Look To The Stars News: Oxfam

Go "Shwopping" With M&S And Oxfam

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Go shwopping – and no, that’s not a spelling mistake – and fight poverty with Oxfam and M&S.

Video: Shwopping - The One Day Wardrobe Clearout

Oxfam and M&S launched shwopping in April 2012, a new idea that makes it even easier to give your unwanted clothes a second life.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10151-go-shwopping-with-m-and-s-and-oxfam

Oxfam Joins With Coldplay Fans For Global Campaign

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Oxfam has released a pioneering campaigning film in which thousands of Coldplay fans, and famous faces including singer songwriter Ed Sheeran, actor Dominic Cooper and rock band Wolf Gang, share their voices to help put an end to one of the world’s greatest human injustices.

Video: In My Place: Oxfam, Coldplay and you fight land grabs

Over the last two months, thousands of people from 55 countries around the world have submitted nearly seven thousand videos and photographs to produce a crowd sourced video set to an acoustic version of Coldplay’s famous track In My Place which can be viewed at www.oxfam.org/inmyplacefilm.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10038-oxfam-joins-with-coldplay-fans-for-global-campaign

Djimon Hounsou Joins Stars In Supporting Strong Arms Trade Treaty

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:45:00 +0000

As the United Nations gears up for a final round of negotiations on the international Arms Trade Treaty, Oscar-nominated actor and Oxfam America Ambassador Djimon Hounsou joins a number of Nobel Peace Prize winners, celebrities, faith community leaders, retired generals, and civil society organizations calling on President Obama to support a robust Arms Trade Treaty.

More than 325,000 people are estimated to have lost their lives because of armed violence since negotiations for the treaty were halted last year, and next week negotiators start anew in the hope of finally delivering an international treaty. Fresh from a trip to South Sudan where he saw first-hand the devastation that the poorly regulated weapons trade is having on families and communities, Hounsou arrived in Washington to make the case for Washington support.

“It felt like a Hollywood movie to see young boys carrying AK-47’s,” said Hounsou. “A strong Arms Trade Treaty would help restrict the flow of such weapons and bullets to countries like South Sudan. We all have a moral obligation to bring about a robust ATT and make the world a safer place.”

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9884-djimon-hounsou-joins-stars-in-supporting-strong-arms-trade-treaty

Annie Lennox Issues Call Of Action Over Violence Towards Women In South Africa

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Annie Lennox has issued a call to action, in response to the epidemic of violence that has been taking place against women and girls in South Africa for years.

The petition implores South African media, key government officials, and religious leaders to make a commitment of personal and professional responsibility, in order to ensure that the issue of gender-based violence is never marginalized again.

Signatories include The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory (Nelson Mandela Foundation), Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Medecins Sans Frontiers, Treatment Action Campaign, Amnesty International South Africa and CTAOP (Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project)

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9789-annie-lennox-issues-call-of-action-over-violence-towards-women-in-south-africa

Oxfam Asks Coldplay Fans To Be A Part Of A Global Campaign For Change

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:05:00 +0000

Oxfam is looking for Coldplay fans to take part in a groundbreaking global music project to campaign against one of the world’s greatest human injustices.

Coldplay’s music video and film director Mat Whitecross will curate an exclusive crowd sourced video stitching together thousands of pieces of film and photography submitted by fans and supporters to an incredible acoustic version of Coldplay’s famous track ‘In My Place’. The voices shared will become part of a unique music video to help the charity campaign to end the trauma inflicted on thousands of families because of land grabs.

Every year Governments, banks or private investors buy huge plots of land in some of the poorest countries in the world for profit. This land is often home to people who rely on it to grow food and feed their families. Thousands of families are being evicted from the land, leaving them homeless and with no means to piece their lives back together. Land grabs are forcing people and their possessions out, forcing them from the place they call home.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9730-oxfam-asks-coldplay-fans-to-be-a-part-of-a-global-campaign-for-change

Jessica Ennis And The Queen Voted Most Inspirational Women

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Jessica Ennis and The Queen find themselves in a dead heat for first place in an Oxfam survey of high profile British females that women find inspiring.

More than two fifths of British women (42%) chose Olympic gold medallist Ennis and The Queen as inspirational figures when asked to choose from a list as part of a poll for Oxfam’s Get Together fundraising campaign – the UK’s biggest celebration of International Women’s Day (8th March).

It is the second time in one week that The Queen has topped a list of influential women, having been voted in first place by a panel of judges in the BBC Woman’s Hour Power List. In contrast, Jessica Ennis did not feature in the top 100 Power List, but has instead received a vote of confidence from the British public through the Oxfam survey. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who was also missing from the Power List, takes a prominent seventh place in the Oxfam survey with 25% women identifying her as inspiring.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9725-jessica-ennis-and-the-queen-voted-most-inspirational-women

Stars Come Out For Oxfam's Rumble In The Jumble

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Celebrity ladies including Gemma Cairney, Caroline Flack, Laura Whitmore, Gizzi Erskine, Cherry Healey, Grace Woodward, Jessie Cave and Georgie Okell joined crowds of bargain hunting shoppers at Rumble in the Jumble 2 for Oxfam in London’s Bethnal Green.

The celebrity jumble sale, organised by The Music Circle and Gemma Cairney was part of Oxfam’s Get Together for International Women’s Day (8th March) and raised money for the charity’s work with women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Celebrity donations up for grabs included items from Bat for Lashes, Daisy Lowe, Edith Bowman, Annie Mac, Tinie Tempah, Fearne Cotton, Gemma Cairney, Jessie Ware, Lauren Laverne, Charlotte Church, Alison Mosshart, Jack Whitehall, Lucy Rose, Dermot O'Leary, Toddla T, Stooshe, The Vaccines, Zane Lowe, Paloma Faith and many more.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9623-stars-come-out-for-oxfams-rumble-in-the-jumble

Desmond Tutu Backs End Hunger Forever Campaign

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Over 100 organizations, including Save the Children, Action Against Hunger, Oxfam and UNICEF, have joined forces to end hunger forever.

The Enough Food For Everyone IF campaign launched last week in the UK.

“Hunger is not an incurable disease or an unavoidable tragedy,” says Desmond Tutu, a supporter of the campaign.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9622-desmond-tutu-backs-end-hunger-forever-campaign

Stars Donate To Jumble Sale For Oxfam

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:30:00 +0000

The Music Circle is organizing a charity jumble sale in association with Oxfam on January 26, with celebrity donations from Paloma Faith, Tinie Tempah, Dermot O'Leary, Fearne Cotton, Marilyn Manson, Charlotte Church and many more.

The sale is in aid of abused women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in tandem with Oxfam’s Get Together for International Women’s Day on 8 March 2013, and will be held at east London’s Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club.

There’ll be a pop-up retro hair salon from Lipstick & Curls to give you instant Victory rolls, a stylists’ corner and photobooth featuring some surprises familiar faces, hyper ping-pong action from the mighty Pongathon crew, food from Gizzi Erskine, tea and cakes from Joe’s Tea Co and Drink, Shop & Do and DJs including Gizzi, Jen Long (Radio 1), My Ex Boyfriend’s Records and more all day long.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9584-stars-donate-to-jumble-sale-for-oxfam

Stars Get Together For Oxfam

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Lauren Laverne and Cherry Healey were joined by celebrity friends including Gizzie Erskine, Grace Dent, Sharon Horgan and Grace Woodward for a girls’ night out to launch Oxfam's Get Together for International Women’s Day, which raises money to support women living in poverty worldwide.

Cherry Healey and Lauren Laverne
Credit/Copyright: Oxfam.org.uk

The launch party was all about inspiring ideas for Get Together events and encouraging women to get planning for International Women’s Day on 8th March. An Oxfam Get Together can be absolutely anything; from cocktails or a movie night at home, to a killer quiz with colleagues or even just a cuppa with friends.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9528-stars-get-together-for-oxfam

Annie Lennox Performs In Italy For Women's Circle Event

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Annie Lennox performed live at The Ice Palace in Milan during the Women’s Circle 2012 fundraising event on November 22.

The funds raised will be used to strengthen the commitment of Oxfam Italy in the fight against poverty and the promotion of women’s rights.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9336-annie-lennox-performs-in-italy-for-womens-circle-event

Stars Support Giving Tuesday

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:10:00 +0000

A diverse group of musicians, actors, athletes, artists and the nation’s top creative talents are joining the #GivingTuesday movement to help inspire the first national day dedicated to giving coinciding with the Holiday season.

Instead of focusing solely on sales and shopping, these celebrities are supporting some of the country’s most innovative charities, volunteer organizations, global campaigns and community groups as they “get out the give” this November 27. With more than 2,000 partner organizations in all 50 states, there are many ways these men and women are building awareness and support for issues ranging from Hurricane Sandy relief to children’s education to women’s health to aid for veterans…and myriad causes in between. A few examples of some of the top stars who are supporting their favorite charities include:

• Charlize Theron and the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) are teaming up with the Center for Living Peace to raise funds for CTAOP’s mission to keep African youth safe from HIV. Every donation made to CTAOP on #GivingTuesday will be matched by the Center for Living Peace (up to $10,000).

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9347-stars-support-giving-tuesday

Hot Chip Takes Over Oxfam Shops For Oxjam

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Earlier this week, Hot Chip continued their DJ ‘takeover’ of Oxfam shops with an intimate gig at the Oxfam shop on Byres Road shop in Glasgow.

Hot Chip Vinyl Emporium play Scottish gig for Oxfam
Credit/Copyright: Oxfam.org.uk

The Oxfam shop gave up its floor space to become an exclusive Oxjam shop for a one-off gig, whilst simultaneously selling great second-hand music and clothing. The shop was converted into a mini-music venue, where Hot Chip and Optimo played an exclusive DJ set for the lucky fans who got to the shop in time and fought there way to the front.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9101-hot-chip-take-over-oxfam-shops-for-oxjam

Celebrities Back Oxfam's Campaign To Stop Land Grabs

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:30:00 +0000

International writers and artists including Paul Theroux, Kamila Shamsie, Henning Mankell and Aminatta Forna, singers Angelique Kidjo and Baaba Maal, The Thick of It star Peter Capaldi, Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal and Sex and the City actress Kristin Davis, have joined Oxfam's campaign to stop ‘land grabs’ in developing countries.

They are calling on the World Bank to lead the way by temporarily freezing its land deals to allow time for tighter controls to be put into place to ensure poor people don’t lose out.

The past decade has witnessed an unprecedented scramble by foreign investors to buy land in developing countries – with an area the size of London changing hands every six days. However, weak regulation has failed to protect the rights and needs of the people living on the land who are often evicted, sometimes violently, without consultation or compensation. As a result, ‘land grabs’ are leaving vulnerable people homeless and destitute, without land to grow food to eat and make a living.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/9049-celebrities-back-oxfams-campaign-to-stop-land-grabs

Kristin Davis To Attend Eight Stories High For Oxfam

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:20:00 +0000

A stellar line-up of Oxfam supporters will be taking to the stage at the Oxford Playhouse on Sunday 14th October for Eight Stories High, an exclusive evening of storytelling, performance, big ideas and surprises.

Celebrating Oxfam’s 70th anniversary, the unique, star-studded event promises a moving evening filled with tales of courage, passion, innovation and perspiration.

Each of the special guests, including actress and Oxfam Global Ambassador Kristin Davis and Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, will share a remarkable story, providing a unique insight into what leaders in business, entertainment and the arts feel about the world we live in. Joining these stars on stage will be journalists John Simpson CBE and Ian Hislop, Harry Potter actress Bonnie Wright, acclaimed author Victoria Hislop, Oxfordshire’s favourite top chef Raymond Blanc and Innocent Drinks founder Richard Reed, who is fronting the new BBC3 series Be Your Own Boss.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8933-kristin-davis-to-attend-eight-stories-high-for-oxfam

Stars Kick Off Oxjam 2012

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:00:00 +0000

A diverse range of some of the biggest names in music will be performing some of their most unusual shows to date to kick start the sixth annual Oxjam music festival.

Artists including acclaimed singer-song writer and lead guitarist of Blur, Graham Coxon, a one off party thrown by the UK’s champions of electronic pop music Hot Chip, and, fresh from the festival circuit, electronic dance producer and DJ Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs will be performing amongst the donated clothes, books and vinyl of a London Oxfam shop to celebrate the start of the charity’s month-long music festival.

The line-up is:

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8907-stars-kick-off-oxjam-2012

Charities Praise David Cameron's Olympics Hunger Event

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Britain’s leading aid and development charities have welcomed the progress made at Prime Minister David Cameron's Olympics Hunger Event, and urged world leaders to keep the global food crisis at the top of their agenda in the run-up to next year’s G8 summit in the UK.

A joint statement signed by ten leading NGOs praised the Prime Minister’s leadership but urged him to take further steps on this issue over the coming year.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8772-charities-praise-david-camerons-olympics-hunger-event

Annie Lennox Speaks At International AIDS Conference

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Annie Lennox spoke at a Parliamentary Meeting as part of the 19th International AIDS Conference on Monday, July 23.

“I’d like to share the story with you as to how I became an AIDS campaigner and activist,” she said. "In November of 2003 I was invited to take part in a special concert held in Cape Town South Africa, to launch Nelson Mandela's HIV Foundation, 46664.

“The day after the concert, all the artists were asked to join Mandela for an international press conference held in Robben Island, the place of his incarceration for the most part of 27 years.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8705-annie-lennox-speaks-at-international-aids-conference

Livia Firth Named As Oxfam Ambassador

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Oxfam is delighted to announce Livia Firth as its newest Global Ambassador, joining among others Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Scarlett Johansson, and Coldplay's Chris Martin to partner the charity in its campaigning and fundraising work.

Livia has supported Oxfam for many years and has visited its programs in Bangladesh and Zambia. She has helped Oxfam to raise funds in the UK, America and in her native Italy, and she and her Oscar-winning actor husband Colin Firth – a fellow Oxfam Ambassador – have hosted a number of fundraising events for the charity. She has also used her considerable persuasive skills to encourage other influential women to join her in supporting Oxfam’s work.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8676-livia-firth-named-as-oxfam-ambassador

Roger Federer Nets Charity Cash For Oxfam

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 20:20:00 +0000

Roger Federer's win over Andy Murray at Wimbledon today has netted Oxfam £100,000.

Oxfam supporter Nicholas Newlife left his entire estate to Oxfam when he died in February 2009. This included the outcomes of a series of outstanding bets he had placed. Oxfam has already received £16,750 from one of his bets, when he placed £250 on Roger Federer to win at least 14 Grand Slam titles before 2020 (at odds of 66/1). Another of Mr Newlife’s bets was on Federer to win Wimbledon seven times before 2020.

Legacies (people leaving gifts in their Wills) are extremely important to Oxfam and, as Mr Newlife shows, they can come in all shapes and sizes. Oxfam benefits from the generosity of around 600 legacies a year – that’s £13m, or 10% of the charity’s total income.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8611-roger-federer-nets-charity-cash-for-oxfam

Stars Unite Over Arms Trade

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:10:00 +0000

International artists including Keira Knightley, Yoko Ono, Scarlett Johansson, Coldplay, Tim Roth, Annie Lennox and Kevin Spacey have joined forces to demand governments take immediate action to help improve regulation of the international arms trade.

Later today, representatives from more than 190 governments meet in New York for the first day of a month-long negotiation at the United Nations to agree an Arms Trade Treaty, which will control the supply of weapons, ammunition and armaments.

An effective Arms Trade Treaty would be based on a “Golden Rule”: if there is a substantial risk that arms exported to another country are likely to be used for serious human rights abuses; violations of international humanitarian law; or to undermine sustainable development, those arms supplies must be stopped.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8592-stars-unite-over-arms-trade

Volunteer with Coldplay, Help Save the World

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Oxfam and Coldplay have teamed and are inviting you to help them feed the world through the GROW Campaign.

Oxfam and Coldplay want you!

Despite the fact that the world produces enough food to feed everyone, 1 in 7 people around the globe go to bed hungry.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8578-volunteer-with-coldplay-help-save-the-world

Kristen Davis and Djimon Hounsou Fundraise for Food Crisis Victims

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:55:00 +0000

Sex and the City star Kristin Davis and Blood Diamond actor Djimon Hounsou are working together with with Oxfam America to shed light on a little-known problem affecting people around the world.

A disastrous harvest last year has led to a food crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa, leading Kristen and Djimon to each set $10,000 fundraising goals to help bring aid to the families in need.

“This emergency is so enormous, it is hard to grasp,” said Michael Delaney, Director of humanitarian response for Oxfam America. “We consider the Haiti earthquake of 2010 a huge disaster, and it was. It affected three million people, and it will be years before the recovery is complete. But in East Africa, the food crisis has already struck 12 million people, and the numbers are rising quickly.”

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8570-kristen-davis-and-djimon-hounsou-fundraise-for-food-crisis-victims

Helena Christensen Publishes Photos Ahead Of UN Conference

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Oxfam Global Ambassador and photographer Helena Christensen has published a booklet of her photographs which she is sending to government officials and heads of state attending next week’s UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).

Helena Christensen with Oxfam
Credit/Copyright: Oxfam.org.uk

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8528-helena-christensen-publishes-photos-ahead-of-un-conference

Stephen Fry And Ruby Wax Host Great British Tea Party For Oxfam

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:30:00 +0000

King and Queen of comedy, Stephen Fry and Ruby Wax, celebrated the launch of Oxfam's biggest ever call for book donations with a Great British tea party at Hay Festival this week.

Stephen Fry and Ruby Wax

With book donations to Oxfam shops down, the charity is asking the nation to donate more than half a million additional books to raise money for Oxfam’s vital work fighting global poverty. The appeal will run until 21 June and the public can donate their books to of all Oxfam’s shops throughout the UK including its 148 specialist bookshops.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/8487-stephen-fry-and-ruby-wax-host-great-british-tea-party-for-oxfam