Yeas & Nays - Refugees Int’l attracts the rich and landed

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Refugees Int’l attracts the rich and landed

POSTED May 12, 2:40 AM

On Thursday night at the Italian Embassy, a benefit for Refugees International, which advocates increased aid for displaced and stateless people, drew actors Matt Dillon, Sam Waterston and Mia Farrow, and Sens. Edward Kennedy, Joe Lieberman and Gordon Smith. Kennedy received an award for his advocacy on behalf of displaced Iraqi refugees, including a bipartisan bill to send aid to 5,000 victims of al Qaeda. Kennedy accepted his award and bolted, but Smith stuck around to schmooze with luminaries like Reza Pahlavi, the heir to the ousted Iranian monarchy, and representatives from British Petroleum.

Dillon, who recently joined Waterston on the board of Refugees International, shed some light on the lack of coverage dedicated to the recent cyclone that struck Myanmar. “It’s tricky to get aid there, but an organization like this works a lot better than a corporation or government could to bring focus and attention. We’re lean and mean.”
Farrow and her son, Ronan, presented pictures taken in the Sudan region. “Words can’t describe the suffering in that country, and I just think we, as a nation, need to look outside and see the need for aid in other nations.” Farrow plans to head back Tuesday, “as part of my attempts to make people realize the shamefully inadequate international response.”

Waterston explained to us his efforts with Unity ’08, which advocated a bipartisan ticket in 2008, but he wouldn’t offer any advice for Sen. Hillary Clinton and her campaign’s waning prospects. “I’m not gonna touch that one,” the “Law and Order” star said.

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Jeff Dufour & Patrick Gavin
People, power and politics in the beltway, by the Washington Examiner's Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin. Got a juicy tip? Send an e-mail to yan@dcexaminer.com.