George And Amal Clooney Talk Refugee Crisis With Merkel, Clooney Questioned About Commitment To Cause
Actor and humanitarian George Clooney, along with his human rights barrister wife Amal, met with Angela Merkel Friday to discuss the refugee crisis in Europe and what should be further done to ensure that those affected have options.
German Chancellor Merkel has played an integral role in promoting generosity and tolerance toward refugees entering Europe from the Middle East, North Africa, and Afghanistan. Variety shares the chancellor’s role thus far in advocating for immigrants to Europe that are fleeing war-torn nations.
“Merkel has attempted to lead a generous and tolerant reaction to the tide of migrants entering Europe from North Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan. But her plans to allow some 800,000 refugees into Germany have caused anger from other parts of Europe, as well as within Germany and even within her own party.”
George Clooney has involved himself continuously in humanitarian efforts concerning the crisis to ensure that there is some sort of relief for the innocent that are being driven from their homes and forced to relocate.
Additionally, as Variety notes, Amal Clooney, was also present for the discussion with Merkel and “specializes in high profile international and human rights cases. Her clients have included Julian Assange and Yulia Tymoshenko.”
The three met on Friday for nearly an hour in the Chancellor’s Berlin office. The Clooneys were already in the city due to George’s latest film, Hail Caesar, being screened at the Berlin Film Festival.
About Angela Merkel’s controversial plan in regards to welcoming refugees, Clooney has shown full support. The Guardian relays the actor’s words on the issue.
“I absolutely agree with her.”
Also present at the meeting was David Miliband, the previous UK foreign secretary, who is now the lead of the New York International Rescue Committee. The attendee shared with the BBC about how the meeting played out. The publication shares the topics of discussion that Miliband noted.
“[T]he meeting involved discussing solutions to the ‘global problem’ and praised Merkel for ‘showing very strong leadership” during the crisis.'”
Last year, Clooney was adamant during a discussion with the BBC that he was going to do everything he can to assist the Syrian refugees while avoiding becoming involved in the political side of the effort. George Clooney has used his celebrity status to advocate for refugees and has urged the United States to accept more refugees.
Clooney spoke at the Berlin Film Festival and shared his frustrations with the time it takes for the film industry to respond to such terrible crises. The Guardian shares the words Clooney spoke.
“I’ve struggled to find ways to make a film about Sudan, about Darfur, something very close to me, and which I spend a lot of time on – but I haven’t been able to find the proper script. It’s hard enough to find a good script for anything, and you don’t want to do it badly – because if you do you only get one chance.”
The Hail Caesar actor also expressed his annoyance at a reporter who abruptly questioned Clooney on his commitment to the cause.
“I spend a lot of my time working on these things. And it’s an odd thing to have someone stand up and ask, ‘What are you doing about it?'”
Up until recently, Germany has been welcoming refugees, taking in approximately 1.1 million over the past year. However, there has been a change in attitude toward acceptance of refugees and Merkel, along with advocates and activists such as the Clooneys, are doing their best to regain the benevolent perspective of the nation along with the continent of Europe.
[Photo by Guido Bergmann/Bundesregierung via Getty Images]
