Stars Call for Action on Disaster Relief

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:48:24 -0000

Compassion is showing itself to be a universal language, as people from around the world are taking steps to help victims of the recent natural disasters in Asia. Celebrities are flocking to support the desperate nation of Burma/Myanmar, with Not On Our Watch, the charity started by Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, George Clooney and Jerry Weintraub, donating $500,000 towards rescue operations.

The group will use $250,000 for its own relief efforts, and has donated $250,000 of that amount to Save the Children, who, with UNICEF, are two of the few relief organizations currently deployed due to the military government’s reluctance to allow aid workers into the country. According to Britain’s Department for International Development, the country needs at least 10 times the amount of aid that the ruling junta leaders are currently allowing in.

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden have just released a PSA made in support of UNICEF’s work towards helping the victims of May 2nd’s cyclone, asking people to give what they can to help the survivors of the disaster which has left tens of thousands dead, and hundreds of thousands suffering.

Queen Elizabeth II has also made a “significant” personal donation to the efforts. While the amount of the donation was not disclosed, it is believed that the donation went to Britain’s Disasters Emergency Committee. The first British relief flight left Dubai on Monday, carrying shelter material for 43,000 families.

Organizing aid for victims of Monday’s 7.9 earthquake in China is Jackie Chan, who donated $1.4 million with charity-fund partner Emperor Entertainment Group chairman Albert Yeung. The earthquake, which has killed 12,000 people, was felt as far away as Thailand.

To make donations to help cyclone victims in Burma, visit the Save the Children, UNICEF and the Disasters Emergency Committee websites, and to help victims of the earthquake in China, visit Jackie Chan’s donation page, and choose “China Earthquake Fund”.

Joanna Lumley Helps Darfur Appeal

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:31:48 -0000

Written by Gavin Fearnley

British actress Joanna Lumley has joined calls to help save lives whilst the conflict in Darfur and Chad continues to wreak havoc.

The 61-year-old is working with the UK’s leading aid charities through the Disasters Emergency Committee in making an appeal to hundreds of thousands of newspaper readers.

In a letter written to local papers in Britain, the former Bond girl said, “We are seeing one of the greatest concentrations of human suffering right now in Darfur and Chad with 4.5 million people affected.

“The impending rains will make the situation worse, bringing the risk of deadly conditions like diarrhoea and malaria especially for children, pregnant mothers and the elderly.”

Brendan Gormley, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee said, “We have been keeping people alive but access is already severely hampered by conflict and the rains will make it much harder for us to respond if we don’t act now.”

Joanna Lumley is heavily involved in charity work including The Druk White Lotus School in Kashmir and mental health charity Mind.

To donate to the Darfur and Chad Crisis Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk

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Stars Call for Action on Disaster Relief

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