Look To The Stars News: Environmental Justice Foundation

Celebrities Fight Ugly Fashion Practices

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen, Brit supermodel Lily Cole, singers Joss Stone and Sophie Ellis-Bextor plus a host of top fashion talent have backed the Environmental Justice Foundation’s work (EJF) to raise awareness of the continued use of forced child labour and the ecological devastation associated with cotton production.

The celebrities joined an international roll call of 23 models from 14 different nations including the US, UK, Brazil, South Korea, Italy, Belgium and the Ukraine in a series of photo shoots to launch EJF"s latest exclusive t-shirts designed by Giles Deacon, Allegra Hicks, Zandra Rhodes and John Rocha.

The t-shirts are produced on organic and fairly traded cotton and printed with organic certified inks. All money raised by EJF from the sale of the t-shirts goes to support the charity"s valuable work. The t-shirts are available in ladies fitted and men"s classic styles from £30 on the charity’s website (worldwide delivery).

America’s Karlie Kloss, South Korean sensations Daul Kim and Hye Park, Ekat Kiseleva from Russia and Brazilian Aline Weber were among those who turned out during a week-long photo shoot in New York with top fashion photographer Eric Guillemain. In London, British models Laura Bailey, Lisa B, Jasmine Guinness, fashion guru Louise Roe, top male model Max Rogers and actor Nicholas Hoult also showed their support in shoots with Jane Mcleish-Kelsey, Matthew Eades and Glen Burrows.

EJF works to achieve environmental security and resolve the profound human rights abuses associated with cotton production globally, with particular focus on the Central Asian Republic of Uzbekistan.

Around the world, whether it is state enforced, or child trafficking, millions of children face severe exploitation in the cotton industry. In Uzbekistan, the world’s 3rd largest exporter of cotton, roughly a third of the population are forced to work in conditions near slavery for the state run cotton industry. Many are children. Schools across the country are shut down for the cotton harvest as children from the age of 7 are sent to work for weeks in the fields, paid little or nothing, but benefiting their repressive government through this forced labour.

Juliette Williams, Programme Director for EJF, says "Even in tough economic times, our buying power can be a force for good. Choosing organic and fairly traded cotton actively supports communities in some of the world’s poorest nations, where fair and equitable trade to the west can literally mean the difference between life and death. With public support, companies have been inspired to look at the way the cotton they buy and sell is produced, and high street names are saying “no” to cotton from Uzbekistan until child labour and environmental abuses are eradicated. Together we can change our world".

Johnny Depp Fights Pirates Of The High Seas

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

He may have played a pirate on one of the highest grossing movies of the decade, but Johnny Depp has now raised his sword against the real-life villains of the high seas. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star has backed the Environmental Justice Foundation’s ‘Save the Sea’ campaign to highlight the illegal plunder of the oceans by pirate fishing vessels.

According to the EJF, over 75% of the world’s fish stocks are fully exploited, over-exploited or depleted and 90% of the world’s large ocean species like cod, halibut and swordfish have been lost since the 1950’s – and in one 8 month period 4 illegal, “pirate”, Moroccan driftnet vessels caught 237 dolphins; 498 blue sharks; 542 short-fin mako; 464 thresher sharks; 46 loggerhead turtles and 2,990 swordfish.

In a letter in support of EJF, Depp has called for an immediate response to the crisis before it is too late.

“Our seas and the people that depend upon them are facing a critical threat,” he wrote. “Pirate fishing operations are plundering fish stocks the world over, which in turn undermine all attempts at their sustainable management, already under pressure from widespread misdirection. The devastating impact of this illegal form of fishing is felt not only by our marine ecosystems, but also by the millions of people living in some of the world’s poorest countries who rely on healthy fish stocks as an essential source of both food and employment.”

In his message of support, Depp highlights the case that “this is not a problem without cure, but we have to act now if we are to protect our marine-life’s biodiversity and food security for future generations. It is more important than you, or any of us, can at this moment even begin to understand. That is why I support the work of the Environmental Justice Foundation to raise awareness and provide ‘real-world’ solutions to the issue. Their efforts to engage in effective action to protect both people and planet will help to bring an end to pirate fishing, once and for all.”

The EJF has recommended several ways in which people can help fight back against the problem, which sees 7.3 million tones of non-target fish discarded and wasted every year. Firstly, when shopping for fish, always look on the label to ensure you are buying certified, sustainable fish. Ask your supermarket or fishmonger if they know where the fish they sell is legally and sustainably-caught. Secondly, buy EJF’s organic cotton ‘Save The Sea’ t-shirt from ejfoundation.org/shop – all proceeds go to the charity.

“If consumers, businesses and politicians take Johnny Depp’s lead, we can end this problem before it is too late,” said Steve Trent, Founder of EJF.

Models Support Human Rights Cotton Campaign

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:15:44 -0000

Written by Regina Walton

Over 20 top models have volunteered to be photographed in cotton shirts made by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). Some of the models, photographed in EJF’s ‘Pick Your Cotton Carefully’ campaign t-shirts, include Irina Lazareanu, Coco Rocha, Catherine McNeil, Caroline Trentini, Siri Tollerød, and Behati Prinsloo. The most recent 19 models were photographed by Eric Guillerman.

The organic cotton t-shirts were designed by Luella, Christian Lacroix, Betty Jackson and Katharine Hamnett. All shirts are designed around the theme of “childhood, lost innocence and hope” and represent more than one million children worldwide who are forced to work in the cotton industry. The shirts are only $60 and are shipped worldwide for $10. All profits from the sale of the t-shirt are used to support EJF’s work.

The EJF’s goal is to clean up the cotton industry because “over two-thirds of the world’s cotton is grown in developing countries and the former Soviet Union. Valued at over $30 billion every year, global cotton production should be improving lives. But this ‘white gold’ too often brings misery. Although some progress is being made, the unsustainable, inequitable and abusive conditions under which much of the world’s cotton is produced, continues.” Other supporters of the ‘Pick Your Cotton Carefully’ campaign include Lily Cole, Erin O’Connor, KT Tunstall, and Peaches Geldof.

To buy a shirt, visit the EJF Shop, and to become a regular giver to the EJF, be sure to check out the EJF website.

Look To The Stars News: Environmental Justice Foundation

Celebrities Fight Ugly Fashion Practices

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Johnny Depp Fights Pirates Of The High Seas

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Models Support Human Rights Cotton Campaign

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