Look To The Stars News: Michael Moore

George Clooney's Signed Jacket Up For Auction To Benefit RFK Center

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Celebrities spanning the worlds of politics, sports and entertainment have joined together for The Robert F. Kennedy Center’s annual Ripple of Hope Holiday Auction.

Icons including Madeleine Albright and George Clooney have donated exclusive experiences and VIP access to raise funds for the organization’s integral human rights work. Bidding is currently live and runs through December 15th at leading charity auction site charitybuzz.com at www.charitybuzz.com/RFKHoliday2011.

Michael Moore, Martin Sheen, Mark Hamill and many more celebrities have donated exclusive experiences to raise funds for the 42-year-old organization dedicated to providing an ongoing base of support to human rights defenders around the world. Additional notable participants include: Jenna Fischer, George Clooney, Rosie Perez, Debra Messing, Bill Maher, Michael Lombardi, John Starks, Ray Romano, James Earl Jones, Chris Matthews, Marc Summers, Florence Henderson, Kate Mulgrew, Jay Leno, Joe Scarborough, Steve Case, Robert Wolf, Austan Goolsbee, Paul Volcker, Mort Zuckerman and Dr. Madeleine Albright, with more A-listers joining the auction each day.

Celebrity Charity Gifts That Give Twice

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

Looking for a gift to top all gifts this holiday season? Leading charity auction site charitybuzz.com is offering access to hundreds of once-in-a-lifetime celebrity experiences.

The site’s “Gifts That Give Twice Holiday Auction” features lots ranging from the chance to meet Christina Aguilera on set at The Voice to the chance to hang with BB King backstage.

Auction proceeds support the work of hundreds of nonprofit organizations around the world, such as the the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, Tibet House, True Colors Fund, GO Campaign and more.

Star Power Backs Occupy Wall Street Movement

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:30:00 +0000

The tenacious Occupy Wall Street movement that began on September 17 may have been ignored by mainstream media, but it caught the attention of many celebrities who have visited the New York city protest camp. Film maker Michael Moore and actor Susan Sarandon were in there early and, more recently, actor John Cusack and musicians Kanye West and Russell Simmons have lent their support.

Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, who performed on the ground for protestors last week, explained his participation: “Do people have control over what their lives and their world are like beyond voting once every four years for someone they cross their fingers and hope is going to do the best job? It’s not a choice between the lesser of two evils; it’s often the choice of the evil of two lessers. The blinders are off. We’re on our own. We’ve got to figure this out for ourselves. As Ghandi said, first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win.”

“There’s a hopelessness that’s descended upon people,” said Mark Ruffalo, joining the protest in New York. “That hopelessness crushes dignity, and there’s only so far that human dignity can actually be crushed before it says ’That’s enough’. We’re reaching that point. We’re seeing it happen all over the world.”

Wall Street Under Nonviolent Siege

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0000

In mid-September, a thousand people marched into New York City’s financial district to occupy Liberty Plaza in defiance of the crimes of Wall Street bankers and America’s financial system abuses affecting the majority of the citizens for the benefit of the richest one percent.

The so-called 99 percenters, inspired by the Arab Spring and uprisings in troubled European countries, have long planned this sit-in, which is unified in its frustration and condemnation of the corporatization of the country, but not willing to define a specific demand. Rather, this demonstration, which is growing in size and spreading to cities across the US, has an all-encompassing message from its participants who range in age, profession, sex, class and origins. They want a new system that is fair. They call it “social change”.

Because the protest of the “underemployed and over-educated” is getting coverage in the UK but almost none in the US, some celebrities are stepping up. Political activist Michael Moore has participated and spoken to media outlets about Occupy Wall Street, actress Susan Sarandon has made an appearance and Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons spent some time handing out bottles of water and moral support.

Celebrity Activists Support Wall Street Occupation

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:16:00 +0000

Protesters in New York have received encouragement from a number of celebrities who support their ongoing occupation of Wall Street.

On Monday night, filmmaker Michael Moore and rapper Immortal Technique showed up at Zuccotti Park to express their solidarity with the protesters.

Moore told the crowd, “I’m so impressed by what I’m seeing here.”

Michael Moore Wants A Return Of The Middle Class

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:30:00 +0000

On the 30th anniversary of “The Day the Middle Class Died”, activist and film-maker Michael Moore outlined the significance of 5 August 1981 and the subsequent disappearance of American’s middle class. And then he offered some hope.

Two days into the 1981 air traffic controllers’ strike, Moore says then US president Ronal Reagan threatened to fire any member of their union defying his return to work order, and he made the union illegal. But rather than American unions reacting with outrage and defiance, “the biggest organization of unions in America told its members to cross the picket lines of the air traffic controllers to go to work,” says Moore, “and that’s just what these union members did. Union pilots, flight attendants, delivery truck drivers, baggage handlers – they all crossed the line and helped to break the strike.” And that, he says, was the beginning of the end.

“Reagan and the Republicans knew they could get away with anything — and they did. They slashed taxes on the rich. They made it harder for you to start a union at your workplace. They eliminated safety regulations on the job. They ignored the monopoly laws and allowed thousands of companies to merge or be bought out and closed down. Corporations froze wages and threatened to move overseas if the workers didn’t accept lower pay and less benefits. And when the workers agreed to work for less, they moved the jobs overseas anyway. Piece by piece, in the ensuing 30 years, those in power have destroyed the middle class of our country.

Celebrities Donate Gifts That Give Twice For Charity

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Charitybuzz.com, the leading destination for online charity auctions, presents its second annual Gifts That Give Twice Holiday Auction, featuring hundreds of once-in-a-lifetime celebrity and luxury experiences to benefit more than 50 nonprofit organizations.

Carrie Underwood, Betty White, Justin Bieber, The Edge, Michael Moore, Ne-Yo, Quentin Tarantino and many more celebrities have signed on to give back this holiday season, in addition to coveted brands like HBO, Ritz Carlton, and Barbie. Bidding is open to the international community through December 21 at www.charitybuzz.com/HOLIDAY2010.

From magnificent tropical getaways to exclusive access to A-list stars, charitybuzz is the ultimate destination for luxury gifts that give back to those in need this holiday season. 100 percent of net proceeds from the Gifts That Give Twice Holiday Auction will benefit nonprofits such as TreePeople, The Art of Elysium, Operation Smile, Habitat For Humanity NYC, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Reality Cares, Better Life Foundation, Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, First Tee, TACA, Musicians on Call and many others.

Michael Moore To Receive The Steinbeck Award

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:00:00 +0000

The Center for Steinbeck Studies announced earlier this month that they will be honoring documentary filmmaker Michael Moore with this year’s John Steinbeck Award.

The award is named after author John Steinbeck (1902-1968) – famous for The Grapes of Wrath among other works, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 – and is “given to writers and artists whose work captures the spirit of Steinbeck’s empathy, commitment to democratic values, and belief in the dignity of people who by circumstance are pushed to the fringes.”

In the announcement posted on Moore’s website, Steinbeck’s son, Thomas Steinbeck, said “Michael Moore is a courageous man and a great selection for the John Steinbeck Award. My father would have loved him; my father was the Michael Moore of his time.”

Michael Moore Fights For Freedom Of Religion In America

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0000

While polls show that most Americans are currently against the building of a so-called mosque near Ground Zero where New York’s Twin Towers came down on 9/11, director- activist Michael Moore is asking people to donate $1 each towards the building.

On HBO’s Bill Maher Show last week, Moore clarified a few points, one being that the intended building will not be a mosque, but rather a non-profit community center. “The ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ term was invented by the same people who gave us ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ and other things that are meant to frighten people,” said Moore.

Rage Against The Machine Leads Celebrity Protest In Arizona

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:30:00 +0000

A long list of artists have joined a group actively protesting new immigration laws in Arizona, refusing to play gigs in the state until the laws are changed.

The new law – called SB 1070 – allows police to question any individuals they suspect are illegal immigrants, and all legal immigrants are required to carry registration documents at all times.

Rage Against The Machine singer Zack de la Rocha is spearheading the group, which includes Cypress Hill, Juanes, Conor Oberst, Michael Moore, Kanye West, Joe Satriani, Rise Against, Massive Attack, Sonic Youth, Jack Black’s Tenacious D and many others.

Iranian Director Released From Jail

Wed, 26 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Earlier this month, LookToTheStars.org reported that a number of top Hollywood legends had signed a petition urging the Iranian government to free jailed filmmaker Jafar Panahi. We can now happily report that he has been released on bail.

Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, the Coen Brothers, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Michael Moore all put their signatures to the petition, following the arrest of the filmmaker in March.

Panahi was arrested for his vocal support of Iran’s opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi. His release follows the end of the Cannes Film Festival, of which he was supposed to be a judge.

Filmmakers Unite To Free Jailed Director In Iran

Mon, 03 May 2010 15:30:00 +0000

A host of the film industry’s biggest names have signed a petition to urge the Iranian government to free jailed filmmaker Jafar Panahi.

Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, the Coen Brothers, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Michael Moore have put their signatures to the petition, following the arrest of the filmmaker in March.

Panahi was arrested for his vocal support of Iran’s opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi.

Michael Moore Sees The Need For Non-Profit Healthcare

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Documentary-maker Michael Moore is hopeful for the healthcare changes that American President Barack Obama is working towards. He just wishes that the majority of Americans who elected Obama were being a little noisier.

“I feel bad for President Obama, what he’s going through,” said Moore. “He’s trying to bring health to people who have a hard time getting health. All those millions, tens of millions of people who voted for him, where are they? Where are the people that wanted this?”

Moore thinks that Obama might be getting better attention if his proposal went straight to a single tier healthcare system similar to the versions available in most other western industrialized countries. Nevertheless, he still has faith: "I’ll give him credit for this: He knows, and his opponents know, that if a true public option exists, if that’s passed, it will be almost impossible for the private profit-making insurance companies to compete for the company that doesn’t have to make a profit, and could put those private profit-making insurance companies out of business. That possibility exists, they know it, and that’s why the health insurance companies are spending over a million dollars a day on lobbyists and other advertising efforts in the United States.

Madonna’s Malawi Efforts Get Multiple Recognition

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Malawi is awarding Madonna with citizenship in honor of the work she’s done through her charity, Raising Malawi, for AIDS orphans of the impoverished country.

However, Malawi’s government offices aren’t the only ones noticing Madonna’s work. Michael Moore asked to show her new film, I am Because We Are, at the Traverse City Film Festival and for her to attend the showing in person.

“She said she’d be thrilled to come here and be part of the film festival,” said Moore. “We were pleasantly surprised.”