Look To The Stars News: Bob Geldof

Beds Are Burning For Climate Change

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Kofi Annan, President of the Global Humanitarian Forum, was yesterday joined by Mélanie Laurent (star of Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Inglourious Basterds’) and David Jones (Global CEO, Havas Worldwide) for the launch of a specially re-recorded version of Midnight Oil’s Beds are Burning as a global musical petition to demand climate justice at the UN’s Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December.

‘Beds Are Burning’ was produced by The:Hours, and is to be made available on all major music download platforms for free. It will also be available on the campaign’s own website: www.timeforclimatejustice.org.

The song has been supported by over 60 international music stars and celebrities including Duran Duran, Mark Ronson, Jamie Cullum, Melanie Laurent, Marion Cotillard, Milla Jovovich, Fergie, Lily Allen, Manu Katche, Bob Geldof, Youssou N’Dour, Yannick Noah and many more.

“Climate change is the greatest humanitarian challenge facing mankind today,” said Kofi Annan. "And it is a challenge that has a grave injustice at its heart. It is the major developed economies of the world which contribute the overwhelming majority of global greenhouse emissions. But it is the poorer and least developed nations that are hit hardest by its impact.

“By downloading ‘Beds Are Burning’ for free from major music download platforms on the internet, people from around the world will be adding their names to this growing global petition – joining the campaign for climate justice and becoming a climate ally.

“This will be the first time ever that a musical petition has been created to demand decisive action from our world leaders. I believe it can become the Band Aid for the internet generation.”

Founded in 2007, the Global Humanitarian Forum is led by Kofi Annan and brings together stakeholders, including government, business, international organizations, civil society and the general public, to help solve humanitarian challenges. Located in Geneva, the Forum’s current focus is to increase awareness on the human face of climate change and to boost support to vulnerable populations worst affected by global warming.

“The next Kyoto agreement is hugely important to get right because the last one got it so wrong,” said Melanie Laurent. "The single greatest contribution to the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is not the burning of fossil fuels by the transport sector, nor is it industrial pollution, it is deforestation.

“I’m supporting Kofi Annan’s initiative and hope this song will be heard by as many people as possible in the world before Copenhagen. This campaign will help secure a better future for our planet and upcoming generations. The time has come.”

Every download will count as a unique digital petition with people adding their names to demand world leaders reach an ambitious, fair and global deal at the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen. Already, more than 1.3 million people have signed up to the campaign.

Duran Duran Join All-Star Recording For Climate Awareness

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Some of the biggest selling singers and groups of all time – and even a Nobel laureate – are lending their voices to a new song to raise awareness of global warming.

British superstars Duran Duran are joining together with Germany’s The Scorpions, French ‘Piaf’ actress Marion Cotillard, Senegalese star Youssou N’dour, Sir Bob Geldof, Chinese singer Khalil Fong and South African archbishop Desmond Tutu to record the song. Entitled “Beds’r Burning”, and based on the song originally released by Australian group Midnight Oil in the 1980s, the single will be available for download from October 1.

The song is part of a campaign to raise awareness of climate change organized by the Global Humanitarian Forum, headed by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

“If we do not stop emissions today, global warming will be still be with us in 40 to 50 years,” warned Walter Fust, director of the Forum.

Bob Geldof Launches One Campaign Report On G8

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A host of leaders and stars helped launch the ONE Campaign’s DATA Report in London yesterday.

Bill Gates, Desmond Tutu and Bob Geldof all talked at the event, which launched the annual report that aims to measure the G8 against commitments made at their 2005 summit in Scotland. But the news is not good, revealing that France and Italy are performing so poorly that they are threatening to cause the G8 as a whole to default.

“It saddens me and angers me that great nations like Italy and France are going in the wrong direction,” said Archbishop Tutu of South Africa. “We must all campaign to encourage the forthcoming G8 meetings to do better and do what is right.”

“That [the Italian] economy is in such a disastrous meltdown condition, they must steal from the poor, rob the ill and snatch education from the minds of the young not only beggars the imagination but must also surely beggar the soul of that most beautiful country,” added Geldof. “Shame on you.”

The report laid out a number of findings:

By 2008, the G8 had delivered only a third of their commitment—just $7 billion of the total $21.5 billion increases promised to Africa by 2010. Some countries fared better than others: the US, Canada and Japan are meeting or beating modest targets; Germany and the UK are striving to meet their more ambitious commitments. France’s delivery is disappointing, and Italy—the host of the upcoming G8 Summit—has utterly failed to make progress on its promised aid.
Looking ahead to 2009, ONE estimates that the G8 will have delivered only a half of their commitment. 80% of the 2009 shortfall will be due to France and Italy. That means that in 2010, the G8 must deliver the entire other half to reach their target.
In 2008, the G8 met in Accra to review progress on improving aid effectiveness. While the forum helped accelerate progress towards achieving better aid, more must be done to reach the 2010 goals.
The steps taken by the G8 since 2005 have brought them close to fulfilling their commitments on debt. At the end of 2008, Africa had been relieved of $92.8 billion of its debt obligations.
But the global financial crisis threatens to overturn these advances. Among the 20 African countries that reached ‘completion point’ in the debt cancellation process, 11 now face a risk of debt distress through reaccumulation of debt.
The G8 are not living up to their promise to “make trade work for Africa.” Despite an increase in exports, Africa accounts for only 3.5% of global trade—the lowest share of any region in the world.

The report was launched the day before finance ministers from the G8 countries — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States — are to meet for two days of talks in Italy, ahead of the next G8 meeting in July.

“Why do we have the obligation to help another person we will never know and never see,” said Geldof. “Why would [Bill Gates] decide to devote the rest of his entire life and his entire fortune to that end? It’s because that singular condition of poverty can be removed. Indeed, it must be removed [otherwise] we cannot build a new global financial architecture, one that collapsed because 50% of the planet was not included. They live on less than $2 a day – you cannot live on $2 a day! I will repeat that – you cannot live on $2 a day. So you die. So we remove from the world economy, the creative dynamic, the intellectual stimulus, the productivity that these people have. By injecting that into the world economy, they can have their own health systems, they can have coherent governments, they can buy our stuff and we can buy their’s. And we won’t have to give aid any more.”

A video of highlights of the launch can be found here.

Bob Geldof Explains His Turning Points

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Sir Bob Geldof has revealed some of the turning points in his life that led to his charity work.

In a new book – Turning Points by Julia Ogilvy – Geldof talks candidly about losing his mother to a brain haemorrhage when he was just seven years old.

“It was so out of the blue, you know – there was no warning or lingering illness. Just bang… It’s unbearable to be that small and to have to take care of yourself. At the time, you just get on with it and it becomes routine to shop, to cook and to get the coal from the basement to light the fire. It was c**p coming home alone.

“When I think [about] TV reports of starving children, I realize I may have been more alert than another person simply because of my background.”

Geldof is referring to watching Michael Buerk’s shocking report on the famine in Ethiopia on the BBC in 1984, an event that led to writing Do They Know It’s Christmas with Midge Ure and organizing Live Aid. In recent years he was also behind the Live 8 concerts and persuading world leaders to double aid for Africa’s poor to $50 billion.

“Michael Buerk was shocked by what he saw and you could clearly see that. The brevity of the words hung in the silence and his outrage reverberated around.

“It may as well have had “For the attention of Bob Geldof” on it. It was right for the mood I was in, the time of day, the condition of my life – new family, no future, best part of my life over, evening, October. Here I was with a nine-month-old baby; and here I was seeing all these mothers and fathers and children, absolutely no different to us.’

“It’s important to remember the times we were in, too. In 1984, people were getting outraged by the Common Agricultural Policy – the fact that they were paying tax to grow surplus food. They then paid tax to store it and paid tax to destroy it – while not that many miles south of Europe, 30 million people were dying of starvation.

“The next day, I decided that to die of want in a world of surplus is not only intellectually absurd, it’s morally repulsive.

“Paula [Yates] had cried watching the film and had to leave halfway through as she was too distressed. The next morning, she had to do filming for The Tube. She left a note on the fridge saying that anyone who visited the house had to put five quid in a shoebox on the kitchen table.

“When I saw that, it really alerted my outrage, and that’s what made me decide to write a song. I knew that putting a few quid in the box just wasn’t enough.

“I thought at first I’d write a song and make around 70 grand. And because The Boomtown Rats weren’t having hits, the logic was to use my mates from the ten years I’d spent in rock ‘n’ roll, and rising young bands like [”U2":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/245-u2], to perform it.

“So I called Paula to ask who was on the show that night, and she said Midge Ure. I was a bit shamefaced at suggesting “hip” bands should play my song when I wasn’t doing well, so when I called Midge, I suggested we cover some old standard to raise money. But he said I should write a song."

Turning Points, by Julia Ogilvy, will be published by Lion Books on June 19. For information about Turning Points see www.turning-pointsonline.com. Ogilvy has donated her fee and proceeds from the sale of the book to the charity Project Scotland, which helps young people realise their potential through volunteering.

Bob Geldof To Meet With IMF Over Gold Sale Funds

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Sir Bob Geldof will today meet with Dominic Strauss-Khan, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on behalf of the ONE Campaign to deliver the organization’s message that the IMF must make gold sale funds available to developing countries without harmful conditions and without creating new debts.

According to ONE: "The IMF is about to sell a small fraction of its gold reserves to raise $6 billion, but their plan for what to do with that windfall is completely backwards.

“Instead of using that money to fund direct grants focused on poverty-fighting results and accountability, it looks as though the majority will be spent on IMF operating expenses and staff salaries, with a small portion being disbursed as loans to developing nations. That’s bad news for impoverished countries, who will be forced to choose between getting the help they need now and facing crippling debts after the financial crisis is over.

“The more than two billion people who live on less than $2 a day did nothing to cause this financial crisis, yet they’ll still suffer from its consequences. This gold sale is our chance to make a difference for them and for the 53 million additional people who will slip into poverty this year if nothing is done.”

The One Campaign has organized a petition to make the voices of their supporters heard by the IMF, a private organization that oversees the global financial system by following the macroeconomic policies of its member countries.

To put your name to the petition and find out more about the issue, visit the ONE Campaign’s website.

Annie Lennox Supports Bottletop Initiative

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Singer Annie Lennox is one of a group of stars who supports a charity initiative that funds projects that have a positive impact on the health and well-being of young people world-wide.

Bottletop raises funds through fashion and music, focusing on helping small, dynamic education initiatives, with a particular emphasis on sexual and reproductive health education. One of these fundraising initatives is a beautiful ring pull bag crafted by 24 people in Salvador. Each bag is handmade by linking hundreds of recycled ring pulls together in a crochet formation.

“When I first saw the bags I was really blown away by them,” said Lennox. “At first glance you don’t realise what they’re made from… they just look beautiful and eye catching. I love the fact that they are not only created from recycling , but they are creating a source of skillful self sufficiency within communities.”

Set up in 2002 by Cameron Saul, Bottletop has garnered the support of celebrities such as Bill Clinton, Paris Hilton, Bob Geldof, Peaches Geldof, Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N’Dour and many more.

To purchase one of the ring pull bags – or even a ring pull belt – and help the communities that make them, click here. For more information about Bottletop, visit their website.

Celebrities Paint Masks For African Education

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Twenty of the biggest celebrities from music, film, sport and business have painted face masks for a new charity auction on eBay.

The auction is raising money for Education Africa, an organization established in 1992 to assist disadvantaged South Africans in their quest to obtain a quality, relevant education in order to ensure that they are in a position to become global citizens and a competitive force in the local job market.

Up for grabs in the auction are masks decorated by Paris Hilton, Bob Geldof, Stefi Graf, Andre Agassi, Lily Cole, Amanda Holden, Annie Lennox, Piers Morgan, Jude Law, Simon Cowell, Melanie Brown, Lewis Hamilton and many more. The masks will be on display at the chaity’s annual gala dinner to be held at the May Fair Hotel in London on March 31st 2009.

“We have all been overwhelmed by the generous response of so many celebrities to our unique campaign,” chairperson Jania Geoghegan said.

To view the masks and make a bid, visit the eBay site before April 5.

Classic Rockers Join Led Zep Guitarist For Charity

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

Written by Tim Saunders

Some of the biggest names in classic rock have donated items to an auction that benefits a charity supported by one of their contemporaries.

Task Brazil is a UK-based charity established in 1992 that improves the lives and supports the needs of children and pregnant teenage girls living on the streets of Brazil. The charity received a huge boost in 1997 when Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, who witnessed first hand the deprivation of the children and troubles in the favelas whilst playing in Rio de Janeiro, made a massive donation. The money was used to buy a plot of land in Santa Teresa on which ‘Casa Jimmy’ was built to provide a safe and happy home for a lucky few of the abandoned children.

The current auction features loads of Led Zep items signed by Page, as well as guitars signed by Slash and the Eagles’ Joe Walsh, and items signed by Phil Collins, Bob Geldof, Iron Maiden and many others.

The auction runs until March 15 and can be accessed here.

Peaches Geldof Gets Second-Hand Makeover

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Celebrity Peaches Geldof – known for her sense of style and love of labels – has been given a makeover with a difference from a group of elderly women who work in second-hand clothing stores.

With the help of fashion expert Mary Portas – who is making a documentary on second-hand stores for BBC2 – the group of fashion-conscious grannies decked the young socialite (and daughter of Bob Geldof) in a vintage, fifties-style red dress at their stall backstage at London Fashion Week. Portas believes that charity shops will be relied on more during the recession, and she has spent time filming in shops for Save the Children, Barnardo’s and many other charities for her new series.

“I brought my style volunteers up to London Fashion Week to give a message to the fashion world that charity shopping is not just great for the environment and for a good cause,” she said. “These are places where you can get unique, fashionable outfits that are on trend and look great.”

The group of charitable pensioners also gave second-hand makeovers to supermodel Erin O’Connor, actress Natalie Press and DJ Jodie Harsh.

Band Aid Founder Awarded Honorary Degree

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Midge Ure – the musician who helped Bob Geldof organize Band Aid and co-wrote Do They Know It’s Christmas? – has received an honorary doctorate for his humanitarian work.

The 55-year-old former singer for Ultravox was presented with the degree at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland, an honor that follows similar awards from universities in Edinburgh, Abertay and Paisley.

Ure – who was awarded with an OBE in 2005 – is still a member of the Band Aid Trust and still gives his time to organizing benefit events, such as Geldof’s Live 8 events three years ago.

Ure said he was “overwhelmed and extremely pleased” to receive the award and urged fellow graduates to “make a difference”.

Nicole Kidman Delivers Anti-Violence Petition To UN

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Nicole Kidman has presented U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with a petition that calls on world leaders to end impunity for perpetrators of violence against women, provide services for survivors and, most importantly, invest in prevention.

The petition was run online throughout this year and contained 5,066,549 names. UNIFEM Executive Director Ines Alberdi said the campaign’s supporters included 29 world leaders, 188 ministers and over 600 parliamentarians, and celebrities such as Hilary Swank and Bob Geldof.

“I think in some ways I’ve always been heading towards wanting to put some meaning into my life and this is probably how I see myself doing it,” said Kidman, who has been a UNIFEM Ambassador since 2006. “The reason I chose the subject of women is because I was raised by a mother who was very passionate about … having her daughters educated, and wanted her daughters to have an equal opportunity. I was the product of that, and now I’m out there hoping to pass on to the next generation and work in a greater capacity then just as an actress.”

Over the past decade, 120 countries have received much-needed support for hundreds of projects through UNIFEM’s Trust Fund. Last year, $5 million was awarded to various initiatives, including a community-based referral system supporting survivors of domestic violence in Albania, implementation of criminal code provisions prohibiting female genital mutilation in Egypt, awareness programs on HIV/AIDS and violence against women in Peru, and implementation of national laws on violence against women in Rwanda.

Ban Ki-moon has now called for greater efforts “to combat attitudes and behavior that condone, tolerate, excuse or ignore violence committed against women.”

All Saints Get Naked For Charity Auction

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British girl band the All Saints have donated a drawing of themselves naked to a new charity auction.

The drawing – signed by all the members of the group – is one of 200 celebrity drawings and self-portraits about to go up for auction to benefit ex-footballer Bob Wilson’s Willow Foundation, a charity set up after the death of Wilson’s daughter from cancer. The organization provides days out for people with serious illnesses.

Joining the All Saints in donating drawings to the auction are Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gordon Ramsay, James Morrison, Bob Geldof, Matt Lucas, Beverley Knight, Martin Johnson, Wendy Richard, Vernon Kay, and many others.

A public exhibition of all the canvases is being held at London’s SW1 Gallery from December 2 to 6. There will be a champagne reception and auction of the top 20 canvases on December 3. The drawings will also be auctioned online at the Willow Foundation website from Wednesday, November 26.

Bob Geldof To Give Charity Talk Down Under

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Sir Bob Geldof is to be keynote speaker at a special charity evening in Auckland, New Zealand, tomorrow night, November 14.

The iconic humanitarian and rock-star will talk about “Making a Difference” at a gala dinner to benefit the Manukau Community Foundation, a New Zealand-based charity that supports projects focused on youth, English literacy, senior citizens, rape prevention and parenting programs for migrant women. He will speak candidly about working with some of the world’s most powerful figures… including some of the lighter moments he has shared with them. He will also talk on the need for change and how to make a difference at all levels including government, industry, family and the self.

The evening will be hosted by New Zealand broadcasting legend Paul Holmes, and will feature an auction hosted by former All Black Frank Bunce and a question and answer session with Geldof.

Tickets to the event – which will be held at Auckland’s SkyCity – start from $245, which includes pre-dinner cocktails, three course meal, keynote speech by Sir Bob Geldof, live music and entertainment. Seats can be booked at the Duco website.

Whatever It Takes For Christmas

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Whatever It Takes – the charity that offers artworks and clothing designed by celebrities – have some great gift ideas for the coming holiday season.

The charity – which raises money for all sorts of charities, such as Adopt-A-Minefield, Anti-Slavery International, Breast Cancer Campaign, CARE, Children of the Andes, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Christian Children’s Fund, City at Peace, Comic Relief, Dreams Can Be Foundation, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Greenpeace and many more – is offering T-shirts designed by the Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party; rings designed by Robbie Williams, Ozzy Osbourne and Snoop Dogg; mouse pads from George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, and Coldplay; bed linen from Joss Stone; and a huge selection of plates and mugs designed by Bob Geldof, Paul McCartney, Ewan McGregor and many others.

To get your hands on one of these unique items – which would make the perfect gift – or to see the entire range, visit the Whatever It Takes website.

Sir Bob Geldof Honored For Music And Humanitarian Work

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Sir Bob Geldof has been awarded an honorary doctorate for his contribution to music and humanitarian causes.

The 54-year-old legend behind Band Aid, Live Aid, Live 8, and a host of other major humanitarian initiatives received the degree at the University of East London yesterday.

A spokesman for the university said Sir Bob was chosen to receive the doctorate because of his “unique success in harnessing the power of popular music to raise funds and awareness of key global issues, and changing the lives of people worldwide”.

Geldof, however, was quick to make light of the ceremony.

“I actually thought you were going to be a bunch of musos, it turns out you’re geeks,” he joked. “I’ve absolutely no idea what you’ve just received your degrees for – empirical studies, expressive external systems engineering – whatever, I thought engineers built bridges.”

Geldof is now is a member of the Africa Progress Panel, an independent authority on Africa derived from a key recommendation of the Commission for Africa – an ongoing study of Africa’s problems.

The Stars On Poverty - What Do They Think?

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

October 15 marks the second annual Blog Action Day, when bloggers around the world focus on discuss one prominent issue through individual ideas, actions, and thoughts.

This year’s topic is poverty, and Look To The Stars has delved into our archives to find 12 quotes relating to the thoughts of some of the most noteworthy celebrities who are devoted to finding solutions to global poverty.

Bono : “It is extraordinary to me that you can find $700 billion to save Wall Street, and the entire G-8 can’t find $25 billion to save 25,000 children who die every day of preventable disease and hunger.”

Brad Pitt : “Do we really believe in our hearts that we’re all equal? And if we believe this, what are we going to do about it? I’ve seen it [poverty in Africa], I’ve been there, and to walk away from it and turn my back makes me culpable. And I can’t do that.”

Angelina Jolie : “It’s always hard to see decent people, families, living in such difficult conditions. What is most upsetting is how long it is taking the international community to answer this crisis… You go to these places and you realize what life’s really about and what people are really going through. These people are my heroes.”

George Clooney : “It is one thing to talk about the problems of the world and quite another to actually try to change things… We tend to not get to see enough of what we need to see anymore. It seems as if at times celebrity can bring that focus. It can’t make the policies, it can’t change people’s minds really, but you can bring a camera where you go because they’ll follow you and you can shine a light on it. That seems to be my job.”

Nelson Mandela : “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”

Annie Lennox : “The issues can no longer be ignored. We have brought them to the table. Every one of us believes that this is a just and righteous cause. Together, with focus and determination, we can all begin to make poverty history.”

Shakira : “Don’t believe that it isn’t possible to educate the world’s poorest children. We do it every day in Colombia, a country second only to Iraq in terms of the number of internally displaced people who’ve fled their homes because of the horrors of war.”

Jackie Chan : “People must understand that if Earth did not have humans, Earth would continue to exist. But if humans did not have Earth, we would not survive. Please put aside your personal grudges and resentments, cast your views on the whole of the world, the entire planet. You will discover that we are all human beings and what we need is to help each other.”

Roger Moore : “I have met countless children who are benefiting, whose lives have been saved by UNICEF programs. Many are living in appalling poverty, without the day-to-day essentials we take for granted. Others are bravely struggling to survive in situations of conflict. The work we do today is vital and lifesaving.”

Bob Geldof : “To do something unparalleled in the world, and especially at the beginning of the 21st Century, and that is to tilt the world a little bit on its axis in favor of the poor.”

Scarlett Johansson : “It’s amazing to come home when you see people living in poverty. On one hand you’re thinking, my celebrity life is so surreal, but it’s my work and it helps me bring awareness to Oxfam.”

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

Read more about Blog Action Day here.

Annie Lennox Honored By YouthAIDS

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:45:00 -0000

Annie Lennox was honored at the 2008 YouthAIDS Gala last week, an event honoring individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Hosted by Ashley Judd, YouthAIDS Global Ambassador, the ceremony – held on October 3 at the Ritz-Carlton in Virginia – also honored Bob Geldof and MTV CEO Judy McGrath.

This year’s event – dubbed The Power Of Music and voted by Washingtonian magazine as one of the top five social events in Washington, D.C. – included a gathering of musicians, artists, health professionals, celebrities, business and political leaders, and media who share YouthAIDS’ commitment to protecting young people from HIV/AIDS.

MC for the evening was Sharon Osbourne, and the event featured a musical performance by John Mellencamp. Former tennis star Anna Kournikova was spotted in the crowd, as was Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza.

Music plays a powerful role in educating populations, breaking-down cultural barriers, reinforcing behavior change and informing low-literacy populations about available products, services and care provided by YouthAIDS in more than 60 countries around the globe. Net proceeds from the gala directly benefited YouthAIDS programs and approximately 90 cents of every dollar donated to YouthAIDS supports their programs in the field.

More information on YouthAIDS can be found at their website.

Secret Policeman's Ball Returns This Weekend

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Amnesty International has revealed some of the names to take part in its famous comedy event The Secret Policeman’s Ball, which returns to London’s Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 4 October.

The event – which made its name with seven shows between 1976 and 1991 – is a star-studded night of comedy, entertainment and music. It is set to feature some of the most cutting edge and leading comedic and musical talent and will also highlight some of Amnesty International’s campaigning activities for human rights all over the
world.

This year’s Secret Policeman’s Ball will also mark the start of Amnesty International’s celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December.

This year’s show will feature a lineup of some of Britain’s best comedy talent, including Frank Skinner, Alan Carr, Graham Norton, Sean Lock, Katy Brand, Tim Minchin, Kristen Schaal, Sarah Millian, Kayvan Novak, Russell Peters, Fearne Cotton, Meera Syal, Sean Williamson, and many more.

The first Secret Policeman’s Ball took place over four consecutive nights in London in June 1979, and featured John Cleese. In 1979, Pete Townshend became the first major rock musician to donate his services to the human rights organization when he performed three songs for the show, a performance that went on to inspire the human rights work of Bono, Sting, Bob Geldof, and many others.

This year’s show will be “cinecast” in cinemas all around the world, from Canada to Australia. A list of the cinemas who will be showing the Secret Policeman’s Ball live – and ticket information – can be found at the Amnesty International website.

Paul McCartney Speaks Of Using His Name For Causes

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Sir Paul McCartney thinks the fame that comes with celebrity is a handy thing with regards to promoting causes, and should definitely be used, citing George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh in 1971 and Bob Geldof’s Live Aid concert for Ethiopia’s famine relief in 1985 as examples.

“I think it is quite a good idea to use your celebrity for what you see as being the good of people,” McCartney told the Globe and Mail. “George probably started that whole thing [with the Concert for Bangladesh].”

McCartney lends his name to causes too. Earlier this month he participated in Brussels Rally for Seals – the mass rally to ban seal product trade in the European Union – by video broadcast.

In the video, McCartney tells of his visit to Canada’s east coast to see where the world’s largest annual baby seal slaughter takes place (Namibia hosts the second largest). He says, “Stopping the import of seal fur into the European Union could really put an end to this brutality once and for all – please ask the EU to ban this terrible trade today.”

Also this month, McCartney launched a £2 million fundraising campaign to support Paralympic athletes heading to the Beijing Games and beyond. The video ad, showing athletes in action with the Beatles’ “Live and Let Die” playing in the background, leaves a powerful impression of athletic competition.

Pleased to be able to use his star status to influence, McCartney says, “I think it is a great thing. It can obviously affect people’s thinking.”

Bono Calls For United States Of Africa

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:38:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Pop star and activist Bono has called for the creation of a United States of Africa as a way of solving the continent’s conflicts and problems.

The U2 singer made the statement while in Japan for a major development conference last week. The 48-year-old said that developing a broader identity may seem “poetic,” but has proven successful in the past.

“Irish people used to always have a little giggle when they would see Americans saluting their flags in schools, and then the whole standing there, singing the flag thing,” he said. “But as you get to know a little bit more about things, you start to think, ah, there’s so many different tribal groups in the United States, that to create a national identity of that size, they had to really work at this kind of patriotism.”

It is an initiative that has already been seen in Africa: the African Union – which has been involved in the conflicts in Darfur and the Comoros island of Anjouan – was created in 2002 with inspiration from the European Union, but some people say the body has lacked the funds and political will to take effective action on the continent’s flashpoints.

The singer also joined with Bob Geldof during his time in Japan to be a guest editor of a supplement to the Asahi Shimbun, an influential liberal daily newspaper. The edition featured articles penned by the likes of George Bush Sr and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Bono used the opportunity to urge Japan to use the G8 summit to push forward the goal of halving extreme poverty in the world by 2015 and also praised Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s pledge to double Japanese aid to Africa. Bono appealed to the Japanese public to care more about Africa and pointed to the growing rivalry with China, which has been making inroads into Africa.

“The Japanese I know do not like the fact that China is leaving them behind in Africa,” wrote the singer. “They want to show the world what Japan stands for.”

Gorbachev Cancer Fundraiser Draws Stars

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 08:13:15 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev hosted a gala dinner last weekend to raise money for the cancer charity he established in memory of his wife.

Raisa Gorbachev died of leukemia in 1999, and the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation aims to create a specialist hospital in St. Petersburg, Russia, that will provide high-quality medical care to children with cancer.

The gala event at Hampton Court Palace was attended by Bob Geldof, former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, actors Ralph Fiennes, Kim Cattrall and Anna Friel, singer Rod Stewart, authors Tom Wolfe and JK Rowling and supermodel Elle Macpherson.

Bono and Heather Mills Lending Their Celebrity to Raise Awareness of Genocide in Darfur

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 09:09:18 -0000

Written by Robert Powers

Adding to the efforts of celebrities like George Clooney and Bob Geldof, Bono and Heather Mills have recently spoken out in efforts to raise awareness of the ongoing genocide occurring in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

Speaking to reporters in London, Bono described the actions of Sudan’s Khartoum government as “an affront to decency.” It has been estimated that since 2003, when fighting broke out, 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes and over 400,000 people have been killed by militias sponsored by the Sudanese government. The government has flatly refused calls to allow a UN peace-keeping force into the region, which Bono referred to as having “broken every shred of dignity possible in a government,” calling the situation in Darfur “preposterous,” and stating that “governments need to take up [their] slack in dealing with the situation.”

Bono’s charitable organization devoted to matters of debt, AIDS, trade, and Africa (DATA) earlier this year issued a statement on their website (data.org) concerning the atrocities in Sudan, saying that “the mass atrocities occurring in Sudan and across this region of Africa call upon our consciences and demand our action.”

Heather Mills has been reported to be in talks with Aegis Trust to visit Darfur as an acting sponsor. Aegis Trust is an international charity that was founded in the year 2000 to prevent and support action against genocides worldwide. She has linked to the charity’s “Protect Darfur” project (protectdarfur.org) on her personal website.

“Twelve years after Rwanda and eleven years after Srebrenica,” she recently said at a charity event in London, “we are on the verge of seeing it all happen again.”

“I urge you, wherever you are, to do what is in your power to help Darfur’s people. Speak out. If you don’t, these people will die and once again, it will be too late,” she added.

Return of the Secret Policeman's Ball

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:56:11 -0000

Written by Hannah Coone

In 1979, John Cleese headlined the first of a series of performances entitled ‘The Secret Policeman’s Ball’. The show was to raise awareness of Amnesty International UK, which it certainly achieved. Amnesty International UK stated that after the first 3 shows, public awareness of AIUK increased by 700%.

The first show starred other members of Monty Python, Billy Connolly, and it also gave Rowan Atkinson his big break. The Secret Policeman’s Ball was then made into a feature-length film.

In 1987, musical acts were added to the line-up, starring such artists as Kate Bush, Bob Geldof and Duran Duran.

Now, after 17 years, the Ball is finally returning, with a whole new line-up. Eddie Izzard, Chevy Chase and Jennifer Saunders are just a sample of the impressive names amongst the acts this year, as well as music performances by Gorillaz and The Magic Numbers.

The show, to be held at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 14th and broadcast on UK’s Channel 4 shortly after, will involve stand-up comedy, sketches and music and will be given an update with animations and podcasts.

Lisle Turner, of Amnesty International UK, comments on this event, “It’s never been more important to stand-up for humanity and human rights and as it was a generation ago, the ball is our secret weapon to rally the troops.” Turner goes on to say, “We’re doing it now because the world needs a poke in the eye, it needs laughter, and frankly, it needs more balls.”

Peace Prize Nominees

Thu, 02 Mar 2006 13:15:36 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Bob Geldof and Bono are among 191 nominees for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Both were nominated for their efforts in eliminating world poverty; Geldof for his organization of the Live 8 concerts, and Bono for his campaigning against the condition.

Bob Geldof Nominated For Peace Prize

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 22:11:36 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Bob Geldof has been nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian Parliamentarian, Jan Simonsen.

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