Look To The Stars News: ActionAid

Celebrities Call On World Leaders For Urgent Horn Of Africa Funds

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

A group of global artists, activists and business leaders have signed a joint letter urging world leaders to step up their response to the famine in the Horn of Africa. They call on them to act “without reservation, prevarication or equivocation” when they meet at an emergency summit in Rome.

Among the signatories are Annie Lennox, Bob Geldof, Simon Cowell, Richard Curtis, Stephen Fry, Eddie Izzard, Kristin Scott Thomas, and representatives from charities such as Oxfam, the ONE Campaign, Comic Relief, CAFOD, ActionAid, Save the Children and many others.

“As we write, more than 11 million people are suffering the great agony of the worst famine in Africa for many years. It is incomprehensible that in 2011 anyone should die of starvation. $600 million* is needed now for our fellow humans. Not a great sum for the world, even in a time of great economic difficulty for some. Last week European leaders found over hundred times this amount to shore up the euro and bail out banks, yet countries like France, Italy, the Arab States and Germany have so far given miniscule amounts of money to prevent people dying from hunger. Surely this must be unacceptable? A true measure of strength is how one cares for the weak. A true test of power is how one protects the frail.

Roger Federer's Charity Initiative For Malawi

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Tennis champion Roger Federer has launched a $3.3 million initiative to build schools in Malawi through his Roger Federer Foundation.

In association with Action Aid International Malawi, the tennis legend has launched a ten-year initiative to support early childhood education. The aim is to sustainably improve the quality of care and education in 80 Community Based Childcare Centers (“CBCCs”) and thus facilitate school entry for around 54,000 children between 4 and 6 years of age. The CBCCs will be gradually supported with the following measures:

800 early childhood educators are trained and coached in order to learn how to encourage, nourish and educate children

James Bond Joins Annie Lennox For International Women's Day

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:45:00 +0000

James Bond star Daniel Craig appears in drag for a special video produced for a partnership of leading charities brought together by Annie Lennox.

The two-minute short, specially commissioned for International Women’s Day, sees the 007 star undergo a dramatic makeover as he puts himself, quite literally, in a woman’s shoes.

Directed by acclaimed ‘Nowhere Boy’ director/conceptual artist Sam Taylor-Wood, scripted by Jane Goldman (‘Kick Ass’) and featuring the voice of Dame Judi Dench reprising her role as ‘M’, the film will be screened in cinemas and streamed online in a bid to highlight the levels of inequality that persist between men and women in the UK and worldwide. It is the first film featuring Bond to be directed by a woman.

Annie Lennox Invites You To Join Big Inequality Debate

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Annie Lennox and the EQUALS partnership of charities invite you to Join the Big Inequality Debate and celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, on 8 March 2011.

Oxfam’s global ambassador and Barclays Woman of the Year, Annie Lennox OBE, has brought together a coalition of charities that champion women’s rights to ensure that the centenary of International Women’s Day (IWD), on 8 March, is a catalyst for celebration and positive change.

The EQUALS coalition comprises ActionAid, Amnesty International, The Fawcett Society, Oxfam, Plan International, Save the Children, The White Ribbon Alliance For Safe Motherhood, Women’s Aid and Women for Women International. It is supported by an evolving partnership of organisations, including 1Goal, Bond, Merlin, Mumsnet, Object, One World Action, UKFeminista, VSO, WomanKind and Women for Refugee Women, and is collaborating with arts partners such as Birds Eye View, Brightwide, Britdoc/Good Screenings, Funny Women and the Southbank Centre.

Win Tickets To See David Beckham Play For Charity

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0000

ActionAid Australia is giving you the chance to win tickets to see David Beckham and the LA Galaxy play in Newcastle, Australia, on November 27.

The competition is part of 1GOAL: Education For All, a worldwide campaign with over 18 million supporters who have raised their voices to call upon world leaders to do more about making education a reality for the millions of boys and girls who remain out of school.

ActionAid works to fight poverty and injustice worldwide, reaching over 13 million of the poorest and most vulnerable people and helping them fight for and gain their rights to food, shelter, work, education, healthcare and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

Darth Vader Brings The Dark Side To Charity Initiative

Fri, 14 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

David Prowse – the actor best known for playing Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy – and adventurer Ranulph Fiennes are among a group of British celebrities who have created portraits of themselves to raise money for ActionAid.

The portraits – along with those created by the general public – will eventually be put together to form a huge mosaic of a girl from Uganda called Enid, who represents the 72 million children who can’t go to school because of poverty.

“Every now and again a good cause comes along that could do with a little help from the dark side,” said David.

British Stars Write Letter To End Violence Against Women

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:00:00 +0000

A number of British stars have added their names to an open letter written to U.K. government officials in a bid to end violence towards women.

Annie Lennox, Corinne Bailey Rae, Kate Nash, Stella McCartney, Samantha Morton and Dame Vivienne Westwood have lent their support to the ActionAid UK campaign, which aims to stop female abuse. The letter, published in The Times letter pages, urges the government to make the issue a “foreign policy priority” following the appointment of a new minister to tackle global violence against women and girls.

The letter states, "Violence affects one in three women globally and is a leading cause of death and disability among women of all ages.

Paul Weller And KT Tunstall To Headline Haiti Charity Concert

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Paul Weller and KT Tunstall will headline a special gig in London to benefit Haiti earthquake victims later this month.

The singers will join Reverend and the Makers, The Magic Numbers, The Futureheads and others at the show, to take place at the Camden Roundhouse on February 25. Hosts will include Harry Shearer, Philip Schofield and others, and all proceeds from the show will go to ActionAid and Doctors Without Borders.

For tickets and more information, visit the official site.

Bianca Jagger Joins Fight For ActionAid

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Environmental campaigner and former wife of Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger and musician Nitin Sawhney stood alongside tribal activist Sitaram Kulisika of India’s Khondh people at British mining company Vedanta’s AGM late last month to protest against a proposal to open a massive bauxite mine on their spiritual homeland.

The bauxite will be processed into aluminium for use in items such as drinks cans and foil for chocolate bars.

ActionAid has bought a single share for Sitaram so that he can attend the AGM, make his voice heard and speak on behalf of his people.

Irish Singers Unite For Charity

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Two well known Irish singers have teamed up for charity.

Sinead O’Connor and former Moloko vocalist Roisin Murphy have laid down a version of Chaka Khan’s I’m Every Woman for ActionAid, a charity that reaches over 13 million of the poorest and most vulnerable people and helps them fight for and gain their rights to food, shelter, work, education, healthcare and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

“It’s a bit of a depressing version of the song, its more haunting and soulful but I think it represents what it’s about really well,” Murphy told the BBC.

Paul McCartney's Guitar Auctioned For ActionAid

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:30:00 +0000

A handmade guitar owned by Sir Paul McCartney was due to go under the hammer for charity in London last night, November 25.

The black acoustic/electric guitar was made especially by Takamine Guitars and has his name inscribed in mother of pearl on the fret board. A pair of the guitars were presented to the former Beatle after a tour 10 years ago.

The guitar was auctioned as part of ActionAid’s Call My Wine Bluff event held to raise money for the charity’s work fighting poverty and injustice worldwide. Based on the classic TV game show, Call my Bluff, special celebrity guests included Emma Thompson, David Mitchell, Sue Perkins, Sean Lock, Hugh Dennis and Tim Brooke-Taylor – all of whom tried to trick guests into believing a story behind the wines they were tasting.

Coronation Street Stars Play For Good Causes

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Coronation Street fans are in for a nice surprise – stars from the long-running British soap have just filmed a special celebrity episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire for charity.

Jennie McAlpine, who plays Fiz Brown, and Samia Smith, who plays Maria Connor, joined Sally Whittaker (Sally Webster) and Michael Starke (Jerry Morton) for the first episode of the new series of the popular game show, each representing a charity close to their hearts.

“It’s much harder answering the questions in the studio than at home,” said McAlpine, whose father is the chairman of her chosen charity, Mood Swings Network. “You can be absolutely certain of an answer but still have doubts.”