Look To The Stars News: Ricky Gervais

Leona Lewis Says No To Animal Testing For Cosmetics

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:25:00 +0000

Singer Leona Lewis has sent a Valentine’s card and letter to John Dalli, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, with a personal plea for him to help end the suffering of animals used in cosmetics testing.

Leona’s card, sent in support of Humane Society International’s CrueltyFree2013 campaign, features a stunning photo of the ‘Hurt’ singer wearing an End Animal Testing body art message.

Stars Help Ban Beagle Breeding Farm

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Ricky Gervais and Brian May have helped the BUAV stop a controversial breeding facility in Britain that would have seen beagles raised for the purposes of medical experiments.

The stars spoke out against the facility, with Ricky saying ""I am disgusted to learn of these plans to breed beagles for experiments. It is unacceptable that these gentle and trusting dogs should be treated as commodities. If B&K’s plans go ahead, thousands of dogs will be born to spend the rest of their short lives in a laboratory cage, where they will suffer in cruel experiments."

In 2010, over 5,000 experiments were carried out on dogs in UK laboratories. Beagles are largely used in toxicity (poisoning) testing both for human and veterinary drugs, as well as agrochemicals. Dogs can be force fed chemicals and drugs in capsules or via plastic tubes inserted through their mouths, directly into their stomach or strapped into a harness for hours at a time while substances are pumped directly into their bloodstream. Animals can suffer adverse effects that result in vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and lethargy. Some dogs may become so ill that they either die or have to be euthanased for welfare purposes.

Brian May Says No To Beagle Breeding Farm

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Queen guitarist and respected wildlife campaigner, Dr Brian May, and his SAVE-ME campaign have joined the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection campaign to stop a proposal to build a beagle breeding facility in Yorkshire to supply beagles for experiments.

“Beagles, indisputably, are highly intelligent sentient creatures, friends of Man for centuries,” said Brian. “It is completely morally unjustifiable for these animals to be made to suffer in the name of science, and I am shocked to learn of plans to set up a facility in Yorkshire to breed and supply beagles to the research industry. We at SAVE-ME support the BUAV campaign, and I urge The Right Hon, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to listen to the concerns of the British public, and to reject this appeal – thereby preventing this facility from being built.”

Stars Join Virtual Dog March Against Cruelty

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

An estimated 100,000 virtual dogs will “march” across the Internet next week to deliver a global message: Use collars, not cruelty, in the fight against rabies.

The dogs – all of who have been named and virtually “collared” by animal welfare advocates around the world – represent the strong global support for the World Society for the Protection of Animals’ (WSPA) Collars Not Cruelty campaign, which promotes vaccination as an alternative to mass dog killings.

“Every year, nearly 20 million dogs are needlessly and cruelly killed in misguided attempts to control rabies,” said Ray Mitchell, International Campaigns Director, WSPA. “Through this virtual dog march, we want to tell governments and people around the world that it doesn’t have to be this way – through mass vaccination, they can humanely and effectively tackle the disease.”

Starlights For Starlight Celebrity Charity Lampshade Auction

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Starlight Children’s Foundation has teamed up with Alexander Miles, eBay and The Langham, London to organize a Celebrity Lampshade Auction to raise funds for the charity.

A number of high profile names took part in the design project, including Ricky Gervais, Jonathan Ross, Bill Nighy, Stereophonics, William Tempest, Daisy de Villeneuve, Sam-Taylor Wood and Linford Christie.

The Auction will go live at the Champagne Launch Party on the 7th February 2012 at The Langham, London. The Lampshades and stunning floor lamps designed by Alexander Miles will be on display in the Palm Court (re-named Lamp Court) for a period of two weeks. The Auction will be featured globally on eBay from 7th February 2012 to 21st February 2012 with all monies raised going directly to Starlight Children’s Foundation in the UK.

Kate Winslet's Celebrity Friends Wear The Golden Hat For Autism

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Kate Winslet will be releasing a special book to benefit her autism charity, the Golden Hat Foundation, in April 2012, and has called on some of her famous friends to help.

The book features a collection of stunning self-portraits from celebrities and cultural luminaries, all wearing a “magical” hat to support autism awareness and outreach.

Winslet has amassed a collection of photos from an amazing array of her friends and renowned personalities who have donned this special hat, taken a self portrait, and passed the hat along from one person to another. Among the participants whose photos are featured in the book are George Clooney, Anna Wintour, Ben Stiller, Brigitte Lacombe, Christina Aguilera, David Souffan, Demi Moore, Don Cheadle, Elijah Wood, Ellen Page, Javier Bardem, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jude Law, Julianne Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Laura Dern, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maria Sharapova, Marion Cottillard, Meryl Streep, Michael Kors, Naomi Watts, Pedro Almodovar, Peter Sarsgaard, Ricky Gervais and many, many more.

Ricky Gervais Says No To Beagle Breeding Farm

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0000

International comedian Ricky Gervais has spoken out in support of the BUAV’s campaign to stop plans for a dog breeding farm which would supply beagles for experiments.

“I am disgusted to learn of these plans to breed beagles for experiments,” Ricky told the BUAV. “It is unacceptable that these gentle and trusting dogs should be treated as commodities. If B&K’s plans go ahead, thousands of dogs will be born to spend the rest of their short lives in a laboratory cage, where they will suffer in cruel experiments. I fully support the BUAV’s efforts in trying to stop this facility from going ahead.”

The plans outline a farm based in Grimston, Yorkshire, which would breed thousands of beagles to supply laboratories with test subjects for painful and invasive experiments.

Leona Lewis And Ricky Gervais Want An Animal-Friendly Christmas

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

British stars Leona Lewis, Ricky Gervais and Joanna Lumley have joined Humane Society International/UK in urging people to celebrate an animal-friendly Christmas and Holiday Season.

The celebrities are supporting HSI’s “Cruelty-Free Christmas Pledge,” and join HSI in suggesting a range of festive and animal-friendly options, from having a veggie Christmas lunch to refusing to buy animals as gifts.

“Christmas and the holidays should be a time for celebrating peace and compassion, but sadly that’s not the case for so many animals who suffer unnecessarily for the festive season,” says Leona Lewis. “It breaks my heart that millions of turkeys will be killed for the table, beautiful fur-bearing creatures will be skinned in the name of fashion and hundreds of puppies, kittens, rabbits, hamsters and others will end up abandoned as unwanted presents. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Join me in taking HSI/UK’s Cruelty-Free Christmas Pledge and show our animal friends you care.”

Stars Wish Macmillan Cancer Care A Happy 100th Birthday

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Leading cancer care charity Macmillan Cancer Support recently asked its celebrity supporters – including Kylie Minogue, Keira Knightley, Sting, Alesha Dixon, Joanna Lumley, James Corden, Anna Friel and Seth Rogen – to share their 100th birthday wishes in a short film 100 Years Of Macmillan: A Birthday Tribute.

The short film premiered at The Macmillan Centenary Gala, an all-star evening of entertainment hosted by Graham Norton at The London Palladium on Monday 28 November.

Acting royalty Dame Helen Mirren wished for a very high heeled pair of shoes comfortable enough to walk around in all day for her 100th birthday, while TV presenter Amanda Holden would love to look 75 years younger if she reaches 100. Funny man Ricky Gervais wished for a real life hoverboard from the film ‘Back To The Future’ while Myleene Klass’ dream present would be a grand piano which she could shrink and carry around in her handbag.

Vera Lynn Speaks Out Over Cruel Foie Gras

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Beloved by British troops for her outdoor concerts during World War II, Dame Vera Lynn now has a whole new flock of fans after penning a letter on behalf of PETA UK to Beverley Aspinall, managing director of Fortnum & Mason, asking her to stop the sale of the vile food product foie gras in the store.

In the letter, Dame Vera – who has long expressed her affinity for birds in lyrics such as those in the songs “(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover” and “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” – explains that foie gras production is so cruel that it’s banned in the UK.

“Britain has many things it can be proud of, and I consider our respect for the welfare of animals to be of them,” she wrote. "I was therefore most upset to learn that Fortnum & Mason stocks foie gras – a product so cruel that its production is not allowed in the UK, and yet you continue to import it from France. There is no way to produce foie gras humanely, and the force feeding process is universally condemned by veterinarians, scientists and animal welfare groups. For a department store with such a proud British heritage, it made me sad that you would wish to tarnish it by associating yourself with the force-feeding of animals.

Help Stop The Tiger Trade In China

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Environmental Investigation Agency and a number of stars are endorsing a new petition calling on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on tiger trade.

The petition has been organised by TigerTime, an initiative of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation which has garnered mass public and celebrity support to raise awareness of the plight of the world’s last remaining wild tigers and campaign to reverse its decline.

The petition urges: “I appeal to Premier Wen Jiabao to send a clear message to his government, calling for an end to all tiger trade within China. This is to include a call for a zero tolerance policy applied to all trade of all parts and derivatives of tiger and other protected Asian big cats, from all sources.”

Stars Loosen Their Ties For Charity In Scotland

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Ricky Gervais, Scarlett Johansson, Usher, Bruno Mars, Kevin McKidd and other great celebrities are “loosening up” and ditching their ties in aid of Cahonas Scotland’s celebrity e-bay auction helping in the battle to raise awareness of Male Cancers.

Opening to the public at www.loosenupauction.com on November 24th, the auction is part of Cahonas Scotland’s aims to erase stigma often attached to male cancers.

Many Scottish celebrities have rallied round the cause with donations already confirmed from Kevin McKidd, Amy MacDonald, Ian Rankin and Kenny Logan.

Bill Oddie Leads A Christmas Protest Over Foie Gras

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Beloved British wildlife expert Bill Oddie made an unexpected appearance at the unveiling of Fortnum & Mason’s Christmas window dressed as Santa Claus to call on Fortnum & Mason to be good, for goodness’ sake, and stop selling foie gras.

Photo via PETA UK

Celebrities Go Without Their Woolly Hats For Charity

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:45:00 +0000

A whole bunch of British celebrities have donated their woolly hats to a new charity auction that aims to raise money for the homeless.

Charity St. Mungo’s is putting hats from famous heads belonging to Eric Clapton, Ricky Gervais, Sienna Miller, Alan Carr, Fearne Cotton, Simon Pegg, Elvis Costello, Helena Bonham Carter, Joan Collins and many more under the hammer.

St. Mungo’s is hosting Woolly Hat Day on November 4. There are so many ways you can be involved in Woolly Hat Day 2011. Whether you want to get involved through your school or college, your workplace, with a community group, or just with friends, the charity has lots of ideas to help you fundraise. Just click here to find out more.

Bruce Springsteen And Ricky Gervais To Stand Up For Heroes

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart and Ricky Gervais will take part in a special charity event in New York next month.

The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) and The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF) will partner for the fifth consecutive year to present Stand Up for Heroes at the Beacon Theatre in New York on Wednesday, November 9th at 8 p.m.

This event supports those who continue to fight for the US’s freedom and helps heal the physical and psychological wounds of war. This event kicks off the New York Comedy Festival, which runs November 9 – 13.

Paul McCartney Gets Behind Meat Free Cookbook

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:30:00 +0000

A new cookbook inspired by the Meat Free Monday campaign – and featuring a foreword by Paul, Stella and Mary McCartney – has hit the shelves of bookstores in the UK

Following the huge success of the McCartney family’s Meat Free Monday campaign, the new cookbook launched yesterday and was inspired by the simple idea that going without meat for just one day of the week can make a huge difference to the planet, our health and even our pocket.

The campaign, which was launched in 2009, came about after the United Nations issued a report which stated that the livestock industry as a whole was responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the whole of the transport sector put together. Meat is in fact responsible for a staggering 18 per cent of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Samantha Fox To Shock Politicians Into Action Over Tiger Conservation

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:00:00 +0000

International singer, impassioned tiger conservationist, humanitarian and former model, Sam Fox, aims to shock MPs and politicians into action to save the tiger in the wild at an event outside the House of Commons at 1pm on Wednesday 26th October.

With only an estimated 3,200 wild tigers left on earth, Sam has joined TigerTime, the global campaign to save the tiger.

Celebrity Shoe Auction Kicks Off For Charity

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The Small Steps Project will be holding the 2011 London Celebrity Shoe Auction and the premier of the new film at a fundraising evening at The Royal Society of Medicine on October 12.

From SJP, Kristin Davis, Chris Noth, Ben Stiller and Bill Murray to Kate Moss, Zandra Rhodes, Russell Brand, Sienna Miller, Sophie Dahl, Michael Palin, Joanna Lumley, Ricky Gervais, Rachel Weisz, Simon Pegg, Sharleen Spiteri, Liam Gallagher, Helen Mirren, Colin Firth, Jamie Lee Curtis, Steven Gerrard, and Jason Donovan; Small Steps Project has collected celebrity support from both sides of the pond culminating in a fundraising Celebrity Shoe Auction at The Royal Society of Medicine, at One Wimpole St, London on October 12th 2011 at 7pm.

Roger Moore And Brigitte Bardot Say No To Cruel Cosmetics

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Hollywood legends Sir Roger Moore, Brigitte Bardot and Virginia McKenna, OBE, are speaking out in support of a ban on selling animal-tested cosmetics in Europe.

They join stars Ricky Gervais, Ke$ha, Leona Lewis, Melanie C, Dame Judi Dench and Mary McCartney in signing Humane Society International’s “CrueltyFree2013” petition.

Paul McCartney Joins Celebrity Supporters Of Tiger Charity

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Paul McCartney is the latest celebrity to support TigerTime, a charity that aims to save the last 3,200 wild tigers on earth.

The Beatles legend joins a list of celebrity supporters that includes Joanna Lumley, Ricky Gervais, Roger Moore, Michael Parkinson, Melanie C, Anjelica Huston, Susan Sarandon, Gemma Atkinson, Vicki Roberts, Simon King, Naomie Harris, Neil Gaiman, Claire King, Abi Titmuss, Elizabeth Emanuel and Paula Abdul.

TigerTime was established by the renowned British wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd CBE on his 80th birthday in May of this year.

Bill Oddie Says No To Foie Gras

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:15:00 +0000

British celebrity Bill Oddie has fired off a scathing letter to Fortnum & Mason Managing Director Beverley Aspinall ridiculing Aspinall for trying to defend foie gras production by equating the force-feeding process with cormorants who swallow whole fish in the wild!

“I have reason to believe that you are well aware that the procedure of “fattening up” geese by force-feeding in order to accelerate the production of foie gras is banned in this and other European countries because it is considered extremely cruel," he wrote in the letter. "It is also totally and obviously unnatural. Which makes it doubly surprising – and shocking – to me that at a recent meeting with PETA you chose to argue your case by equating the physical experience of a goose being force-fed with that of a cormorant swallowing a fish. Catching and swallowing fish is what cormorants do. So do herons, kingfishers and various seabirds. What’s more, their throats and digestive systems allow them to consume surprisingly large prey that is not only still alive but also wiggling. This is entirely natural behaviour for cormorants and other fish-eating birds.

Roger Moore Applauds Girl Who Changed Name For Foie Gras Protest

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:00:00 +0000

PETA’s campaign against Fortnum & Mason for refusing to stop selling cruelly produced foie gras just got personal for a PETA staff member: Abi Izzard has now officially changed her name to StopFortnumAndMasonFoieGrasCruelty.com.

“Whenever anyone asks for or reads my name, it sparks a conversation about the cruelty of foie gras and Fortnum & Mason’s complicity in the abuse”, says StopFortnumAndMasonFoieGrasCruelty.com. “It’s appalling that Fortnum & Mason, which trades on its British heritage, refuses to stop profiting from a product so cruel that its production is banned in the UK.”

StopFortnumAndMasonFoieGrasCruelty.com’s positive action has already received praise from one high-profile admirer: “Many people know me as James Bond or 007, but I never went so far as officially changing my name from Roger Moore!” says Sir Roger Moore, a fervent supporter of the campaign against Fortnum & Mason and the sale of foie gras. “I hope the young lady now known as StopFortnumAndMasonFoieGrasCruelty.com royally shames this store”.

Colin Firth Donates Shoes To Celebrity Charity Auction

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Small Steps Project will be holding the 2011 London Celebrity Shoe Auction and the premier of the new film at a fundraising evening at The Royal Society of Medicine on October 12.

The event aims to raise awareness and funds so that we can continue to assist children in poverty on rubbish dumps around the world.

Joanna Lumley Joins Celebrity Friends To Save Tigers

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:00:00 +0000

British actress Joanna Lumley has added her support to TigerTime, the new global charity campaign to save the last 3,200 wild tigers on earth.

Joanna joins an amazing list of celebrities from all across the world of entertainment in both the UK and USA including Ricky Gervais, Roger Moore, Michael Parkinson, Melanie C, Anjelica Huston, Susan Sarandon, Gemma Atkinson, Vicki Roberts, Simon King, Naomie Harris, Neil Gaiman, Claire King, Abi Titmuss, Elizabeth Emanuel and Paula Abdul.

“Animals share the earth with us: that is to say, they are equal partners in the right to live on this planet,” says Joanna. “In our anxiety to make the world a better place for ourselves, let us be very careful that we don’t obliterate the needs of other species. If the tiger disappears from the wild because of our behaviour we humans shall have lost all claims to be called civilised and compassionate. The greatest enemy is indifference. Please join TigerTime right now to help to save the lives and habitat of these magnificent creatures. This is extremely urgent. The clock is ticking: real time is running out.”

Ricky Gervais Says No To Animal Cruelty On His Birthday

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:30:00 +0000

If you’re wondering what to buy Ricky Gervais for his 50th birthday on 25 June, you’d better steer clear of anything from Fortnum & Mason! The comedian set aside his well-honed sense of humour to pen a deadly serious letter on PETA’s behalf to F&M head Beverley Aspinall calling the department store out for its sale of cruelly produced foie gras.

Foie gras is a pâté made from the livers of ducks and geese.

“I have been a customer of your store, for many years and I consider it a great British institution,” writes Ricky. "I am however, saddened to hear that despite the extremely unethical processes involved in obtaining it, you continue to stock foie gras.