Look To The Stars News: Greenpeace

Lucy Lawless Signs Greenpeace Petition

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Lucy Lawless has added her name to a new Greenpeace petition calling for a shift to clean sources of energy.

The petition also calls for a stop to the New Zealand Government’s plans for deep sea oil drilling off New Zealand’s coasts, and for a halt to plans to expand the coal industry.

“I’d urge anyone who wants to protect our coasts from an even worse oil spill than that which we saw in Tauranga, to sign this petition,” said Lawless. “By doing so, they’ll also be doing something positive about the climate crisis that this planet is facing.”

Daryl Hannah’s Civil Disobedience Against Keystone XL Pipeline

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Actress Daryl Hannah was arrested in August, along with over a thousand others, in front of the White House during a sit-in to protest the proposed pipeline that would carry 700,000 barrels of bitumen daily from the Albertan oil-sands down to Texas for further processing.

“I’m here today to participate in civil resistance to the Keystone XL pipeline,” said Hannah, “which is going to bring a really destructive form of bitumen, which is a raw crude, all the way through our country, from Canada all the way to the Gulf of Mexico over the most sensitive water aquifers, the largest water aquifer that we have in this country, very sensitive ecosystems, and also it will lock us in to being dependent on fossil fuels for generations to come.”

Greenpeace, along with hundreds of Canadians concerned about the environment, followed the US rally with their own protest in September in Ottawa. After speeches from First Nations and environmentalists, demonstrators who had travelled to the capital from across the country staged their act of civil disobedience by crossing a police barricade (with help from the police to traverse the 3-foot fence using stepping stools) and sitting on the ground before Parliament Hill, Canada’s federal government buildings, to wait to be arrested.

Massive Greenpeace Celebrity Charity Auction Raises Money For Rainbow Warrior

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Celebrities from around the world are taking their commitment to save the planet to the next level to raise money for Greenpeace’s new flagship Rainbow Warrior. From backstage passes to private lunches you’ll see celebrities giving it up to the highest bidder in an attempt to raise money to pay for the world’s leading environmental organization’s new environmentally friendly ship.

Along with charitybuzz.com, the charity auction house, Greenpeace announced auctions of celebrity items to be held through September. The auction opens today and will run through to September 21st, at www.charitybuzz.com/greenpeace.

The Rainbow Warrior is Greenpeace’s first purpose-built vessel, and will play a key role in the fight to stop environmental destruction and promote sustainable solutions, allowing the organisation to continue bearing witness and taking action to prevent environmental crimes around the world. The ship will be ready to sail in Autumn 2011, to mark Greenpeace’s 40th anniversary.

Annie Lennox To Be Honored With Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

NARM, the music business association, has announced that it will honor Grammy and Oscar-winning artist, activist and campaigner, Annie Lennox, with its Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award in recognition of her outstanding work on behalf of HIV/AIDS awareness and other health, human rights and environmental causes.

The presentation will take place at the 2011 NARM Convention Awards Dinner Finale at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 12.

Annie Lennox: Woman Of The Year For Charity

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Annie Lennox received the Barclays Woman of the Year award for her charity work in a ceremony in London this week.

The Barclays Women of the Year Award salutes an exceptional and selfless woman who has used her vision to help change the lives of many.

‘A lot of music you might listen to is pretty vapid, it doesn’t always deal with our deeper issues,’ says Annie Lennox, singer, songwriter and philanthropist. ‘These are the things I’m interested in now, particularly at my age.’

Inception Star Visits The Congo With Greenpeace

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Oscar-winning French actress and star of Inception, Marion Cotillard, has long been a supporter of the environment – and of Greenpeace. Last month, she travelled with the charity to the heart of the Congo rainforests to bear witness to the plundering of this ancient forest.

Now you can follow Marion’s journey in a series of video travelogues – a powerful testimony to the Congo’s forests, and to the struggle to prevent their destruction.

International logging companies are plundering the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and causing social chaos for many of the 40 million-odd people who depend on the rainforests for their livelihoods but whose voices are ignored.

Pearl Jam Gets Amongst The Waves For Charity

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Pearl Jam has released the third single from their new album Backspacer – Amongst The Waves – with download proceeds of the video to go to Conservation International.

“There is only one Ocean for everyone and everything,” the group says on a special website it has launched to help promote the single. “It is a finite, precious resource under tremendous economic and environmental pressure. Look after it.”

The site features the new video, as well as eleven things you can do to look after the ocean for present and future generations, including supporting the Gulf Restoration Network, encouraging renewable energy and becoming an ocean activist. There are also links to ocean conservation organizations such as Oceana, Greenpeace and the Surfrider Foundation.

Bryan Adams To Receive Charity Award At Junos

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Bryan Adams will receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award at this year’s Juno Awards on Sunday night.

The Award recognizes an outstanding Canadian artist whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada.

Since the early days of his music career, Adams has been at the forefront of fundraising and social awareness events from Amnesty International “A Conspiracy of Hope” and Rock for Amnesty Tours, Live Aid, Live 8 and One Night Live. In 1985 Adams co-wrote and took part in the recording of “Tears Are Not Enough,” Canada’s song to help raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia.

Nobel Peace Prize Winners Demand Fair Trial In Japan

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Nobel Peace Prize winners Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Betty Williams along with a diverse range of international celebrities have added their support for Greenpeace anti-whaling activists Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki: calling on the Japanese government to ensure that the upcoming trial of the ‘Tokyo Two’ is both fair and conducted in accordance with international human rights standards.

The new Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo has travelled to Japan to support the Greenpeace activists as they prepare for the beginning of their trial on Monday 15 February. Today he released an open letter to Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, urging him to uphold Japan’s commitment to international human rights.

“Today our voices have united with those of more than a quarter of a million people around the world, all of which are calling for justice for Greenpeace activists Junichi and Toru,” said Dr Naidoo. “It is time the Japanese government listened to these voices. The eyes of the world are on Japan and this trial.”

Melanie Laurent Joins Greenpeace In Indonesia

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Inglorious Basterds star Mélanie Laurent was in Indonesia earlier this month for Greenpeace.

The star joined 50 activists in the Indonesian rainforest calling on world leaders to cut a fifth of global greenhouse emissions. As negotiators meet in Barcelona for the final round of talks before December’s critical UN climate summit in Copenhagen, the activists are tackling climate change at the frontline of rainforest destruction by damming the industrial drainage of carbon-rich peatlands in Indonesia.

Laurent and the activists built a dam across one of the many canals designed to drain the rainforest and peat soils in order to make way for plantations on the Kampar Peninsula on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. This destruction emits huge quantities of CO₂ and means that Indonesia is the world’s third largest climate polluter after China and the US.

Prime Minister Agrees To Talk To Actress Over Environment Issues

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0000

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has agreed to meet film actress Keisha Castle-Hughes after dismissing her environmental calls for action last week.

The Whale Rider star earlier signed up as part of Greenpeace’s new Sign On campaign, along with other Kiwi stars including Xena Warrior Princess Lucy Lawless and Flight of the Conchords’ Rhys Darby. The campaign is calling for support of a 40 percent emission reduction target by 2020 at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December. The young actress then went on to witness the effects of climate change in the Pacific, saying she “saw the real and devastating impacts of a changing climate: coral bleaching, homes battered by cyclones, erosion and food crops affected by rising sea levels… The locals were all extremely welcoming and happy to share their stories of how their daily lives have been impacted. It was a real eye-opener.”

Last week, Prime Minister John Key told 500 people at a business gathering in Brisbane: “My advice to Keisha is this: stick to acting.”

Michael Jackson And Greenpeace Honored At Save The World Awards

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The 2009 Save The World Awards were held in Austria on July 24, and honored Michael Jackson for his charity work.

Held at the Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Plant in Lower Austria, the evening was filled with many moving moments, emotional highlights and important messages with the motto “Heal The World”.

The first global honors presented to exceptional individuals and organizations working toward a peaceful, sustainable and livable future was hosted by Hollywood star and fashion icon, Andie MacDowell. 2,500 guests at the grand event, and millions of people around the world, followed a pioneering TV gala dealing with important issues accompanied by numerous music and show highlights. Michael Jackson posthumously received a 2009 SAVE THE WORD AWARD for his many humanitarian contributions. His brother Jermaine, who performed the songs “Smile” and “I’ll be there,” accepted this special award in Michael’s honor.

Keisha Castle-Hughes Hits the Seas With Greenpeace

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

With evidence of the devastation of climate change so close to home, New Zealand actress Keisha Castle-Hughes is pressuring government for heavy emission reductions.

Just back from a trip to the Cook Islands with Greenpeace, Castle-Hughes was very moved and wants immediate action on climate change, reported Stuff.co.nz: “Here is a region contributing so little to the problem, yet bearing the brunt of it,” she said. “Our Pacific Island neighbours are suffering. I saw the real and devastating impacts of a changing climate: coral bleaching, homes battered by cyclones, erosion and food crops affected by rising sea levels… The locals were all extremely welcoming and happy to share their stories of how their daily lives have been impacted. It was a real eye-opener.”

Castle-Hughes is the latest big name to join Greenpeace’s Sign-On campaign, whose goal is for governments to reduce emissions by nearly half. It is hoped that meetings with Ministers and Representatives can garner agreement on emission targets before the Copenhagen meeting at the end of the year, where talks on the Kyoto Protocol’s sequel will take place. Other famous names include Lucy Lawless, Cliff Curtis, and the Flight of the Conchords’ Rhys Darby.

LTTS Exclusive: An Interview With Yaya DaCosta

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:20:00 +0000

America’s Next Top Model runner-up Yaya DaCosta recently told Look To The Stars about the causes important to her, showing both her eloquence and deep understanding of what one person can do to make a difference.

LTTS: Which charities do you support, and why?

Yaya: I have been a member of Greenpeace (which is more of an environmental activist group than a charity) all of my life, and I worked with them during my high school summer vacations. In the past few years, the two charities I have most consistently supported are charity:water and Women for Women International.

Celebrities Do Whatever It Takes For Charity

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:30:00 +0000

A huge selection of celebrity-designed bags and T-shirts are currently available at the UK’s premiere celebrity charity auction website, Buy Once Give Twice.

The auction site is hosting the auction for Whatever It Takes, a unique charity artwork project which inspires hope by gathering artworks from leaders in all fields; royalty, film, music, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, sports, literature etc. The artworks are used to ethically produce Whatever It Takes products which are then sold to raise funds for charitable causes chosen by each contributing leader.

Going under the hammer in the auction are T-shirts featuring designs by The Killers, Pink, Snoop Dogg, Nicole Kidman, Hilary Duff, Lucy Liu, Toni Collette, Coldplay, Minnie Driver, Keane, Whoopi Goldberg, Green Day, Barry Manilow, Penelope Cruz, Melanie C, Annie Lennox, and the Kaiser Chiefs. There are also bags and purses designed by Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Lucy Liu, Kanye West, Slash, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, and Stella McCartney.

Stars Want Bluefin Tuna Off The Menu

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:00:00 +0000

A group of actors has written to Robert De Niro’s Nobu restaurant chain to ask them to stop serving endangered Bluefin Tuna.

According the Britain’s The Telegraph, Sienna Miller, Charlize Theron, Jemima Khan, Woody Harrelson, Laura Bailey, Alicia Silverstone, Zac Goldsmith, Sting, Trudie Styler, Elle Macpherson and Stephen Fry have “written to the restaurant to say they can no longer dine with a clear conscience as long as the restaurant continues to serve bluefin tuna – a species considered by many to be as endangered as the white rhinoceros, panda or tiger.”

The plight of the bluefin tuna has been highlighted by the release of The End of the Line, a film narrated by Ted Danson that shows the effects of overfishing on the world’s oceans.

Lucy Lawless Signs On For Greenpeace

Mon, 25 May 2009 11:30:00 +0000

New Zealand-born actress Lucy Lawless – best known as Xena Warrior Princess – has joined with Kiwi actor Cliff Curtis (Die Hard 4) in supporting Greenpeace’s new Sign On climate campaign.

The campaign aims to generate support to convince New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, to sign on to a 40 percent emission reduction target by 2020 at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December.

“I’m signing on because there’s no Planet B,” said Lawless. “There’s nowhere else for our kids and grandchildren to go. We need to get on with the business of tackling climate change.”

George Harrison Honored With Charity Mini

Mon, 18 May 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Former Beatle George Harrison is being honored by a new car that is to be sold to benefit charity.

The new one-of-a-kind Mini Cooper S will sport a psychedelic paint job based on the design of a car owned by the late singer and guitarist. Gifted to Harrison in 1966, the car featured in The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour. Now, for Mini’s 50th birthday, the automaker is commissioning a one-of-a-kind modern version of George’s psychedelic Cooper S.

The car will be auctioned later this year to benefit Harrison’s Material World Foundation, a charity the musician established to support a wide range of charities, such as Amnesty International, Greenpeace, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and many more.

Look To The Stars Exclusive: An Interview With Corey Feldman

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Run through your top 10 favorite films from the 1980’s, and chances are that Corey Feldman will feature in at least one of them. From The Goonies to Gremlins to Stand By Me to The Lost Boys to Friday the 13th:The Final Chapter, his is a face a whole generation grew up recognizing.

Recent viewers may recognize Feldman from The Two Coreys, a reality show on the A&E Network that also starred Corey Haim. Since the late 90’s, he has also been enjoying success with his band, the Truth Movement, but it is charity work that keeps the actor and musician occupied for much of his time. With interests in animal welfare, environmental issues and several other causes, Feldman was awarded the Paws of Fame Award by the Wildlife Way Station.

Look To The Stars’ reporter Brandy Reynolds was lucky enough to catch up with Corey recently to chat about his work towards making the world a better place.

LTTS Exclusive: Celebrity Babes Come Out To PLAY For Charity

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Last weekend in Los Angeles celebrities showed up at infamous Saddle Ranch Chop House on Sunset Boulevard for the second annual ‘Babes on the Bull’ charity event to benefit P.L.A.Y. (Providing Laughter and Amusement for Youth), an organization that collects new toys, books and games and distributes them to children in hospitals, shelters and other organizations.

Guests packed the Saddle Ranch for an afternoon of ’LA’s hottest girls’ riding the mechanical bull for charity with extra entertainment in the form of fire dancers (Fire Groove) and a live auction which included amazing seats at a Laker’s game, VIP booths at LA’s hippest clubs, golf outings, LA Dodgers baseball tickets and others. The best aspect of the auction was that everyone entering the Ranch-including the general public- received a hundred-dollar voucher to use towards auction items.

Celebrities who lent their name and came out to PLAY for the cause included: Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean, actress AnnaLynne McCord (90210), MTV’s ‘Wild N Out’ stars D.J. D-Wrek and Leonard Robinson, Warrant front man Jani Lane, actress Claudia Jordon, David Faustino (Married w/Children, STAR-VING), Gladiator Romeo, Cory & Susie Feldman, Amanda Detmer, Colleen Shannon, Jaimarie Bjorge, model/actress Kaki West, recording artist Oryon, ‘Vacancy 2’ star Lola Davidson, and actress Kelly Monaco.

Emma Thompson Buys Land To Stop Heathrow Extension

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0000

British actress Emma Thompson has joined with Greenpeace to buy a plot of land earmarked for a proposed third runway at Heathrow airport in London.

The 49-year-old actress said it was “hypocritical” for the government to promise to reduce greenhouse gases while increasing air traffic capacity by expanding the country’s largest airport.

“I don’t understand how any government remotely serious about committing to reversing climate change can even consider these ridiculous plans,” she said. “We’ll stop this from happening even if we have to move in and plant vegetables.”

Whatever It Takes For Christmas

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

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.

Look To The Stars Asks Melora Hardin

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:58:03 +0000

You probably know her as Jan from NBC’s The Office, but Melora Hardin’s face is one that has been gracing our television screens for years. A trained dancer, she is a veteran of all the shows we used to love – The Love Boat, Diff’rent Strokes, Little House on the Prairie, Magnum PI, Friends, Monk … the list could go on and on. And with big screen appearances in films such as Reckless Kelly, The Hot Chick, Absolute Power, Thank You For Smoking, and 27 Dresses, it is almost certain that most people have seen her face somewhere.

As if television and film acting was not enough, Hardin recently made her feature film directorial debut with You, and has released two CDs of her original vocal stylings – a talent that will see her perform the role of Fantine in Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl in August. This will be followed by the release of her latest movie, Seventeen_, – alongside Zac Efron (High School Musical_) and Matthew Perry (Friends) – in October.

With the new series of The Office set to debut in America on April 10, Melora found a few minutes to talk to Look To The Stars about how people can make the world a better place.

Elissa Sursara's Comfort in Charity

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:27:52 +0000

Young actress Elissa Sursara is mourning the death of a close friend this week, following the passing of actor Heath Ledger.

The starlet, whose charitable campaigns include Greenpeace International’s Save The Whales and The Great Ape Project, has not yet released a public statement to the media regarding the tragic loss. Sources reveal her plans to travel to Africa with a non-profit environmental group will not be canceled – according to the group’s travel documents, the trip was to be taken with Ledger.

“She’s been struck down by this loss,” revealed a friend of the actress. “Someone she loved, and who loved her, has left this earth in such a sudden and uncertain fashion – it’s a hard thing for anybody to come to terms with. Elissa has been through a lot in her life, but she is not emotionally strong. She is a sensitive and passionate person, and her best friend will be sadly missed. Elissa has no plans to postpone her work or her charity work – if anything, pushing on will help her to move on, something Heath would have wanted for her.”

Eliska Sursova: Saving stolen animals in Southern Africa

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:12:17 +0000

In the midst of a rumored break-up with boyfriend and Australian footballer Chris Knights, 19-year-old model-esque actress Eliska Sursova appears to be holding down the fort the way all Hollywood’s finest activists do – by going to Namibia to save the elephants of course.

Taking some time off from her busy schedule and after wraping up filming on her first Public Service Announcment for Greenpeace alongside actor Milo Ventimiglia, Eliska travelled to southern Africa with fifteen members of a non-profit organization to protest the poaching of exotic animals in the Republic of Namibia and spoke out against the exotic animal trade, all while helping to build much needed water holds for African elephants.

“Africa is home to some of the world’s most beautiful creatures and their biggest predator is man. We steal them, abuse them, kill them… all for the benefit of entertainment and luxury,” says the actress whose busy activist schedule sees her campaigning for animal welfare and environmental organizations like World Society for the Protection of Animals, Wildlife Warriors Worldwide and PETA.