Sir Roger Moore in Cambodia and Vietnam
Former 007 visited Cambodia October 22-26 to promote the increased consumption and production of iodized salt to combat the threat of mental retardation and other disabilities caused by iodine deficiency. During his visit to Cambodia, Sir Roger travelled to Kampot, Cambodia's major salt-producing province, to discuss with salt producers the importance of increasing production and distribution of iodized salt. Sir Roger also had an audience with His Majesty, King Norodom Sihanouk, and met with members of the National Sub-committee for Control of IDD to discuss strategies for improving public awareness of the problem of IDD and the benefits of iodized salt consumption. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Sir Roger has made advocating for the elimination of IDD - as well as raising funds to combat it - a priority. In addition to his work for UNICEF, Sir Roger serves as honorary chair of Kiwanis International's Worldwide Service Project to raise US$ 75 million for eliminating IDD. Unicef.org
Sir Roger Moore attended a safety lecture Monday at a rural elementary school in central Vietnam. Moore was at the Ha Trung school to see water, sanitation and safety projects funded by the U.N. children's agency at schools where most kids do not have access to running water, let alone cable TV or movies. Standing outside a classroom in this poor village, Moore complimented the Ha Trung school on its success rate of achieving a 100 percent attendance for the community's 850 children. "That's much better than the inner cities in England and in Europe," he said. "If my education had been as good as yours ... I would be able to say all of this in Vietnamese." Wearing a white T-shirt with UNICEF's logo, Moore, 76, says he plans to continue circling the globe to promote better lives for children. He spent four days in Cambodia before coming to Vietnam and will next travel to Hong Kong for a benefit. "If you're employed by UNICEF, you have to retire at 60," he said, smiling. "If you're a volunteer, you go on until you drop."More than 200 children danced for Moore and sang the theme for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games, which Vietnam will host for the first time in December. Moore and his wife later sat in on a class about safety when crossing rivers, which claim the lives of many people each year throughout the country. Only 10 out of 32 students said they could swim. He said the visit to Vietnam gave him hope that children's lives can be improved with a little help, but he said more people from richer countries need to donate. "The world will never improve until it's a better world for children," he said. "Maybe that's utopia, but it's our idea of what will make a better world." Margie Mason for Associated Press
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