Look To The Stars News: Animals

Roger Moore Is PETA's Person Of The Year

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Last week, Look To The Stars brought you a story about former 007 star Roger Moore’s fight to stop the production of foie gras, a product made from the livers of ducks and geese. We can now reveal that he has been named PETA’s Person of the Year for his dedication.

The 82-year-old actor recently stepped up his battle with British supermarket store Selfridges to stop them stocking the food by fronting an advertising campaign he paid for personally. He is passionately against the cruel way producers fatten the livers – up to two kilograms of mash are pumped into the birds’ stomachs through a pipe two or three times a day. The pipes sometimes puncture the birds’ throats, causing the animals to bleed to death.

“I am deeply touched and thrilled to be awarded the PETA U.K. person of the year,” said Moore. “When I first saw their video footage on foie gras production three years ago, I felt compelled to do something to help put a stop to this cruel delicacy. I have since become a passionate campaigner against foie gras, and am most humbled that my passion has helped make a positive difference in the lives of these animals.”

The actor also narrated a video about foie gras production that has been viewed over 300,000 times. He has led a hard-hitting campaign that has included writing to members of parliament to enlist their support in getting foie gras off the shelves, penned columns in national newspapers and magazines on the issue and coined the phrase “torture in a tin.”

And his campaigning has been worth it – Selfridges confirmed this week that it will no longer stock the product.

Harrison Ford To Host Environmental Charity Awards

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart will host a special event for Oceana this Friday, November 20, to honor Deepak Chopra and Arianna Huffington.

The 2009 Oceana Partners Award Gala honors those individuals who have made outstanding contributions through their personal commitment to the cause of protecting and conserving the environment. Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of 12 books. Dr. Deepak Chopra is the Founder of Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California and Manhattan, New York. He is also the author of many best-selling books.

Joining Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart in hosting the event will be Morgan Freeman, Jeff Goldblum, Trudie Styler, Sting, Robert Redford and Ron Howard. Working behind the scenes are Ted Danson and Sam Waterston.

The event will take place at the private residence of Keri Selig and Keith Addis in Los Angeles. To find out more about the event, visit the official website.

Hayden Panettiere Hits Hollywood For The Whales

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Heroes star Hayden Panettiere was out-and-about in Hollywood on Sunday, November 15, to support her favorite charity – the Whaleman Foundation.

The young star hit the Beso Restaurant to attend the Foundation’s benefit event. The Whaleman Foundation is an organization that aims to educate key decision makers – while raising public awareness – on the issues that affect cetaceans (dolphins, whales & porpoises) and their critical habitats through their films and media outreach.

Panettiere is a long-time supporter of the charity’s Save The Whales Again campaign, and has often helped with initiatives to help. In October, 2007, Panettiere joined Australian actress Isabel Lucas and other activists in a peaceful protest in Japan, to raise awareness of the 25,000 dolphins slaughtered by the nation every year. The group narrowly avoided arrest over the incident, but succeeded in diverting international media to the abhorrent and barbaric practices used to butcher the animals.

Ginnifer Goodwin Wants You To Adopt A Turkey

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Farm Sanctuary, the leading farm animal protection organization in the US, has unveiled two public service announcements urging compassion for turkeys this Thanksgiving starring actress Ginnifer Goodwin, star of HBO’s “Big Love” and the official 2009 spokesperson for the organization’s annual Adopt-A-Turkey Project (adoptaturkey.org), a national program designed to end the misery of commercially-raised turkeys.

A special Q&A with the star on celebrating a compassionate Thanksgiving, her recent visit to Farm Sanctuary, vegan living and much more is also available on the organization’s website.

“With so many delicious, cruelty-free Thanksgiving dishes available, there is no reason why any living being should have to suffer,” said Goodwin, who is joined by Magnolia, a rescued turkey who lives at Farm Sanctuary’s California Shelter, for the spots. “I encourage everyone to start a new, compassionate Thanksgiving tradition this year and Adopt-A-Turkey, rather than eat one.”

Each year 250 to 300 million turkeys are slaughtered for food in the U.S.— more than 45 million for Thanksgiving alone— resulting in thousands of birds being tightly confined in dark, filthy sheds, debeaked and detoed without anesthetic and bred to reach a crippling weight at an unnaturally fast rate.

The two spots, “Sponsor a Feathered Friend” and “Save a Life on Thanksgiving,” produced by Joshua Katcher of Perhaps Media (perhapsmedia.net) and featuring the song “Recite This in Faith” by the band USVS (myspace.com/usvs), were shot on location at Farm Sanctuary’s beautiful 300-acre Orland, California farm, located 100 miles north of Sacramento, and home to more than 300 animals rescued from abusive factory farming conditions. The organization is also releasing special “behind-the-scenes” footage of Goodwin discussing commercial turkey farming and fun bloopers and outtakes from the shoot.

The PSAs, “behind-the-scenes” footage and special Q&A with Ginnifer Goodwin can be found here.

For more information about Thanksgiving’s toll on turkeys and resources for celebrating a compassionate holiday, visit adoptaturkey.org.

Melanie Laurent Joins Greenpeace In Indonesia

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Inglorious Basterds star Mélanie Laurent was in Indonesia earlier this month for Greenpeace.

The star joined 50 activists in the Indonesian rainforest calling on world leaders to cut a fifth of global greenhouse emissions. As negotiators meet in Barcelona for the final round of talks before December’s critical UN climate summit in Copenhagen, the activists are tackling climate change at the frontline of rainforest destruction by damming the industrial drainage of carbon-rich peatlands in Indonesia.

Laurent and the activists built a dam across one of the many canals designed to drain the rainforest and peat soils in order to make way for plantations on the Kampar Peninsula on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. This destruction emits huge quantities of CO₂ and means that Indonesia is the world’s third largest climate polluter after China and the US.

“I am really sad to see how this once beautiful forest now more looks like a war zone,” said Laurent. “I am impressed with all of Greenpeace’s efforts here. What makes me more impressed is the spirit, I’ve visited the dam-building activity and see everyone working really hard. But I’ve never seen anyone looking down, everyone was working with passion and the spirit is high.”

To find out more about the Greenpeace Climate Defenders and Mélanie’s work with them, visit their official website.

Russell Simmons To Host Celebration FOR The Turkeys

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons is to host a very special event for Farm Sanctuary later this month as a compassionate benefit for turkeys – who get a tough time around Thanksgiving every year.

Celebration FOR The Turkeys will take place at Tavern on the Green in New York City on November 22, and will feature guest speaker Jonathon Safran Foer – author of “Eating Animals” – and special guests Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Peter Max and Ally Sheedy.

According to the organizers, the event will feature: "An elegant vegan brunch at the landmark Tavern on the Green from noon – 5 p.m. in Central Park. Our holiday meal, with menu design by Candle 79 served “family style,” will be followed by a festive reception featuring a spiced cider, hot cocoa, holiday nog, and desserts from the area’s favorite vegan pastry chefs and a Silent Auction for all your holiday shopping needs!"

Farm Sanctuary is an organization committed to combatting the abuses of factory farming and to encouraging a new awareness and understanding about “farm animals.” The charity advocates for laws and policies to prevent suffering and promote compassion, reaching out to legislators and businesses, and working to bring about institutional reforms.

To find out more about this event, click here.

Bryan Adams To Play Charity Concert On Friday

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0000

The Born Free Foundation has announced that Bryan Adams will be joining a major line up of stars for Wild & Live, the UK’s biggest ‘for one night only’ event in aid of the planet’s threatened wildlife.

Born Free Wild & Live! will be a unique celebration of wildlife, raising funds to help save the lives of 25,000 wild animals, stop suffering, rescue individuals and protect rare species.

Born Free Founder, actress and conservationist Virginia McKenna, spoke passionately about the star-studded line-up and the cause,   "I am overwhelmed – so many talented performers willing to stand up and be counted for animals in need."

Stars already signed up for Wild & Live, include Peter André, Mark Austin, Gabriella Cilmi, Martin Clunes, Rolf Harris, Joanna Lumley, Graham Norton and many more.

Long-time Born Free supporter Bryan Adams has sent us a message of encouragement from LA, calling on the public to back the event, “Wild & Live is a concert to help Born Free to save 25,000 animals. I’ll be there to lend my support – hope you will too.”

With tigers facing imminent extinction, lion populations crashing, elephants being butchered for their ivory, rhinos relentlessly pursued for their horns and gorillas lucky to see out the next century, the clock is counting down for some of the world’s most endangered wild species.

  Virginia McKenna OBE, recognized by The Queen for her services to conservation, said, “It’s a desperate situation for so many animals and we have to do something about it. Wild & Live gives us the chance to really make a difference and save endangered species. If you care about wildlife and love great entertainment then I urge you to join us!”

Wild & Live takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 14th November at 7:30pm and will showcase an international line-up of top stars from the world of music and entertainment.

Tickets on sale now so visit www.royalalberthall.com or call the ticket hotline today to guarantee your place at Wild & Live or call 0207 589 8212. Tickets start from £45.

Amber Valletta Joins IFAW Honorary Board Of Directors

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Actress Amber Valletta is lending a hand to the International Fund For Animal Welfare (IFAW), one of the world’s leading international animal welfare organizations, by becoming a member of its Honorary Board of Directors.

Ms. Valletta’s first act? Striking a pose for IFAW’s Tails for Whales campaign (www.ifaw.org/tailsforwhales). A call to action to protect the majestic marine species, Tails for Whales is a visual petition – an ever growing collection of photos with individuals’ hands posed in the shape of a whale’s tail. Ms. Valletta joins a troupe of celebrities, public figures and everyday individuals raising their hands in support of whale conservation. Actors Alexander Skarsgård,Goran Visnjic, Joely Fisher, Kristin Bauer, Ben Stein and Dylan Walsh, as well as authors, athletes, musicians and world renowned scientists, are among the familiar faces that have already posed and lent their support for the campaign.  

“Amber’s passionate efforts to create greater awareness about the environmental issues facing our planet and its wildlife are remarkable,” said Fred O’Regan, President and CEO, IFAW. “To have Amber share her voice with IFAW is an absolute privilege.”

“I am so proud to be a part of this fantastic organization,” said Ms. Valletta. “From saving the magnificent whales to the iconic polar bears, IFAW has done wonders to protect wildlife populations. I am excited to join the cause and help spread the word about IFAW’s campaigns.”

Ms. Valletta joins Leonardo DiCaprio, Keely and Pierce Brosnan, Ben Stein, Hal Prince, and Goran Visnjic as a member of IFAW’s Honorary Board of Directors. Her new clothing line, Amber Valletta for Monrow, launches at the LA-based Ron Herman boutique in November.

NYC Marathon Attracts Celebrities For Charity

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Regina Walton

The NYC Marathon took place last Sunday, and what a race! The NYC Marathon is one of the most difficult marathon courses around. However, that didn’t stop a long list of celebrities, athletes and even royalty from training and putting on their running shoes to benefit a long list of charities.

If we talked about them all, this article would be encyclopedic. To remedy that, here is the link to the NYC Marathon’s Famous Faces 2009 webpage which notes them all.

However, let’s talk about 10 of them. That’s a nice round number that captures both the breadth and diversity of charities represented in last week’s race.

Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winning actor Edward Norton ran for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. What’s interesting is he didn’t run the race alone: he ran with a group of 30. This group included other celebrities and several Maasai warriors. In addition, Norton has been promoting awareness of this charity via his Twitter stream. Seven-time Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette also ran to benefit the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, as did illusionist extraordinaire David Blaine, who ran 26.2 miles for the Trust.

 ER actor Anthony Edwards also ran the marathon. Edwards is the chairman of Shoe4Africa. He ran to raise funds for the new hospital in Kenya that Shoe4Africa will fund.

Model, actress, editor and author Veronica Webb ran to raise money for the Harlem United Community AIDS Center.

Robert Herjavec, a successful businessman and one of the sharks on ABC’s reality TV show “Shark Tank”, ran to raise funds for Team for Kids.

British TV personality, model and pop star Michelle Heaton ran to help Autism Action, a UK charity.  

Speedskating Olympic gold medalist Dan Jansen ran for ING Run for Something Better team. Pro-hockey player Pat LaFontaine also ran to benefit the ING Run for Something Better team.

Prince of the Netherlands and excutive, Prince Pieter Christiaan Michiel, ran to raise money for the WWF.

Be sure to click over to the Famous Faces 2009 site to read about the other celebrity participants and their charities. It’s simply inspiring to see so many notable people out there to help those less fortunate.

Roger Moore Steps Up Battle Against Foie Gras

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Former James Bond star Roger Moore is continuing his fight against British supermarkets that stock Foie Gras by paying for and appearing in a new PETA ad placed outside the entrance to Selfridges Food Hall in central London.

Foie Gras is a pâté made from the livers of ducks and geese, and the actor is campaigning against the cruel way producers fatten the livers – up to two kilograms of mash are pumped into the birds’ stomachs through a pipe two or three times a day. The pipes sometimes puncture the birds’ throats, causing the animals to bleed to death.

The actor originally had a different image from the one used in mind, but the advertising agency deemed it as offensive.

“The ad agency deemed the image of the force-feeding of birds for foie gras offensive because it is offensive, but as foie gras production is too violent to show on an ad, surely this ‘torture in a tin’ is too violently produced for Selfridges [a British supermarket] to sell,” he said. “What I’m sure the public will find far more offensive is Selfridges’ refusal to stop selling foie gras, the production of which is so incredibly cruel that it is prohibited in Britain.”

The star is joined in his crusade by Phil Collins and Prince Charles.

“I have seen few things so revolting and shaming as the horrendous routine cruelty to ducks and geese that goes into the production of one of the world’s so-called culinary delicacies, foie gras,” wrote the veteran actor in the Daily Mail. “I refuse to speak to old friends who, even when they know how it is produced, are prepared to overlook the suffering for self-gratification.”

To watch a video narrated by Roger Moore about Foie Gras production, click here.

The Duchess Of Cornwall Honors Brooke Fundraiser

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The Duchess of Cornwall, president of the Brooke animal welfare charity, has recognised a UK teenager, Emily Hanstock, for raising £3,000 pounds to help suffering horses, donkeys and mules in foreign lands, according to The Press Association.

Dorothy Brooke, the organisation’s founder, set up an equine hospital in 1934 – called Old War Horse Memorial Hospital – to address the appalling condition of ex-WWI British horses, emaciated and mistreated on the streets of Cairo. The Duchess recalled her cavalry officer father voicing similar anxieties for the horses being taken to Egypt.

Today, Brooke supports clinics caring for over half a million horses per year and training owners in the poorest parts of Asia, Africa, Central and South America and the Middle East. In communities where people earn less than a dollar a day, these animals are vital to the survival of many families.

Sam Waterston Pens Ocean Conservation Article For CNN

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Law & Order’s Sam Waterston has penned an article for CNN.com on the issue of ocean conservation.

The actor is a member of the board of directors of Oceana, a nonprofit organization that seeks to protect the world’s oceans by opposing overfishing and pollution, and has been honored several times for his conservation work.

“For 800,000 years, the seas were a stable solution, a hospitable solution for all sorts of creatures to live in, and a generous solution to all sorts of human problems, from food supply to waste disposal,” wrote the veteran actor. "We must not make them inhospitable, for people or for the 80 percent of life on the planet that lives in them.

“As a native New Englander, I know full and well how much we depend on the oceans. They have often been a solution for our problems.

“They’ve been a highway for goods and people, connecting us to the world, and a barrier against foreign invasion, protecting us from the world; a source of food and wealth, going back to our earliest beginnings, when whale oil lit our houses and when cod were so plentiful that huge specimens were commonly stacked like cordwood on our docks and wharves, and still there were so many that you could almost walk on their backs across some harbors.”

Waterston goes on to write about carbon levels in the ocean and the effect they have on living creatures.

“For the last 250 years, the oceans have absorbed 30 percent of the carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, moderating and masking its global impact. They take in 11 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Each year, the amount we release grows another 3 percent.

“Carbon dioxide in the sea is the front line of climate carbon addiction. Reverse the trend toward ocean acidification, and we will also have made a giant stride in addressing the effects of climate change. The sea is warning us to change course and calling us to seize enormous opportunities. Now.”

To read the full article, visit the CNN website here.

Celebrities Donate Items To Environmental Charity Auction

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0000

This year TVE marks its 25th anniversary as an award-winning media charity making films on the environment and development. And to celebrate, they have launched an amazing online auction.

Founded by WWF, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP} and Central Television in 1984, its original advisory panel included Sir David Attenborough, the Aga Khan and Dr Mostafa Tolba, head of the UN Environment Programme. Today tve films are broadcast in 172 countries, reaching 302 million homes via global satellite broadcasts and more than half a billion people on national, regional and local channels worldwide.

The auction launches on Thursday and includes an incredible array of items. Going under the hammer are a copy of Stephen Fry in America signed by Britain’s best-loved comic genius; a signed copy of designer, writer and television presenter Kevin McCloud’s Colour Now – to help you with those interior design challenges; the top worn by one of Britain’s most gifted actors, Emma Thompson, in the 1994 Hollywood comedy ‘Junior’; a signed copy of Sir David Attenborough’s Life on Air, telling the story of how he became Britain’s best-loved nature journalist, a signed copy of ‘Race to the Pole’, the story of Scott’s quest written by the man described as the world’s greatest living adventurer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes; a copy of ‘Trowel and Error’, signed by Britain’s favourite television gardener and presenter Alan Titchmarsh; items from actress Lily Cole; and much much more.

Bid for the Future, the eBay auction benefiting media charity tve, goes live on 5 November and lasts for ten days. For more info and to access the auction, click here.

May The Paws Be With You - Mark Hamill Joins Charity Auction For Animals

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Precious Paws, the non-profit animal rescue organization based in Los Angeles, is launching the biggest fundraiser in the group’s history.

On Thursday, November 5th at 7:00 pm PST, Precious Paws will debut its Celebrity Experience and Entertainment Memorabilia Auction to an international audience exclusivel y on eBay. This 10-day auction, which is co- sponsored by Auction Cause, the nation’s leading online auction company, will conclude at 7:00 pm PST on Sunday, November 15th.

The charity is pleased to announce Mark Hamill will be participating in the event by allowing them to auction off a lunch for two with him. The actor, director, writer and producer who is best known for his role of Luke Skywalker in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, George Lucas’ epic space saga was an enormous success and revolutionized the film industry. For his portrayal of Skywalker, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films honored Hamill with the Saturn Award for Best Actor. Post “Star Wars,” Mark Hamill has found success on Broadway in such productions as Amadeus and The Elephant Man, as well as on television. His achievements on the small screen include his work in front of and behind the camera, in both live-action and animated productions.

Throughout this highly-anticipated event, guests will also have the opportunity to win lunches with other prominent celebrities, including Susan Olsen, Eric Roberts, Stephen Collins, Anthony Michael Hall, Nicole De Boer, Robbie Rist, Alana Curry, McKenzie Westmore, and Adrianne Curry & Chris Knight.

Precious Paws is a nonprofit dog and cat rescue organization that was founded in 2003 by Georgyne La Lone. “We are passionate about our mission to rescue unwanted companion dogs and cats from the streets and shelters,” says Ms. La Lone. “We spend a great many of our resources providing food and medical care to these loveable animals. It is our hope that through this auction, we will be able to continue providing the best to these rescues that do so much to enrich our lives.”

Bidders will also have the chance to bid on a visit to the set of iCarly, a tour of the “Hungry Girl” office which includes a meet and greet with Lisa Lillien, “Hungry Girl” author and her staff and an autographed “Hungry Girl” book. Bidders will also have the opportunity to purchase some of the most coveted celebrity memorabilia, including an autographed electric guitar by Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora, an autographed acoustic guitar by The Eagles an autographed Collector’s Beer Can by Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, a variety of autographed pictures from Star Trek celebrities, including Patrick Stewart, Scott Bakula, Kate Mulgrew and Avery Brooks, Paris Hilton and Jimmy Buffett memorabilia, and autographed posters from notable musical luminaries BB King, John Denver and Billy Idol.

For more information on the Celebrity Experience and Entertainment
Memorabilia Auction, contact Georgyne La Lone at (818) 773-3336 or www.preciouspaws.org.

Anne Archer Presents Money To Charities

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Academy Award nominated actress Anne Archer, presented cheques amounting to £50,000 to several different British charities on behalf of the L. Ron Hubbard Foundation and the Church of Scientology at the annual Gala Charity Concert on Sunday, October 18th at Saint Hill, East Grinstead, UK.

  Archer was the Master of Ceremonies, introducing each performer and also presenting the cheques on stage to the representatives of each charity, namely: the Sussex Air Ambulance; the Bluebell Steam Railway; East Grinstead charities the Town Museum, Furnihelp, and the East Grinstead Access Group for the elderly and disabled; Impact; and Crowborough charities the Town Mayor’s Charity Fund and the Community Hospital.

Bob Mainstone, representing the East Grinstead charities, said, “This donation will make a big difference to these charities in accomplishing their respective aims and is warmly appreciated.”

More than 1,500 were in attendance to enjoy the concert and give their support, including Mayors, District Council Chairmen, Town Councillors, and community leaders from all over the South of England. Other guests flew in specially from all over Europe and as far away as the United States and Canada.

The event covered a wide spectrum of music including Chick Corea, jazz legend and 15-time Grammy Award Winner; Mark Isham, Grammy, Emmy and Clio Award Winning composer, who has scored over 100 films; Alexander Markov, internationally celebrated virtuoso solo violinist; David Pomeranz, songwriter and recording artist with 18 Gold and 22 Platinum records; Elena Roggero, the “Italian Queen of Jazz”, and the UK’s top swing jive band – the Jive Aces.

Over the years the Saint Hill Gala Charity Concert has supported numerous charities, from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the RSPCA to the National Drug Prevention Alliance and the Bluebell Railway Trust. The concert follows the tradition that was started by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1960’s when he resided at Saint Hill Manor and supported many of the local charities.

The Gala Concert concluded a three-day jam-packed weekend of activities at the Church of Scientology with over 7,000 people from around the world, with conferences and seminars for parishioners and community leaders alike, encompassing the Church of Scientology’s social betterment programmes in the areas of human rights, drug education, common sense morals, and the volunteer ministry.

Leona Lewis Backs WSPA In Animal Campaign

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Top international singer Leona Lewis is backing the World Society for the Protection of Animals in a new campaign video.

Leona pledged her support for the charity’s Universal Declaration for Animal Welfare campaign at a video and photo shoot at the Sony Music studios in Kensington. She was joined by her family dog Misty for the photo shoot.

Speaking about her support for WSPA, Leona said: “I wanted to get involved with the World Society for the Protection of Animals because I think they are doing great campaigns. I’ve always been a huge advocate for any charities that are trying to help animals, because they are trying to change laws to protect animals – which I think is amazing.”

“I support the World Society for the Protection of Animals – WSPA – because they are trying to end some of the most appalling acts of animal cruelty in the world.”

She summed up her belief in the UDAW campaign: "One reason animals are so vulnerable to cruelty is because there is no universal agreement between nations that animals can suffer and feel pain… The campaign for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare could be the beginning of the end for animal cruelty across the world.

“It’s up to us to give these animals a voice, and put a stop to cruelty and neglect, right now.”

Leona calls on her supporters to join her in backing the Animals Matter campaign. Go to wspa.org.uk/leonalewis to join in and pledge your support.

Emily Deschanel To Hold Q&A For Charity

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0000

The Screen Actors Guild will present a special screening of the hit TV show Bones in Los Angeles tonight, followed by a Q&A session with actress Emily Deschanel.

An actress with talent and poise, Emily Deschanel has built an impressive list of credits in her career, challenging herself with each new role.
 
An animal rights activist passionately involved with the charity Farm Sanctuary, Dechanel works to end cruelty to farm animals and promotes compassionate living through rescue, education and advocacy. She is also involved with The Humane Society and Women for Women International.  Deschanel was born in Los Angeles and received her B.F.A. in Theater from Boston University.

The Screen Actors Guild encourages interest in acting and improving the acting skills of interested persons though educational seminars, workshops, tapes and films.

This event starts at 7pm tonight, October 27, at the SAG Foundation Actors Center at 5757 Wilshire Avenue. For more information, click here.

Stars Support PETA Anti-Seal Hunting Campaign

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

PETA has recruited some big names for support of its latest anti-seal hunting campaign and has launched an ad campaign with their help.

Stars such as Jennie Garth, Rachael Leigh Cook, Kelly Osbourne, Jorja Fox, Tricia Helfer, Perez Hilton, Shane Mosley and many more are featured in the new ads.

“Each year, the Canadian government allows sealers to beat and skin hundreds of thousands of seals,” states PETA on its website. “Baby seals, some merely weeks old, have their skulls smashed in or are shot for their fur. Many of these gentle animals may not even have eaten their first solid meals or taken their first swim before they are slaughtered.”

To view the Save The Seals ads click here, then join the campaign here.

Inaugural Noble Awards Celebrate Hollywood Philanthropy

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Look To The Stars was proud to be part of the inaugural Noble Awards on Sunday, October 18 – an event that honored a host of charities and the celebrities that support them, elevating awareness of the significant impact of their work.

Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the event honored Morgan Freeman with a lifetime achievement award, as well as Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Billy Bush (Lollipop Theater Network), Kenny Edmonds (Stand Up To Cancer), Teri Hatcher (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Norman Lear (Playing for Change), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium), AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project), Nancy O’Dell (Best Buddies International), Eva Longoria Parker (Padres Contra El Cancer) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org).

Lionel Richie was on hand during the ceremony to present an award to Joel Madden, who attended the event with Nicole Richie and his brother Benji.

“I want to welcome him to our family and present this Noble award to a guy I love very much – Joel Madden!” said Lionel as he introduced Joel to the crowd.

“They are just as much a part of it,” said Madden, paying tribute to Nicole and Benji. “Nicole does just as much as I do with Art of Elysium and all the charities we work with. And so does Benj – Benj actually does more then I do, and he plays the guitar better then I do, so he is a little more entertaining for the kids.”

Madden later Twittered about the emotions he felt as he accepted his award: “Just left the NOBLE awards. Got an award that was really for the people at the Art of Elysium. Awesome folks and I’m humbled to know them. By the way got totally choked up when I got my award. I hate thinking about kids in the hospital, they should be getting the awards not us.”

The award itself was designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Morgan Freeman received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to over a dozen non-profits. Freeman’s diverse charitable efforts include working with American Red Cross, Artists for a New South Africa, the Campaign for Female Education, Earth Biofuels, Grenada Relief Fund, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman has also done PSAs for Sierra Club, and a number of Entertainment Industry Foundation campaigns, covering issues like colon cancer prevention, health care reform and volunteerism.

“I think so often we don’t know that our gestures matter,” said Teri Hatcher, who was also honored. “I think when you get involved in your local community charity you really do see you make a difference and it’s empowering for you.”

Look To The Stars was at the awards, and we will bring you more about the fantastic event over the coming days.

Look To The Stars Helps Promote Hollywood Philanthropy At Noble Awards

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Look to the Stars is pleased to announce that we will work year-round with The Noble Awards to promote philanthropy in Hollywood.

The inaugural Noble Awards, taking place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, October 18, has announced five new award honorees. The Blind Project, The Lollipop Theater Network, Padres Contra el Cancer and Playing for Change will be honored along with six previously announced charities. In addition, Morgan Freeman will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. The two-hour event, hosted by “Access Hollywood’s” Billy Bush, seeks to annually honor up to a dozen charities and celebrities who actively support them, elevating awareness of these organizations and the significant impact of their work.

Celebrities who will accept awards on behalf of the charities being honored include Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Billy Bush (Lollipop Theater Network), Kenny Edmonds (Stand Up To Cancer), Teri Hatcher (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Norman Lear (Playing for Change), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium), AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project), Nancy O’Dell (Best Buddies International), Eva Longoria Parker (Padres Contra El Cancer) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org). During the ceremony, each will be presented with an award sculpture, designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Brian McKnight and Julio Iglesias, Jr., along with Emily Bear and Timothy Mitchum will provide live musical performances throughout the evening.

“We are delighted to present these eleven distinguished charities and their celebrity supporters with the inaugural Noble Award,” stated Janeen Mansour, creator and executive producer of The Noble Awards. “With the presentation of The Noble Awards, our goal is to turn the spotlight back onto these celebrities and charities to provide recognition, to educate, to inspire, and to encourage even more support from the Hollywood community and the public at large.”

Morgan Freeman will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to over a dozen non-profits. Freeman’s diverse charitable efforts include working with American Red Cross, Artists for a New South Africa, the Campaign for Female Education, Earth Biofuels, Grenada Relief Fund, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman has also done PSAs for Sierra Club, and a number of Entertainment Industry Foundation campaigns, covering issues like colon cancer prevention, health care reform and volunteerism.

“The Entertainment Industry Foundation is pleased to be a part of the inaugural Noble Awards,” said Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of Entertainment Industry Foundation. “We are honored and so proud to present our dear friend and exceptional actor Morgan Freeman with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding charitable work and ongoing contributions to so many important social causes.”

The Noble Awards will kick off the “Be A Noble” Movement, a perennial effort to encourage each and every person to “Be A Noble,” and inspire them to give back and take action with a purpose on a global scale. Some of these initiatives include:

Look to the Stars will work year-round with The Noble Awards to promote philanthropy in Hollywood.

As part of next year’s Cup with a Cause program, 7-Eleven, in collaboration with The Noble Awards, will produce a series of celebrity-designed coffee cups featured in stores nationwide. A minimum of $250,000 will go towards each participating celebrity’s charity of choice. During The Noble Awards’ cocktail hour, guests will be asked to design cups as part of the program.

Participant Media and Takepart.com, the official “action” platform for the Awards, have partnered with the “Be A Noble” Movement to provide the Foundation with a web platform to showcase the work of all the organizations they are honoring throughout the year.

ONEHOPE Wine has bottled an award-winning varietal of wine to be labeled “NOBLE.” 100% of all proceeds from each bottle will go towards the “Be A Noble” Movement, to be distributed among the honored charities.

Rumblefish Jewelry will design a jewelry line based on The Noble Awards and “Be A Noble” Movement, where a percentage of sales will be donated to Noble charities.

Additional partners include EIF/iParticipate, The Hollywood Reporter, Audi, Beverly Hilton, Mobile Cause, Rosenthal and GoodSearch.

As the film industry has the Oscars, television the Emmys and the music industry the Grammy Awards, the charity community and its most dedicated Hollywood supporters will gain global recognition with the staging of The Noble Awards. Produced on behalf of the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, a non-profit organization, the first annual awards will take place on October 18, 2009. The Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation will launch a year-round movement to BE A NOBLE to better unify the efforts of charities with celebrities, influencers, media and everyday citizens in order to create an effective forum for change and service. For more information, please visit www.thenobleawards.org.

Celebrity Paw Prints A Big Winner For Cat Charity

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

The UK’s largest feline welfare charity, Cats Protection, has been overwhelmed by the success of this year’s Celebrity Paws auction, which has raised a staggering £2,473.58 for unwanted cats and kittens in the UK.

This year’s most popular ‘paw prints’ were from singer Alison Goldfrapp, which was sold for £502.00, musical legend Phil Collins, which was sold for £430.00 and Top Gear presenter James May, which was sold for £271.00.

‘Paw prints’ from Peckham pals Sir David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, John Challis and Roger Lloyd Pack, who played Del Boy, Rodney, Boycie and Trigger in the popular sitcom Only Fools and Horses managed to raise £262.00 towards the auction.

When asked why he had chosen to support the charity, actor John Challis said: “I love cats and I have done a lot of work for charities with a similar cause. We actually inherited some feral cats on the farm and we decided to take care of them. They were breeding at the time, so we took them to the vets and found homes for their kittens. We weren’t really cat people before that, but I think that cats have a way of finding you. We have one male cat and one female- they both follow us around all of the time”.

Now in its third year, Cats Protection’s Celebrity Paws auction raises much needed funds for the charity, which helps over 193,000 cats and kittens every year. It is a simple and easy way for celebrities to show their support of the work that the charity does. Celebrities were asked to draw around their hand, decorate it in their own unique way, sign it and send it back to Cats Protection.

The money raised from this year’s auction will go towards building a state-of-the-art homing centre in Ferndown, Bournemouth. The Homing Centre will work alongside the charity’s volunteer-run branches in the area. With 24 homing pens and an on-site retail area for essentials, Ferndown will only offer cats which are ready to go to a new home – cutting out lengthy waiting times for cat owners to take their new pet home. It is hoped the Homing Centre will be open for early 2010.

Kate Bunting, the charity’s PR Manager, said: “We have had an amazing response to Celebrity Paws this year and we are very grateful to our celebrity supporters for contributing their own special works of art. The lucky winners of the ‘paws’ have got a truly one-of-a-kind item, which I hope they will treasure. The money raised from the auction will certainly support the ongoing work that we do and the exciting plans that we have in the pipeline for 2010.”

Other celebrities who took part in the auction included Chrissie Hynde and Tony Robinson.

For more information on the Ferndown Homing Centre Appeal, click here.

January Jones Afraid For Sharks

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actress January Jones was in Washington recently on behalf of Oceana’s campaign to save the sharks. She was there to lobby Congress members to tighten up US laws that would help regenerate the population of sharks from which 100 million are killed every year.

“The United States needs to stand up for sharks,” said Jones. “Congress can do its part by passing the Shark Conservation Act.”

Existing laws already ban “finning” – where a shark’s fins are cut off and the carcass thrown back into the sea – yet allow for the transfer of fins at sea from countries without restrictions as a way around the ban. However, Oceana is pushing for the requirement that sharks be landed whole, i.e. with fins still naturally attached. They also want to decrease the demand for shark products and reduce unintended shark catch.

According to Oceana, sharks are key to maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems by regulating species abundance, distribution and diversity, and providing food sources for scavengers. They’re also critical to the health of other systems. Without them, coral reefs would become algae dominated systems, seagrass beds would decline and chain reactions to these would be set into motion.

As Jones says in a public service announcement: “We should be scared for sharks, not of them.”

Linda Blair And Simon Cowell Save Canine Lives

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

Thanks to a generous $30,000 donation from America Idol judge Simon Cowell, Exorcist star Linda Blair will be able to keep her once cash-strapped animal shelter open for business.

The non-profit Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation is an animal sanctuary designed to care for up to 50 abandoned dogs at a time. Earlier this year, the shelter was in danger of closing, but animal lover Cowell resolved that predicament and relieved Blair of her financial debt.

Simon Cowell is not the only person able to make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected LA pets. Visit the WorldHeart website to find out ways you can volunteer! Donations, no matter the size, are always welcome!

Meet Jack Black At Conservation International Dinner

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fans of comedy actor Jack Black – currently appearing in Year One – will be able to meet the man himself at a special dinner being organized by Conservation International.

The dinner will take place in Seattle on October 20, and will also feature the preeminent conservation biologist of our generation and former Board member of Conservation International, Edward O. Wilson.

Conservation International is dedicated to conserving the Earth’s living heritage and our global biodiversity, and demonstrating that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature. Harrison Ford was once vice president of the organization.

To order tickets for the event, click here

Leonardo DiCaprio Opens e-Activism Center

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Leonardo DiCaprio opened a new e-activism centre in Santa Monica last week, which has been described as “a showcase for the highest possible level of sustainable design.”

The Leonardo DiCaprio e-Activism Center and the David Family Environmental Action Center use only recycled or recyclable materials, and 98% of the materials left over from dismantling the original building and constructing the new one were reused or recycled. Set up by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the new facilities aim to demonstrate how buildings can greatly reduce harm to the environment by minimizing the use of land, water, energy and materials.

“Half of all the world’s materials and resources, half of all forests, go into building production. Buildings consume twice the energy of autos, and emit twice the amount of carbon dioxide,” says NRDC Senior Scientist Rob Watson. “They also consume 80% of drinking water.”

The e-activism center has four high-speed Internet terminals linked to NRDC’s activist network to help visitors learn about environmental issues of immediate concern, and to influence public debate instantly by sending messages to government and corporate officials.

“Over the last three years, nearly five hundred thousand NRDC online activists have sent five million messages to public and corporate officials, helping again and again to tip the balance in favor of the environment,” said Dicaprio. “For the thousands of young people who’ll visit this building each year, I hope it will be the start of a lifetime of civic involvement.”

The center is located at 1314 Second Street in downtown Santa Monica, California. The e-Activism Center is open to the public every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm.

Celebrities Sign Letter To Stop Tail Docking

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

An animal rights charity has gathered support from a number of celebrities for its urgent call to end a cruel practice commonplace in the dairy industry.

On behalf of Kim Basinger, Alicia Silverstone, Bill Maher, Bob Barker and a host of other California celebrities – as well as their more than 200,000 members and supporters – Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, sent a letter today to Governor Schwarzenegger urging him to do the right thing and sign a bill sitting on his desk that would end the cruel and outdated practice of amputating dairy cows’ tails.

Both chambers of the California legislature recently passed a bill that would ban tail docking in the dairy industry, but the bill will not become law unless the governor signs it.

Tail docking, the amputation of a cow’s tail by applying a tight rubber ring around the appendage until the tissue becomes necrotic and falls off, or is alternatively cut off with shears, is a procedure usually performed without analgesics and causes the animal to suffer acute and lingering pain. It also prohibits them from warding off biting insects with their tail, leading to greater distress during fly season. Peer-reviewed research from both governmental and academic sources indicates there are no health or safety benefits associated with tail docking, and the procedure has been opposed by numerous professional associations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.

“With last November’s landslide passage of Prop 2, banning the three cruelest farm animal confinement systems in the state, Californians made it clear they will no longer tolerate cruel and unnecessary practices on factory farms,” said Gene Baur, Farm Sanctuary’s president and co-founder. “By putting an end to tail docking, Governor Schwarzenegger has the opportunity to continue this wave of compassion and send a humane message to the rest of the country.”

Celebrities who signed Farm Sanctuary’s letter to Governor Schwarzenegger urging him to ban tail docking in California include Alicia Silverstone, Bill Maher, Bob Barker, Emily Deschanel, Eric Roberts, Esai Morales, Fred Willard, Ginnifer Goodwin, James Cromwell, Joan van Ark, Kim Basinger, Kristen Bell, Mariel Hemingway, Mimi Kennedy and Valerie Harper.

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