Look To The Stars News: Peace

Will Ferrell Launches Human Rights Awareness Month

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Funnyman Will Ferrell launched Human Rights Awareness Month earlier this week with a passionate plea to help Burma.

“You know when you hear about something happening in the world that is so awful, so violent and terrible and evil and wrong and you think wait – I have to do something about this,” he said in a PSA. “But it just seems too big… this month, all that is going to change for you. A human rights crisis is happening right now in the South East Asian country of Burma… Today we’re launching a 30 day campaign for human rights and democracy in Burma.”

Ferrell announced that over the next month, special videos featuring stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson, and Jackson Browne will be featured on the US Campaign for Burma YouTube page, to talk about the Burmese fight for freedom from an unjust and violent military regime.

“You’ll also get to know one of my heroes, an extraordinary woman called Aung San Suu Kyi, ” said Ferrell. “She sacrificed her freedom to lead a non-violent protest movement against oppression in Burma. Stay with us for 30 straight days, alert all of your friends, speak at school, speak at your churches, talk to strangers in the street… invite them to join with us, the US Campaign for Burma, as we build a coalition of millions of people who care about human rights. People power counts. Let this month be the month you join an effort to change the world.”

The full PSA can be viewed here.

M.I.A. Builds School In Liberia

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rapper M.I.A. is currently looking for support to help build a school in Liberia.

The 31-year-old British-born Paper Planes hit maker visited Liberia with 4REAL, a humanitarian-based TV show that features stars such as Cameron Diaz, Joaquin Phoenix, Eva Mendes, Casey Affleck, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers as they undertake adventures around the world to connect with young leaders who, under extreme circumstances, are affecting real change on some of the most pressing issues of our time.

M.I.A., who is currently pregnant with her first baby, used $100,000 she was paid for a show earlier this year to kickstart her Liberian school project.

“It costs $52k to build a school for 1,000 in Liberia,“ she said.

The school is now starting to take shape, and M.I.A. is asking for help with books and ideas for the school.

“Maybe you have ideas to make this school more eco-friendly,“ she said in her latest blog. “Your school might have books and stuff to donate etc let us know. And if you have interest in going to Liberia to do exchange programs at a school or help out in anyway, let us know.”

More info about 4REAL and the 4REAL Foundation can be found at their website.

Jamie Foxx Asks For World Peace

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:40:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Earlier this fall, Jamie Foxx spoke to a crowd of 400 guests asking for support for an idea: world peace. This was not a beauty pageant.

It was all about Love Sees No Color, a documentary filmed through various countries to promote world peace, and the iwantpeace.com website.

The documentary was created by peace activist Fred Nassiri after a self examination of his life and what its purpose might be. To promote world peace seemed to be the answer. Then he created iwantpeace.com whose mission is “to be the first online portal that brings likeminded charities and organizations together to educate, gain exposure, and allow the online community to participate and donate in their unique charity and its individual platform.”

Asked what he would do with a billion dollars, Foxx says, “If I had a billion dollars, I would throw a big party. …and then let people have a voice. Get a whole lot of microphones from all over the world. Imagine microphones in every part of the world, and [Africans] talk about how they felt, about waking up today and how good they feel and what they want out of life. And only good things, you know. I would do something like that.”

But Foxx doesn’t have a billion dollars, so he’s asking for help: “I know this is LA and there are a lot of distractions, but don’t leave here and forget about the reason we are all here tonight. Support iwantpeace.com and make a difference.”

One hundred percent of the proceeds generated by iwantpeace.com will be donated to charity.

Celebrity Apprentice 2 To Feature Annie Duke

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

NBC will aim to repeat the success that was Celebrity Apprentice when a new series of the show premieres in January 2009.

Although most of the contestants cannot be named or have yet to commit, professional poker player Annie Duke confirmed her involvement during the weekend.

According to a statement made on www.ultimatebet.com on Friday, ““Annie Duke wasn’t able to attend… the Aruba Poker Classic because, as you may have heard, she was selected to be on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice this season. She had to fly to L.A. for the premiere party and she’ll be competing for the Ante Up for Africa charity. Annie and Donald Trump in the same boardroom… that should make for some interesting TV.”

Duke is well known for her work with Ante Up For Africa, a celebrity poker tournament she organizes annually with Don Cheadle that aims to raise money and public awareness for the crisis in Darfur. Participants are asked to contribute half of their tournament winnings to the ENOUGH Project and the International Rescue Committee, organizations whose goals include raising public awareness and providing aid to the survivors of Darfur.

The first series of Celebrity Apprentice, which was won by Piers Morgan, raised over $1 million for a range of charities.

Damien Hirst Doodles For MRI Scanner

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British artist Damien Hirst has donated three sketches to a charity auction to raise money for the New Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The drawings – which are expected to raise US$3,500 each – feature a shark, a skull, and a butterfly. They will be auctioned at the Buy Art Fair, to be held at Manchester’s Urbis centre from Thursday to Sunday, and will raise money for the Five Stars Scanner Appeal – a campaign aiming to raise US$1.7 million for an MRI scanner for the hospital.

Boxer Ricky Hatton and Rocky Horror Picture Show creator Richard O’Brien have also donated drawings and doodles to be auctioned.

In February, the 42-year-old artist organized a Valentine’s Day auction of more than 60 works of art to raise funds for Bono’s (RED) charity that made over $42.6 million. He regularly donates artworks to help charities such as ARK, War Child, the Dorset Wildlife Trust, the Great Ormond Street Hospital and many others.

Students Launch Fundraising For Burma

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:30:00 -0000

The US Campaign for Burma is excited to announce the launch of their first-ever Student Fundraising Challenge.

This fall, on campuses across the United States and around the world, students will participate in an effort to raise $32,000 to increase awareness of 3,200 villages that have been destroyed in Eastern Burma during the military regime’s ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing.

In an open letter, a group of university students from across the U.S. has called on their fellow students to participate in the Challenge and to “stand in solidarity with students inside Burma and show that we too can have a positive impact on Burma’s future.”

Prizes will be awarded to the five groups who fundraise the most money, including For the Lady CDs autographed by Michael Stipe of REM and USCB T-shirts. The group that raises the most money will win the photograph of Burmese dictator Than Shwe that Ellen Page drew on during her Burma: It Can’t Wait video spot, plus weeklong recognition on the US Campaign for Burma homepage.

The full letter written by the university students can be found here, and more information about the fundraising initiative can be found at the US Campaign for Burma website.

Musicians Band Together To Make Signs

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Michael Stipe, Jarvis Cocker, Death Cab for Cutie and OK Go are some of the musicians who have banded together for a new charity auction sponsored by Under The Radar Magazine.

The bands have created signs and banners using black paint on white card to raise money for War Child. Most of the signs display the musicians’ political commentary and slogans – such as OK Go’s They Bank on Your Apathy, Chuck D’s Fight the Power ‘Of Course’, and Michael Stipe’s Things I Hate: Gutless Puff Adder Journalists. However, others display more a individual style – such as Supergrass’ Dolphins Are Not Just Sex Objects and Peter Morén’s Down With Whistling.

The auction runs until October 7, and can be accessed through eBay.

Keep A Child Alive Announces 2008 Black Ball Details

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Keep A Child Alive’s fifth annual Black Ball Gala, hosted by Ambassadors Alicia Keys and Iman, will take place at The Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Thursday, November 13, and will honor the global AIDS work of three remarkable humanitarians.

The event – chaired by Jessica Alba – will begin with a cocktail party followed by a seated dinner with extraordinary live performances by Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Joni Mitchell, Jack White, Jennifer Hudson and more very special guests to be announced.

Keep A Child Alive’s humanitarian honorees are an incredible group of people who have used their will, fame, and courage to change the lives devastated by this pandemic. Guest presenters pay tribute to the work of the honorees through powerful moving footage.

This year the organization will honor Simon Fuller, CEO & founder of 19 Entertainment Limited for spearheading the Idol Gives Back phenomenon and mobilizing Americans to take action; Queen Latifah, for being one of the incredible pioneers in the fight against AIDS; and Jackie Branfield, founder of Operation Bobbi Bear for being a true hero in the lives of children in South Africa. Previous honorees include Bono, rock star and campaigner for Africa; Dr. Stephen Lewis of The Stephen Lewis Foundation and author of Race Against Time; Richard Beckman of Condé Nast Media Group; Nick Reding of Sponsored Arts for Education; and Dr. Shaffiq Essajee Pediatric Advisor on AIDS for the Clinton Foundation.

More info about the event can be found at www.keepachildalive.org.

Annie Lennox Hosts Amnesty Arts Fund Launch

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Singer Annie Lennox hosted the launch of the Amnesty Arts Fund at The Twentieth Century Theatre in London last night, September 25.

The Amnesty Arts Fund brings together people who believe passionately in freedom of expression and projects which have the potential to reach new audiences and inspire creative activism around the world. Amnesty International has a long and proud tradition of working with creative industries and individuals to raise awareness for human rights issues across the globe. This work has inspired change, action and momentum throughout the audiences which have been reached. The launch event celebrated past, current and future creative projects and creative activism.

“Arts and artists have the unique power to bring people together and inspire positive action,” said Lennox. “The Amnesty Arts Fund recognizes that power and uses it to call for change.”

The Amnesty Arts Fund will provide essential resources and funding to creative projects across the arts including film, photography, music, fashion, art, comedy, theatre and literature. It will also support creative projects and individuals to ensure that the human stories behind the statistics and reports of global human rights violations are understood and brought further into the public consciousness. Founding members include Elton John and Nicolas Cage.

Lennox’s attendance at the launch follows her appearance at the World Peace Day concert at the Royal Albert Hall on September 21. The concert – which also featured Bryan Adams, John Legend, and Peter Gabriel – was a resounding success, and raised awareness for the annual Peace One Day campaign founded by Jeremy Gilley.

To view a video of the Peace Day Concert, visit the iConcerts website, or to hear Annie Lennox talk about the Amnesty Arts Fund, click here.

Giving Back Fund Announces Top 30 Celebrity Givers

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:30:00 -0000

The Giving Back Fund has released its second annual Giving Back 30 survey, a ranking of the celebrities who have made the largest donations to charity in 2007 according to public records.

Heading the list was Oprah Winfrey, who donated $50.2 million to the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Oprah’s Angel Network to “support the inspiration, empowerment and education of women, children, and families around the world and to encourage people around the world to make a difference in the lives of others”. Coming in second was Herb Alpert, who donated a total of $13 million to the Herb Alpert Foundation, followed by Barbra Streisand, who gave over $11 million to the Streisand Foundation.

To compile the most accurate rankings, The Giving Back Fund culled media reports of charitable giving by sports and entertainment professionals; reviewed PF-990 tax-forms; contacted more than 250 publicists, attorneys, agents, agencies, and managers for information about their clients; sent inquiries to more than 150 charities known for their celebrity associations; and contacted the major sports leagues.

“Our hope is that celebrities will begin to become more comfortable sharing information about their charitable giving - perhaps not disclosing everything they give, but sharing enough that they will serve as role-models to their peers and fans,” said Marc Pollick, President and Founder of The Giving Back Fund. “We know that many celebrities re-direct income from sponsorship and merchandising deals to charity, or help to raise funds in other ways. We are researching reliable means to report this information in a separate list.” The Giving Back Fund did not include grants made by foundations in the list so as to avoid counting the same funds twice - once when the donor gave money to a foundation and again when the donor decided on a beneficiary for that money. The Giving Back did not calculate giving as a percentage of the celebrities income because there is no consistent way to calculate income when taking into account income from sponsorship and merchandise sales.

Donations to private foundations are disclosed in public documents. However, donations to public charities are not publicly disclosed and therefore may not be reported in the Giving Back 30.

The rest of the list included Paul Newman, who gave away over $10 million; Mel Gibson, who gave $9.9 million to the AP Reilly Foundation, the tax-exempt entity named for his late mother, which supports Holy Family Catholic Church in Malibu, California; Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who collectively donated over $8 million to good causes; and Lance Armstrong, who pledged $5 million to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Other celebrities listed included Michael Jordan, Rosie O’Donnell, Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Hefner, and Tiger Woods.

To see the full list of celebrities and their donations, see the Giving Back Fund website.

Singers Cover Heroes For War Child

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

War Child has announced the release of their biggest and most ambitious album to date: Heroes.

The album – to be released on November 24 – will raise money for the charity, which works to help children around the world affected by war. It will feature a series of once-in-a-lifetime collaborations between some of the best known names in the music world and up-and-coming stars – a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s worldwide efforts in war zones across the world – to place faith in the next generation.

The idea behind the project is to have stars such as Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Brian Wilson select one of their best-known classic songs and nominate a new artist to record a cover of the track.

“I have been supporting War Child since 1995,” said McCartney, whose 1973 hit Live and Let Die is being covered by Duffy for the album. “Their work with children in war zones saves lives and their work with those who take decisions that help them to do something about it saves even more lives. I think Duffy’s version of ‘Live And Let Die’ is great – I was really impressed. The breadth of talent on this project is amazing; it’s great that so many people gave their time, energy and support to this initiative. I urge everyone to support War Child.”

Other artists taking part in the project include Beck, who will cover Dylan’s Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat; Rufus Wainwright, who will perform a medley from Wilson’s Smile; and The Kooks, who will cover The Kinks’ Victoria. Other musicians will be announced over the next few months.

“_Heroes (Vol 1)_ is the most innovative and exciting War Child album to date and therefore it was essential for me that Parlophone be involved,“ said Miles Leonard, Musical Director for Parlophone. “It is very rewarding to see so many artists giving so generously of their time for such a worthwhile cause. I’ve admired the War Child organization for many years now so I am delighted that Parlophone has been able to lend its support.”

The album follows the highly successful Help benefit album – also featuring McCartney – that was released in 1995.

“The prosecution of war on children outrages us,“ said Mike Waddinton, CEO of War Child UK. “And War Child shares this outrage with many, many people. The generosity of the legendary and talented artists who have made this album happen is helping us to harness this outrage and do something really positive for children marginalized by war, the real heroes.”

Heroes will be available wherever good music is sold, and Look To The Stars will bring you more information as it is released.

Matt Damon Hosts ONE X ONE Awards

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Matt Damon returned to Toronto on Monday to host his third consecutive Difference Awards ceremony for ONE X ONE.

Over 500 guest attended the gala, which featured performances from Wyclef Jean, John Legend, Nikki Yanofsky, and the African Children’s Choir.

ONE X ONE is a non-profit organization that supports children in Canada and abroad. Established less than four years ago by Joelle Adler, it has already raised over $5 million and created partnerships with major corporations and foundations, such as H2O Africa, the Yéle Haiti Foundation, Millennium Promise, War Child and Spread the Net.

“This is stupid poverty we’re talking about,” said Damon, during his speech about helping people in Africa. “Every day, malaria claims thousands of lives that we didn’t need to lose.”

Damon also revealed that he credits becoming a parent for his commitment to helping children through charity work: “At a certain point it becomes difficult to look at other children and not see your own. Something does change in you once you become a parent… There definitely is a shift there that makes you, I think, a little more obsessed about helping children – But it’s not like before I had kids, I was like: ‘to heck with those kids!’”

ONE X ONE will launch in the US in October, with an event featuring Carlos Santana planned for San Francisco. And Damon is proud to announce that next year Eddie Vedder has been confirmed to perform for the organization.

“A lot of my friends and a lot of the people I admire in the business choose to spend their celebrity capital trying to raise awareness about things and improve the conditions in people’s lives,” said Damon. “We’ll all be lying on that bed one day, and you have to make your peace with who you’ve been.”

Jude Law's Peace Tour

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Jude Law returned to Afghanistan earlier this week for a two-day mission in support of Peace One Day and UNICEF.

Film director and Peace One Day founder Jeremy Gilley was also on-hand, encouraging people to once again observe Peace Day on September 21st as part of Peace One Day’s global campaign for ceasefires and non-violence.

While in Kabul, the pair screened a new documentary, The Day After Peace, about how ordinary people in Afghanistan are working towards an end to the conflict.

The documentary shows the events that took place in Afghanistan in September of 2007, and highlights the support from UNICEF and the World Health Organization. The two groups have immunized 1.4 million children against polio, with last September seeing more than 10,000 vaccinators visiting insecure areas of the country as part of a ‘National Immunization Days’ polio immunization campaign.

“This is about saving lives despite anyone’s political beliefs. We hope to see the same commitments that we saw last year from all parties to the conflict. Our goal is to reach every child in Afghanistan,” said said UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Catherine Mbengue.

Peace One Day supporters will celebrate 21 September with a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London featuring Annie Lennox, Bryan Adams and John Legend. Law is also scheduled to attend as one of the special guests. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Peace One Day website.

Said Law: “The message is simple. What will you do to make peace on 21 September?”

Matt Damon Returns For ONE X ONE

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

For the third year in a row, Matt Damon will host ONE X ONE’s annual charity benefit gala, where celebrities and activists will gather for an evening of musical performances, words from key speakers, fundraising and entertainment.

ONE X ONE’s Difference Awards will also be presented at the gala, recognizing individuals for their extraordinary efforts in fighting child poverty and suffering. One of last year’s honorees, Wyclef Jean, is returning this year as musical director and performer. Other entertainment will include John Legend and the African Children’s Choir, which is raising awareness of the needs of Africa’s orphans and destitute children.

A fairly young organization, ONE X ONE raises millions of dollars each year for projects within Canada and abroad for partners such as H2O Africa, the Yéle Haiti Foundation, Millennium Promise, War Child and Spread the Net to “directly impact children in need around the world – one by one.”

“There is an old biblical adage that says ‘You save one life, you save the universe,’” said Joelle Adler, ONE X ONE’s founder. “That should be our motto. We cannot look across the water and pretend it is not our responsibility because together we can change the world.”

The gala and concert will be held at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on September 8 and a second gala will take place at Exhibition Centre in San Francisco on October 23 honoring Carlos Santana.

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.

New York City To Host Peace Day Concert

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

New York City has been named the latest venue of a Peace Day Concert, and will rock the Nokia Theatre 12 days before London’s extravaganza.

Grammy-award winning singers Annie Lennox and Bryan Adams will perform acoustic sets alongside international sensation Natasha Bedingfield during the September 9 concert. The evening will also feature video messages of peace from celebrities and artists including Jude Law and Lenny Kravitz, speeches from international luminaries, and clips from the acclaimed documentary, The Day After Peace, will add to a remarkable night of entertainment.

“What I love about Jeremy Gilley and the Peace One Day campaign, is that the whole thing was started by just one individual who is trying to make difference, despite the odds,” said Annie Lennox, who also took part in last year’s concert in London. “We all have so much potential, but we don’t tend to realize it, so we take it for granted. The work of Peace One Day encourages and inspires people to think about we can all do, both at individual and “collective” levels. There are better and alternative means to conflict resolution than “killing and maiming the enemy”. Political leaders and power brokers have too much invested in the industry of war, rather than implementing peaceful solutions. What is life without peace? Peace is for the highest good, and as a global community it is one of the things we need to value above everything.”

Proceeds from the concert, which will also be televised, will assist the organization’s ongoing mission to raise awareness of Peace Day. As a direct result of Peace One Day’s campaigning in 2007, 1.4 million Afghanistan children were vaccinated against polio, and 100 million people in 200 countries were engaged in Peace Day activities.

Tickets to both the NYC and London Peace Day Concerts are available through www.ticketmaster.com.

Meet Kristen Bell And Enjoy Some Frozen Yogurt For Charity

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Kristen Bell will meet and greet her fans for charity this weekend.

The 28-year-old Heroes star – who is well known for her support of animal welfare charities and is also a member of the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet – will be at frozen yogurt giant Red Mango’s 1-year anniversary in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 2. The actress will be signing autographs at the store on Weyburn Avenue from 1-3pm, and the store will be donating all of its proceeds for the day to Invisible Children, a charity that aims to create awareness regarding the plight of the people of northern Uganda by educating and inspiring individuals to use their voices for change.

Motivated by the unseen war in Northern Uganda, Invisible Children was created by three young filmmakers with a singular mission: To use the power of stories to change lives around the world. The charity has garnered support from bands such as Fall Out Boy and Paramore, and the original founders created a video to raise awareness of the tragic realities of Northern Uganda’s child soldiers.

Peace Day Concert 2008 To Rock London

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

After last year’s sell out show, the annual Peace One Day concert is set to rock the Royal Albert Hall in London.

World Peace Day has been held on September 21 annually since 2001, when the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted September 21 as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. The initiative came from an idea by Jeremy Gilley, who founded his non-profit organization – Peace One Day – in 1999. Since then he has amassed an impressive list of supporters, including Chris Martin, Sir Richard Branson, Angelina Jolie, Alan Rickman, and Michael Douglas.

This year’s concert will see performances from Annie Lennox, Bryan Adams, and a guest appearance from Jude Law. There will also be a gala screening of The Day After Peace, the acclaimed new documentary film made by Jeremy Gilley. The film, which received a great reception at its premiere during the 61st Cannes Film Festival, features Kofi Annan, The Dalai Lama, Angelina Jolie, Jude Law, Annie Lennox and Jonny Lee Miller.

The 2007 concert featured acts such as Corinne Bailey Rae, Kate Nash, James Morrison, and Yusuf, with video segments from David Beckham and the Dalai Lama.

Tickets to the 2008 Peace Day Concert can be bought from Ticketmaster, and cost between £35 and £55.

Stars Sing Songs For Tibet

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Sting, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, and Alanis Morissette are just some of the artists who are donating songs to a new album to raise awareness for the International Campaign for Tibet.

Due for release on iTunes on August 5 and through other retailers on August 12, the album – called Songs For Tibet – will hit the airwaves just three days before the opening of the Beijing Olympics.

“This album will focus people’s attention on the importance of Tibet, the gifts of its culture, and the crisis the Tibetan people are facing today,” said Michael Wohl, from the Art of Peace Foundation. “We wanted to express our support for the Tibetan people and their message of peace through music – a fundamental means of expression – at a time when the eyes of the world are on China.”

It is a sentiment shared by the International Campaign for Tibet – a organization whose board of directors includes Richard Gere – with spokesperson Kate Saunders adding: “We support this unique project as a heartfelt expression of solidarity with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people at a time when the survival of Tibet’s religious culture is under threat.”

Proceeds from the album will go towards raising awareness and support for Tibet and the Dalai Lama, as well as towards projects inspired by the Dalai Lama’s promotion of peace.

Songs For Tibet also features new music from Moby, Damien Rice, and many more, and was produced by Rupert Hine.

“The commitment and enthusiasm from such a wide group of artists has been astonishing and truly heartfelt,” said Hine. “It’s been exciting orchestrating such an historic project.”

Shakira Takes Part In Colombian Peace Rallies

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

South American pop princess Shakira led nationwide demonstrations in her native Colombia yesterday demanding the liberation of hundreds of hostages held by rebels.

The 31-year-old made a pledge last week to keep fighting for the release of hostages held by Colombian rebels after 15 captives were freed earlier this month. She met with Ingrid Betancourt – a former Colombian presidential candidate and hostage – on Wednesday to raise awareness of the on-going struggle against violence in the country, and agreed to be part of the worldwide rallies that took place yesterday.

Over a million people took to the streets of Colombia for the rallies, and demanded the rebels stop their regime of violence. Many of them – wearing white clothes to symbolize peace – attended concerts held around the country, including one in the city of Leticia, where Shakira performed the national anthem in front of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

“Today is a historic day,” said Shakira. “We unite, unite our voices in a single shout: Liberty!”

Over 80 solidarity rallies were held around the world on Sunday, with Betancourt staging one of the biggest in Paris. Several thousand people attended the concert, which featured more than 30 artists including Colombian star Juanes and Spain’s Miguel Bose. French artists Renan Luce and Michel Delpech were also present.

The Colombian government estimates that over 700 hostages are still held by the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

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.

The Chips Are Up For Africa

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The Second Annual ‘Ante Up for Africa’ poker tournament was held on July 2nd in Las Vegas, and drew an impressive field of poker pro’s, celebrities and athletes – all of who helped make the event a success by raising over $400,000 for charity.

The event, co-hosted by humanitarian/actor Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, is already having a positive impact in Darfur – notably in reference to a UN Security Council vote authorizing a peacekeeping force in the area. “It wouldn’t have taken place [without us],” said Cheadle.

“It’s just great to see everybody,” Cheadle said as the event began.

The mood was comical at some tables,”All the tournaments I’ve ever won have been for charity,“ said actor Jason Alexander. “When there’s no actual money for me, I’m very good.”

Adam Sandler cracked his first joke as the first hand was dealt, “I just want to hurry up and lose my money and go home to my wife.”

Matt Damon busted out of the tournament early, while seasoned poker pal Ben Affleck made it all the way to the final table before losing to John Hennigan.

Affleck said he remains optimistic about the situation in Darfur, “I do think that [Sudan’s leaders] are afraid of the next administration being tougher, and are probably a little bit more willing to be more cooperative. But I’m optimistic about what’s going to happen.”

Other celebrities who kicked in the $5k for a spot at the felt included Charles Barkley, Jennifer Tilly, Shannon Elizabeth, Ray Romano, Casey Affleck, and poker pro Phil Helmuth among others.

The tournament benefited two charities: ENOUGH, a project co-founded in 2007 by the International Crisis Group and the Center for American Progress; and Not On Our Watch (NOOW), a group co-founded by Cheadle, Damon, George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

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