Look To The Stars News: Environment

Portman Honored for Charity Work

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

In Venice for its film festival, Natalie Portman has become the first recipient of the Movie for Humanity Award in recognition of her dedication to humanitarian causes.

This accolade from the Kineo Italian Movie Awards aims to recognize film artists who devote themselves to philanthropy, as Portman unquestionably has. Aside from launching the Village Banking Campaign with FINCA, speaking up for the endangered Rwandan Mountain Gorilla, and highlighting the plight of needy children around the world, she is an enthusiastic supporter of Tacare Girl’s Scholarship Programme of the Jane Goodall Institute in Tanzania.

The scholarship program, which carries out wildlife research in Tanzania, was established to create opportunities for women’s education and provide access to secondary and higher education, ultimately leading to job opportunities.

Portman’s $50,000 award prize money will go to the scholarship program.

“The Jane Goodall foundation does incredible work in Tanzania, an area which is very environmentally affected. I really appreciate this award,” Portman said.

The 27-year-old actress is making her directorial debut at the Venice Film Festival with a short film called Eve.

Singers Combine Talents To Support America’s Farmers

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Rachel Krause

A 23-year-old music tradition continues on September 20 as Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young grace the stage at Farm Aid 2008.

While it’s the first time the event will be in New England, it’s not the first time Farm Aid will make a lot of noise. With the mission of combining great music and a great cause, musicians and organizers hope to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep struggling family farms afloat.

While not often covered in the media, there is a crisis facing family farmers in the United States today. Farmers are under intense economic pressure, especially during a recession, and every year thousands are forced off their land. As a result, our quality of food, environment, and food security suffers as large factory farms dominate the rural countryside.

Some think that with that loss of small family farms comes a loss of America.

“We’re at a moment when a lot of people are asking, ‘What is America? What represents America?’ Certainly, I think that the family farm is a main ingredient of what made America,” says Dave Matthews, musician and member of the board of directors of Farm Aid since 2001.

With the scares of tainted tomatoes, spinach, and jalapenos still fresh in American’s minds, people are looking to local farmers to provide safe, delicious, and organic goods. As a result, family farmers are at a higher demand than ever before and it is important to keep these people financially safe and secure.

“There’s a new food movement sweeping the country and Farm Aid is doing all we can to promote that movement,” says Willie Nelson, well-known folk musician and president of Farm Aid.

Every year Farm Aid funds farm support organizations that assist farmers with services including financial and credit counseling, legal advice, and disaster and emergency services. After the recent flooding in the Midwest in June, Farm Aid provided emergency funds for families to buy food and cover living expenses, as well as provided groups to help farmers avoid foreclosure. However, without the nation’s attention and support, Farm Aid’s work could not continue. It is the annual high-profile concert that ultimately keeps Farm Aid alive and running.

“Farm Aid puts family farmers on center stage,” says Caryoln Mugar, Executive Director. “We shine a national spotlight on family farmers – for our food, our health, our environment, our country. Farm Aid has always done that.”

As the longest running benefit concert in America, its ties have remained strong with famous musicians. Young, Mellencamp, and Nelson first organized the event in 1985, which took place in Champlain, Illinois. Throughout its run, famous musicians such as Elton John, Billy Joel, and Bob Dylan have performed in the hope of saving America’s family farmers.

This year’s lineup includes the three founding members of Farm Aid, as well as Kenny Chesney, Jamey Johnson, Dave Matthews, and One Flew South. While the concert is sold out, Farm Aid is sponsoring the Farmer Hero Sweepstakes that will give one winner and three lucky guests the chance to see the concert — which takes place in Mansfield, Massachusetts — for free. There are two ways to enter. One is to simply enter your name and email address on the Farm Aid website. The second option is to submit a 150 word true story about a farmer who you believe is a true hero.

Even if you can’t make it to this year’s concert there are always ways to help support Farm Aid and its mission of saving the family farmer. Anyone can make a donation or become a member. Even a visit to the Farm Aid shop will help support family farmers.

Every little bit counts, as through the efforts of Farm Aid and people across the nation, over $30 million dollars has been raised to support the family farmer, which in turn, has helped build a sound agricultural future for America.

To learn more about Farm Aid 2008 and the sweepstakes, visit http://www.farmaid.org.

Metallica And Ozzy Donate To Charity

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Heavy metal legends Metallica will kick off their latest tour with two charity shows.

The Rock Gods will play a gig at O2 World in Berlin on September 12, to be followed by a concert at the O2 Arena in London three days later, with proceeds going to local charities which will be revealed in the next few weeks. Tickets are only available to the band’s fan club members and subscribers to www.MissionMetallica.com – the band’s website dedicated to their new album, Death Magnetic. The ticket price will be as low as £5 (US$10).

The band – who have performed at a variety of benefit concerts in the past, including Live Earth, the Bridge School concerts, and the Silverlake Conservancy – are no strangers to giving their concert proceeds to charity. Following their performance at Live Earth, the band’s drummer Lars Ulrich announced that fans could download the performance, with all money raised benefiting climate charities hand-selected by the band – including the Sierra Club, Apollo Alliance, WWF, and the Rainforest Action Network.

In other heavy metal news, Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Counting Crows, Black Tide, Kingdom of Sorrow, Devildriver, As I Lie Dying, and The Dillinger Escape Plan are some of the artists who have donated autographed items to the Ride For Dime charity auction. Autographed guitars, posters, CD sleeves and other rock memorabilia are all up for grabs to raise money for Ride For Dime, a charity named after former Pantera guitarist Darrell “Dime” Abbot, who was shot and killed onstage in 2004. The organization gives back to the charities that were of interest to Dime during his life as well as charities he would have been proud to be a part of. Ride For Dime will raise money on behalf of three charities, Little Kids Rock, Covenant House, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

The auction can be accessed via Ride For Dime’s eBay page.

Shakira Wins Humanitarian Award

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Colombian pop star Shakira proved hips don’t lie when she received an ALMA award on Sunday for the humanitarian work she has been doing for Latin America’s impoverished children.

The American Latino Media Arts awards – hosted by Eva Longoria – celebrated the achievements of Latin American performers, with accolades going to America Ferrera, Linda Ronstadt, and Charlie Sheen.

Shakira, who is a UNICEF Ambassador and recently took part in concerts to bring a stop to civil unrest in Colombia, received the award for her work to improve the lives of children in Colombia and Latin America.

“I feel unworthy to accept this award because we have only scratched the surface,” said the singer. “There is still so much to be done.”

Shakira founded Pies Descalzos – a Colombian charity that runs special schools for poor children – in 1997. She has taken part in a multitude of benefit concerts and has visited many people affected by natural disasters, including the victims of Hurricane Sidr in Bangladesh. It was revealed at the 2007 Clinton Global Initiative that she had donated a massive $40 million to help the victims of natural disasters around the world. Earlier this year she acted as Chairperson for the Global Campaign for Education’s Action Week to generate awareness about the Education for All Act, during which she spoke with a number of world leaders to promote a move towards Global Education.

Linkin Park To Play Charity Concerts In China

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rockers Linkin Park are set to play two charity concerts in China in October.

The shows will take place on October 12 at the 80,000-seat Shanghai Stadium and on October 19 at the 72,000-seat Beijing Workers’ Stadium, and will feature top Taiwanese rock group Mayday. Each band will perform for about 90 minutes to – according to organizers – make it the “first ever East meets West rock concert” in China.

Proceeds from the concerts will be donated to Linkin Park’s Music for Relief – a charity they established in 2005 to provide aid to victims of natural disasters around the world – to help with reconstruction of China’s quake-devastated Sichuan Province. Lead vocalist Chester Bennington said the band hopes the concerts will call more attention to the ongoing efforts in the quake-affected areas and that they are proud to be helping the people in need.

Tickets, from 100 yuan (US$14) to 1,600 yuan (US$230), are available from www.ticketmaster.cn.

Bill Clinton Speaks At AIDS Conference

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The eyes of the world are this week firmly fixed on AIDS 2008, the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

The week-long conference officially opened on Sunday night, and last night (August 4) featured a rousing speech by former US president Bill Clinton.

“AIDS is a very big dragon. The mythological dragon was slain by Saint George, the original knight in shining armor, but this dragon must be slain by millions and millions of foot soldiers," he told activists, leaders, and experts who gathered for the conference. “We know there is so much yet to be done: to expand prevention, treatment and care, to strengthen undeveloped health systems.”

The conference will draw around 25,000 participants from across the globe, including Oxfam Ambassador Annie Lennox, UN head Ban Ki-moon, Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Margaret Chan, and Keren Gonzalez – a 12-year-old from Honduras who has been actively involved in a number of HIV-related programs aimed at young people since the age of 9, including acting as editor for a magazine aimed at children aged 8 to 12 years affected directly and indirectly by HIV/AIDS.

AIDS 2008 will provide many opportunities for the presentation of important new scientific research and for productive, structured dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to AIDS. The conference theme of Universal Action Now emphasizes the need for continued urgency in the worldwide response to HIV/AIDS, and for action on the part of all nations. International partners in the event include UNAIDS, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations, the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS/International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, the World YWCA, and the Asian Harm Reduction Network.

Bill Clinton flew to the conference from Africa, where he had been visiting projects funded by the Clinton Foundation to fight AIDS and malaria.

“Today 1.4 million people with AIDS are using treatments purchased by the Clinton Foundation,” he said. “Thanks to the efforts of our partners, they cost about 120 dollars a year.”

More information about the conference can be found at www.aids2008.org.

Maggie Gyllenhaal Wants To See Your Climate Change Videos

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:30:00 -0000

A new video competition will give ordinary Americans the chance to impress Maggie Gyllenhaal with films about their commitment to climate change.

Brighter Planet and 1Sky have introduced the Climate Matters Video Contest to give Americans everywhere the opportunity to inspire their next president to take bold climate action. Anybody can enter – all they need is inspiration to save the planet and a video camera. This October, the top 10 videos will be featured during a Washington D.C.-based event for the media, Congress and both presidential campaigns. These top videos will also be broadcast to millions via Link TV, FSTV, and online at venues including www.think.mtv.com.

“We know Americans are inspired to take climate action; they’re already taking steps everyday,” said actress and Climate Matters juror Maggie Gyllenhaal. “I’m excited to see what people create.”

Gyllenhaal joins a panel of judges that includes Rory Kennedy, Emmy award-winning documentary producer; Tia Lessin, the supervising producer of Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine; and Leila and Nadia Conners, the producers/directors of Leonardo DiCaprio’s 11th Hour. The winner of the Climate Matters Video Contest will receive a $3,000 Brighter Planet Visa Gift Card; the second and third place winners will receive $1,000 and $500 Brighter Planet Visa Gift Cards respectively.

To enter the Climate Matters Video Contest, contestants can upload a 30- or 60- second video encouraging bold climate change action to the Climate Matters website. Videos must relate to the topic of climate change and be uploaded between now and September 22, 2008. The winners will be announced on September 29, 2008.

Harrison Ford and Sam Waterston’s Water Awards

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Orange County, California, kicked off this summer season with their largest fund raiser yet, The SeaChange Summer Party.

Held at a private estate on Laguna Beach, the event raised $1 million through ticket sales and auction to benefit Oceana, an organization that campaigns to protect and restore the world’s oceans. Actors Harrison Ford and Sam Waterston were honored at the event for their ongoing, significant ocean conservation efforts.

“We have done great things before in the human history,” said Ford. “We can do it again. Let’s not let this award be an empty vessel – let’s work for fundamental transformation – a real SeaChange in ocean policy.”

Several celebrities attended the event including Beau Bridges, Calista Flockhart, Diane Keaton, Diane Lane, Jeff Goldblum and Ted Danson.

Danson, who is a board member of Oceana, explained some of Oceana’s causes and projects to Variety:

“Basically, 70% of all the world’s fisheries have been fished to the brink of collapse; 30% of them have collapsed. Also habitat destruction: We have worked with fisheries and councils in the Northern Pacific and along the California coast to put aside 500,000 square miles of ocean floor the bottom trawler cannot make use of anymore.

“Also a pollution campaign that we have at Oceana – seafood contamination: one out of every six women of child bearing years has too much mercury in her system to safely give birth to a child without the possibility of neurological damage.

“These issues are so big, and there is a ticking clock.”

Due to the huge success of The SeaChange Summer Party, organizers are hoping it will become an annual fundraising event. So is Oceana.

Jack Johnson Energizes The Village Green In Germany

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Look to the Stars co-founder Myrlia volunteered with Jack Johnson’s All At Once Campaign at his recent concert in Munich, Germany.

At the age of 17, professional surfer Jack Johnson had an accident which left him hospitalized, and gave him the time he needed to discover that music is where his heart lies. While recovering, Jack wrote songs and played his guitar, and since 2001 has released five albums and built up a huge fan base all around the world. The ocean definitely has a hold on him, though, and in Jack’s relaxed yet energizing music you can almost hear the sound of the cool waves caressing the golden sands of Hawaii.

With his surfing past, Jack and his wife, Kim, find it natural to work at educating people about the environment. At each one of his concerts, a “Village Green” is set up, and here a booth for Jack’s All At Once Campaign is manned by volunteers who share the same passion for this cause. Several local charities are invited to set up tables in the Village Green, and help concert-goers learn how they can make a difference close to home.

Davis Eckard, who organizes the volunteers for Jack’s concerts, says that Jack and Kim are the driving force behind the All At Once Campaign and the Village Green, and that their enthusiasm for protecting the planet is why Jack spends so much time on the road.

“[The Village Green] is why we are all here today. If it weren’t for this, for you, Jack wouldn’t be touring,” Davis told the volunteers before the show. “Without you, this doesn’t happen.”

Helpers car-pooled, took trains, cycled and walked in from all over Germany for this event, with one large volunteer contingent even coming over from Slovenia.

Dennis, a local volunteer, told me, “First of all, I love the music. It’s a good chance to combine music with doing something sustainable.”

I spoke with New Orleans resident, Mary, and her sons, who were in the area on vacation. Mary signed them all up as volunteers as a surprise.

“We come from New Orleans, and we’ve had many volunteers come through. I thought it would be neat to see how we can help give back,” Mary explained.

Her son Mark added, “I think this is an important cause, because if we don’t start now, what are we leaving for our kids?”

Introducing kids to nature is exactly what one of the local charities, NaturSchutz Jugend (“Conservation Youth”), is doing. NaJu is the biggest environment organization for young people in Germany, focusing on environmental education and nature conservation. They help children experience nature through games and adventures at parks, rivers and in nearby forests.

Another charity in attendance was Munich’s Green City. With more than 40 highly-active volunteers, this group works to improve the city’s quality of life through ecological urban planning.

The Surfrider Foundation was also on hand to let Jack’s fans know about their Rise Above Plastics campaign. They are urging people to reduce the use of plastics, illustrating the problem using the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” — an area twice the size of the continental US which is filled with 100 million tons of plastic.

Jack greeted the volunteers personally before the doors opened, and spent time talking to each of the charities’ representatives. He ignored the urging of his crew to hurry backstage so the doors could open, and instead graciously listened to the volunteers, posed for pictures, smiled and thanked everyone for taking the time to be there.

Once he was backstage, the fans came pouring in, eager to get as close to the stage as possible. It was time for the All At Once volunteers to get to work, handing out Village Green Passports. The booklets explain what the campaign is, and give fans access to downloadable music and the chance to win prizes – such as a skateboard – only available to win at Jack’s concerts, or the opportunity to watch Jack’s performance from the stage.

Volunteers enjoyed tunes played by G Love and Special Sauce and mingled with the crowd, sharing stories about Jack’s music and the environment. Veronika, one of the volunteers, said she wanted to meet new people, see Jack Johnson and help protect the environment, and she was easily able to do all three things that sunny afternoon.

Sadly, however, the weather didn’t stay nice, and about four songs into Jack’s set it began to rain. But the downpour did nothing to dampen the crowd’s spirits, with the music and cheering drowning out the storm’s thunder.

Jack will be back on the other side of the Atlantic starting in August, with concerts scheduled across Canada and the US until the end of the month. For more information about how you can volunteer, visit the All At Once Community.

Linkin Park To Accept Donation

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rockers Linkin Park will be in New York today, July 24, to accept a $25,000 check for their Music for Relief organization.

Singer Mike Shinoda and bassist David “Phoenix” Farrell will be on hand at the Champs Sports store on Times Square at 11:30am to receive the donation, which will be used to benefit victims of natural disasters. The donation has been made by Major League Baseball’s Authentic Collection and Champs Sports, both of which are sponsors of the band’s current Projekt Revolution tour.

The occasion is being used to highlight the issues Music For Relief and Linkin Park are working to alleviate, including their work to respond to natural disasters as they occur to help victims recover and rebuild, with an emphasis on housing, education programs and resources. The organization, which the band established in 2005, also aims to prevent and decrease future natural disasters by reducing greenhouse gasses, seeking renewable forms of energy, and educating the public about climate change.

In the past, Linkin Park has helped raise money to benefit victims of Hurricane Charley in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. They also helped relief efforts for the 2004 Tsunami victims by staging several charity concerts, and organized an auction last year to help victims of the California wildfires.

Farm Aid 2008 To Rock New England

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rocker John Mellencamp has unveiled the main acts set to kick up a storm at Farm Aid 2008.

The concert – which will take place on September 20 – will be held for the first time in New England, and will see performances by Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and Willie Nelson, all of which are on the board of directors for Farm Aid. More acts will be announced over the next few weeks.

“We are proud to bring our annual Farm Aid concert to a region that has such strong agricultural roots and to the many people who love to eat the good food grown in New England,” said Nelson, Farm Aid’s president. “I’m looking forward to bringing my friends together on the Farm Aid stage to celebrate and support family farmers."

Now entering its 23rd year, Farm Aid has raised more than $23 million for family farms and organic agricultural initiatives since the first concert in 1985. A plethora of stars have appeared at the concerts to increase awareness of the importance of family farms over the years, including Jon Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, Vince Gill, Sammy Hagar, Don Henley, Billy Joel, Charley Pride, and Lou Reed.

“New England was built on the strength of independent family farmers,” said Mellencamp. “We can honor that independent spirit by joining Farm Aid to grow the movement that is changing the way all of America eats.”

The concert will take place at the Comcast Arena in Mansfield. Tickets go on sale July 28 through Ticketmaster.

Leonardo DiCaprio Has Time For The Environment

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Leonardo DiCaprio has joined forces with Swiss watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre to confront global environmental issues and promote eco-friendly causes by creating the “Time to Care” program to benefit the Leonardo DiCaprio Fund at the California Community Foundation.

The company will release two new and unique timepieces this Fall that feature DiCaprio’s signature and endorsement, with 100% of the proceeds going to some of the environmental organizations supported by the California Community Foundation around the world – including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Global Green.

The first of the watches will be a one-of-a-kind Master Compressor Extreme Lab, as worn by DiCaprio to the premiere of his documentary, The 11th Hour. Valued at approximately $300,000, the watch will be engraved with Leonardo DiCaprio’s signature, and be crafted in carbon fiber and titanium. It will feature an automatic tourbillon, two time zones, a pointer-type AM/PM indication at 12 o’clock and a patented jumping date display. This revolutionary concept watch features the first mechanical movement to operate without any lubricant and it is resistant to extreme temperatures of -40 degrees to +60 degrees Celsius – which is just what you need for global warming.

The second watch for sale will be a one-of-a-kind edition of the Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2 which, apart from having one of the coolest names ever, contains the first-ever spherical tourbillon – a great little gizmo invented in 1795 to counter the effects of gravity on timepieces… a very important thing if you ever find yourself in space or late for work. It also contains a 50-hour power reserve and will be worth around $400,000.

As well as being an eco-warrior, DiCaprio is also well known for his passion for Jaeger-LeCoultre watches. At the premiere of 2007’s “Blood Diamond” he wore a platinum Master Minute Repeater, and is known to own several more of their pieces.

The watches will be available through stockists of Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces.

Wyclef Jean Pushes For Economic Change In Haiti

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Hip hop artist Wyclef Jean spent five days in his native Haiti last week to further his humanitarian efforts in the impoverished Caribbean nation, and used the visit to call for serious economic change.

The 35-year-old rapper – born in the Haitian village of Croix-des-Bouquets – stated that the country needs foreign investment and assistance with sustainable development to help its people beat the poverty and food shortages that are crippling its economy, not just charity and handouts that could cause Haiti to become even more dependent on other nations than it is now.

"I understand that there is a food crisis that needs to be addressed urgently, but at the same time donors need to inject funds in projects likely to bring sustainable results,” Jean told Reuters. “Charity will never solve Haiti’s problems. Haitians want jobs, they want to develop their agriculture to produce food, not to everlastingly receive food assistance. To solve the economic crisis, we need investments and to have investments we need security. To have security we have to start addressing the social problems in the most vulnerable and underprivileged neighborhoods.”

Jean, who was appointed as a roving ambassador for the country by President Rene Preval last year, has been working tirelessly to help Haitians in their day-to-day struggle to survive. He established the Yéle Haiti Foundation in 2005 to make a difference in education, health, environment and community development, and in May he launched an initiative to raise $48 million to expand food distribution and provide assistance to farmers. He has also urged Haitians to cut their high crime rate to make foreign investment more secure.

“Social and economic change will remain a utopian dream if we remain divided,” he said.

Celebrities Get Hung On The Line

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Did you know there are over 88 million electric clothes dryers in the US? Did you know each of these uses 6% of the total electricity usage per household, second only to the refrigerator? And did you know a group of celebrities are trying to educate Americans about the environmental benefits of drying clothes on a clothes line?

Rachel Bilson is at the forefront of the campaign, and is joined by stars such as Olivia Newton-John, and Dannii Minogue in trying to get people back to basics to get their clothes dry. And they are full of reasons why nature beats electricity every time:

Clothes typically last longer without the duress of a machine dryer.
Exposure to sunlight is the best natural bleach for your clothes. Worried about fading clothes, simply hang them inside out.
The sun’s ultraviolet rays are an antiseptic and kill bacteria.
Line Drying is perfect for things that can’t go in the dyer – rubber-backed throw rugs, car mats, extra large blankets.
Line Drying inside on a retractable or folding clothesline is a great humidifier for your plants, skin and hair.
Line Drying is good for your health. Not only is it great exercise, if you are line drying outside you get some fresh air, and the little bit of sunlight that you need everyday.

“There is nothing that I love more than to take time to clear my head and hang the washing out on the line on a beautiful day – it makes your clothes and linens smell so good and it is very eco-friendly,” said Olivia Newton-John. “Our planet is our responsibility to take care of and line drying is one way in which we can all do our part to help the environment.”

More information on the campaign can be found at their website.

Sigourney Weaver Awards Outstanding Women In Conservation

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actress and environmentalist Sigourney Weaver played Master of Ceremonies last month at the Audubon Society’s annual Women In Conservation award luncheon in New York.

Among the recipients of Audubon’s Rachel Carson Award was Bette Midler for her extraordinary contribution to conservation and the environment.

Specifically, Midler was being recognized for her New York Restoration Project (NYRP), which she founded in 1995 as a response to her initial disappointment to the visual pollution when she first moved to New York City.

In an interview with Good Housekeeping Magazine, Midler said, “I was so upset, I didn’t sleep for weeks… I’m not used to the kind of carelessness and waste that I was seeing. People were throwing their garbage out the window, leaving their lunches on the ground. Finally, I realized I needed to actually do something, even if I had to pick up the stuff with my own hands.”

In the belief that “clean, green neighborhoods are fundamental to the quality of life and that every community in New York City deserves an oasis of natural beauty,” NYRP accomplishments over the past decade include: the establishment of dozens of gardens and saving others from development; the creation of a park out of a dumping ground and raising millions of dollars to restore and develop under-resourced parks; the removal of nearly 1000 tons of garbage and debris from project sites and cleaning up over 400 acres; funding economic redevelopment of waterfront; and, last Fall, the planting of the first of a million more trees in the city.

The Audubon Society, founded over a century ago, recognizes women who show such leadership, energy and endurance with the Rachel Carson Award. Carson was an environmental maverick in her own right, who contributed to the movement in the early 60s when she proved that toxic chemicals used in agriculture were lethal to wildlife and humans alike.

Daryl Hannah - Saving The Oceans And Their Treasures

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:38:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Passionate about the environment, actress Daryl Hannah is lending her voice and talents to various projects.

Her latest effort is a role in the TV movie Shark Swarm, where her character fights a real estate developer who, in an effort to starve out seaside property owners unwilling to sell, poisons the waters with toxic sludge to kill the fish and unwittingly turns local shark populations into deadly predators who hunt humans in packs.

In an interview with New York Vue, Hannah said she hoped the film would “bring attention to sharks and the terrible things that are happening to them.” Besides warming waters and pollution, sharks must also contend with wasteful fishing practices: “They cut off the fins and throw [the live shark] back in the ocean.”

She also narrated Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Dolphins and Whales 3D, in theatres since February. The film brings the elusive ‘tribes of the oceans” to the big screen, allowing viewers to practically reach out and touch them and become personally involved in their underwater lives, “interacting socially, communicating through their highly complex system of sounds, playing, feeding, breeding, migrating and perpetually fighting for their survival.”

Hannah is also heavily involved with the Reef Check Foundation, an organization dedicated to conserving and restoring tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs by creating partnerships between businesses, universities, government agencies and volunteers.

Due to pollution, illegal fishing, and over-fishing, reefs have been in crisis for over a decade. Reef Check studies have shown that “there is virtually no reef in the world that remained untouched by human impact.”

“Unfortunately, there isn’t enough being done to protect the ocean,” Hannah told Diver Magazine. “It doesn’t factor as large as it should in the climate crisis debate.”

“If reefs are in trouble, so are we,” said Dr Earle, former Chief Scientist of the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. “I think what Reef Check is doing is phenomenal: inspiring and motivating scientists, volunteers and the general public to take care of our ocean.”

Through Reef Check community’s data gathering, partnerships, and management through sustainable use, however, there is clear evidence that rehabilitation of reefs is possible.

Bill Clinton Refocuses On Charity

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:36:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Former US president Bill Clinton is fueling a new charity drive for both the corporate world and the community at large.

World wide poverty, climate change and health care – all issues of his own Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) – were on the agenda as Clinton spoke in Manhattan last week. CGI, a project of the Clinton Foundation since 2005, aims to link global leaders with real solutions to world problems.

Already this year CGI has several projects under way. Visa Inc has committed to small business development and literacy for 10 million people over five years; the Energy and Resources Institute has committed to bringing solar light to millions of rural Indians who normally rely on kerosene lanterns after dusk; Fundación Paraguaya is to provide education for sustainable agriculture in developing countries over the next 10 years; Standard Chartered Bank maintained its commitment to microfinance African and Asian institutions to benefit millions of farmers and negotiated a hydro-power project in Uganda to reduce emissions and decrease power costs; and Action by Lizzy Dupont has produced practical, instructional health videos in sign language for the deaf in Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Morocco.

Clinton said, “Health care problems are profound, many people go to bed hungry every night, one in four deaths every year are claimed by AIDS, TB, malaria and infections related to contaminated water.”

Besides endorsing the current US policy of both distributing food to the needy as well as cash to famine-area farmers, Clinton also made mention to his New York audience of issues specifically affecting Americans at home.

“In this decade we’ve had the biggest increase in income inequality in America in 80 years… Income is 1,000 dollars lower today than the day I left office, while health care costs have doubled. At any given time in the year about 100 million will be without health care and the cost of a college education is up 75 percent. The average debt of a college graduate is 50 percent higher than it was at the beginning of this decade. You see that there is a fair amount of inequality problems in America and climate change affects us all.”

Lindsay Lohan Wants You To Swap Clothes

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:32:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Lindsay Lohan wants to swap her clothes… for charity.

The 21-year-old star of Mean Girls, Herbie Fully Loaded, Just My Luck, and The Parent Trap is encouraging shoppers in the UK to swap their unwanted clothes at the Visa Swap Shop store in Covent Garden, London, in support of TRAID – Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development.

“I am so excited to be involved with this year’s Visa Swap event,” said the actress. “The concept of swapping clothes, getting something for nothing and refreshing your wardrobe appeals to everyone. Ethical stories continue to dominate the news agenda and it’s great when fashion projects benefit charities.”

It is the second year the initiative – which involves people swapping their old clothes for points on their Visa card – has been run, and Lohan has already taken part in a photo shoot for the program. Last year’s campaign was headed by Mischa Barton.

“I had such a great time at the Visa Swap campaign shoot,” said Lohan. “The clothes I wore were all vintage designer pieces which you just don’t see every day!”

More information on how to get involved can be found on the TRAID website.

Hayden Panettiere Is Saving the Whales, Again

Tue, 27 May 2008 11:18:58 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Passionate about stopping the slaughter of whales, dolphins, and seals, Hayden Panettiere is taking her cause out of her closet and into the American presidential race.

Panettiere is not only auctioning some of her outfits and a whale watching tour for six “through the Channel Islands to witness some of the most spectacular whale feeding grounds and have the chance to see the ever-elusive Blue Whale” to benefit the Whaleman Foundation’s Save The Whales Again, she has also hit the campaign trail.

Hayden has given speeches at American universities and met with political figures to get ‘abolishing the whale hunts’ back onto the political agenda. Following meetings with American congressmen, she then approached representatives of Iceland, Japan, and Norway to challenge their archaic practices.

“Whales face increasing threats from climate change, ship strikes, entanglement in nets, and chemical and noise pollution, yet Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to kill them in increasing numbers,” Panettiere said at a press conference. “Polls show that 59% of Americans would be more willing to vote for a candidate who takes a strong stand on whaling. I want our voice to be heard.”

Although many people think whales were saved back in the ‘70s with the moratorium on commercial whaling, Whaleman Foundation’s president Jeff Pantukhoff says, “nothing could be further from the truth.” Since the moratorium went into effect, over 25,000 whales have been killed.

Pantukhoff – who is also the Director of Save the Whales Again! Campaign – said, “Over two thirds of registered voters want our government to do something about it, yet to this point, little has been done to stop the increasing slaughter. We need the United States to reflect the will of its people and lead the way in taking all necessary actions against Japan, Norway, and Iceland until the killing stops.”

Harrelson, Hayek Play For Charity In Cannes

Fri, 23 May 2008 10:52:23 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Competitors Alice Taglioni and Woody Harrelson came out on top at the Partouche Charity Poker Festival on May 17th in Cannes. The two fought it out at the tables until 1 AM before conceding that they were both winners, and agreeing to split the $1 million pot between their chosen charities.

Taglioni’s $500,000 will go to the French association Enfants et santé, which helps children affected by leukemia and other diseases, while Harrelson’s winnings are going to Oasis Preserve International, an ecological charity acting for the worldwide ecosystem preservation.

Eliminated players will also receive checks for their charities of choice. Goldie Hawn was playing for the The Hawn Foundation, Salma Hayek played for her Salma Hayek Foundation, Edward Norton was hoping to win for the National Landscape Conservation Foundation, Tim Robbins was in for The Actors Gang, Dennis Hopper attended for the Center For American Progress and Adrien Brody did not disclose his charity.

After the game, all players were interviewed by Sogimage camera teams and invited to comment on their experience. The resulting show will be broadcast all around the world, presenting the highlights of the tournament, as well as their glamorous arrivals at the Palm Beach Casino and interviews.

Wyclef Jean Forms Partnership For Haiti Food Crisis Help

Fri, 23 May 2008 10:52:00 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Musician Wyclef Jean announced on Tuesday that his Yele Haiti Foundation has formed a partnership with two other charities to help address the growing food crisis in Haiti.

Rising food and fuel costs have left the Caribbean island nation’s poor unable to afford food, resulting in widespread hunger and even rioting. Haitian native Jean, who first made his name as a member of The Fugees, is joining forces with the United Nations World Food Programme and the Pan American Development Foundation to form Together for Haiti.

The programme hopes to raise $48 million, with which it will provide targeted food distribution, employment in agriculture regeneration programmes, and micro-enterprise grants.

At the Manhattan launch of the partnership, Wyclef Jean stressed the importance of helping the Haitian poor to help themselves:

“How can you make people in a poor economy entrepreneurs? Well, if you give these families five chickens and you give them food for these chickens and give then a cage they automatically become entrepreneurs. Because, they can eat now and they can raise the chickens and sell chickens.”

Together for Haiti is a natural extension to Jean’s Yéle Haiti Foundation, the goal of which the musician says is "to restore pride and a reason to hope, and for the whole country to regain the deep spirit and strength that is part of our heritage.”

For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.togetherforhaiti.org. Just 25 cents can buy a school meal for a hungry child.

Look to the Stars Asks Bryon Friedman

Tue, 20 May 2008 10:12:45 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Bryon Friedman is a well-established US Ski team member and world-class skier who has appeared in several World Cup Competitions while somehow finding the time to graduate from Dartmouth College (2005), pursue his love of music, and promote a noteworthy cause.

Friedman is a strong supporter of Heal the Snow, an organization dedicated to helping ski areas become more environmentally friendly. The organization is unique in the fact that it’s run by a board of well-educated professional skiers, including Friedman, and other athletes who’ve studied business, psychology and history.

“Heal the Snow is something that makes sense to me. It’s a great organization to support because its core values correlate with my personal values and those as a skier,” Friedman says on the website, “Over the past decade I have noticed a considerable change in the Winter climate and have been directly affected by the lack of snowfall in the early season. Its no longer a threat, it’s a reality and Heal the Snow is prepared to help those near and dear to skiing to make some changes to benefit our environment.

Look to the Stars caught up with Friedman to ask about his involvement with Heal the Snow, his musical career and Heal the Snow’s first project, the ‘Shred Wagon’, a ‘mobile hostel’ powered by solar energy and bio diesel that travels from resort to resort to provide affordable lodging for skiers.

Tell us a bit more about the Shred Wagon-was it a success? Is it a permanent feature?

The Shred Wagon is still around and is a success. Jesse Swing, the founder of Heal The Snow, plans to keep driving the wagon from resort to resort and promote sustainable living in ski towns. We are also planning a music fest in Park City in which the Wagon will be center stage.

Have you made any personal sacrifices in your life that you feel may help heal our world?

I wouldn’t classify them as personal sacrifices but I have donated a lot of time and energy into Heal The Snow and helping the organization reach their potential. It has become a passion of mine to help them succeed and in due time I’m positive they will.

In terms of your musical career, you’ve opened for the Doobie Brothers and Train. What can we expect next?

I love to play and I perform when I have time and I’m not skiing. We are actually recording our second album in June which I’m psyched for!

You were also filmed for a yet-to-be-released biography, can you tell us a little bit about it and if it’s going to be released soon?

I think so. It’s a project that a filmmaker friend of mine Allessandro Gentile took on last year, and he wants to document my return to World Cup competition and through the 2010 Olympics. I didn’t really know what to expect but it’s been a fun journey so far and he’s a great person to work with.

Look to the Stars would like to thank Bryon for taking the time to speak with us and for his continued support with Heal the Snow.

To read more from Brian Friedman, and his work with Heal the Snow, please visit his personal blog on Yardbarker and the Heal the Snow website.

Click here to learn more about Bryon Friedman’s music.

Want to write for us, or help with our research? Find out more about contributing.

Time's 100 - Tony Blair By Bill Clinton

Mon, 19 May 2008 10:54:57 -0000

President Bill Clinton wrote a tribute to Tony Blair’s philanthropic achievements for this year’s Time 100 list.

"When my friend Tony Blair stepped down as U.K. Prime Minister last year, I advised him to take some time off with his family and make a list of the issues he felt passionately about and that he could continue to pursue. It was the least he had earned after a decade of modernizing his country’s economy, making the U.K. one of the few nations to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions more than required to meet their Kyoto target and leading the G-8 to historic commitments to support Africa and fight global poverty.

Tony listened to my advice graciously but ignored it completely by immediately accepting a new job as Middle East envoy for the Quartet. I have always admired Tony’s willingness to wade into troubled waters. Ten years ago, he did a masterly job in helping to end 30 years of sectarian violence and broker a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Now he is demonstrating the dedication and intensity to promoting economic opportunity in the Middle East, learning from his Irish experience that showing the concrete benefits of peace can play a crucial role in making a just and lasting peace possible.

Tony, 54, also knows that even the benefits of an enduring peace in the Middle East and the dramatic reductions in terrorism it would bring could be wiped away if we don’t save the planet from the worst consequences of global warming. So he has taken on another big challenge: shaping a new global agreement to cut carbon emissions. Because my foundation is involved with projects to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in more than 40 large cities on six continents, I know how important and difficult Tony’s work is, and I look forward to the visionary leadership he will bring to it.
As his friend, I hope Tony finds fulfillment in advancing the public good as a private citizen. As a member of our interdependent global community, I thank him for not taking a day off when we need him the most.

Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President, started the William J. Clinton Foundation, to work towards ending poverty and AIDS. This organization also funded the Clinton Global Initiative, which focuses on environmental issues.

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