Look To The Stars News: Conservation International

The Nature Conservancy Names The Greenest Bands Ever

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

In honor of the 10th Anniversary of the legendary Austin City Limits Festival, a new list recognizes bands that are making great music while fighting to save the planet

If there’s anything Austin knows, it’s live music. But as important as entertainment is, The Nature Conservancy understands the impact all those tour buses and visitors can have on our environment. That’s why The Nature Conservancy loves bands that not only talk the talk, but walk the walk – the green walk, that is. Check out some of the organization’s favorite eco-friendly acts, all of whom have graced a stage at the Austin City Limits Festival during its 10-year run.

“A recent nationwide poll by The Nature Conservancy found that musicians are among the top three most powerful influencers on environmental issues for America’s youth,” said Laura Huffman, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Texas. “Music really does have the power to change the world. This is why these artists and events like ACL, which has incorporated a green message into just about every aspect of the festival, are massively important for educating and inspiring our next generation of environmental leaders.”

Justin Bieber Joins Celebrity Charity Auction To Save The Earth

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Justin Bieber is one of the stars taking green to a whole new level with the online launch of the second annual celebrity charity Bid to Save the Earth Green Auction, a momentous live event and companion online auction to raise funds and awareness for the preservation and sustainability of our planet.

The online auction, powered by luxury charity auction company charitybuzz.com, launched on March 17, bringing hundreds of once-in-a-lifetime experiences in the realms of fashion, entertainment, business, sports, luxury and travel to the fingertips of bidders around the world. Proceeds will benefit four leading environmental nonprofits – Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council, Conservation International and Central Park Conservancy – which collectively work at the local, national, and international scale to conserve nature for the long term well-being of people. Bidding is open through April 7 at www.charitybuzz.com/BidtoSaveTheEarth.

Salma Hayek and Anna Wintour Bid to Save the Earth

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Salma Hayek and Anna Wintour are among the celebrities taking part in this year’s “Bid to Save the Earth”.

This is the second annual green auction hosted by elite auction house, Christie’s. Last year’s event raised over $2 million for environmental groups, with items such as a round of golf with Bill Clinton going for $80,000.

This year’s auction will see artists, designers and entertainers come together to raise funds for Oceana, Conservation International, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Central Park Conservancy.

Harrison Ford: We Must Act Decisively To Save Our World

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Harrison Ford has written an opinion piece for CNN saying that we must act decisively to save our world.

“This week, I have had the opportunity to meet with ministers and country delegates from around the world who have gathered in Nagoya, Japan, to set a global conservation action plan for the next ten years,” says the actor and vice president of Conservation International. "This is a critical moment in time for environmental ministers gathered here to work together to set bold, ambitious targets to protect nature and the services it provides. Decisions made here will not only impact our planet’s environmental health, but every person, family, and nation that depend on nature to survive and thrive.

“Biodiversity is the foundation of all life on Earth. Human societies cannot provide for themselves the essential services provided by nature and healthy ecosystems. Among them: A stable climate, clean air, fresh water, insect populations that pollinate our food crops, healthy soils, and sources of pharmaceuticals for human health.

Harrison Ford And John Stamos Honored By Charity

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity, honored Harrison Ford, John Stamos and Susan Casden at its 9th Annual Smile Gala on September 24, 2010, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Access Hollywood host Billy Bush served as Master of Ceremonies and Jenna Ushkowitz and Kevin McHale of GLEE performed.

Special guests attending the gala included Operation Smile Ambassadors John Salley, who served as guest auctioneer, Carmit Bachar, Deidre Hall, Donald Trump, Jr. and Vanessa Trump. A highlight of the evening included a performance by Philippine Smile Ambassador Chadleen Lacdo-o. More than $1.5 million was raised to benefit the organization.

Operation Smile Co-founder and CEO Dr. William P. Magee presented the John Connor Humanitarian Service Award to Calista Flockhart on behalf of legendary actor and humanitarian Harrison Ford who was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. The John Connor Humanitarian Service Award is presented to those individuals who have demonstrated their concern and love for their fellow man through their actions and deeds.

Harrison Ford And John Stamos To Be Honored At Charity Gala

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity, will honor Harrison Ford, John Stamos and Susan Casden at its 9th Annual Smile Gala on September 24, 2010, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Access Hollywood host Billy Bush will serve as Master of Ceremonies and a special performance will be given by members of the cast of GLEE.

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.

Charitybuzz Launches A Bid To Save The Earth

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Christie’s Green Auction: A Bid to Save the Earth will be laying out the green carpet for celebrities who are lending their star power for a bid to save the earth.

Celebrities are turning out to be among the biggest players in philanthropy in 2010. The Green Auction exemplifies what can be achieved when a fantastic mix of people from various industries, unite for one purpose: to advocate for the environment.

Help Celebrities Make A Bid To Save The World

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Christie’s International has announced it will hold a new green auction it has dubbed “A Bid to Save the Earth.”

This first-of-its-kind charity auction will take place on April 22, 2010, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The Evening Sale event will be held at Christie’s, Rockefeller Center, New York and be carried live globally via Christie’s LIVE on www.christies.com. Proceeds from the sale will be divided among four leading not-for-profit environmental organizations: Conservation International, Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Central Park Conservancy.

Christie’s is partnering with Charitybuzz, the leading destination for online charity benefit auctions, to present a companion silent auction which will be hosted at www.ABidtoSavetheEarth.org. Christie’s will waive all fees and commissions for the auction. Native Energy, www.nativeenergy.com, a leader in carbon offsetting, will provide carbon offsets for the entire Green Auction. NBC Universal, as part of its ongoing environmental initiative, “Green is Universal,” will serve as the official media partner for the event.

Meet Jack Black At Conservation International Dinner

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Fans of comedy actor Jack Black – currently appearing in Year One – will be able to meet the man himself at a special dinner being organized by Conservation International.

The dinner will take place in Seattle on October 20, and will also feature the preeminent conservation biologist of our generation and former Board member of Conservation International, Edward O. Wilson.

Conservation International is dedicated to conserving the Earth’s living heritage and our global biodiversity, and demonstrating that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature. Harrison Ford was once vice president of the organization.

Anderson Cooper To Be Honored By Conservation International

Mon, 04 May 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Conservation International is to honor Emmy-winning journalist Anderson Cooper and CNN’s Planet in Peril Team with the Global Conservation Hero Award for commitment and action toward a healthy, secure planet for all people at its 12th Annual New York Dinner.

The environmental organization says “Cooper and the Planet in Peril Team have been at the forefront of CNN’s provocative and inspiring reporting on the global environmental situation, and their penetrating coverage of climate change, deforestation, species loss, and conflict over natural resources has reached widespread audiences with a critical message that nature is essential to humanity’s wellbeing.”

With honorary co-chairs such as Harrison Ford and Meredith Brokaw, the event is likely to be a sell-out. With its aim to conserve the Earth’s living heritage, global biodiversity and demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature, Conservation International is at the cutting edge of environmental work.

Philanthropy Spotlight: Harrison Ford

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars’ Features Editor Tim Saunders takes an in-depth look at the career and philanthropy of Harrison Ford.

Unlike Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford actually likes snakes. In fact he likes a lot of the creatures that most people fear. He even has a Californian spider, Calponia harrisonfordi, named after him, its eight hairy legs enough to give almost anyone nightmares, and a South American ant also bears his name. Snakes of all sorts make their home around the white-painted ranch house he built himself in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and they slither and slide their way in and out of the shrubs and pockets of grass that dot the barren landscape.

The mountains that surround Ford’s house are among the most rugged in the state. Their jagged peaks create a feeling that the whole world exists within their confines, and the arid plains that run between them consistently record some of the most extreme temperatures in the United States. It is an area that conjures up images of America’s pioneers, of Lois and Clarke, of place names such as Owl Creek, Dead Indian Pass, and the Big Horn Mountains, romantic visions of a past long gone.

Conservation International Hosts 20th Anniversary Dinner

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:25:02 +0000

Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart, and Meredith Brokaw (the wife of Tom Brokaw) were just some of the celebrities and business leaders present at the Conservation International 20th Anniversary Chicago Fundraising Dinner on June 14th. Held at the Four Seasons Hotel, the event raised over $1 million for Conservation International projects.

The evening was opened by CI board member Paula Crown, who declared that the event was officially “carbon neutral”. Guests dined on a selection of locally-grown organic cuisine, and were treated to a pre-recorded video message from former vice-president, Al Gore. During his presentation, Mr Gore emphasized Conservation International’s work, and also spoke of the importance of conservation and leadership in reducing the effects of climate change.

The business sector was also represented at the dinner by Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart, whose company is working with Conservation International to protect and restore the diverse ecosystems that sustain life on Earth. Key speaker of the evening was Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering leadership and open-minded dialogue.