believe that only through a concerted effort will we be
able to make a difference. We have to help small-scale farmers to have a
voice and then - together with millions of others - exert huge pressure on
decision makers to change the trade rules. This is the only way to fight
poverty."
Oxfam has benefited for many years from the support of numerous
celebrities around the world, whose dedication and commitment continue to
make a huge contribution to its work. The new Global Ambassador program
will formalize relationships with some of the international development
agency's most well-known supporters and enable them to go further in their
work to help the agency meet its goals of overcoming poverty, hunger and
injustice.
"Our Ambassadors are listened to across the world, and their support
helps to give a voice to people who would not otherwise be heard. Through
their work, Oxfam's campaigning messages can reach a much wider audience
and have a huge impact on decision makers. We are delighted to have so many
credible and passionate Ambassadors from across the globe," said Claire
Lewis, Oxfam's International Artist Liaison Manager.
About Oxfam International: Oxfam International is a confederation of 13
organisations working together with over 3,000 partners in more than 100
countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering and injustice.
Current Oxfam Ambassadors: Angelique Kidjo, World Music Singer, Benin;
Coldplay, Rock Group, UK; Colin Firth, Actor, UK; Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
South Africa; Djimon Hounsou, Actor, Benin; Gael Garcia Bernal, Actor,
Mexico; Helen Mirren, Actress, UK; Miguel Bose, Actor, Spain; Scarlett
Johansson, Actress, US; Tegla Loroupe, Runner, Kenya; Annie Lennox,
Songwriter, UK; Minnie Driver, Actress, US; Anthony Wong, singer, Hong
Kong; Emmanual Jal, Musician, Sudan; Neil Finn, Musician, New Zealand;
Kristin Davis, Actress, US; Rahul Bose, Actor, India.
Oxfam also continues to be grateful to celebrities from the worlds of
music, theater, art and sports who also support the charity.
For more information about Oxfam's Ambassador Program go to:
http://www.oxfam.org/en/news/ambassadors
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