Look To The Stars News: WildAid

NBA Star Tyson Chandler Speaks Out Against Trade Of Wildlife Products In China

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:30:00 +0000

WildAid and NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility program, have announced another step in their partnership promoting wildlife conservation in the United States and aimed at reducing the illegal trade of wildlife products in China.

Video: Tyson Chandler WildAid PSA

To support this effort, a public service announcement featuring New York Knicks star center Tyson Chandler premiered during the Oklahoma City Thunder – New York Knicks nationally televised game on March 7.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9830-nba-star-tyson-chandler-speaks-out-against-trade-of-wildlife-products-in-china

Yao Ming's Message To Ivory Buyers

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:30:00 +0000

With elephant and rhinoceros poaching in Kenya on the rise, basketball star Yao Ming decided not to focus his energies on supporting conservationists to defeat poaching. Instead, he’s bringing the message to the buyers – the rising wealthy in China.

Ming says that after talking with WildAid conservationists and Chinese officials, he sees that there is governmental commitment to resolve the problem, however, laws will only go so far. “We need a drastic increase in awareness to reduce markets,” he says.

Besides sculpting the ivory into art pieces, tusks are used in traditional Asian medicine for a variety of ailments, all completely bogus according to scientific study. The dwindling numbers of elephants and rhinoceros, caused by cartels dealing in the illegal trade, destabilizes populations – calves die without mothers and breeding prospects are lost. The environment is also negatively affected since grasslands become less maintained, fire hazards increase, and soil fertilization and seed dispersal diminishes.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9706-yao-mings-message-to-ivory-buyers

Yao Ming Continues Fight Against Poaching In Africa

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:15:00 +0000

NBA legend Yao Ming has continued blogging from Africa this week, as he travels with WildAid to document the poaching crisis currently decimating the populations of some of the world’s most majestic species.

Part of his tour has seen him visit a Samburu village to witness the work of conservation agencies.

“Elephant Watch and Save the Elephants have been working with this community for decades and their appreciation is clear,” he blogged this week. "Support for education and other community projects comes directly from the tourism conservation fees.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8823-yao-ming-continues-fight-against-poaching-in-africa

Yao Ming Visits Africa To Raise Awareness Of Poaching Crisis

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:45:00 +0000

Former NBA star and WildAid Ambassador, Yao Ming, is in Africa to document the poaching crisis facing rhinos and elephants, as a result of Asian demand for rhino horn and ivory.

Yesterday he was at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, and blogged about his experiences.

“[Ol Pejeta Conservancy] a private, non-profit wildlife sanctuary and home to Kenya’s highest concentration of wildlife. It’s also the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, making Ol Pejeta a key player in protecting one of the world’s most endangered species.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8782-yao-ming-visits-africa-to-raise-awareness-of-poaching-crisis

Photos: Stars Come Out For WildAid Gala In San Francisco

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

On Friday, Hollywood descended upon San Francisco to support the wildlife conservation organization, WildAid, at their annual gala.

WildAid Gala Larry King
Credit/Copyright: Courtesy of WildAid and www.kevinmeynell.com

Larry King, Hayden Panettiere, Jared Leto, Maggie Q, John Corbett, Kate Flannery and Bo Derek were among the stars raising money for WildAid and awareness of its wildlife conservation programs around the world.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8363-photos-stars-come-out-for-wildaid-gala-in-san-francisco

Pierce Brosnan And Larry King To Attend A Wild Night For Charity

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Pierce Brosnan, Bo Derek, Li Bing Bing and Larry King will all appear as presenters at this year’s A Wild Night – A Benefit for WildAid – event in May.

The event will honor internet pioneer James H. Clark for his generous support of multiple wildlife and marine organizations through the James H. Clark Charitable Foundation. He has also donated his time as a board member, advisor and volunteer to many non-profits. He has also been a major funder and producer of several special projects, initiatives and films such as the award winning film about dolphins, The Cove. Also being honored with a leadership award at the event is Google Earth, for its ground-breaking use of technology in the advancement of conservation.

The event will feature a reception, dinner with a focus on local and organic foods, and auction. The Honorary Committee includes Richard Branson, Jackie Chan, Minnie Driver, Harrison Ford, Daryl Hannah, Ang Lee, Yao Ming, Edward Norton and Shauna Robertson.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8074-pierce-brosnan-and-larry-king-to-attend-a-wild-night-for-charity

Richard Branson and Bo Derek Announce WildAid Canada's Polar Bear Campaign

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:22:00 +0000

At a news conference in Toronto, international entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Richard Branson, and actress and WildAid Board Member Bo Derek, called for greater protection of Canada’s polar bears, announcing that legislation to protect the hundreds of polar bears living in northern Ontario will soon be tabled at Queen’s Park.

Branson and Bo Derek announce WildAid Canada's Polar Bear Campaign

“The majestic and powerful polar bear is an iconic symbol of Canada around the world,” Branson said. “With their habitat increasingly threatened and their very survival in jeopardy, now is the time for action. We owe it to the next generation to ensure that these magnificent animals will live on in the Canadian north.”

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8003-richard-branson-and-bo-derek-announce-wildaid-canadas-polar-bear-campaign

Jackie Chan To Be Honored At WildAid Gala

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Jackie Chan is to be honored at the annual WildAid benefit gala in San Francisco next year.

The gala – A Wild Night – will take place on May 11. Save the date now and get in early for tickets – it’s certain to sell out.

Jackie Chan has been extremely vocal in speaking out against the use of tiger products in China, and is an active supporter of WildAid China.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/7593-jackie-chan-to-be-honored-at-wildaid-gala

Join Richard Branson In India And Help Save Tigers

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +0000

WildAid has partnered with Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, to offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Sir Richard Branson on a Connection Trip to India.

With like-minded entrepreneurs you’ll experience India’s first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix and get face to face with the issues surrounding our last remaining tigers on the brink of extinction, with only 3200 remaining in the wild. Alongside Richard and the Government of India, guests will also become Founding Patrons of Virgin Unite’s new tiger conservation initiative and will visit the community supported by this trip.

You and a guest will arrive in New Delhi on October 28th, kick off your F1 Grand Prix weekend at a welcome event with the Marussia Virgin Racing team, followed by an exciting few days hosted in the Paddock Club VIP hospitality area as you cheer on the team. Then it’s off to Corbett National Park for two days of exhilarating game drives hosted by WildAid India with a special visit with some of the world’s last remaining wild tigers. Over 50 species of mammals call this land home including tigers, leopards, elephants, antelopes, bears, pangolins, langurs, gorals, wild boar, mongoose, buffalo, monkeys, and fox. More than 60 species of birds can also be seen here including heron, eagles, parakeets, junglefowl, turtle doves, vultures, and hawks.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/7106-join-richard-branson-in-india-and-help-save-tigers

Call To Ban Shark Fins Gains Support Of Some Big Fish

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:30:00 +0000

On both sides of the world, the movement to ban the trade and sale of shark fin products has gained an impressive roster of noteworthy supporters including Leonardo DiCaprio, James Cameron, Wolfgang Puck, Gordon Ramsey, Richard Branson, Yao Ming, Mario Batali, Edward Norton, and Chinese billionaire Zhang Yue.

Yao Ming and British Entrepreneur Richard Branson call for greater shark protection at an event in Shanghai on Thursday hosted by international conservation organization, WildAid.

In California, WildAid, NRDC, and The Humane Society of the United States worked with DiCaprio, Norton, and Yao to write a joint letter to Governor Jerry Brown, urging him to sign California’s Assembly Bill 376, which will ban the import, trade, and possession of shark fin in California. AB 376 has already passed both legislative bodies with bi-partisan support – and currently awaits the Governor’s signature. The letter, also signed by over 50 additional notables including James Cameron, musician Jackson Browne, and actress Rosario Dawson, asserts that the ban is “absolutely necessary if we are to conserve sharks and, in effect, our entire ocean ecosystem.”

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/7003-call-to-ban-shark-fins-gains-support-of-some-big-fish

Yao Ming And Richard Branson Say No To Shark Fin Soup

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

International conservation organization WildAid, Chinese basketball star and WildAid Ambassador, Yao Ming, and leading Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yue have joined forces with British entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson and his non-profit foundation Virgin Unite, in a global campaign to save sharks.

Branson and Yao have filmed public service announcements in support of WildAid’s shark campaign drawing attention to the increasing demand for shark fin soup and the devastating effect this demand is having on global shark populations. The messages will broadcast across national and international media via WildAid’s pro-bono media network, beginning today and are available at wildaid.org/sharks.

Yao Ming committed to stop eating shark fin soup in 2006 after learning of the cruel and wasteful practice of "’finning"’ and the threat of extinction facing many shark populations as a result of demand for their fins. He has been an Ambassador for WildAid’s shark campaign ever since. Yao says, “I urge China to lead by banning shark fin soup, and I urge business leaders to end the consumption of shark fin soup at business events. Unless we act now, we will lose many shark populations, impacting our oceans worldwide.”

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6998-yao-ming-and-richard-branson-say-no-to-shark-fin-soup

Yao Ming Commits To Charity Following Basketball Retirement

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Yao Ming may have retired from basketball, but that won’t stop his charity work.

The Chinese basketball star – who created the Yao Ming Foundation to build schools in China after the May 2008 earthquakes – officially announced his retirement from the game this week.

“I will keep devoting myself to social charity work,” said Ming at a press conference in Shanghai. “Yao Foundation, launched three years ago, is a project named after me. I promise here that it will keep going on.”

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6652-yao-ming-commits-to-charity-following-basketball-retirement

Leonardo DiCaprio Wants Shark Fin Sales Banned In California

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:15:00 +0000

Leonardo DiCaprio has penned a letter to members of the California State Senate in support of Assembly Bill 376, which would prohibit the sale of shark fins in California.

“The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has concluded that a third of shark species are now threatened with extinction of some kind,” reads the letter, which has also been signed by the CEO of The Humane Society, the Executive Director of WildAid and the President of the Natural Resources Defense Council . “And recent estimates state that up to 73 million sharks are killed each year for use in shark fin soup and other products. Traditionally shark fin was affordable only to the elite, and consequently the issue of decimation of species was not a concern. But with the explosion of the world’s population, and an increasing number of wealthy consumers, this can no longer be considered true, as has been evidenced by the decimation of shark populations worldwide. Despite fisheries attempts at regulation, the inhumane practice of finning continues unabated too, as does the illegal capture of sharks from marine reserves and sovereign waters.”

The bill is an effort to save sharks and the oceans by banning the possession, sale, trade and distribution of shark fins in California. In addition to DiCaprio, AB 376 is supported by a host of prominent celebrities, including Edward Norton, Scarlett Johansson, Ke$ha, Kristen Bell, Paul Rudd and Chinese basketball great Yao Ming

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6538-leonardo-dicaprio-wants-shark-fin-sales-banned-in-california

Jackie Chan Honorary Host Of WildAid Celebrity Charity Gala

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:30:00 +0000

The first annual WildAid Charity Gala will take place in San Francisco this week, honoring celebrity NBA legend Yao Ming and featuring honorary hosts such as Jackie Chan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Edward Norton and Bo Derek.

The event will celebrate the organization’s global conservation work, and will honor Ming for his help in reducing the consumption of shark fin soup in China.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6234-jackie-chan-honorary-host-of-wildaid-celebrity-charity-gala

Tigers To Benefit From Celebrity Charity Event

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Celebrities from the worlds of drama, comedy, conservation, television, sport, fashion and journalism will be burning bright at the year’s most exotic fundraising event for wild tiger conservation in London on Thursday (March 3).

Joanna Lumley, Bill Bailey, Bill Oddie, Nicholas Parsons, Jimmy Greaves, Ronni Ancona and Alistair McGowan, Jimmy Choo, Virginia McKenna and Will Travers, Donal MacIntyre, Liz Bonnin and Steve Backshall will all be in attendance at the exclusive Gala Night at London’s prestigious Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/5871-tigers-to-benefit-from-celebrity-charity-event

Joanna Lumley To Save Wild Tigers At Celebrity Charity Gala

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

As few as 3,200 tigers survive in the wild today. That’s why wild tigers need all the friends they can get, and on March 3, 2011 celebrities, conservation leaders and campaigners will attend an exclusive Gala Night in London to raise funds for this critically endangered species.

Showing their support for tigers at the Gala will be stars including Joanna Lumley, Bill Oddie, Jimmy Greaves, Ronni Ancona and Alistair McGowan, Jimmy Choo, TV chef Ching-He Huang, Virginia McKenna and Will Travers, Donal MacIntyre, Liz Bonnin and Steve Backshall.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/5820-joanna-lumley-to-save-wild-tigers-at-celebrity-charity-gala

Edward Norton Supports Bill To Stop Sale Of Shark Fins

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:30:00 +0000

California Assembly Members Paul Fong and Jared Huffman have introduced a bill to prohibit the sale of shark fins in California to the State Assembly, with the support of Edward Norton.

California is one of the largest sources of demand for shark fin outside Asia and this bill would represent a major step towards reducing pressure on shark populations. Furthermore the bill complements the ban introduced in both Hawaii and the Commonwealth of North Mariana Islands (CNMI) as well as restrictions established by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/5804-edward-norton-supports-bill-to-stop-sale-of-shark-fins

Yao Ming To Be Honored At WildAid Charity Gala

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The first annual WildAid Charity Gala will take place in San Francisco in May, honoring celebrity NBA legend Yao Ming.

The event will celebrate the organization’s global conservation work, and will honor Ming for his help in reducing the consumption of shark fin soup in China.

The basketballer fronted a PSA campaign in China in 2010 to raise awareness of the fact that up to 70 million sharks are stripped of their fins and left to flounder on the sea bed every year to supply soup in the country.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/5722-yao-ming-to-be-honored-at-wildaid-charity-gala

Bo Derek Visits Canada For WildAid

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Bo Derek scored a perfect “10” for the environment when she visited Kelowna in Canada last week for WildAid.

The actress – who is a US Special Envoy of the Secretary of State for Wildlife Trafficking – was there for conservation meetings with six high-ranking officials from WildAid at the invitation of the Charles Fipke Foundation.

“Habitat is a problem and poaching is a problem, but you can solve the problem very quickly if people stop consuming,” said Derek. “The results are immediate. It is about public education and awareness.”

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/4788-bo-derek-visits-canada-for-wildaid

Jackie Chan Speaks Out Against Tiger Products

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Jackie Chan has spoken out against the use of tiger products in China, admitting that he once used them.

“If you stop buying tiger products, they will stop killing the tigers,” he wrote on his website. “I used to think that medicine with tiger bones would heal you, but I was just contributing to them killing more tigers! Tiger skin, tiger medicine, tiger bone – we don’t need it. Lets all save the tigers, especially during the Year of the Tiger! Go to www.wildaidchina.org.”

Chan took part in a press conference to help WildAid China, and was especially moved by a speech made by WildAid and Environmental Justice Foundation founder Steve Trent.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/3929-jackie-chan-speaks-out-against-tiger-products

Yao Ming Calls For An End To Shark Fin Soup

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Basketball star Yao Ming's new public service announcement for WildAid is asking people in China to think twice before ordering shark fin soup.

Many shark species are nearing extinction as sharks are being stripped of fins and left to flounder helplessly until they die on the ocean floor. “If you could see, each year, how up to 70 million sharks are killed to end up in soup, could you still eat it?” goes the PSA.

Besides the disturbing aspect of de-finning, the loss of shark populations has some serious repercussions. Sharks play a key role in the marine ecosystem from fish populations to carbon-dioxide-consuming phytoplankton to healthy reef systems. Without sharks, former prey flourishes and this affects everything down the food chain line.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/3759-yao-ming-calls-for-an-end-to-shark-fin-soup

Kate Hudson Launches Cruelty Free & Eco-Friendly Hair Products

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:22:06 +0000

Kate Hudson has teamed up with hairdresser David Babaii to launch a new line of cruelty free, environmentally friendly hair care products, with 10% of the profits going to the wildlife charity WildAid.

“I’ve been asked to do a lot of campaigns in the past and this feels like the perfect fit for me,” said Hudson. “And the fact that we can do it in an ecologically responsible and animal-friendly manner that can help preserve wildlife is what makes this truly special.”

Hudson, who spent two years developing the line, decided to create the WildAid range partly out of a concern for the chemicals contained in some hair products.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/752-kate-hudson-launches-cruelty-free-and-eco-friendly-hair-products

Kate Hudson Gets Styled for WildAid

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:14:53 +0000

Actress Kate Hudson will be featured in celebrity hairstylist David Babaii’s new line of hair care and styling products, DAVID BABAII FOR WILDAID. The products contain natural ingredients and are free of sulfates, chemical preservatives, animal products and animal testing.

Additionally, a percentage of the revenue from the sales of Babaii’s products will be donated to the wildlife conservation organization WildAid. WildAid, who campaigns worldwide to end illegal wildlife trade, works with governments and communities to raise awareness and stop the buying of endangered wild animals and products.

“I’ve been asked to do a lot of campaigns in the past and this feels like the perfect fit for me,” says Hudson. “The fact that we can do it in an ecologically responsible and animal-friendly manner that can help preserve wildlife is what makes this truly special.”

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/318-kate-hudson-gets-styled-for-wildaid

Michelle Yeoh Against Illegal Wildlife Trade

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:56:53 +0000

Actress and former beauty queen Michelle Yeoh has joined WildAid in utilizing YouTube to post videos on the wildlife poaching crisis. WildAid is a non-profit organization that seeks to put an end to illegal wildlife trade “by focusing on awareness to reduce the demand for threatened and endangered species products and to increase public support for wildlife conservation.”

With awareness in mind, using WildAid’s motto: When the buying stops the killing can too, Jackie Chan, Ralph Fiennes, Ang Lee, Minnie Driver and other stars have posted short public service announcement videos on YouTube as well, Chan’s being the most graphic, against the illegal trade and its costs.

WildAid works worldwide with governments, communities and celebrities to make wildlife conservation a global priority.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/307-michelle-yeoh-against-illegal-wildlife-trade