CARE Brings Shelter, Dignity to Thousands in Haiti

July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, July 10, /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Six months after an earthquake killed more than 220,000 people in Haiti and displaced another 1.5 million, CARE is ramping up efforts to ensure that survivors have a sturdy roof over their heads and a strong foundation to rebuild their lives.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100710/DC33222)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100710/DC33222)

CARE, which is constructing 25 to 30 transitional shelters per week, is on pace to complete up to 2,000 of the structures by December. And CARE plans to distribute 20,000 shelter reinforcement kits containing wooden planks, nails, rope, hurricane straps and other materials. Strengthening self-built structures will be particularly critical as Haiti moves deeper into what forecasters predict will be a busy hurricane season.

“In many cases we’re working with widows, women-headed households and other vulnerable people,” said Dr. Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE. “On a basic level, shelter gives them privacy, dignity and safety. But it also provides a base from which to recover. We’ve found that even those Haitians who have lost the most haven’t lost the will to rebuild their country.”

In camps of displaced people, CARE has supported the formation of volunteer committees that, like the camps themselves, tend to have more women than men. In many cases these women have stepped into leadership roles, assuring CARE reaches those most in need and spreads life-saving information about hygiene, health and psychological support for children. These women leaders also are helping raise awareness about the prevention of gender-based violence.

Whenever possible, CARE is helping families move out of camps and back into their communities. Building on its 56 years of experience in Haiti, the humanitarian group is providing economic opportunities, strengthening governance and improving health and educational services — both in earthquake-affected communities and outlying provinces.

CARE’s five-year, $100 million plan for relief and rehabilitation in Haiti is divided up into three phases and contains a special emphasis on meeting the needs of women and girls. In the initial phase, CARE reached more than 310,000 people through the distribution of food, PUR® water purification packets, water, jerry cans, hygiene kits, shelter kits, emergency housing repair kits, mattresses, blankets, newborn kits, clean delivery kits, latrines, bathrooms and other projects promoting hygiene and sanitation. CARE has started planning its long-term strategy for the rehabilitation phase, which will be consistent with priorities in Haiti’s national reconstruction plan.

But CARE’s 380-person staff – most of them Haitian — is largely focused on turning relief into recovery.

There are few better symbols of the transition than the hundreds of wood-framed, metal-roofed shelters rising in hard-hit areas of Leogane and Carrefour. Standing roughly 13 feet by 15 feet (4 meters by 4.5 meters), they are earthquake- and wind-resistant, designed to last at least three years and up to a decade with maintenance. That gives people enough time to get back on their feet – without worrying about where to lay their head.

Land tenure is a complex issue in Haiti. But CARE is working with land owners and local governments to ensure many landless families gain access to a secure place for their transitional shelter. Volunteer committees supported by CARE help identify households that are particularly vulnerable: many are elderly women, pregnant mothers and widows.

“CARE has built a committed team, investing lots of time and effort in community engagement, training and sensitization,” said Jim Kennedy, CARE’s shelter coordinator in Haiti. “We have a very good foundation for continued implementation of the transitional shelter projects.”

With the help of two CARE carpenters and three friends or family members, each shelter takes just two days to build. Designed for a family of five, they often sleep eight, nine or 10.

Perhaps most importantly, the transitional structures are designed to be adapted. They can form the core of a permanent dwelling that more closely resembles local housing styles.

In that way, the shelters are like the recovery itself: a collaboration between groups such as CARE and earthquake survivors who, ultimately, will determine how to rebuild all those places in Haiti called home.

ABOUT CARE: CARE has more than 60 years of experience delivering emergency aid. With ongoing poverty-fighting projects in 72 countries, CARE can respond quickly anywhere in the world. Our emergency responses focus on the needs of the most vulnerable, particularly women and children

SOURCE CARE

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Bhopal gas victims seek details of Nuclear Liability Bill from PMO

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): Victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, described as one of the world”s worst ever industrial disasters, have filed a Right to Information (RTI) petition with the Prime Minister”s Office (PMO) here.

The RTI plea wants to know whether the Central Government took into consideration the disaster of gas leak at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal in 1984 while drafting the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill with the USA.

Representatives of three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Group for Information and Action and Children against Dow Carbide – accompanied the victims to the PMO.

It may be recalled that over 50 victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy walked over 800 kilometres on foot from Bhopal to New Delhi and met the Prime Minister in 2008.
The government had then their assured them that an empowered commission would be constituted to address grievances and would initiate remedial measures.

Citing that assurance of 2008, the protestors alleged that nothing has been done so far.
“When we came on a foot march to New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister in 2008, at that time the government assured us that they would form an empowered commission to address the demands of victims like removal of hazardous waste, treatment of contaminated water, pensions to widows etc. among others but we have not received anything,” said Zakiya, a victim.

The protestors also questioned the amount included in the Nuclear Liability Bill. The Bill which proposes a liability cap of 300 million dollars on the supplier in case of a mishap.
“They want to find out how the cap of 450 million dollars was fixed because this is even less than what the Bhopalis were paid as compensation and which was not sufficient enough to meet the medical expenses for five years,” noted Satinath Sarangi, an activist of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action.

In the early hours of December 3, 1984, around 40 metric tonnes of toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked into the atmosphere and was carried by wind to surrounding slums.

The government says around 3,500 died in the disaster. Rights activists, however, claim that 25,000 people have died so far. (ANI)

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Married couples less likely to split up than cohabiting pairs

March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, March 26 (ANI): The Office for National Statistics has revealed that couples who are married are less likely to split up than those who live together.

Analysis of Census results found that four-fifths of spouses who were married in 1991 were still together a decade later, compared with three-fifths of cohabiting couples.

The independent statistics body said older couples and those with children were more likely to stay in the same relationships.

The findings of the ONS are likely to reignite the political debate over whether married couples should be given tax breaks.

The Conservatives have pledged to recognise marriage in the tax system, ensuring that spouses would not lose out if one wanted to stay at home to raise their children, on the grounds that stable families are good for society.

But Labour ministers, who abolished tax breaks for married couples, say that families now come in “all shapes and sizes” and so it would be wrong to disadvantage single parents or widows.

The ONS report, included in a new edition of its regular publication, Population Trends, analysed the information about living arrangements provided by 318,533 adults in its own Longitudinal Study.

Researchers tracked those who answered questions in both the 1991 and 2001 Census then looked in detail to find out whether they remained in the same relationship over the decade.

They found that of those who were cohabiting in 1991, 61 percent were with the same partner 10 years later while 39 percent were not.

Of those who stayed together, most had by then married their partner. The majority whose relationship had ended were living alone.

By contrast, 82 percent of those who were married in 1991 were still with their spouse in 2001. Of the 18 percent who had divorced or been widowed, most were single although a small proportion had remarried.

“It shows that marriage was more stable than cohabitation, even when controlling for a variety of factors,” the Telegraph quoted the ONS as saying.

Detailed models suggested that couples were more likely to split up if they were younger, had no children, had previously split up with partners, were poorly educated or were unemployed.

“The Government persists in saying there”s no difference between marriage and other forms of relationship but these official statistics are telling us, from a completely neutral standpoint, that there is a difference,” Jill Kirby, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies, a think-tank, said.

“Living together is not an equivalent to marriage for family stability. That”s why it”s important to protect and support marriage, in the interests of children,” she stated.

Marriage rates are already at their lowest level since records began in 1862, with just 232,990 weddings taking place in England and Wales during 2008.

But despite the greater instability of cohabitation, the ONS believes even fewer couples are likely to tie the knot in future.

“There have been notable changes in UK partnership behaviour over the last 40 years,” the report said.

“Divorce rates rose considerably during the 1970s, remained broadly stable after the mid-1980s, and more recently have fallen since 2004.

“At the same time, there has been a long-term fall in marriage rates since the beginning of the 1970s, and a steady increase in the proportion of adults cohabiting.

“For unmarried men in Great Britain aged 16 to 59, the proportion cohabiting increased from 11 per cent in 1986 to 27 per cent in 2007.

“There was a similar change for equivalent unmarried women, from 13 per cent to 28 per cent.

“This change in partnership behaviour is likely to persist.

“According to demographic projections, the long-term rise in cohabitation will continue, with the number of cohabiting couples in England and Wales projected to rise from 2.25 million in 2007 to 3.70 million in 2031.

“The same figures show that the proportion of the adult population that is legally married is projected to fall from 49 per cent in 2007 to 41 per cent by 2031,” it concluded. (ANI)

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Soothing massages the best way to deal with grief after loved one”s death

March 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Mar 25 (ANI): A soothing massage can help provide consolation after the death of a loved one, says a new study.

The study has been published in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Eighteen people who had lost a relative to cancer took part in the study. Participants ranged from 34 to 78 years of age and included widows, widowers, daughters and sisters. Nine chose foot massage, eight chose hand massage and one asked for both. Only three had previous experience of soft tissue massage.

“Details about the massage study were included in an information pack provided by the palliative care team when people”s relatives died” says lead author Dr Berit S Cronfalk from the Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation, a Swedish palliative care provider.

Relatives were offered a 25-minute hand or foot massage once a week for eight weeks and could choose whether the sessions took place at home, work or at the hospital.

“Soft tissue massage is gentle, but firm,” explains Dr Cronfalk, who carried out the research with colleagues from the Karolinska Institutet. “This activates touch receptors which then release oxytocin, a hormone known for its positive effects on well-being and relaxation.

“In this study the hand or foot massage was done with slow strokes, light pressure and circling movements using oil lightly scented with citrus or hawthorn.

“The relatives were then encouraged to relax for a further 30 minutes.”

Baseline data was collected on the participants during a 60-minute interview before the programme started and a further 60-minute interview was conducted a week after the massage programme finished.

The interviews with the participants showed that they derived considerable benefits from the programme. (ANI)

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Journalism has a vital role to play in progress of a nation: Kapil Sibal

March 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, March 22 (ANI): Union Minister for Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal on Monday said that the journalism has a vital role to play in the progress of a nation.

Addressing during a programme related to the giving away of IPI-India Awards for Excellence in Journalism for the year 2009 in the national capital, Sibal said that the two key entities for democracy were Free Press and Free Judiciary.

On the aspect of freedom of speech, Sibal reminded the journalists that it does not merely mean passing adverse comments on any issue, event or a person but speaking for those millions who do not have the voice to express their grievances and make them heard.

In the same vein, Sibal also had a dig at politicians when he mentioned that a majority of the leaders do have the voice to say that they rarely use and it is the media that lets them speak. That is how he would define freedom of speech, Sibal stated.

Touching about the ‘Trial by Media’, Sibal said it has emerged due to the failure of the obligatory machinery of law.

Further, Sibal regretted the fact that these days several editors assign beats to journalists who lack the basic knowledge of the subject matter.

As such, he suggested, the journalists should cultivate commitment, passion, and attitude in their profession.

Earlier, Dr. Justice A. S. Anand, former Chief Justice of India had raised the topic of trial by the media.
He said that two odd trends in the media of late are against journalistic ethics namely; the media trial and the paid news.

The IPI-India Award for the year 2009 were presented to Bidisha Ghosal of The Week magazine for her in-depth coverage on sexual exploitation of the widows in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra after their farmer husbands had committed suicide.

The other award winner was Indian Express. It was conferred for the daily’s exposition of radical Hindus being the masterminds in the Malegaon blasts.

IPI-India is the Indian chapter of the Vienna-based International Press Institute, a forum of editors, media experts and journalists, and it is committed to free press. (ANI)

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Pension bonanza for ex-servicemen after Supreme Court ruling

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Some 30,000-40,000 armed forces officers who were commissioned or retired between 1986 and 1996 are in for a pay arrears and pension bonanza with the Supreme Court upholding a high court ruling that the amounts had been erroneously calculated.

Upholding the Kerala High Court ruling that ‘rank pay’ should be included while calculating an officer’s pay and pension, the Supreme Court has directed this be re-recalculated and paid with retrospective effect from Jan 1, 1986.

‘We also direct interest to be paid thereon at 6 percent per annum,’ a bench of Justice Markendey Katju and Justice R.M. Lodha ruled. The judgment was delivered last week but a copy was made available only Tuesday.

The judgment will not apply to officers who were commissioned or retired post-1996 as they are covered under the Fifth and Sixth Pay Commissions.

‘With this judgment, the pay of all affected officers will have to be re-fixed from Jan 1, 1986, with consequential benefits on pay, pension, commutation and leave encashment,’ the Retired Defence Officers Association (RDOA) that pursued the case in the Supreme Court said in a statement.

‘The anticipated arrears would range from a couple of thousand rupees to a few lakh per officer depending upon the rank held and reckonable service of the officer. About 30,000 to 40,000 officers, both serving and retired, including widows, would be directly benefited,’ the statement said.

According to the RDOA, the defence ministry committed a ‘faux paus’ by not including ‘rank pay’ in the total emoluments and then doing the pay fixation, as had been recommended by the Fourth Pay Commission, which presented its final report in 1987.

‘This resulted in huge financial loss to the officers with cumulative effect on pay, DA, pension, gratuity and commutation,’ the association said.

Acting on the plea of Major A.K. Dhanapalan, a single judge bench of the Kerala High Court Oct 5, 1998, directed that the calculations be done afresh. A division bench of the high court upheld this July 4, 2003.

The government appealed against this in the Supreme Court and the RDOA also filed its own plea.

Many similar petitions were filed in various high courts all over the country by other officers as well.

‘These were clubbed together and transferred to the Supreme Court to be heard along with an transfer petition of similar nature that had arisen out of a case that was allowed on the basis of the judgment in Major Dhanapalan’s case,’ RDOA said.

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Iraqi reporter who hurled shoes at Bush “unclear” about his future

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep. 18 (ANI): The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at former US President George Bush is uncertain about his future plans, it was revealed during his psychological checkups at a Syrian hospital.

Muntader al-Zaidi, who was released from an Iraqi prison on Tuesday, has claimed that he was brutally tortured with electric shocks and repeatedly injected with “unknown substances” while in jail, The Telegraph reports.

Speaking from Damascus, Zaidi said his health was now “good and under control”.

On being asked about his future plans, he said he wants to go to Greece or Switzerland to continue medical checkups but did not say for what and added that his travel plans in general were “unclear.”

He also did not specify when he would return to Iraq.

“I don’t feel that I am outside Iraq. All Arab countries are my country.” He indicated that he hopes to return, saying he wants to “serve my people, the victims of occupations, orphans, widows and handicapped through humanitarian work.”

Al-Zaidi, who became a hero in the Arab world for attacking Bush, was imprisoned at an Iraqi military compound at the former Al-Muthana Airport in Baghdad for three years, but his term was reduced to one since no criminal record was found against him.

During a press conference last year, Zaidi shot up from his chair and hurled his shoes toward Bush at the podium, shouting “this is your farewell kiss, you dog!” and “this is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq”.

Recalling that episode, al-Zeidi said: “It was the feeling of an oppressed when he sees the aggressor.” He added that he thought that he might be killed by the bodyguards as he hurled his shoes at Bush.

Zaidi said he lost one of his teeth and damaged another when security officials wrestled with him. (ANI)

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Iraqi shoe thrower inundated with offers of cars, homes and a wife!

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sept 9 (ANI): The Iraqi journalist, who threw his shoes at former US President George W. Bush to vent his anger, has been flooded with offer of cars, wives and money as he prepares to get out of jail.

Millions of people have heaped praise at Muntazer al-Zaidi who believe his act of defiance did what their leaders had been scared to do.

His message to Bush “This is your farewell kiss, you dog. This is for the widows and orphans of Iraq” is still celebrated by the Iraqi people.

According to the Guardian, Muntazer’s former boss has built a new four-bedroom home.

A new car has also been promised.

His employer, the al-Baghdadia television channel, is inundated with pledges of harems, money and healthcare.

“One Iraqi who lived in Morocco called to offer to send his daughter to be Muntazer’s wife,” the Telegraph quoted editor Abdul Hamid al-Saij as saying.

“Another called from Saudi offering 10m dollars for his shoes, and another called from Morocco offering a gold-saddled horse.

“After the event, we had callers from Palestine and many women asking to marry him, but we didn’t take their names. Many of their reactions were emotional. We will see what happens when he is freed,” he added.

However, Muntazer has been prepared to be shot by Bush’s bodyguards when he threw the shoes, his brother Maitham al-Zaidi told the paper.

“He always thought he would die as a martyr, either by al-Qaeda or the Americans. More than once he was kidnapped by insurgents. He was surprised that Bush’s guards didn’t shoot him on the spot,” he added.

Muntazer has told Maitham, and another brother, Vergam, that he was planning to open an orphanage when he leaves prison and will not work again as a journalist. (ANI)

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Pakistanis outraged over Minority Affairs Ministry’s failed promises

August 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Aug. 30 (ANI): Pakistan’s Minority Affairs ministry has left many people outraged after they found out that cheques distributed to them by the ministry were not worth 5,000 rupees as claimed, but just 1,000 rupees.

On Saturday, 200 people from different communities had gathered at Sindh Minister for Minority Affairs Dr Mohan Lal’s office to receive the cheques while chanting slogans in his favour, the Daily Times reports.

Addressing the distribution ceremony, Lal had said that his ministry is trying to help the religious minorities and these cheques were a part of the first phase of offering relief while similar projects are in the pipeline.owever, one such claimant Kaishi complained that she was told by the bank authorities that the cheque was not for 5,000-rupees.

“He (Lal) clearly told us that the cheques are worth Rs 5,000 each but we were actually given cheques worth Rs 1,000 only and those can also just be cashed at the bank in Hyderabad,” said Kaishi.

An outraged Kaisi soon found out that the ministry had fooled all the other cheque receivers as well, most of whom were widows.

“We need almost Rs 1,000 just to get to Hyderabad to cash the cheque besides we were told that these cheques were worth Rs 5,000,” said Gomi, another widow from Jogi Moar Colony.

These women had walked to the minister of minority affairs’ office almost every day for a year so that they may get some sort of financial assistance from the ministry and every time they were sent home empty handed with a lot of promises.

On being contacted, Lal’s casually said that these women would be compensated during the next phase.

“Actually we had already distributed a huge amount and there were not enough funds to issue cheques worth 5,000 rupees to these women,” he added. (ANI)

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Transsexuals participate in a weeklong festival in Tamil Nadu

May 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Villupuram (TN), May 8 (ANI): Transsexuals from across the country are participating in a weeklong “Koovagam” festival at Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu.

The festival that started on May 3 is held annually at the Koothandavar temple.

The festival draws around 50,000 transsexuals every year.

“This is the third time, I have come to Villupuram. I am very happy to see all the people. Every year we meet all our friends and share all our joys and sorrows,” said Mallika Rai, a participant.

Most of the participants said they treated the annual event as a meeting hub.

“I live in Mumbai but I am originally from Madurai. I have studied till class tenth. When I became a transgender my father and mother were worried about me. 15 years back I went to Mumbai and I have been working there as a dancer. I have come here to take part in the “Koovagam” festival at Villupuram.

I got a chance to meet all my friends,” said Aishwarya Aiyer.

During this festival two elderly males tie the knot to symbolize warrior king Aravan’s wedding to Hindu God Krishna’s incarnation as a woman named Mohini.

According to Hindu mythology, Aravan agreed to be sacrificed in war to salvage his family’s honour.

His only request before going to battle was that he be given the opportunity to experience one night of marital bliss before going to war.

His brothers searched everywhere, but could not find a woman who would readily accept widowhood.

Finally, Lord Krishna, in the form of a woman, helped Aravan fulfill his desire.

To mark the event, transsexuals come dressed as brides to marry the warrior deity.

On the same day, after getting married they cut their ‘mangal sutra’ (thread worn by women after marriage) to become widows.

Then they cry and beat their chests, to mourn their widowhood.

After this, they bathe in a water tank and drape themselves in white saris and vow that they would return the following year to make the same sacrifice.

India has some 500,000 transsexuals with Tamil Nadu alone accounting for 30,000. By Jai Kumar (ANI)

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What Richard Nixon would have said had the Moon landing failed

April 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, April 20 (ANI): Almost 40 years since the successful Moon landing, a document has emerged that contains former US President Richard Nixon’s speech, which would have been read out to the American public in the case the mission had ended in failure.

According to a report in the Telegraph, the typed document, entitled “In the event of Moon disaster”, was consigned to an archive until now.

It is dated July 18, 1969 – two days before the landing was due – and was prepared by Nixon’s speech writer, Bill Safire, and sent to White House chief of staff Harry Haldeman.

As Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon on July 21, 1969, his immortal words “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” became synonymous with the scale of the achievement.

However, in the event that astronauts Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin had been stranded on the Moon, Nixon would have delivered a far more chilling address to the nation.
After calling their widows, he would have told the watching millions, “Fate has ordained that the men who went to the Moon to explore in peace will stay on the Moon to rest in peace.”

“These brave men know there is no hope for their recovery but they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice. These two men are laying down their lives in mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding,” he would have said.

Nixon would have further said, “They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.”

“In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man,” he would have said.

The document reveals that Nixon would have added, “Man’s search will not be denied but these men were the first and they will remain the foremost in our hearts,” would have been his statement.

Once the speech had been delivered, Mission Control would have closed communications and a clergyman would have conducted a burial service.

However, following the success of the mission, the document was laid aside in Nixon’s private papers in America’s national archives. (ANI)

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Women separatists stage protest in Kashmir

March 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Mar 8 (ANI): In the leadership of Muslim Khawateen Markaz (MKM) Chairman Zamrooda Habib, women activists of separatist groups took to the streets here on Sunday.

Hundreds of women under the aegis of Muslim Khawateen Markaz, and took out a protest march towards the United Nations office here.

The protesters said they were protesting to draw the attention of the international community to solve the Kashmir dispute.

“We are celebrating the Women’s Day and asking the international community how many more widows? How many more orphans? How long? They have to come forward to solve the Kashmir problem without a delay. Today we are registering our protest and we are calling this Women’s Day as Widow’s Day, Human Rights Violation Day, Orphans’ Day and Illegal Detention Day,” said Zamrooda Habib, Chairman, Muslim Khawateen Markaz.

However, the protestors were stopped by the police from proceeding ahead. Many among them also courted arrest. (ANI)

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The Beatles’ music being immortalised in ‘Rock Band’ game

March 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, March 6 (ANI): Musical compositions of The Beatles are being immortalised in a new video game.

Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the widows of their bandmates have permitted the use of the band’s music in the game, to be called The Beatles: Rock Band.

The game is expected be available in markets across the world by September this year.

It will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii.

The game will come with a limited number of instruments issued that are modelled after guitars, basses and drums used by John Lennon, MCCartney, George Harrison and Starr.

Giles Martin, the son of legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin, is overseeing the project.

“This game will take you on a journey from the Beatles first album Please Please Me until the last album at Abbey Road,” Contactmusic quoted The Beatles’ Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones as saying.

McCartney added: “I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out.” (ANI)

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Katie Holmes to star in ‘The Extra Man’

January 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Jan 21 (ANI): Actress Katie Holmes has reportedly signed on to star in big screen comedy ‘The Extra Man’.

According to reports, Holmes is starring alongside Paul Dano, John C. Reilly and Kevin Kline in the movie based on a Jonathan Ames novel, about a failed playwright who decides to work as an escort for wealthy widows.

Filming is reportedly slated to begin in New York in February (09), reports Contactmusic.

Recently, the actress completed an acclaimed stint in Broadway play ‘All My Sons’ and has been linked to another stage role in the upcoming theatre production of ‘Finding Neverland’. (ANI)

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Katie Holmes to star in ‘The Extra Man’

January 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Jan 20 (ANI): Actress Katie Holmes has been roped in to star in a comedy film titled “The Extra Man.”

The film, based on a novel by Jonathan Ames, will be helmed by Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini of ‘American Splendour’ fame.

Besides Holmes, the film will also star Kevin Kline, Paul Dano, and John C. Reilly.

Kline plays a failed playwright who works as an escort for rich widows on the Upper East Side. He develops a mentor-student relationship with a troubled aspiring playwright (Dano).

“This is a film for our times, these hilarious characters living on the edge of enormous wealth, scrapping for small pieces of the pie,” Variety quoted producer Anthony Bregman as saying.

“I suspect a lot of people will be able to identify nowadays,” he added.

The production will begin in February in New York. (ANI)

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