The United Nations has added another dimension to its long-standing relationship with Hollywood celebrity Michael Douglas. The Academy Award-winning actor has been a dedicated supporter of various causes on behalf of the United Nations including disarmament, HIV/AIDS, nuclear non-proliferation, and most recently microfinance. Since his appointment as a United Nations Messenger of Peace In 1998 by Secretary General Kofi Annan, Mr. Douglas has visited war-torn Albania and Sierra Leone on missions dedicated to disarmament, greater control over illegal possession and circulation of small arms and light weapons, and uncovering the brutal effects of war on child soldiers.
Mr. Douglas has worked closely with the United Nations to promote the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 through the Millennium Campaign. He filmed a public service announcement (PSA) for the Campaign entitled "Only With Your Voice."
In keeping with his dedication to the MDGs, Mr. Douglas recently partnered with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the International Year of Microcredit to film a PSA promoting the Year. Yvonne Acosta, Coordinator of the United Nations Messengers of Peace Programme, remarked: “Mr. Douglas welcomed the opportunity to feature in the PSA to promote the role of microfinance as a powerful tool in fighting the war on poverty. The spot was also a vehicle for him to express his deep commitment to the Millennium Development Goals." In the PSA, entitled “Equal Opportunity,” Mr. Douglas says, “with microfinance, people living in poverty can take control of their lives and build a better future.”
With his passion and dedication to the issue of eradicating poverty, Mr. Douglas continues to be a caring and committed advocate for the United Nations and for the International Year of Microcredit.
To view the PSA, please visit: http://www.yearofmicrocredit.org/pages/reslib/reslib_interactive.asp
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