Hollywood confession: Adventurer Levison Wood on why he took George Clooney to South Sudan
Page 1 of 1
Hollywood confession: Adventurer Levison Wood on why he took George Clooney to South Sudan
I've always wanted to be taken by an 'adventurer' (although, admittedly, not to south Sudan).
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]LEVISON WOOD the adventurer and travel writer once protected Hollywood star George Clooney in a war-torn South Sudan, he revealed to Express.co.uk.
PUBLISHED: 14:27, Sun, Aug 23, 2020
By JOEL DAY
Sudan for over a century has experienced a tumultuous political and military discourse. In 1881 the country revolted against the Ottoman-Egyptian administration, only to fall into the hands of British-Egyptian rule and a harsh period under the Empire. Eventually, in 1956 the country gained its independence.
The second Sudanese Civil War spanned 21 years from 1983 to 2005 and led to much bloodshed.
Although the war had officially ended, skirmishes and minor battles have persisted ever since.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Hollywood confession: Adventurer Levison Wood took and protected George Clooney in South Sudan
Many, like the adventurer and ex-military man Levison Wood, have visited the country either to help or to gauge the levels of devastation.
Shortly after leaving the army as a 28-year-old, Levison set up a small business that offered groups and individuals trips into war-torn and dangerous regions.
It soon became clear that the group were good at what they did, extending their services into protecting wealthy clients.
He revealed to Express.co.uk how one of these clients turned out to be Hollywood veteran George Clooney.
He explained that while in South Sudan, he "met, interviewed and looked after George Clooney, it was really surreal”.
It came as part of Clooney's Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP).
The scheme monitors and uncovers atrocities in both North and South Sudan.
When it finds potential human rights abuses through its vast satellite camera system, it sends early warning signals with the goal deterring any threats to innocent individuals.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
It was set up by Clooney and human rights activist John Prendergast in 2010.
Clooney has since spoken passionately about the events that have unfolded in many of the Sudanese wars.
More recently, in 2019, he focused his ire on action, a lack thereof, against multinationals, western tycoons and brokers who have profited from South Sudan's violent instability.
He warned policy makers that "if you don't care" what happens in South Sudan its problems "will end up on your doorstep."
Levison has visited South Sudan on more than one occasion.
While filming his Channel 4 series in 2013, Walking the Nile, he and his film crew got caught in the crossfires of a mini-uprising involving two ethnic groups.
The Dinka are one of two of South Sudan’s main ethnic groups, often at loggerheads with the Nuer.
He recounted the chilling experience to Express.co.uk: “We were in the town of Bor and a group of Dinka rebels stormed the area.
“We’d gotten ourselves on this hotel roof that had been completely bombed out, and there was this battle going on below us.
“We were just sitting there: it was the most bizarre experience, watching the tracer fire zooming over our heads.
“You could see either side fighting each other.
“We couldn’t go anywhere, there wasn’t anywhere to escape to, so we just sat and watched the whole thing unfold like some sort of weird Hollywood action film."
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 2188
Join date : 2010-12-05
Similar topics
» George Clooney: Sanctions threats not enough in South Sudan
» Why George Clooney is involved in coffee farming in South Sudan
» George Clooney to auction Tesla for South Sudan nonprofit
» Acclaim or Negation for George Clooney's Role in South Sudan's Independence?
» George Clooney & John Prendergast: Violence is the business model in South Sudan
» Why George Clooney is involved in coffee farming in South Sudan
» George Clooney to auction Tesla for South Sudan nonprofit
» Acclaim or Negation for George Clooney's Role in South Sudan's Independence?
» George Clooney & John Prendergast: Violence is the business model in South Sudan
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|
Today at 19:25 by LizzyNY
» Oct 2024 Clooney dinner Party
Yesterday at 17:31 by Ida
» My Wolfs review
Sat Sep 28 2024, 11:56 by Ida
» Happy Tenth Wedding Anniversary to George and Amal
Fri Sep 27 2024, 08:20 by Ida
» 2004 more Pranks that Alex does
Fri Sep 27 2024, 07:13 by Ida
» https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13897139/George-Clooney-Amal-stars-Albies-charity-NYC.html
Fri Sep 27 2024, 06:52 by annemariew
» Clooneys and family and friends in Venice
Thu Sep 26 2024, 13:08 by party animal - not!
» George sends congratulations to Cate Blanchett on her latest success
Sun Sep 22 2024, 10:52 by party animal - not!
» George sends congratulations to Cate Blanchett on her latest success
Sun Sep 22 2024, 10:49 by party animal - not!