TresSugar

Life For Afghan Women: Not Better Under Karzai

TresSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:45:00 PDT

Women everywhere fight for their rights - but women in Afghanistan have it particularly bad.

BBC reporter Jane Corbin was invited by a French charity, based in Herat, Afghanistan, that treats women who have self-immolated. Most of these women set fire to themselves to escape a forced marriage or a violent husband. In the photo above, a woman comforts her 20-year-old daughter in the hospital. In an attempted suicide to protest a forced marriage to an elderly man and escape rumors of an affair with a younger one, she set fire to herself and now suffers from burns over 85 percent of her body.

Although women were promised equality and human rights by the introduction of democracy, a new constitution, and President Hamid Karzai’s presidency in 2004, the reality of their situation is still bleak.

Sixty percent of women are still forced into marriage as children, sometimes as young as nine or 10. Since Westerners intervened, this was supposed to have changed under a law that stated girls under 16 should not be married. But police don't always investigate the crimes, and male judges often reduce the sentences of men guilty of harming women.

Some women are standing up to the Taliban, which is trying to turn back any minuscule gains women may have from new leadership. Prosecutor Maria Bashir, who requires security guards and has survived bombing attacks, is trying to protect women from men even though laws are supposed to do this. Bashir does this even though it puts her family in danger - the son of another lawyer was beheaded by people who thought he was her son.

A news story today makes an Afghan woman's plight almost unthinkable: a law has passed that allows a man to starve his wife if she refuses his sexual demands. Some accuse Karzai of allowing this barbaric law to pass so that he can get support from the conservative Shia support in next week’s presidential election.

There is a sliver of hope: there are women activists like Bashir who risk their lives fighting for women’s rights and, in spite of an 80 percent illiteracy rate among Afghan women, girls still dream of going to school and having a career.

Shia LaBeouf Bulks Up at the Gym and Reveals Why Megan Fox Really Left Transformers

Katie Henry — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:52:00 PDT

Shia LaBeouf did his best to maintain a low profile as he exited a gym in LA yesterday. One thing that was evident, though, was his ripped arms, which were also on display during Shia's recent shirtless stroll with girlfriend Karolyn Pho. He's on the West Coast prepping for the June 29 release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Shia's joined in the movie by newcomer Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who famously replaced Megan Fox. Megan's departure from the project was surrounded in controversy and rumors that she left due to personality conflicts with the film's director, Michael Bay. Shia, not one to sugarcoat things, spoke about Megan Fox's absence in the new Transformers movie this week and said there was a difference of viewpoints between her and Michael. Shia said, "Megan developed this Spice Girl strength, this woman-empowerment [stuff] that made her feel awkward about her involvement with Michael, who some people think is a very lascivious filmmaker, the way he films women . . . Mike films women in a way that appeals to a 16-year-old sexuality. It's summer. It's Michael's style. And I think [Fox] never got comfortable with it. This is a girl who was taken from complete obscurity and placed in a sex-driven role in front of the whole world and told she was the sexiest woman in America. And she had a hard time accepting it. When Mike would ask her to do specific things, there was no time for fluffy talk. We're on the run. And the one thing Mike lacks is tact."

Shia LaBeouf Keeps His Lips and Arms on His New Girlfriend

Allie Merriam — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:58:48 PDT

Shia LaBeouf followed up a lunch date at Sweet Butter Cafe in LA yesterday by planting a kiss on his girl. He and his lady friend, who was spotted hanging out with the actor as far back as February, seem to be going strong as Shia enjoys a brief break from big-screen work. He'll be back in action with a big Summer release - check out the new trailer for Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which is out on July 1, shortly after Shia's big 25th birthday in mid-June. Promotion for that movie will see Shia back with Megan Fox's replacement, Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who was just ranked as the hottest woman alive by Maxim! He recently wrapped up shooting The Wettest County in the World along with costars Tom Hardy and Mia Wasikowska. Shia's also due to be back on set in the coming months in Horns, an adaptation of a book written by Stephen King's son Joe Hill.

Shia LaBeouf Swings By an Auto Body Shop With His Real-Life Leading Lady

Allie Merriam — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:02:00 PDT

Shia LaBeouf and his girlfriend Karolyn Pho were together to run errands in LA yesterday. The couple's afternoon itinerary included a stop by an auto body shop, and he was even gentlemanly enough to open her car door when they headed back home. Shia likely knows a thing or two about cars himself after working on three Transformers movies. He's gearing up for the release of the third film in the series, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, on June 29. Shia, along with many other people involved with the project, have been doing interviews to get word out about the blockbuster. Director Michael Bay recently revealed that Steven Spielberg told him to fire Megan Fox after the starlet made a comment about Hitler. Shia had his own thoughts on Megan's departure, saying it was because she "developed this Spice Girl strength, this woman-empowerment [stuff]."

Shia LaBeouf Considers Following in Ryan Gosling's Big-Screen Footsteps

Lindsay Miller — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:51:00 PDT

Shia LaBeouf was spotted in LA reading a script for the upcoming movie from Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn, Only God Forgives, yesterday. The actor downed some coffee and showed off his Dodgers pride in a sweatshirt as he reviewed the project. Refn's Drive, which stars Ryan Gosling, premieres tomorrow night at the LA Film Festival, and it appears that Shia might be Refn's next leading man. Only God Forgives is set in the underworld of boxing and prostitution in Bangkok and is also expected to feature Kristin Scott Thomas and Luke Evans. It's slated to start shooting in November, giving Shia a break after the worldwide press tour for Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The latest installment in the franchise hits theaters on June 29 and will be the first in the series to be both in 3D and feature model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Shia recently said he thought Rosie was a better fit for the lead in the film than his former costar Megan Fox.

Shia LaBeouf Grows a Pair . . . of Horns

Becky Kirsch — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:05:00 PDT

Ever wonder what Shia LaBeouf would look like with a pair of horns in his curly hair? Me neither, but we're about to find out. The actor has signed on for Horns, a film adaptation of a novel by the same name. Shia will star as the protagonist Ig, a 26-year-old who wakes up to find that his girlfriend has been murdered and he's been cursed with some devilish new headgear.

The novel was written by Stephen King's son Joe Hill (who is also set to play exec producer), so it's no surprise that the film is being described as a "love story driven by horror and vengeance." Sounds like a creepy Pinocchio-type story to me, but I'm intrigued by the blend of fantasy, terror, and romance. Have you read the best-selling book? And can you see Shia in the role?

Shia LaBeouf Tells Ellen About His Infamous Bar Fight - Good Story or Let It Go?

PopSugar — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:20:00 PDT

Shia LaBeouf didn't shy away from talking about the February bar fight that got him detained by LA police during his visit to The Ellen DeGeneres Show yesterday. He took responsibility for his role in the scuffle but said the brawl was prompted by a group of strangers, who started calling him names while outside smoking. The star of the upcoming Transformers: Dark of the Moon admitted to getting involved in the physical altercation and described the whole matter as "an awkward situation." He seemed to be trying to set the record straight during his chat with Ellen, but he also said the only person whose opinion really matters to him is his mother. So, tell us - was it right for Shia to rehash that night and try to explain what really happened, or should he have just left the unpleasant incident in the past?

Shia LaBeouf Grabs Lunch With a New Lady Friend and Haircut!

Allie Merriam — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 07:55:15 PST

Shia LaBeouf flaunted a new haircut and enjoyed PDA with a new female pal while out to lunch in LA on Saturday. The lucky lady had Shia's attention just before Valentine's Day, as he was one of the male stars you'd most like to spend the holiday alongside. Shia showed his softer side after a rough couple of weeks that included a fight at his favorite Sherman Oaks bar. He bounced back from the altercation by getting back to his daily routine and even making some time for work. He's currently enjoying time with friends old and new before reporting to the set once again, since he's gearing up to start shooting The Wettest County in the World with Tom Hardy and Mia Wasikowska.

Shia LaBeouf Show Signs of a Fresh Bruise Following His Latest Bar Brawl

Katie Henry — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:59:45 PDT

Shia LaBeouf rode his bike in Vancouver yesterday with what seemed to be a fresh bruise on the left side of his face. Shia was involved in a bar fight last week, and new video footage of Shia's fight shows the actor taking a blow to the cheek from an attacker. It's not the first time Shia's been involved in a scuffle. In February, Shia was allegedly thrown out of an LA pub for fighting, and, in August, he reportedly had a "meltdown" following an exchange of words with Marilyn Manson at an art opening. Shia's staying out of trouble on set, however, thanks to the watchful eye of director Robert Redford. Robert and Shia are in the midst of filming The Company You Keep, which is due out in 2012.

Shia Goes South of the Border While He Shoots in Canada

Lindsay Miller — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:42:20 PDT

Shia LaBeouf rode his bike to grab lunch at a taco joint in Vancouver yesterday. At one point Shia, who was listening to his iPod as he left the Mexican restaurant, adjusted his hat and let his curly haircut fly out. The actor is in Canada as he shoots Robert Redford's latest directorial effort, The Company You Keep. The thriller, which is based on a novel by the same name, also stars Chris Cooper and Stanley Tucci. Shia has been spotted spending his time away from the set exploring the city by himself, but before he headed North, Shia and his girlfriend Karolyn Pho spent much of the Summer together. The couple were first spotted together this February and their connection is seemingly both romantic and creative. The duo recently collaborated on a photography project with Marilyn Manson, which they unveiled in LA in September.