Look To The Stars News: Bob Geldof

Paul McCartney Speaks Of Using His Name For Causes

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

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.

Look To The Stars News: Bob Geldof

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