Hats off to actor / director Ben Affleck. His star is in the ascendant again after the success of “Argo” at the Oscars; but this week he’s living on a poverty diet, not a celebrity diet. Along with thousands of others he’ll take part in the ‘Live Below the Line’ challenge, to raise awareness of global poverty.  He’ll subsist for five days this week on $1.50 (£1) a day.

Over on this side of “The Pond”, there’s been a high-profile petition aiming to shame Cabinet Minister Ian Duncan Smith (Work & Pensions Secretary) into living for a while on a newly revised benefit limit of £53 / week, though I’m not sure for how long. Ben Affleck’s pledge is only for five days; but it was made voluntarily, so fair play to him, I say. It seems to me a good way to use one’s celebrity.

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For coverage of this story in “The Independent”, click HERE.