George Clooney’s saving grace is that he’s not just all about bimbos and getting liquored up. He’s also about politics and international advocacy work, and he actually makes an effort to stay well-informed. George formed Not On Our Watch in 2006 with Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and others as a way to funnel money to victims of genocide, as well as political and non-profit groups advocating on the behalf of victims. Clooney’s been to Darfur several times, and he’s raised millions of dollars for the cause. But it seems Clooney’s got his eye on another cause.

The Press Association is reporting that Clooney has joined British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Daniel Craig, David Beckham and Eddie Izzard in sending messages of support to imprisoned Burmese leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi for her 64th birthday. An advocacy website, 64forSuu.org is even going public.

Celebrities including George Clooney and David Beckham have joined Prime Minister Gordon Brown in preparing messages of support for Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Famous faces were asked to write 64-word messages of support for the political figure, which will be delivered on her 64th birthday on June 19.

She has been held under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years, and currently stands accused of breaking the terms of her confinement.

The launch of the website 64forSuu.org is timed to coincide with the date her imprisonment should have stopped.

It features a range of messages including one from Gordon Brown which reads: “I add my voice to the growing chorus of those demanding your release. For too long the world has failed to act in the face of this intolerable injustice. That is now changing.’

“The clamour for your release is growing across Europe, Asia, and the entire world. We must do all we can to make this Birthday the last you spend without your freedom.”

Stephen Fry, Eddie Izzard, Kevin Spacey and Sarah Brown will also submit Twitter entries to the site.

Various celebrities including Clooney, Beckham and James Bond actor Daniel Craig have signed a message from campaign group Not on Our Watch.

It says: “Nineteen years ago, the Burmese people chose Aung San Suu Kyi as their next leader. For most of those 19 years she has been kept under house arrest by the military junta that runs the country. We must not stand by as she is silenced again. Now is the time for the international community to speak with one voice: Free Aung San Suu Kyi.”

Supporters of the campaign can upload video, text or pictures, or twitter messages of support on the site.

[From The Press Association]

Suu Kyi is one of the most well-known current advocates of non-violent protest and democratic revolution in the world. Suu Kyi won the 1990 election to be Burma’s Prime Minister, despite being jailed since 1989 by the reigning military junta. Her non-violent stance is taken from both the teaching of Mohandas Gandhi and the tenets of Buddhism. Her political views, and the twenty years she has spent in prison or under house arrest has won her the support of everyone from celebrities to Pope John Paul.

In other Clooney political news, he’s chimed in about the California Supreme Court’s ruling on Proposition 8, where the court upheld the “will of the people”, yet allowed the thousands of gay marriages (pre-Prop to stand. Clooney told E! News: “This just should invigorate people to get it back on the ballot in 2010 and 2012 and every two years until all people are allowed a basic civil right.” Sounds like Clooney’s taking the long view – which is probably better. Better a slow burn than a quick flame.

George Clooney is shown filming scenes for his film ‘Up In The Air’ at the Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas on 5/14/09. Credit: Breeden, Thompsett, PacificCoastNews.com