Look To The Stars News: Bonnie Raitt

Annie Lennox Sings For World AIDS Day

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day – and also the first anniversary of Annie Lennox’s SING Campaign, and the star has launched a host of new additions to the SING website to celebrate.

Among the additions are a new Timeline that plots the progress of the campaign since its launch, and an Advent calendar which will unlock a new window every day through December that features either SING video’s, SING Image’s or a special video message from Lennox. There is also a new Widget that can be downloaded for Facebook, Bebo, MySpace and other sites, as well as a special SING Campaign YouTube site. Lennox is also writing a column in today’s issue of Britain’s The Sun newspaper about her work with SING.

SING was launched to raise money for the Treatment Action Campaign through the sales of an all-star single that featured the voices of Madonna, Céline Dion, Dido, Faith Hill, Joss Stone, Pink, Melissa Etheridge, Fergie, Bonnie Raitt, KT Tunstall, Shakira, Beth Orton, Sarah McLachlan, Anastacia, the Sugababes, KD Lang, Martha Wainwright, Angélique Kidjo, Beverley Knight, Shingai Shoniwa, Gladys Knight, and Isobel Campbell.

To watch a special video celebrating the first anniversary of the SING campaign, click here.

Jackson Browne And Friends: A Benefit For Hurricane Relief

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Jackson Browne is getting together some of his best musical friends for a benefit concert this weekend.

Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, and Joan Baez will band together to raise money for Operation USA on Saturday, November 29, to support the organization’s ongoing disaster relief efforts in the U.S. Gulf Coast, Cuba and Haiti, with specific focus on programs addressing the urgent local needs of displaced families and health facilities stretched to breaking point.

Jackson Browne is no stranger to benefit concerts – his No Nukes concerts in 1979 with Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and a host of the era’s biggest stars were one of the earliest examples of large-scale, organized rock concerts for a cause. Last year he joined with Raitt and Graham Nash to record a version of Buffalo Springfield’s For What It’s Worth to raise awareness of the dangers of nuclear power.

Saturday’s show will take place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, and tickets are available through Jackson Browne’s official website.

Annie Lennox Sings Praises For Charity Work

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Annie Lennox has written an update about her SING campaign, an initiative she launched last year to raise money for AIDS treatment projects.

“December 1st will be World Aids day, and will also be the 1st anniversary of the launch of SING,“ she wrote in her latest blog. “I think it’s essential that anyone who supports the campaign gets a clearly outlined list of everything we’ve done so far, so that you can get a better understanding of our accomplishments.“

The campaign was launched to raise money for the Treatment Action Campaign through the sales of an all-star single that featured the voices of Madonna, Céline Dion, Dido, Faith Hill, Joss Stone, Pink, Melissa Etheridge, Fergie, Bonnie Raitt, KT Tunstall, Shakira, Beth Orton, Sarah McLachlan, Anastacia, the Sugababes, KD Lang, Martha Wainwright, Angélique Kidjo, Beverley Knight, Shingai Shoniwa, Gladys Knight, and Isobel Campbell.

“One of the reasons SING supports the Treatment Action Campaign is because it is a “grassroots” organization, run by the people “for” the people,“ wrote Lennox. “Once you can start to empower people with information, education and collective solidarity, you can begin to implement effective changes at a community level. Now that there is a new health minister in South Africa, there can be a window of opportunity to take some significant steps towards saving and sustaining lives. In a few weeks I will be having a meeting with the CEO of TAC, where we’ll have the chance to discuss what needs to be done, and how we can go about instilling and supporting positive action asap.

“Meanwhile thank you for supporting SING… as I’ve said before, we’re in for the long haul, and I aim to make a difference!“

It has also been announced that Lennox is to receive a Special Achievement Award at the 2008 German Sustainability Awards for her commitment to a sustainable future, in particular her commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The ceremony will take place in Düsseldorf on December 5.

Jennifer Lopez Announces New Foundation Plans At Women's Conference

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

This year’s annual Women’s Conference, hosted by Maria Shriver, drew record crowds in Long Beach this week.

The conference – which aims to empower and motivate women to pursue a lifelong journey of self discovery – kicked off with a “once in a lifetime conversation” between Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger and billionaire Warren Buffett, and went on to feature passionate speeches from Jennifer Lopez, Sally Field, Bono (see video here), Bonnie Raitt, Condoleezza Rice, Heidi Klum, Tony Blair’s wife Cherie, and many more.

“I stand before you as someone who loves being a woman,“ said Lopez. “I love that when life hands us our greatest challenges, we look up and realize that capacity. I love the fellowship we’re sharing here today…

“My dream is to launch a foundation to help the well being of all women. I decided after a lot of talks with my sister, Linda, when the time was right we would create an organization that would empower women and children. Empowering them to have their voices heard, to have the type of schools they deserve, the healthcare they deserve. Empowering them to demand change. Nothing more empowering than the love of a woman, a mother, a grandmother, a wife. Every single one of us deserves the best life has to offer.

“My foundation will prioritize the importance of empowerment. I have lots of big dreams and envision big changes toward proper healthcare, prenatal care, pediatric care. And that, coming together in the biggest possible way is what I believe women are capable of.

“Don’t ever doubt that you can accomplish more than you thought you ever could.”

_Video highlights of the conference can be found here

Celebrities Attend An Evening Of New Dreams

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The stars were out – clear and bright – on September 16 for An Evening of New Dreams, raising money for the Somaly Mam Foundation.

Susan Sarandon, Daryl Hannah, Petra Nemcova, Jane Seymour, Ashlee Simpson, Kevin Connolly, Kim Kardashian, Kevin Dillon, Seal, Emily Deschanel, Peter Wentz, and Ron Livingston were some of the stars who came together in Beverly Hills for the gala event which featured musical entertainment from Bonnie Raitt. Catered by Tommy Tang and held at the private residence of Foundation supporters Jeff and Mei Sze Greene, the evening raised awareness of global sex trafficking.

The Somaly Mam Foundation is dedicated to combating the global sex slave trade through the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of victims and through raising global awareness on the issue by funding organizations in various parts of the world that are combating sexual slavery in the field. Named after a survivor of the abhorrent problem, the foundation rescues girls from brothels and offers them shelter and safety, basic education, and reintegration into new communities.

Born in Cambodia, Somaly Mam was forced into a life of prostitution at a very young age, sold by her own grandfather for money. However, after witnessing the murder of a fellow prostitute at the hands of a pimp, Somaly broke free of the cycle and dedicated her life to rescuing girls living in similar circumstances. With Mam’s vision and leadership, the foundation – established in 2007 – strives to get to the root of human trafficking. Their global vision of ending the sex trafficking trade will allow their activities currently in the United States and South East Asia to expand to other countries around the world.

For more information about the Somaly Mam Foundation and how to support their efforts, visit www.somaly.org.

Stars Line Up For Women's Conference

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

California First Lady Maria Shriver has announced the lineup of celebrity speakers confirmed for this year’s annual Women’s Conference in Long Beach.

The event – to be held on October 21 and 22 at the Long Beach Convention Center – sold out in record time, and it is no surprise considering the plethora of newsmakers and world opinion leaders that will appear at the conference to empower and motivate women to pursue a lifelong journey of self discovery. Lance Armstrong, Bono, Warren Buffett, Sally Field, Michael J. Fox, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Jenny McCarthy, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Russell Simmons are just some of the 50 speakers set to take the stage, and there will also be a special performance by Bonnie Raitt.

“I am honored to again be hosting what has become the nation’s premier forum for women, where the world’s greatest hearts and minds convene every year to empower women to find a common purpose, be united by a shared conversation, and see themselves as a collective WE,” said Shriver. “This year, I am urging women to take time to explore their deepest hopes and aspirations, and I hope they leave the conference with a better sense of just who they want to be—and the knowledge of how to get there.”

The first Women’s Conference – formerly known as the California Governor and First Lady’s Conference on Women – was held over twenty years ago, but it has been under the leadership of First Lady Shriver and Governor Schwarzenegger that the event has become the premier event in empowering and inspiring women.

This year’s conference will include a new event – the Night at The Village – which will consist of exhibitor booths, stage presentations, book signings, shopping, food, musical entertainment, and a conversation with Rachael Ray.

“We envision ‘Night at The Village’ as the place for celebrating women, launching products for women, and having fun,” said Shriver. “The Village is our answer to a call from women for more time to just be—whether it is to mingle casually, network for work, or shop around for items and experiences that will enrich their mind, body and soul. All of this can now happen only at The Village.”

More information about the conference can be found at First Lady Shriver’s official website.

Annie Lennox And Friends Sing For Africa

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:59:52 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Momentum is building behind Annie Lennox’s Sing Campaign, and the singer is now offering fans the chance to download the song that started it all for free in an initiative to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS problem in South Africa.

US residents will be able to download the song from Amazon MP3 until March 17 and support the Treatment Action Campaign, an orgainization that provides much needed support in the country’s struggle against the deadly virus.

The single, which was made available in the UK through the Body Shop, has sold out in countries such as Ireland and cities such as London. The entire UK has sold half of its stock in only two days, an unprecedented occurrence in the music industry, especially in relation to a charity single.

“One third of pregnant women in South Africa are HIV positive,” said the 53-year-old in a recent CNN interview. “We can prevent their children being born with the virus if we let the women have access to treatment. If you do not allow that to happen, you’re going to have future generations simply being wiped out.”

Lennox was joined by a choir of 23 well-known female performers for the song, which was originally released on her Songs of Mass Destruction album in 2007. The former Eurythmics lead singer believed that a group of female voices would make the message of the song stronger, so she enlisted the talents of Madonna, Céline Dion, Dido, Faith Hill, Joss Stone, Pink, Melissa Etheridge, Fergie, Bonnie Raitt, KT Tunstall, Shakira, Beth Orton, Sarah McLachlan, Anastacia, the Sugababes, KD Lang, Martha Wainwright, Angélique Kidjo, Beverley Knight, Shingai Shoniwa, Gladys Knight, and Isobel Campbell in the recording.

“Because I had written a song called ‘Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves’ in the 80s, which became a fairly well-known feminist anthem really, [I thought] perhaps it would be possible to try to attempt to write another kind of anthemic song for women,” said Lennox. “So I started to write a song and it ended up being called ‘Sing’. I sort of melded the song in with an HIV activist song written by a group of activists living in Khayelitsa in South Africa.”

The Sing Campaign, which Lennox launched in 2007, has also just set up a new video on YouTube, in which the public can leave comments in support of the campaign.

More information about the campaign, visit the Sing Campaign website.

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